Chapter 173 Charlotte's Scheme
Patricia's heart skipped a beat. She knew she had been framed, again. And this woman's tactics were identical to Debbie's.
Not only did she remind her of Debbie, but her methods and cunning were also the same. Indeed, Martin's taste had never changed. He always liked these hypocritical, nauseating women who could put on an act.
The incident had happened too quickly; the onlookers only saw a scuffle but hadn't truly seen who had started it. They only saw someone fall and another with a hand outstretched as if pushing, so they naturally assumed Patricia was the aggressor.
"Professor Watson, what happened? Why did you push her?" one on looker asked.
"Yes, Professor Watson, is there some conflict between you two? If so, have a proper conversation about it. Getting physical in public won't do your reputation any favors." Another said.
"Yes! Professor Watson, perhaps you and her should talk in your office? It's not convenient in this corridor."
After the incident with Debbie, everyone's view of Patricia had significantly changed. They would no longer take sides over matters they didn't fully understand. They even started seeing Patricia as a good person, subtly leaning towards her side.
Charlotte couldn't believe her meticulously planned frame-up had failed; it nearly made her spit blood in frustration.
Having seen through Debbie's hypocritical and pitiful act, Patricia faced Charlotte with much more composure.
"Do you know? These little games you're playing, my half-sister wouldn't even bother with them! You think Martin would believe you?"
Charlotte's pearly teeth bit her lower lip in discontent, and as she heard the steady approach of footsteps from behind, her expression turned to one of aggrievement. When Martin bent down to help her up, she deliberately shook her head and struggled to rise from the ground.
Gazing at her slightly reddened palms, she neither cried nor made a scene. Instead, with an air of innocence, she asked, "Miss, are you perhaps mistaking me for someone else? My name is Charlotte, not Debbie."
Debbie? Hearing this name again made Martin's face uncontrollably show his distaste.
Patricia raised an eyebrow in a half-smile, a touch of mockery in her eyes. It seemed her tactics differed from Debbie's. Had they evolved?
Seeing that Patricia remained silent, Charlotte wasn't upset. She continued, "Miss, in the future, it's better to talk things out instead of getting so agitated. You're lucky it was me you encountered this time. What if you had run into someone more dangerous?"
After saying this, she looped her arm through Martin's and added on purpose, "Martin, this lady just mistook me for someone else. She didn't mean to push me. You won’t hold it against her, right?"
Her voice was sweet and naïve, like a simple girl untouched by worldly cynicism.
On the surface, she seemed to be explaining for Patricia, but in reality, she was signaling to Martin that Patricia had confused her with Debbie, which had led to their altercation.
Reaffirming the fact that Patricia had pushed her.
Martin's handsome face tensed, his eyes filled with indignation, as he stared fixedly at Patricia.
He didn't believe her. This realization made Patricia's heart sink instantly, as if plunged into icy water, thoroughly chilled. Her gaze locked onto Charlotte.
And then...She smiled...
Charlotte's heart skipped a beat, an ominous feeling washing over her. Quickly, her premonition was confirmed.
Patricia suddenly leaned in close, her lips stretched into a smirk, her voice neither loud nor soft, but loud enough for everyone around to hear: "You might not understand me, I'm someone who can't abide being wronged."
Charlotte felt an increasing sense of foreboding, yet she feigned innocence, tilting her head to look at her: "What are you saying? I don't understand?"
Patricia laughed dryly: "Debbie once tried to frame me just like you are now! Do you know what I did?"
Charlotte looked at her with eyes of innocence.
Patricia enunciated each word: "I just fulfilled her wishes! If I didn't act, wouldn't that be a disservice to you all."
As soon as she finished speaking, before anyone could react, she pushed Charlotte to the ground.
Charlotte had just deliberately fallen to the ground, attempting to frame Patricia, controlling the force well enough that only her palms were slightly red, with no other injuries.
This time, Patricia used all her strength and Charlotte, completely unguarded, fell to the ground taking a solid hit.
A "crack" was heard, and the sound of bones breaking emanated from her wrist.
"Mmm..." Charlotte let out a stifled groan, and after a brief numbness, a wave of intense pain spread from her palm throughout her body, the pain so severe that she cried out loud without regard for her image.
"Oww...it hurts..."
The people around were stunned. Even Martin stood frozen and forgot to react.
Patricia looked down at Charlotte from above, her face expressionless. "Framing others, putting on a pitiful act! I've seen these tricks for over twenty years, and Debbie played them even smoother than you! Remember, don’t perform in front of me again; I’m weary of it! Today was merely a warning. If you dare to frame me again, I won't be so lenient."
With that, she turned and walked into the next ward without looking back.
"Patricia..."
Seeing her about to leave, Martin felt a tightness in his chest and instinctively wanted to follow, but then Charlotte called out. "Martin..."
He had to stop.
Charlotte was still sitting on the ground, crying like a wronged child, her shoulders heaving.
"Martin, why! Why did she hit me? Is she really Randy's mom? I should be her sister-in-law, why is she treating me like this?"
Martin was filled with confusion and bent down to help her up, but as soon as he touched her wrist, she screamed out in pain.
"It hurts, it's so painful, Martin, is it broken?"
Martin reached for her other arm. Charlotte almost clung to his outstretched hand, struggling to get up from the ground.
Martin carefully supported her injured wrist and saw that it was red and swollen, with severe subcutaneous bleeding, and it indeed seemed to be fractured.
"Let's get you to orthopedics to check this out."
Charlotte's eyes brimmed with tears that began to fall as she asked, "Martin, who is Debbie? Why does she always compare me to Debbie? Do we really look alike?"
Martin's face remained expressionless as he casually dismissed, "An insignificant person! Don't let your imagination run wild."
Charlotte's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
"An insignificant person?" Her voice shook ever so slightly.
Martin's patience wore thin, and he replied with irritation, "Don't mention her again. Let's get your wrist checked first; we'll deal with the rest later."
Fearing his anger, Charlotte nodded obediently.
On the way to the orthopedic department, Charlotte couldn't help but tilt her head and ask, "Martin, Randy's mother is so scary, she looks at me as if she wants to devour me. Did I unintentionally offend her somewhere?"
Martin's lips thinned into a straight line, and a storm seemed to rise in the depths of his dark eyes, quickly passing as he simply said, "No, you understood it wrong."
"But she truly seemed frightening, and I am scared of her," Charlotte said innocently, seemingly naive.
Martin had no desire to talk and it was Charlotte who chattered nonstop all the way.
Upon checking a room, Patricia stepped out of the ward only to see them affectionately holding hands as they disappeared around the corner of the corridor. A sharp pain gripped her chest, and something inside her screamed and thrashed violently, as if she was about to explode.
She thought she'd become numb to the pain.
Yet it hurt more fiercely with each occurrence, impossible to ignore.
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