Chapter 198 Patricia's Counterstrike Against Charlotte
After ending the call, Charlotte drove towards the hospital. Ever since she began to suspect Fannie's origins, she had been looking for an opportunity to verify them. When visiting Randy, she brought along his favorite Iron Warrior toy.
"Thank you!" Seeing his preferred toy, Randy’s expression was calm, uncharacteristic for a four-year-old child.
For some reason, he always had an odd feeling about this aunt. It wasn't exactly dislike, but it definitely wasn't fondness either. After entering the hospital room, Charlotte glanced around and asked, “Martin, where's Patricia?”
Martin, seated on the sofa with a laptop on his knees, was deeply focused on a merger and acquisition plan. Without looking up, he replied to Charlotte's inquiry.
“She's off work today.”
Charlotte sat next to him, scooting close, so that she was pressing against him. "Martin, shall we go see Charles? I've missed him after not seeing him for a few days."
As soon as she finished speaking, two sets of eyes fixed on her sharply. One belonged to Randy, and the other to Martin. Before Martin could speak, Randy asked with a sneering tone, "You miss Charles? Since when were you and Charles so close?"
Charlotte giggled, "Well, you are my nephews, of course, I miss you!"
Martin's gaze shifted back to his computer screen, seemingly indifferent to what she said. Seeing that Martin wasn't taking the bait, Charlotte's eyes darted around, pondering how to get Martin to take her to Patricia's house.
At that moment, Randy's phone rang. It was a video call from Charles. Randy's eyes lit up instantly, and he answered with an enthusiasm vastly different from his cold demeanor toward Charlotte.
Sweetly calling out, “Charles!” Charlotte couldn’t believe it.
Charles inquired, “Randy, have you had dinner yet? Mommy cooked tonight; do you and daddy want to come over for dinner?”
The video call was on speaker by default. His voice was heard by Martin and Charlotte, loud and clear. Both looked up simultaneously and turned their attention to Randy. Martin, because the prospect of seeing Patricia, was sending sparks of excitement through him.
Charlotte, because her goal seemed within reach. Randy, simpler in thought than the adults, promptly accepted, “I haven't eaten dinner yet! I'll come right over with daddy.”
"OK!" Once everyone was in agreement, the video call ended.
Without asking for Martin’s consent, Randy immediately jumped off the bed, pulled out a gray-blue jacket, that Patricia had bought for him from the closet, and dressed himself. He then grabbed the coat, hanging on the coat rack, for Martin and tossed them to him.
“Daddy, hurry up; let's go see Mommy.” Martin, without another word, packed up his laptop and got dressed.
Seizing the opportunity, Charlotte looped her arm through Martin's with a coquettish pout, "Martin, don't leave me behind, I want to go with you all!"
Martin didn't refuse and drove both Randy and Charlotte to the Riverside Apartments. Patricia had made a few extra dishes for dinner knowing that Martin and Randy were coming, but she was surprised, when Charlotte showed up as well.
"Hi Patricia! I heard from Randy and Martin that you were cooking, so I tagged along. You won't be mad about my uninvited appearance, right?"
Charlotte's smile was pure innocence. Patricia, had no choice, but to muster a faint smile in welcome. Jade was not home that evening, so, counting Charlotte there were six people in total. Patricia had prepared five dishes and a soup.
Martin sat at the head of the table, with Charles and Randy to his left, and Charlotte, Patricia, and Fannie to his right. Fannie was seated between Charlotte and Patricia. The dinner proceeded with everyone chatting while they ate.
When no one was paying attention, Charlotte deftly removed a strand of hair from Fannie's clothes and slipped it into her pocket without anyone noticing. Her movements were fluid and precise, without a hint of suspicion.
Martin took a bite of his meal, glancing at Patricia with a sardonic tone, "Aren't you going to check on your Hunter?"
His comment made Charlotte pause mid-bite before resuming as if nothing happened.
Patricia gave him a perplexed look, "Hunter went back to the States!"
"What? Hunter went back to the States?" The news, was so unexpectedly delightful, that Martin thought for a moment he had misheard.
Patricia nodded, "Something came up in the States, he had to go back to deal with it."
Confirming he wasn't hallucinating, Martin's lips curled into an uncontrollable smile, his joy nearly spilling out through his eyes. Patricia was perplexed.
Driven mad with jealousy, Charlotte couldn't help asking, "Patricia, how come you know so much about him? Is he your boyfriend?"
Her question instantly charged the atmosphere with an eerie tension. All eyes turned towards Patricia. Especially Martin, who looked as though he might drill a hole through Patricia with his gaze, his eyes seemingly warning her, that any unsatisfactory response would seal her fate.
Patricia felt a tingling on her scalp under his glaring gaze. Despite being in the right and having a clear conscience, she began to feel a sense of guilt.
"He's not my boyfriend; we grew up together. As his only friend in Ivara City, it's only natural that I know him better than you do."
She had pointedly, made this explanation for Martin to hear. Martin seemed quite satisfied with her response and withdrew his gaze from her.
Charlotte, biting her lower lip, pressed on, "Right now you're just friends, but what about in the future? What if he pursues you? Could you fall for him?"
The focus of Martin's gaze, which had shifted away for a brief moment, returned to Patricia with an intensity that narrowed his pupils, and brought a cold curvature to his lips. Patricia, thoroughly aggravated by Charlotte's insinuations, lost her patience to explain any further.
"Whether I agree to it or not, it seems irrelevant to you! Why do I get the feeling that you're especially interested in Hunter and me? Why? Are you interested in me, or in Hunter?"
Charlotte, feeling guilty, lowered her eyelids and listlessly poked at the food in her bowl with her fork, deflecting the conversation, "I'm just curious! You're beautiful and capable. A person as outstanding as you, must have many suitors, right?"
Her seemingly envious words, however, successfully ignited a jealous fury in Martin, his eyes narrowing dangerously, his anger clearly bubbling below the surface. Enraged herself, Patricia slammed her fork down onto the table with a resounding 'bang.'
"Whether men pursue me or not is none of your business! Besides, I don't believe a woman's worth should be determined by men's affection. We aren't accessories to men; without them, we can live well and lead fascinating lives."
She paused, then added, "Moreover, you and I are not close. You're at best my ex-husband's sister, my son's aunt. Beyond that, we have no connection, and you have no right to pry into my private life. Please, without my permission, do not show up at my house again. Goodbye"
With her face turning various shades, Charlotte stood in an agonizing awkwardness; her eyes reddened in an instant as she looked pitifully at Martin. "Martin, that's not what I meant. I was just concerned about her, I..."
Patricia gave her no chance to wriggle out of the situation, "Concerned about me? Are we close? If I remember correctly, the number of times we've met can be counted on one hand. Do you think Martin would believe you're concerned? Would anyone else?"
"I... I..." Charlotte was at a loss for words, overwhelmed, with tears streaming down her face.
Without a hint of mercy, Patricia stood up and forcefully escorted both her and Martin out the door. "Both of you, get out, my home is no place for you."
Before Martin had a chance to grasp what was happening, Patricia shoved him out. With a loud bang, the door slammed shut before him, nearly hitting his nose.
Charlotte's sobbing intensified. "Martin, I'm so sorry. I've dragged you into this mess. I had no idea Patricia had such a terrible temper. It was all my fault, yet she took it out on you."
Veins throbbed at Martin's temples. He massaged the bridge of his weary nose, finding Charlotte's tears incredibly annoying. For some reason, her words didn't sit right with him. It felt like there was a hidden meaning behind them.
"Let it be, it's not your fault! We should go home and give her some time to cool off."
"But..." Charlotte hesitated.
Martin, impatient, cut her off. "No buts. She'll only get angrier if she sees us now!"
As long as Hunter wasn't in Ivara City, he had plenty of opportunities to clear things up with Patricia. Hearing his words, Charlotte nodded, feigning understanding but feeling confused and left with Martin.
As the elevator doors closed, the corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly in an eerie smile, sinister and devilish, sending chills down the spine.
The next day, after Martin left, Charlotte took the strand of hair, she had acquired from Fannie, and drove to the paternity testing center.
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