Chapter 284 Frank Tells Patricia the Truth
Seeing the onlyhis lone family member he had in the world liquefy before his eyes, Frank was shatteredbroke, his psyche deeply scarred. His eyes, unblinking and dry, were fixed on the screen, transfixed in silent agony.
Seeing him like this, Charles's animosity faded, replaced by an overwhelming sense of compassion.
None of this was Frank's fault.
He, too was being, had been threatened by Hunter.
Moreover, he was unaware of Hunter's intentions towards Fannie.
If heFrank weren't their godfather, if he hadn't been and their mother's closest friend, he wouldn't have become Hunter's target and was unlikely to have, inadvertently causeding his grandmother'snana's death.
Charles placed a comforting hand on Frank's shoulder, his voice softsaying softly but firm,
"Godfatherfirmly, "Uncle Frank, I know your heart's in pieces—losing Fannie broke mine too. But we can't bring back the dead. What we can do is seek justice for them."
Drawn back from the edge of his despair by Charles's words, Frank lunged towards the computer, frantically swiping at the watery image on the screen. "Nana... My nana can't be dead... She can't be..."
Fearing that Frank might spiral into madness, Charles wrapped his arms around him, whispering with gentle resolve, "Godfathergently, "Uncle Frank, stop this. GrNannya's gone, and there's no changing that, no matter how hard you rush at it."
Dead—
Dead—
'Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead.' The word echoed like a curse in Frank's mind, forcing him to confront the unbearable truth.
Clutching Charles like a lifeline, he sobbed,. "My nana's dead, and I didn't even get to say goodbye or see speak to her or be with her one last time... I can't even lay her to rest, bring her body back home, let to bury, letting her return to her roots. I'm so damn useless! Couldn't protect any of you,. I couldn't protect any of you or her..."
He desperately wished it was all just a nightmare.
That he'd wake up and everything would be as it was.
The loss of two of the two most important people in his life in such a short span was too much to bear.
"I'll talk to Alan," Charles comfortedsaid, trying to offer a shred of solace. "We'll get GrNannya's bedding—everything she touched before she died. We'll set up a cenotaph for her."
Frank responded only with tearsFrank's response was tearful, venting thehis fury and grief raging inside him.
Hatred.
Bitter. He felt hatred.
Why did they have to suffer, while scum like towards Hunter, who roamed free, their wicked desires fulfilled?
It while he suffered. This was utterly intolerable.
Utterly intolerable.
ConcernedCharles stayed with him throughout the night, concerned Frank might crumble under the weight of his sorrow, Charles stayed with him throughout the night.
Come next morning, the exhausted Charles drifted into a fitful sleep. SeizingFrank seized the moment, Frank slipped away to silently slip away.
At Ivara City Hospital, Patricia finally returned to work at Ivara City Hospital after nearly a month.
Her first task was to visit Randy in his hospital room.
When Randy saw Patricia, he thought he was hallucinating. He rubbed his eyes vigorously, but when he sawand seeing it was truly her, his eyes welled up with emotion. He had so much to say, yet the words just wouldn't come. He seemed grievously wronged, trembling uncontrollably.
He had so much to say, yet in that moment, the words just wouldn't come.
Trembling uncontrollably, he seemed grievously wronged.
Patricia's heart broke. She knew she'd been neglecting Randy because of the issues with Fannie. She walked over, pulled his head close, and said with deep remorse,
"Randy, I'm so sorry. Mommy had some trouble recently and couldn't come to see you."
Randy shook slightly but remained silent.
Patricia's voice broke as she whispered,. "Mommy missesd you so, so much."
At the word 'miss','miss,' Randy couldn't hold back any longer. He burst into tears, hugging Patricia tightly and burying his face in her embrace.
"You haven't visited me for so long, I thought you didn't want me anymore," he sobbedsaid, sobbing.
Though they had occasionally video -chatted or texted each other.
His, his profound sense of insecurity, rooted in being abandoned as a young child, made him wonder uncontrollably if his mother had once again decided to leave him.
Patricia felt her own eyes tear up with his emotions, her hands gently stroking his back.
"How could you even think that? I'd give up the whole world before I'd ever give up on you, Randy. You are my life!"."
All the hurt, longing, and resentment dissolved in that moment.
Randy just wanted to stay close to his mothermommy, to breathe in her presence.
Patricia spoke softly,. "Mommy needs to check in with the head of the department and then go on rounds. Be good for now, and I'll come to have lunch with you at noon."
Randy, ever understanding, nodded his head.
. "I want you with me for dinner too."
"Deal!"."
Patricia agreed without hesitation to his requests.
After parting with Randy, shePatricia reported to the department head, and attended the morning meeting, and then. She was supposed to hand off her patients back to Frank.
But Frank, but he was nowhere to be found.
After searching the entire department, Patricia was about to call him when Frankhe showed up.
His face was drawn with fatigue, his eyes red and swollen.
Patricia was startled. "What happened to you? Have you been crying?"
'What could possibly make a man cry with such sorrow?'
Frank looked up at Patricia, a whirlpool of emotions swirling in his mind—guilt, pain, self-reproach, shame, and fear.
Yes, fear. He feared Patricia might end up sharing the same fate as his nana. Hunter was bad news, too dangerous to leave near Patricia.
She feared that Patricia might end up with the same fate as her grandmother.
Hunter was bad news.
It was simply too dangerous for Patricia to stick around him.
As he hesitated on whether to reveal the truth to Patricia, her While Frank was lost in his thoughts, Patricia's cell phone suddenly rang.
It She saw it was aHunter's call from Hunter.
Without any hesitation, Patricia and answered right in front of him, .
"What's up?" she said.
Whatever Hunter said, Patricia respondlied apologetically, "I can't do lunch or dinner; I've promised Randy to join him for a meal."
"... Late-night snack? With Charles?"
"? ...Okay!. I'm down for some late-night grub. I'll pick the spot!"
"... Right, at ten!"
"... Deal. Don't flake out."
AfterPatricia ended the call, Patricia and slid her phone back into her pocket.
Frank asked with visible concern, "Are you... are you really planning on hanging out with Hunter?" Frank asked with concern.
Patricia nodded,. "He went all-out to save Charles last time.; I can tell he's genuinely got our backs!. He's been soreally good to me;, so I can't let him down."
At her words, Frank's hands clenchedballed into fists.
Seeing the bliss on Patricia's face, he just couldn't bear to spill the brutalcold, harsh truth.
Yet, he also feared that if sheHunter continued to be duped by Hunterdupe her, she might suffer the same tragic fate aslike her grandmotherhis nana did.
As Patricia was flippingflipped through some medical files, she said,. "Hey, I've made copies,. lLet's do a handoff. I—"
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Frank finally made up his mind, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into the hallway,. "Patricia, there's something you need to know."
Seeing him act all secretive, Patricia couldn't help but laugh,. "Come on, just spill it.!"
Why the need to sneak around here?"
Frank, lookingLooking her in the eye, delivered his words with seriousness and intensity,Frank said, "It's about Hunter. He—"."
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