Chapter 311 Patricia and Eva Become Colleagues
It was a rare occasion; a the family of five gathered around the dinner table for a meal together.
Patricia had whipped up a feast with her own hands. It had been ages since the three kids and Martin had relished her homemade delights, and their appetites surged as they dug in with gusto.
Soon, the dishes on the table were wiped clean.
The four of them sat back, rubbing their bulging bellies, faces flushed with satisfaction, a feeling of joy they hadn't experienced in a long while.
HowIt would be wonderful it would be if they could share meals like this every day.
After lunch, Randy suggested a game. Fannie and Charles were on board, bringing thea laptop from the study to place it on the coffee table.
The kids sat cross-legged by the table, fully engrossed in the game.
Martin rolled up his sleeves, volunteering to tackle the task of cleaning up. Patricia, forgoing anyForgoing formalities, Patricia left him to it and settled on the couch to watch the little gamers at play.
Martin,Having never having washed dishes before, Martin made quite the racket in the sink.
Patricia winced, fearing her dishes might not survive his efforts, and decided to step in—just as she predicted.
It was just as she predicted. There was Martin, foam up to his wrists, delicately pinching a bowl between his finger and thumb—the very picture of clumsiness. As soap suds betrayed his grip, theThe bowl slipped throughfrom his fingers, clattering backsoapy hands and clattered into the sink.
Patricia's heart skipped a beat.
At this rate, she thought, they might as well forget about dinner and just grab riceinstant noodles straight from the cookermicrowave.
"Dishes aren't washed like that."That's not how you wash dishes. Here, let me show you… Hold the bowl in your left hand and the rag in your right. Remember, use all five fingers, not just two—you'll have a better grip. And then…"
She instructed earnestly, while Martin absorbed the lesson like an eager pupil.
At first, he was all concentration—that is,focused until his gaze inexplicably wandered to Patricia's face. Her earnest expression and the gentle motion of her lips transfixed him,; his throat suddenly became dry and itchy.
Feeling the intensity of his stare, Patricia was struck by a flutter of panic struck Patricia.. A slippery, soapy bowl slid from her grasp. She lunged to catch it but ended upwas jabbed by something hiding in the foamy water, causing her to gasp in pain.
"Ssst…"
Martin's grip tightened on her hand as he turned on the faucet, washing away the foam to reveal a long, jagged gash across the pad of her fair-skinned middle finger.
"Did you hurt yourself? How could you be so careless?" he said.
Patricia turned the water to a trickle, gingerly rinsing the wound. She muttered with irritation, "Remember for next time, don't leave knives in the sink when washing dishes."
Even though what lay beneath the water was out of sight, she was one hundred percent certain it was a knife – especially since the one from the cutting board had mysteriously vanished.
Riddled"Sorry," Martin said, riddled with guilt, Martin apologized, "Sorry, it's. "It's my first time doing the dishes, so I'm not quite skilled yet. Where's the first-aid kit?"
Seeing his self-reproach made Patricia's heart twinged.
"I'm not blaming you. JustThis is a friendly reminder so you don't end up hurtinghurt yourself like I did."
TheAt the word 'next time' time,' Martin lit up Martin like a child who had just been promised candy. He eagerly replied, "Next time, I'll be super careful next time and wash the knives separately."
Oblivious to his subtext, Patricia nodded in approval, "The first-aid kit is in the second compartment from the top on the left as you enter."
Martin quickly washed up and found the first-aid kit in the indicated spot. WhenAs he was about to start tending to Patricia's cut, she snatched the kit away.
"I'm a doctor; I can handle this better," she insistedsaid.
Martin wanted to point out the difficulty of her working with one hand, but Patricia was already skillfully disinfecting and bandaging the wound with seamless coordination between her hands and mouth, finishing the job in no time.
Martin was left speechless...
. He had intended to show his caring and warm side, but now it seemed somewhat superfluous.
With the wound dressed, Patricia donned plastic gloves and quickly cleaned up the kitchen.
"Next Monday, I'm planning to report to the hospital."," she said.
Martin, concerned, suggested, "Maybe you should rest at home for a couple of days?
?" Martin said, concerned. "Your situation is different now; it's best to restresting more and avoiding complications is best."
Patricia shook her head,. "No, Randy's second surgery is coming up soon. I have to be prepared. Failure is not an option."
Seeing her determination, Martin didn't press further.
"Let me know if it gets too much for you."
"Mhm!"
That evening, Patricia and the three little ones huddled together on the queen-sized bed, with her tellingas she told them a story –.
As the night deepened.
Unnoticed, all four of them drifted off to sleep.
Rare moments of tranquility and warmth enveloped her.
...
Alan swiftly concluded his investigation.
He confirmed withoutWithout a shadow of a doubt , he confirmed that Charlotte was indeed Martin's biological sister, withpersonally verifying all DNA tests personally verified by himhimself. There was no room for error.
He had delved deeply into her background, coming up with findings identical to the previous inquiry—no discrepancies whatsoever.
AnticipatingHaving anticipated this outcome, Martin remainedwas unsurprised.
"Boss, what's our next move? Should we keep a watch on her?" one of his menAlan asked.
Martin, lips thinly curved, responded coolly slightly smiled and said, "I've never been one for playing defense.
If she's a spy for Hunter, she'll expose herself."
Alan was visibly puzzled by the remark.
A chilling cunningness played across Martin's smile, his eyes a deep abyss of menacing cold.
On Monday, Patricia arrived at the hospital right on time for her shift.
Unexpectedly, she spotted Eva at the nurses' station, she spotted Eva—the face she had only seen once, yet one she could never forget.
Eva seemed to recognize her, too, and greeted her warmly,. "Hey, do you remember me? We met at the restaurant the other day."
Patricia managed a stiff smile.
S, striving to maintain a slice of courteousness, she found herself unable to genuinely grin; her smile was a rigid arc.
Lacking a mirror didn't stop her from knowing that her smile was uglier than a cry.
"I remember you..."," she begansaid awkwardly.
Eva extended her hand graciously,. "Nice to meet you, I'm Eva, the new nurse in the cardiology department."
So, she was the new nurse.
Patricia's heart skipped a beat as she took Eva's hand,. "I'm Patricia, from the cardiology—"
Before she could finish, Eva gasped, her hands dramatically covering her mouth,
"You—you're Patricia Watson, the youngest cardiology professor. Ah..."doctor? Eek!"
Her excited squeal was so loud, that she had to stifle it,. tThen she bounced on the spot, barely containing her elation.
"Did you know? YouI've always been my idol!looked up to you! I've been here a week and hadn't seen you. And nowNow, you turn out to be ProfessorDr. Watson, the one I've looked up to. IdolSo, what are your lunch plans? Let me treat you to a meal!"."
Eva's enthusiasm was nearly too much for Patricia, who wore a whirlwind of expressions, each more animated than the last.
Suddenly, the overeager Eva caught sight of something—or rather, someone—behind Patricia. Her eyes lit up, "Martin, you're here..." she exclaimed, and dashed past with infectious excitement.
"Martin, you're here!" she exclaimed excitedly, dashing past.
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