Chapter 337 Charlotte's Revenge on Martin
Three days later.
Randy's surgery was a success. He had made it through the critical phase and was moved from the ICU to a regular patient room.
Just as Jessica and Gregory, freshly reunited with Charles Fannie, basked in the joy of finding each other, they had to cut their global travels short, worried about Charlotte and choosing to stay home for a while.
Reunited, four generations of the family were basking in domestic bliss, savoring the joys of family.
As time passed, Patricia noticed she was gaining weight; her belly was getting visibly rounder.
Even Charles and Fannie could see it—, especially as the weather warmed up and people wore fewer layers of clothing,. tThe slight bulge in her abdomen looked increasingly pronounced, like she had overindulged at a meal.
Fannie stared at her mother's stomach in disbelief,. "Mommy, how did you gain so much weight? You've got a belly now?"."
Patricia caressed her rounded stomach, her lips twitching involuntarily.
"Heh... well, I guess I've been so happy lately that I've been eating more and gaining a little weight."
Charles looked at her with distaste,. "Well, you better be careful. If you turn into a porker, dDaddy might not want you anymore."
Patricia shot him a look,. "Don't worry. No matter how big I get, your dDaddy's not going to give up on me!"."
Just then, Martin emerged from the room, slung an arm around her shoulders, and gavekissed her cheek a firm kiss,. "Your mommy's right. Even if she balloons to four hundred pounds, I wouldn't love her any less."
Patricia gave a sweet smile and planted a loud kiss onkissed his cheek, beaming with happiness,making a "smooch" sound. "You're the best, hubby!"."
"Ugh..."
A Charles and Fannie felt a shiver of revulsion ran through Charles and Fannie, giving them both, getting the creeps.
"Can you two tone it down a bit in front of us, please? Don't corrupt us with your mushiness!"."
They protested, but deepDeep down, however, they were thrilled to see their parents so in love.
"We'll never... never..."
..." Patricia, ever the playful one, kissed Martin twice more just to tease them, eliciting eye rolls from the two youngsters., "stop..."
The two youngsters rolled their eyes.
After breakfast, Martin and Patricia took the kids to preschool.
On the way, Fannie asked with hopeful eyes, "Mommy, is Randy going to be out of the hospital soon so he can come live with us again?"
Patricia nodded, her face alight with anticipation,. "Yes, in as little as two weeks, or at most a month, he'll be home with us."
"That's great!. Our family will finally be together again!" Fannie cheered, her joy bubbling over.
Having dropped the little ones off, Martin drove Patricia to the hospital.
Going to the hospital became, which had become part of their daily routine.
Day in, day out.
Life continued peacefully and happily for another two weeks.
Suddenly, international headlines broke the news that the Miller Group had been acquired by Gaia BioTech Industries.
Gaia BioTech, though just under three months old, had made a bold move by investing heavily to take over the Miller Group.
Despite the Miller Group's struggle after a recent scandal, it had been a behemoth, and although it the Miller family had lost its spot as the wealthiest family in the country, itstheir century-old foundations weren't so easily shaken.
Nobody could fathom whyhow a fledgling corporation wcould suddenly buy it out.
The founder of Gaia BioTech remained an enigmatic and low-profile figure, their identity still a mystery.
And Hunter, the former CEO of the Miller Group, had vanished without a trace, as if evaporated from the face of the earth, completely disappearing from public view.
The news sent shockwaves around the globe, as people gaspedwere in disbelief that the prestigious Miller family, long seated atop the nation's wealth hierarchy, could fall so suddenly.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, who had moved away from the Langley family home, had been searching relentlessly for Hunter.
Overwhelmed by the torment of longing, she made a special trip to Country M country, , searching for him in all the places they had once been together, but to no avail.
Wandering the bustling streets in utter desolation, she found no glimpse of the familiar figure.
She was at a loss, not knowing where to go or what to do next.
Feeling abandoned by the entire world, she even questioned the purpose of living.
Almost as if guided by fate, she found herself on the bridge where she first met Hunter.
Standing at the spot where she once considered jumping, she watched the churning waters below and lost the last of her composure.
'Just jump.'
It would all be over if she just jumped.
After all, nobody Nobody cared for her.
anyway. Even Hunter, the only one who had been kind, didn't want her anymore.
What was the point of going on?
Enveloped in boundless sorrow, it seemed as if she saw Hunter's face surface upon the water. In her excitementExcitedly, she reached out to grasp it, lost her balance, and fell.
Closing her eyes in despair, she braced for the river to consume her.
But, but the expected suffocation never came.
A firm hand gripped her wrist.
Realizing someone had saved her, a spark of joy flashed across Charlotte's face, and she eagerly opened her eyes.
Seeing the man she had longed for day and night, a tidal wave of yearning rushed over her, reigniting her will to live, and her eyes instantly brimmed with tears.
"I knew it," she whispered. "You couldn't let me go... You do care..."
Due to the awkward angle, her chest was pressed against the bridge railing, causing Hunter's face to redden as he tried to maintain his hold, his normally. His wicked smirk appearinged unnervingly ferocious under the strain.
...
Like any other day, Jessica and Gregory left the Langley Mansion at nine sharp, heading to the hospital to visit Randy.
Just as they pulled away from the estate, they spotted Charlotte standing under the shade of the trees by the entrance.
Joy spread across Jessica's face. She immediately instructed the driver to stop and hurried over, grabbing Charlotte's hand with concern,. "Charlotte, where have you been these past few days? Don't you know that your grandfather and I have been sick with worry? We've been searching everywhere for you."
A scoffing lookscoff flickered in Charlotte's eyes
. Searching for her?
What a joke!.
With Martin's wealth and power, it would be impossible not to find her if they truly wanted to.
They didn't really care about her.
She felt nauseated by their pretense, the sheer insincerity of their concern, almost making her sick with disgust.
Though inwardly scorning their overbearing ways, she masked her contempt with a display of penitence. Dropping her head to feign a few tear drops, she implored in a pitiful tone, "Grandpa, Grandma, I'm sorry for worrying you. I know I've been wilfulwas so irresponsible. Please don't hate me. The thought of losing your affection terrifies me."
Jessica's heart ached for her as she tenderly caressed the much thinner cheeks of the girl who had lost a worrisome amount of weight. "My silly girl, how could your grandpa and grandma ever blame you? We're just so concerned about you. It's only been a month, and you've already lost so much weight. Have you been suffering?"
Sniffling hard, Charlotte shook her head and said, "No, I just missed you."
," Charlotte said, sniffling hard. After a brief pause, she swiftly changed the subject,. "Where are you headed now? I'm not getting in your way, am I?"
"Of course, not!"," Jessica replied swiftly, shaking her head. "We were about to go visit Randy in the hospital."
Seizing the opening she had been waiting for, Charlotte chimed in eagerly,. "Can I come with you? I acted so foolishly the last time he had surgery. I am truly sorry for the fuss I caused."
Naively believing her, Jessica nodded,. "Sure, come with us."
And with that, sheShe took Charlotte's hand and led her to the car.
As the car revved to life, a momentary flash of cold malice and triumphant scheming flitted across Charlotte's eyes....
Chapter338
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