Chapter 343 Charlotte's Intent to Disfigure Patricia
Time seemed to stand still.
"Mommy…" Randy's voice stretched out, sounding slow and distant.
Just as the tip of the knife was about to breach Patricia's skin, Charlotte's wrist was abruptly seized.
"Miss Langley, the," Peter, who was assigned by Hunter to collaborate with Charlotte on this mission, said. "The boss made it clear,; no harm must come to Miss Watson; her well-being is paramount!" Peter, who was assigned by Hunter to collaborate with Charlotte on a mission, was the one who spoke up.."
He had just completed his assignment when he caught sight of Charlotte's knife poised to mar Patricia's face and reacted with horror, intervening at once.
"I'm in charge here. Let go!" Charlotte, already seething, was said, inflamed with jealousy at Peter's interjection.
"I'm in charge here, let go..."
Unmovable as a mountain, Peter's gaze was resolute. "Miss Langley, if Miss Watson is harmed, the boss will hold me accountable. Please reconsider your actions."
Charlotte tried to shake him off in a blind rage. "Let me go! Let go!"
"Let me go… let go of me…"
She thrashed like a wild animal, desperate to slash Patricia's face with her knife.
But, but Peter's grip was iron-clad;. sShe couldn't break free at all,; her wrist was turning a deep shade of crimson, and the bones felt like they were on the verge of snapping.
Charlotte was livid.
"Peter, Hunter said I'm in charge here,; you're supposed to follow my lead. If you dare defy me, I'll make sure you regret it—I won't let this slide."
Peter lowered his head respectfully. "Boss said we should comply with Miss Langley'syour instructions, except for when it comes tobreaches Patricia's safety."
"W-What... what?"
...?" Charlotte felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her head. "Repeat what you just said."
Without a hint of annoyance, Peter reiterated, "The boss made it clear - everythingthat everyone here is to follow Miss Langley'syour lead, except when it comes to Patricia. Patricia'sHer safety comes before anything else."
Charlotte knew Peter wasn't the type to lie.
He was one of Hunter's trusted inner circle, just like James.
James was the visible hand;, while Peter worked in the shadows.
He would never dare fabricate an order from Hunter.
So, was this for real?
"Did he... did he really say Patricia's safety is the top priority?"
Even though she already believed Peter's words, she desperately sought confirmation. Her large eyes fixed intently on Peter, still clinging to a sliver of hope. The moment she saw Peter nod, her hope shattered.
Her large eyes fixed intently on Peter, still clinging to a sliver of hope.
But the moment she saw Peter nod, her hope shattered.
"What if I refuse to comply?" she said.
Peter'sPeter bowed his head bowed even further. "Miss Langley, please don't make this difficult. I can see you'reYou're upset, but we have to think ofmust consider the bigger picture. Don't forget what the boss has been planning all along."
Ha!
A self-deprecating chuckle escaped Charlotte's lips,
. Her heart felt as though it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, each breath bringing a new pang of pain.
"So, as long as Patricia is unharmed, even if it means sacrificing me, that's acceptable?" she said.
God only knows how much it hurts to utter those words.
She could almost hear the sound of her bleeding heart.
Peter remained silent.
To Charlotte, his silence was , which felt like a tacit admission.
Her body went limp, the pocket knife in her hand clattered to the floor, and her legs . She took two weak steps back.
She wanted, wanting to cry.
But she found no , but the tears wouldn't come.
She had heard before that when you're overwhelmed with grief, tears won't come.
She had never believed; now, she knew it until nowwas true.
Seeing that Charlotte was no longer a threat to Patricia, Peter let go of her wrist and quickly went to checkchecked the cut on Patricia's face.
Relieved it was just a scratch, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Miss Patricia, don't worry,. tThe cut on your face isn't deep, and it shouldn't leave a scar. I'll take care of it right away for you."
His manner toward Patricia was quite respectful.
"Randy, my son..."
Pete immediately ordered their restraints to be removed.
Once they were free, the mother and son embraced tightly.
Randy was sobbing, struggling to catch his breath.
"Mommy, are you okay? I'm so sorry, I'm useless, ," Randy said, sobbing, struggling to catch his breath. "I couldn't protect you!. When I get better, I'm going to get strong and always look after you," he managed between sobs.."
Patricia tenderly rubbed his little head, her heart aching.
"It's not your fault,; it's mine for dragging you into this..."."
Charlotte, not content with just ruining Patricia's face, sowed seeds of discord, "That's right, it's all your mommy's fault! ," Charlotte said, trying to sow seeds of discord. "I got close to you, and kidnapped you, and used you all to lure her out."
She thought her words would shatter the bond between the mother and son.
But Randy seemed unfazed.
"Mommy being tricked and risking her life for me just shows how much she really loves me, that she'd risk her life for me!. Don't think you can drive a wedge between us; I'm not fallingmake me hate her. I won't fall for it."
"…?!"
Charlotte was almost knocked breathless by his clear-headed response.
"Then savor these moments with your mommy while you can! ," she said. "Who knows... you might not have another chance..."."
Leaving this ominous remark hanging in the air, Charlotte walked away without looking back.
Patricia sensed the hidden message in her words.
As Pete was treating the cut on her face, she ventured a questionsaid, "I know you're not a bad person. Can you tell me, what are you guys planningyou're going to do with meRandy and Randyme? Charlotte said that if I geot in the van, Randy would be set free."
Pete lowered his gaze, focusing silently on disinfecting and bandaging her wound without answering.
His silence only heightened Patricia's anxiety.
"Please, just tell me. !" Patricia said. "Whatever you're going toyou do to me, I'm begging you,, please spare Randy. He's only five years old; he shouldn't bear the consequences of adult conflicts."
Pete finished tending to Patricia's wound and stood up to leave.
PatriciaShe grabbed his arm, desperate to keep him from leaving.. "You promised not to hurt Randy,; you can't break your word."
"If I had wanted to harm you, I wouldn't have saved you just now!"
With that,," he shruggedsaid, shrugging off Patricia's hand and walkeding away.
In the cramped room, the air grew tense, with only Patricia and Randy remaining.
Peter's reassurances had eased Patricia's anxiety, and she pulled Randy into a tight embrace, whispering fervent prayers, hoping Martin would detect the subtle signal she left.
She knew Martin and Charles, with their wits, would understand.
...
Martin and Charles had been relentlessly searching for Patricia without a wink of sleep.
, and Alan was meticulously combing through every possible lead.
At three in the morning, Charles was wide awake.
His eyes darted across the security footage, meticulously checking every frame against the time and location, tracing every potential path.
Martin, keeping a composed front, was dispatchingdispatched orders, delegatingand delegated tasks.
"Check all transit points — bus stations, train stations, high-speed rail stations, airports. Every person leaving the city must be scrutinized, and their identity must be verified... That's right, everyone, even babies... They couldn't have gotten far in such a short time. their identity verified."Focus the search around Ma'an Road and nearby areas—"
"That's right, everyone, even babies!"
""DaddyThey couldn't have gotten far in such a short time. Focus the search around Ma'an Road and nearby areas..."
Before he could finish, Charles burst out, "Dad, come quick...! I've found something—"!"
Chapter344
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
