Chapter 360 Patricia and Martin Meet at the Party
Hunter, in
In the champagne-colored Bentley, was busy preppingHunter was engrossed in preparations for the evening gatheringevening's event with his two aides when he noticed something off about Patricia. He cast a wary glancePatricia's odd state. Glancing outside, the window.
The relentless stream ofbustling traffic revealed nothing out of the ordinaryoffered no clues to her unease.
"Patricia, what's wrong?" he asked.
HeAs he reached out to touch her, but , she dodged away,recoiled, visibly agitated.
Without uttering a word, Patricia shook her head incessantly without a word, crying silently and leaning into , tears streaming down her face as she pressed closer to the car door.
Images Visions of the personone she yearnedlonged for day and night floodedincessantly invaded her mind, andthoughts, her tears refused to be containedunbridled.
Even separated by two Despite the barrier of the car windows, she could sense clearly that he had lost weight,noted his frame now noticeably thinner. The deep hollowschanged appearance—his figure seemed leaner, the shadows under his eyes spoke volumes of his wearinessdeeper, and thehis usual spark in hisvibrant gaze was extinguisheddimmed.
HadDid he seenreceive the children she sent back and known? Did he know she was alive? HadWas he come here purposely to findsearching for her?
How could she possibly meetface him now?
SeeingHunter, witnessing her cry, Hunter's tears, felt a twinge in his heart clenched, his voice. His tone was soft and soothing.
"gentle, attempting to console her. "Are you hurting, Patricia, are you in pain? Just bear with it a little? Please, hold on a bit longer. I have to meet with a business partner, and then I willa meeting, but I'll take you home soon," he coaxed.."
But Patricia ignored him, her gazePatricia's response was one of silence, her eyes filled with warinessfear and panicsuspicion, as if afraid he would bracing for harm her.
A pang of sadness hit Hunter felt a stab of pain inas he averted his heart, forcing himselfgaze.
Hunter had reasons for bringing Patricia to look away.
If he wasn't afraid of her the evening's gathering, concerns about her potentially running away or getting hurt, why else would he bring her to this evening's gathering?
injured. However, he quickly pushed aside any doubts. After all, today was the day they were meeting with the Koch family had been carefully arranged, leaving no room for unforeseen events.
He immediately dismissed the absurd thought.
Everything was meticulously planned. There would be no 'what ifs'.
Moments later.
InLater, in the same hotel.
The same suite.
The familiar faces of the Koch family.
The only thing different was that Martin's party of four had been replaced by, Hunter, Patricia, and his two aides, James and Daniel were met by the familiar Koch family, replacing Martin's earlier presence.
Treating Martin with sneering indifference was one thing, but Jeremy's enthusiasm took a notable upswing when it came to Hunter.demeanor shifted noticeably with Hunter's arrival. "Mr. Hunter, I've long admired Hunter, it's an honor to meet you from afar. They say seeing is believing, and believe me, you're much. You're even younger than I expected. Truly impressive to have achieved so much so soon."
The kind ofin person. Your accomplishments at such an age are truly remarkable," he expressed with genuine admiration, valuing self-made success story stories over inherited status.
Jeremy admired most was someoneindividuals who bootstrapped their way to the top - a young talent making it bighad climbed to success on their own merits.
Not , valuing the stories of those who had risen through sheer effort and talent. This stood in contrast to someone like Martin, who swaggered around, trading on family connections, thinkingwhom he was God's gift to the earth justperceived as overly reliant on his family's status, acting as if he were entitled to the world simply because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouthof his privileged birth.
ButYet, Jeremy had conveniently forgotten one thing.
In his disdain for Martin, he overlooked the fact that he was sitting at this table only because he rode on the coattails ofseemed to overlook his own position, which heavily depended on the Koch family's influence and wealth.
Without the Koch family, he was nothingreputation and resources. Without their backing, his standing would be significantly diminished.
Hunter shook Jeremy's hand with a polite firmness, and everyone took their seats in turn.
Patricia cast a discreet glance at Grace, her curiosity piqued. Why did she find Grace's eyes so hauntingly familiar? She was certain their paths had never crossed, yet why did she feel this sense of recognition?
Why did she find Grace's eyes so hauntingly familiar?
She was certain their paths had never crossed, yet why did she feel this sense of recognition?
As if sensing her gaze, Grace met, noticing Patricia's eyeslook, responded with a casualrelaxed smile, completely at exuding a natural ease, as if everything that suggested all was as it should be.
In an instant, Patricia felt silly for her suspicions.
Perhaps, it was just a figment of her imagination.
Hadn't she once felt certain that Charlotte bore a striking resemblance to Debbie?
Jeremy's gaze lingered onJeremy, observing Patricia, sensing something was amiss.detected her unease. Her eyes were darting about, nervous as if she'd spotted something untoward in glances around the room, her demeanor edgy were quick and nervous, as though she was unsettled.
Still, he couldn't shake by something or someone present. This observation led Jeremy to feel a mysteriousstrange sense of familiarityrecognition towards Patricia, as if she weremight be a long-lost relativefamily member.
"Mr. HunterHunter, who is this delightful lady?"
"This is my wife, Patri—" Hunter began proudly started to introduce his wife, but then caught himself, "This is my wife, Jane...," he paused, correcting course: "Lauren. "Laura."
At the sound of that name, Patricia's demeanorPatricia instantly turned agitated. "No, my name is Patricia."
"I'm not Lauren. Call me Patricia. Simple 'Jane' and longing 'Patricia.'"
Hunter's expression darkened for a moment, a shadow of embarrassment crossingflickering over his face.
"Right, her name is Patricia!"."
Jeremy frowned slightly, puzzled by Jeremy's brow furrowed in confusion at Hunter's attempt to give a false earlier slip with the name.
Never one to bite his tongue, Jeremy spoke his mind, especially upon sensing that Patricia was acting out of sorts. Disregarding others' feelings, he asked bluntly, "Is there an issue, ma'am? You seem a bit... off?"
Upon hearing the words 'an issue', a sharp gleam flickered briefly in Uninhibited by tact, Jeremy addressed the tension directly, his forthrightness cutting through the polite facade. "Is something amiss, ma'am? You appear somewhat... unsettled?"
Hunter's eyes.
Even though demeanor briefly hardened at the inquiry. Jeremy's tone was casual, merely a passing question with no hint of mockery, the words still struck a chord of perceived bias in his ears.
It left him feeling less than pleased.
However, for the sake of cooperation between the two companies, he managed to swallow his irritation and explained, though posed casually and without malice, hit a nerve with a smile, "My wife was a bit shaken up a few days ago and hasn't quite recovered."Hunter, eliciting a subtle defensive reaction.
"Oh!" Nonetheless, prioritizing the business alliance, Hunter masked his annoyance with a congenial smile. "My wife experienced a bit of a scare recently and is still feeling the aftereffects."
Jeremy was, thankfully, none the wiseraccepted this without further probing.
DuringAmidst the pausebrief lull, Grace, who had been silent, spoke up: "Frank, my elder brother chimed in. "Hunter, my oldest cousin is hosting a wine party at the Roman Hotel's fifth-floor banquet hall in three days. I hope you can grace us with your presence."
We'd be delighted if you could join us."
A wine party?
And Martin, he would be there too, wouldn't he?
Without a second thought, Hunter declined,. "I might have prior engagements that day;. I'll have to pass."
ReadingGrace, perceiving his hesitation, Gracereluctance, smirked mysteriously, "Don't . "There's no need to worry, he isn't. He hasn't been invited, nor is will there be any press. It's justmerely a small, privatecasual gathering organized by my brother wanted to put togethercousin."
Understanding the subtext, Hunter picked up on her implication. It would be rudesaw no reason to declinerefuse such a warm invitation, so he agreed readilycordial invite and accepted.
Patricia's eyelashes fluttered nervously nearby as sheNearby, Patricia fidgeted withnervously, the hempossibility of her dressthe event sparking a mix of hope and anxiety.
A wine party?
Would Martin be there too?
This was her chance to see Martin, and she was determined to persuade Hunter to take her along at any cost. The thought of meeting Martin soon sent tremors through her body.
'MartinThe thought of meeting Martin soon sent tremors through her body.
Martin, wait for me...
We'll meet again very soon.'
...
Three days later.
The wine party.
As dusk settled, as evening approached, Carter urgedprompted Martin to change his clothesprepare for the event.
"I hear today's guests are all potential"Tonight's attendees could be invaluable business partners. We must seize this connections. It's an opportunity we shouldn't overlook."
Martin eyedregarded the invitation on the coffee table with an impassive glance.
indifference. "Where did you get this?"
He knew Jeremy hadn't invited him.
Clearly, Jeremy had no interest in a partnership with the Langley Group.
Why then should he gatecrash?
"With my standing here in the StatesCountry M—sure, it's no Gaia BioTech Industries, but it's something—I can snag an invite or two."
Martin settled onto the couch and declined decisively,. "I'm not going."
"Boss, I know you're not one to grovel, but times are different. For Patricia's sake, just bear with it," Carter said, his face a portrait of resignation.
"I've already got a new plan in motion, and negotiations are underway," Martin declared with conviction.."
Carter paused, lost in thought for a moment, then suggested,. "If you're not keen on partnering with Jeremy, you should still know your enemy inside out to consistently come out on top. Let's scope out the situation today."
That got a reaction from Martin.
He looked at Carter silently for a second, made a decisive move then got to his feet, got and dressed, and together. Together, they left for the wine soirée, unaware that Patricia and Hunter were already there.
Chapter361
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