Chapter 476 Reclaiming Patricia
The hospital room fell into sudden silence as the gravity of the statement settled in the air. Riley exchanged bewildered looks with the others, unsure if they had heard correctly.
Jeremy pressed his hand to Shane's forehead, puzzled over his condition, and said, "You don't have a fever, so what's causing the confusion?"
Ariel chimed in, "Grandpa, I know you're fond of Patricia and wish she were your flesh and blood. We all like her, too. But we can't fool ourselves."
Shane knew how incredulous his claim sounded and didn't expect them to believe him right away. Anxious to explain, his words became trapped in his chest, his speech increasingly tangled.
Quick to assist, Ariel motioned for Jeremy to prop Shane up while she slipped a straw into his water cup and held it to his lips. Shane took the straw and nearly emptied the cup with his drink.
Breathing easier and regaining his strength, he continued, "I'm telling you the truth. Patricia is indeed Elise's biological daughter, and Grace is a fraud."
Seeing his earnest expression, they began to take the matter seriously.
Riley posed the question. "Did Grace know you had discovered this, and that's why she acted against you, to keep it hidden?"
Shane nodded. "I've known for a while. I held onto what little affection was left between us, planning to send her away after the birthday celebration. I never imagined she'd be so cruel as to strike at me."
The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. It all made sense now. Riley's face lit up with realization; the events of the past were finally coming together in a coherent narrative.
The reason for Grace's action, despite Grandpa's kindness toward her, was now clear. It was a meticulously crafted plot to silence him and eliminate Patricia, securing her position as an undisputed member of the Koch family.
But Grace had overlooked a crucial detail: Patricia's resilience and fragments of retained memory. These allowed her to revisit the scene of the crime and expose the conspiracy laid against her.
In a final, desperate move, Grace had even dared to use this secret as leverage, a bargaining chip in her negotiations with the Koch family.
Riley inquired further, "What exactly happened that day?"
A sigh escaped Shane, the recollection of that fateful day bringing a rush of anger to his heart. "My original plan was to announce my relationship with Patricia on the day of my birthday bash, but then I heard she wouldn't make it because she was tied up with other commitments. Disheartened, I couldn't bring myself to continue celebrating, so I secluded myself in my study. That's when Grace slipped in through the balcony door."
"The balcony?" Riley knitted his brow in confusion.
In the Silver Birch Sanctuary, balconies connecting several rooms on each floor were accessible to one another. However, iron gates stood between the balconies, requiring a key to pass through.
On that day, it seemed Grace had scaled the drainage pipe from the first floor to the second, then snuck into Grandpa's room via the balcony. Grandpa was caught off guard, assuming she had come from the neighboring room. This also explained how Grace could be the perpetrator without being captured on surveillance entering Grandpa's study.
Shane nodded solemnly, saying, "I never imagined she'd want me dead; I had no defenses against her. By the time I sensed danger, it was too late. The moment Grace plunged the knife into the left side of my chest is etched into my memory forever. I felt heartbreak, sorrow, betrayal, and, above all, utter disbelief. From that moment on, I saw Grace for what she truly was.
"She was inherently malicious and had no sense of morality. To achieve her ends, she'd resort to any measures, even murder. I couldn't bear to cut her off completely because of our time spent together, so I didn't kick her out immediately. It seems she'd never really considered me her grandfather."
Riley, not quite reassured, asked, "Are you certain Patricia is Elise's daughter?"
Shane nodded. "I had a DNA test done with her hair sample; it confirmed she's Elise's daughter."
Jeremy, with a puzzled expression, asked, "Then, how come Grace's DNA was also a match?"
Shane shook his head. "It's strange indeed. When we brought her here, the parentage test was successful. Later, I secretly had it redone, and it didn't match."
Riley, Jeremy, Sebastian, and Ariel all shared a look of confusion.
Jeremy added, "We were all there the day of the DNA test, waiting outside for the results. The chances of a fraud were slim."
Shane was no longer interested in pursuing the matter, struggling instead to rise from the bed. "I've got to go to Ivara City. I need to see Patricia. I must tell her about this. I want to acknowledge my granddaughter."
Riley immediately shot him down. "No way. You're too weak, and you need to stay hospitalized for observation. Even after you're discharged, you can't go traipsing across the country."
Shane was resolute, saying, "Arrange a private jet!"
Riley was just as firm. "Absolutely not. A reunion can wait. But if your health deteriorates, that can't be fixed. If you insist, I'll call Patricia later and ask her to come back."
Jeremy shook his head. "She just left. It'd be too much to ask her to return so soon, don’t you think?"
"It's not just about meeting her. I want to visit the place where she grew up," Shane said, his eyes beginning to brim with tears. "That's where Elise spent many years of her life, too."
Riley fell silent, and after a long pause, he said, "If you really want to go, rest up in the hospital. Once the doctor confirms you're good to travel, I'll arrange it."
Shane began to refuse, but Riley cut him off. "This is my final compromise. You have to listen to me."
Seeing Riley's unwavering stance, Shane, still anxious, nodded in agreement.
That night, Martin held Patricia close while pulling their suitcase toward the airport's exit.
Patricia couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. However, when she paused to scan the area, the feeling vanished.
Martin asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Looking up at him, Patricia asked, "Do you feel like we're being watched?"
Martin's sharp gaze swept the surroundings like a radar but didn't spot anyone suspicious. He reassured her with a light forehead-to-forehead touch. "Don't worry. I'll have someone look into it as soon as we get home."
With everything that had been happening recently, it was better to be safe than sorry. A quick security check would put their minds at ease.
Patricia didn't object. She nodded and squeezed Martin’s arm around her waist, moving forward. Outside, their driver, John, had been waiting for a while. They got in the car and headed straight home.
It wasn't until they'd completely left that a figure cradling a baby emerged from behind a wall. She watched the car drive away, a cold smirk playing on her lips.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
