Chapter504Patricia's Family Reunion
The house was bustling with people. Grandpa Shane, her cousin brother Riley, Sebastian, and Jeremy, and her cousin sister Ariel were all gathered. In the midst of the crowd, Jeremy was engaging little Maria with a toy, bringing peals of laughter from the toddler.
As Patricia entered, the chatter quieted, and all eyes shifted towards her in a synchronized motion. She gently shut the door, letting the soft click resonate in the suddenly silent room. With measured steps, Patricia approached another crib, this one beside Maria's, and peered down at the occupant.
This child, her and Martin's youngest, shared little in the physical traits of his brothers, Charles and Randy, bearing a closer resemblance to Fannie, a harmonious blend of both her and Martin.
Though the child was of the same age as Maria, the differences between them were stark. Born merely ounces apart, time had widened the gap significantly. Maria exuded health with her rosy cheeks and robust frame, her lips plump as if kissed by color. In contrast, the other child was pale and skinny as a monkey, much smaller than Maria, with dry white lips, looking malnourished.
Patricia watched him, her heart clenched tight, eyes misting over, her vision blurring with tears.
Seeing her tears, Jade whispered gently, “He’s asleep. Though he's small and underweight, he's healthy; no serious worries. He’ll grow slowly with good care.”
Patricia remained silent, tenderly touching the little one’s cheek. Perhaps unaccustomed to Patricia's scent, the baby frowned as her hand brushed his face. Fearing she might wake him, Patricia quickly withdrew her hand, her heart aching more intensely.
“There, there,” Jade consoled. “Kids this age start to recognize people. It's okay if he doesn't know you yet. A few more days of cuddling, and he'll warm up. It didn't take him long to get attached to me.”
Patricia bit her lower lip, suppressing the urge to scoop the little one into her arms.
Shane, leaning on his cane, staggered over to her and took her hand. His throat bobbed as if he had words to say but couldn’t find where to begin, and finally, he managed to say, “Back already?”
Only then did Patricia shift her gaze back to Shane, her eyes brimming with tears.
Riley’s expression was stern, a hint of anger in his eyes. He strode over to Patricia and said, “Such a big ordeal. Why didn't you tell us? Why didn’t you reach out? Don’t forget, we’re family.”
The word ‘family’ touched Patricia deeply. The tears she'd been holding back broke free. “Riley…” She opened her mouth, her voice coming out hoarse as if she were a traveler parched from a long trek through the desert.
Riley was not one to easily show emotion. Seeing Patricia like this, he wrapped his arms around her for the first time, his broad palm gently patting her back, and asked with tenderness, “Tell me, what happened? Whatever it is, I'm here to help.”
With a sob, Patricia clung to Riley and let it all out. The pressure, the pain, the grievances, and the longing for Martin; everything turned into tears. “Riley, Martin’s gone... I can’t find him anywhere. What am I supposed to do? What should I do?”
Riley’s heart shattered at her crying, his eyes unwittingly reddening. “I’ll help you; we'll turn the world upside down if we have to until we find him!”
As long as Martin was still alive, he could definitely find him.
Patricia just cried, unable to utter another word. Riley held her like that, letting her cry it all out. In the room, everyone's eyes were red except for Sebastian's. Especially Ariel and Jeremy, who began sobbing uncontrollably. They had already heard the gist of the situation from Jade and knew what had transpired over the past few days. Although they were upset Patricia had kept everything secret without seeking their help, they felt more pity than anger. It pained them to see someone so young go through so much. After her mother's death, when things were starting to look up with Martin, this tragedy struck.
After crying for what seemed like an eternity, Patricia finally grew tired, releasing Riley with her shoulders still shaking.
“If Carter hadn’t called us, were you planning to keep this to yourself?” Riley asked, his tone carried a hint of reproach.
Wiping her tears, Patricia responded, "Riley, I'm sorry, I didn’t mean to exclude you. I just got used to it. Ever since I was little, I've been used to doing things on my own! When there was no one to depend on or confide in, I only had myself."
So, when she first heard the news about Martin, it never occurred to her to ask the Koch family for help.
Hearing her say this made Riley's heart ache. He gently wiped her tears with a handkerchief from his pocket. "You silly girl, you're not alone anymore! You have not just the Langley family behind you but also the Koch family. No matter what happens, we’re your strongest support."
Because she had been crying for so long, Patricia continued to sob fiercely, her eyes red and swollen.
Riley patted her shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, I'll find Martin for you. Just rest, and don’t think about anything else.” Patricia nodded obediently, even though she knew the odds were against Martin being alive. A part of her couldn't bring herself to believe it. Until she saw Martin’s body with her own eyes, she refused to accept that he was gone.
Riley said, "You need to rest! We'll be staying in Ivara City for a while, and we'll look after the kids."
Patricia protested, "No, I can't let my issues hold you all up!"
Finally, Sebastian, who had been silent, spoke up, "Nothing is more important than you. Come on, listen to Riley. He knows best."
Patricia was still hesitant. She was grateful for Riley, but should they stay here just for her? What about The Koch Group? And Sebastian was always so busy. What about his work at hand?
Shane said, "Cut it out and go rest! Riley took care of the company’s affairs before coming. He can manage being away for a month or two. If he had to do everything himself, then why have a staff? Right?"
Patricia looked at Sebastian, "What about the cases you're handling?"
Sebastian shrugged nonchalantly, "I'm not the only one who can handle them! If they can wait, we'll postpone; if not, someone else will take over. I'm not short on money or fame. All I want is to see my little sis happy."
Patricia was overwhelmed with emotion. They say adversity reveals true friendship; she fully understood that today. She agreed to their requests, unable to refuse them any longer.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
