Chapter514Taking Everything from Martin
Martha knew the news had deeply shocked the elderly couple, so she patiently repeated herself, "As I said, I went to the cemetery with some friends this morning to honor another friend, and we stumbled upon this gravestone by chance. At first, I thought I might have seen it wrong, but it was a photograph of Martin, and the person who commissioned the headstone was Patricia.
“His kids were listed there too. See that? There are two more names besides Charles, Randy, and Fannie's. Maria and Waston... who's Waston?"
She knew exactly who Maria was. That was the daughter Patricia had with Martin. But Waston? Where did he pop out of?
Mr. and Mrs. Langley thought of the twins Patricia had given birth to—the duo everyone discussed. They couldn't sit still any longer. With their appetite gone, they stood up, intent on getting answers from Patricia right away.
Martha immediately followed suit, but Mr. Langley blocked her. "What do you think you're doing?"
Hiding her schadenfreude, Martha murmured, "Let me go with you. You're not young anymore. What if the shock is too much and something happens?"
Mr. Langley glared at her. "Don't think I don't know what you're plotting. Stay here, and don't follow us."
With that, he took Mrs. Langley by the hand, and they left.
Martha wasn't the least bit upset. She settled leisurely on the sofa, crossed her legs, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, and sang cheerfully while cracking them open.
Patricia held those two old bats in high regard; if Martin were truly gone, she wouldn't keep it a secret from them. She had deliberately spilled the beans today, so they would go to Patricia for confirmation.
If Martin was dead, she could start implementing her plan. What was the use of being capable if you were not long for this world? After a lifetime of cunning and scheming, who would have thought the Langley empire would land so neatly in their laps?
She burst out laughing.
The Langleys' driver, John, took them straight to Patricia's neighborhood. The old couple had lived in the neighborhood for quite some time and was familiar with its streets. After the driver dropped them off at the entrance, they made their way confidently through.
Mr. Langley rang the doorbell.
The door was swiftly opened from the inside. Ariel, faced with the two elders standing outside, paused. "Who are you looking for?"
Mr. Langley, equally perplexed, asked, "And who might you be? Where's my granddaughter-in-law, Patricia?"
Ariel quickly connected the dots, "You're Martin's grandparents? Mr. and Mrs. Langley?"
Mr. Langley nodded. "And you are?"
Ariel greeted them with a friendly smile and an outstretched hand. "Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Patricia's cousin, Ariel. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you."
Mr. and Mrs. Langley exchanged a glance. They couldn't recall ever hearing about Patricia having a cousin.
Ariel stepped back and gestured them inside. "Please, come in!"
Then she called into the house, "Patricia, the Langleys are here!"
As Mr. and Mrs. Langley entered, Patricia emerged from a room. Upon seeing them, her pent-up emotions came flooding back.
"Grandpa, Grandma!" Her voice was thick with the urge to cry.
Having not seen her for several days, Mr. and Mrs. Langley noticed that Patricia had lost a great deal of weight. Her normally round face had sunken, dark circles pooled under her eyes, and the spark that usually animated her gaze had dimmed considerably. She looked distressingly worn out.
Mrs. Langley's heart ached as she tenderly touched Patricia's cheek. "My dear, what's happened? You've lost so much weight. Isn't Martin taking good care of you?"
At the mention of Martin's name, pain seared through Patricia's numb heart once more, and her eyes reddened with unshed tears.
Mr. and Mrs. Langley were initially skeptical of Martha's words. However, Patricia's reaction sank their hearts deeper. If their grandson were still alive, how could he stand by indifferently and watch his wife fall to pieces? There could only be one reason—Martin wasn't there.
The elderly couple dared not ponder too deeply, fearing the unbearable truth that might unfold.
Patricia had never intended to keep the matter secret from them; she just hadn't figured out how to break the news. "I'm so sorry!"
Her reaction only convinced Mr. Langley further of Martha's account. He felt the world spin and staggered backward.
Mrs. Langley quickly reached out to steady him. "Darling, are you okay?"
Mr. Langley, clinging to a sliver of hope, asked with a trembling voice, "What are you sorry for?"
Patricia bit her lower lip, desperately trying to speak. Yet, as the words approached her lips, they felt impossible to voice.
Seeing her agony, Mrs. Langley gently stroked her hair. "Is it Martin? Has something happened to him?"
Patricia nodded with difficulty. Despite the time that had passed, she was still unable to accept what had happened. But the truth lay unwavering before her eyes; refusing to accept it wouldn't alter the reality.
Mrs. Langley pressed further, "Then tell us, what happened to Martin?"
She wouldn't believe her grandson was gone unless she heard it from Patricia.
Patricia's tears fell to the floor. On the side, Ariel turned away, covering her mouth, struggling to control her emotions.
Mrs. Langley lifted Patricia's face and asked earnestly again, "Tell us, what happened to Martin?"
Her voice bore the weight of her anguish.
Patricia's lower lip was nearly bitten through before she slowly began, "Martin... Martin is gone..."
Her cry echoed with the finality of her words.
The confirmation of the news completely shattered Mr. and Mrs. Langley's last bit of resilience. Their taut nerves snapped with an almost audible pop. Overwhelmed, they closed their eyes and slumped to the ground.
Patricia rushed to steady Mrs. Langley while Ariel hurried over to support Mr. Langley.
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