Chapter 560 Charlotte's condition seemed beyond healing.
However, as a doctor, Lachlan could not give up on any patient.
Patricia's brows were furrowed tightly.
If Charlotte couldn't recover, remaining unhinged, how would Patricia get the truth out of her?
What Charlotte had been through lately held no interest for Patricia.
She just wanted to know if it was Charlotte or Hunter who had killed Martin.
If Charlotte were responsible for Martin's death, Patricia wouldn't let her go unpunished.
Chapter 560 Charlotte is Sent to the Asylum
Patricia pondered her options, finally turning to Lachlan with a tentative question. "Given her current state, do you think hypnotherapy might be an option? There are things I need to know from her."
Lachlan responded, a note of caution in his voice. "We could certainly try, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. Hypnotherapy tends to be more effective with individuals who are overly frightened and unable to express themselves. In her case, it may not yield much."
Patricia absorbed the doctor's words, understanding the implications. Despite the bleak prognosis, she was determined to give it a shot. She thanked the doctor and exited the hospital, only to be greeted by the late afternoon sun.
Charlotte's behavior had become wildly erratic, she was hiding from women and aggressively lunging at men. Patricia was drained, both physically and emotionally, from trying to manage her.
"Where do we go from here?" Patricia asked, breathless from the struggle. "We can't take her back to the hotel, can we?" A fleeting, half-joking thought of letting Charlotte run into traffic crossed her mind.
James proposed a solution. "Take her to the mental hospital."
Patricia was taken aback by his suggestion.
James elaborated, "Nathan has already started the paperwork. We can keep her there for a while."
Relief washed over Patricia at his thoroughness. "Let's do it, then. I'm at the end of my tether."
James took charge, grabbing Charlotte's wrist and leading her towards the parking lot. "You drive. I'll handle her in the back."
Patricia understood his concern, but she worried about his frail health. Without hesitation, she pushed Charlotte into the back seat and slid in beside her. "I don't know the way, you drive! Besides, it's easier for me to manage her since we're both women."
James hesitated, looking at her.
Growing impatient, Patricia waved her hand dismissively. "What are you waiting for? Drive!"
Not wanting to argue, James complied and got into the driver's seat.
Patricia tried to buckle Charlotte in, but Charlotte resisted, finding the seatbelt uncomfortable.
Frustrated, Patricia snapped, "Stop moving, or I won't be nice to you."
Charlotte, startled by Patricia's stern expression, immediately ceased her struggle and curled up in the corner.
Exhausted, Patricia simply sat back and caught her breath.
The mental hospital was located in the suburbs, a full two-hour drive from the downtown hospital. By the time they had settled Charlotte and returned to the hotel, it was already six in the evening.
Fortunately, James had arranged for dinner at the hotel, saving them the trouble of finding food.
While they ate, Patricia called Nathan, asking him to arrange an appointment with a reputable psychologist. She was determined to try hypnosis on Charlotte, regardless of its potential effectiveness.
Soon after, it was time for their meeting with Maximilian.
Patricia and James freshened up, gathered their prepared materials, and headed to the presidential suite they had previously visited.
Maximilian's assistant was already waiting outside. Seeing them arrive, he didn't knock but simply opened the door, gesturing for them to enter.
"Thanks!" Patricia expressed her gratitude as they walked in.
The presidential suite was identical to their own.
Upon entering, they saw a tall figure standing on the balcony, his back towards them, engrossed in a phone call.
The man was tall with broad shoulders, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers. His left hand was casually placed in his pocket while his right held a cellphone to his ear. Even in silhouette, they could tell he was an impressive figure.
The assistant offered them each a glass of water, politely saying, "Our boss is on a very important call. Please have some water and wait for a moment."
"Thanks!" Patricia gratefully accepted the water and took a seat on the couch next to James.
The living room was a mere stone's throw away from the balcony. With the sliding glass door left ajar and Maximilian making no effort to hush his voice, Patricia found herself privy to fragments of his conversation.
"Rest assured, I will definitely find...
"Yes! I understand you've yearned for her over the years, and you feel remorse…
"I've got it. Await my news."
Patricia and James exchanged a look of surprise. It appeared they had inadvertently stumbled upon another familial crisis.
Was it a trend among the affluent to search for lost offspring?
As Patricia mulled over this, Maximilian concluded his call and reentered the room, brimming with apologies. "I'm truly sorry. I had to attend to an urgent call."
Patricia swiveled towards him, her smile polite. "No worries at all! We're not in any hurry."
The moment her face turned in his direction, Maximilian paused, momentarily abandoning discretion and manners as he studied her face.
James's brow furrowed subtly, a flicker of displeasure crossing his eyes. Patricia, unsettled by his scrutiny, reached up to touch her face and forced a nervous chuckle. "Do I, um, have something on my face?"
Her words jolted Maximilian back to reality.
Realizing his lapse in decorum, Maximilian hastened to apologize, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I just thought you looked familiar, so I suppose I was staring."
Patricia's smile faltered, morphing into something more difficult to discern.
She found it hard to believe that the president of Nexus Holdings Corporation would be the type to flirt with a woman he had just met.
Typical.
Being a business savant didn't necessarily mean possessing a noble character.
Oblivious to her discomfort, Maximilian asked solemnly, "Miss..."
Feeling averse, Patricia clarified, "I'm Patricia. You can call me Sullivan or Patricia."
Maximilian quickly corrected himself, "Sullivan, may I ask, where are you from?"
Patricia was taken aback.
Was there something wrong with this man's thought process?
The Langley Group was based in Ivara City.
Naturally, she hailed from Ivara City.
It seemed like a nonsensical question!
"Are you joking, Maximilian? The Langley Group is in Ivara City; naturally, I'm from Ivara City."
Maximilian realized she might have misconstrued his question and hurried to clarify, "I'm aware your husband, Martin, is from Ivara City, but are you as well?"
Patricia nodded, "Yes, I'm from Ivara City."
Maximilian persisted, "What are your parents' names?"
Annoyance now crept into Patricia's expression, becoming increasingly difficult to mask.
Maximilian was aware that it was impolite to probe such personal matters, which had evidently upset her, but he stubbornly continued, "I'm merely trying to confirm something. If it's inconvenient, then let's drop it."
Patricia didn't want to stir up any tension. She was here to negotiate a business deal, naturally hoping to seal the agreement.
"My father is Gavin Watson, and my mother is Isabella Laurent."
Upon hearing her response, Maximilian's eyelids drooped in disappointment.
James managed to mask his irritation well and asked calmly, "Why would you ask such a question, Maximilian? Is there something you need assistance with?"
Maximilian regained his composure and shook his head. "I apologize. I overstepped my boundaries earlier. It's not my place to pry into your private matters."
It was just that the woman in the photograph his uncle had given him bore an uncanny resemblance to her.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the person he was searching for—
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