Chapter 569 Keeping a Distance
A chilling perspiration soaked Patricia's back, her hair heavy with the weight of her sweat. Each deep breath she took did little to quell the relentless pounding in her chest, akin to a relentless hammering from within. As she wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, disbelief washed over her.
She had dreamt of James.
What was more, she had somehow merged him and Martin in her dream. How could this be? She was certain of her love for Martin, so why did James's face appear? This couldn't continue. It must have been the result of spending too much time with James recently, leading to his unwelcome presence in her dreams. She resolved to maintain a safe distance from him.
Lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts, a knock on the door shattered the silence.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
James's calm voice followed, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
His unexpected inquiry startled Patricia, causing her heart to pound even harder as she gasped for air. "I'm fine," she managed to say.
"Your voice sounds off," James replied, his tone laced with concern.
His worry caused Patricia's resolve to waver. After a moment of silence, the knocking resumed, this time with a sense of urgency. "What's really going on? Open up, let me in to check on you."
Patricia vigorously rubbed her face, took several deep breaths to dispel the lingering influence of the dream, and rose from the bed. She walked to the door and opened it.
As the door swung open, James stepped inside. In that moment, Patricia's mind was flooded with visions of a joyous family life together.
These emotionally charged scenes grew more uncontrollable with each passing second.
The children were squinting with joy as they called James "Daddy." James squatted down, adoringly cradling Maria and Declan, one in each arm. He looked at her with a radiant smile while holding the children.
As her thoughts spiraled, Patricia was jolted back to reality. Overwhelmed with guilt, she swiftly turned away, unable to face him. "I'm really okay. Don't worry about me," she said, attempting to sound reassuring, though her eyes betrayed her.
James had rushed in as soon as he heard the commotion, immediately checking on Patricia before surveying the room for any sign of trouble. Finding nothing amiss, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Are we still going out to have fun today?" he asked, almost instantly regretting his words but knowing they couldn't be taken back.
He had admonished himself just last night about the importance of cutting his losses early. However, today, when he heard Patricia's cry of alarm from her room, all caution was thrown to the wind as he rushed to her side.
Damn it.
Patricia shook her head, her back still turned to him, too nervous to meet his gaze.
"No, I can't today. I have to run some errands, and there's no time for fun," she replied, avoiding eye contact.
James's brow furrowed in puzzlement as he asked, "What's the matter?" His journey to America was intended for discussions about a potential partnership with Nexus Holdings Corporation.
The unexpected encounter with Charlotte and Hunter had thrown him off balance. He couldn't recall any other pressing matters that might be causing Patricia's distress.
Patricia, caught in her lie, stuttered, "Just... just some personal stuff! You should go ahead! I need to get ready." Her words were like a broken record, skipping and repeating in her nervousness.
James, however, was not entirely comfortable with the idea of letting her go alone. "How about I come with you?" he suggested. The unresolved situation with Hunter was a constant worry, a potential danger lurking in the shadows. The thought of Patricia facing it alone filled him with unease. What if something happened to her?
Patricia, sensing that she was failing to convince him, became even more agitated. She shook her head frantically, "No, that's not necessary. I can manage on my own! It's not a big deal, and I'll call you if anything comes up! Besides, Nathan is here too, isn't he?" She tried to reassure him, but her words rang hollow.
James remained apprehensive, his concern evident in his voice, "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Patricia nodded hastily, avoiding his gaze as she turned to him and gently nudged him towards the door. "Really, I'll be fine. I need to get changed. Please go ahead!"
With a gentle push from Patricia, James found himself outside the room. The door closed behind him with a resounding 'bang,' echoing through the house. James stood there, puzzled.
Inside the room, Patricia leaned against the door, letting out a heavy sigh. She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration before dragging her feet towards the bathroom. Catching her reflection in the mirror, she gasped in shock. Who was this person, their heart fluttering with the energy of spring? It couldn't be her, could it?
She was grateful that she had kept her head down the entire time. James hadn't seen her face. Otherwise, he would surely have suspected that she was up to something scandalous. But how could she look so enraptured when it was clearly a nightmare? She must be going mad.
Patricia turned on the tap and bent down, splashing cold water on her face in an attempt to calm herself. After a while, the heat on her face subsided. She stared at her reflection, her face dripping with water, and reminded herself that she loved Martin—only Martin. She would never fall for anyone else.
With that resolution, Patricia left the hotel without even grabbing breakfast, wandering aimlessly through the streets of America. The morning sun was gentle, and the walk was not too hot. But as noon approached and the sun grew fiercer, Patricia began to feel overwhelmed. She found a shopping mall, bought a milkshake and some pastries, and spent the rest of the day there.
She had planned to distract herself with her phone, but after turning it on, she found herself at a loss. No, that wasn't quite right. The truth was, her mind was preoccupied, and she wasn't in the mood to play. Eventually, she just stuffed her phone back into her pocket and sat staring blankly at the bustling crowd around her.
After some indeterminate time, her phone dinged with a new message. It was from James.
James: [Where are you?]
James: [When are you coming back?]
James: [Have you finished what you needed to do?
Patricia stared at the messages, a complex mix of emotions churning within her. She was unsure of what she was feeling or even what she wanted.
Seeing no immediate response from her, another message from James came through.
James: [Did you get my message? Please reply if you did. I'm worried about you.]
Those words, "I'm worried about you," loomed large before her eyes. They were simple, yet they struck a chord deep within her.
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