Chapter 636 Framed
"The time was still early, not yet time for lunch.
Kaleb suggested, ""It's still some time before lunch, so how about playing some chess? Who here knows how to play chess?""
Hearing about chess, Billy, Lisa, and Maximilian were startled and took a step back together.
""I don't play.""
""Not playing!""
""I don't play chess .""
The three of them spoke in unison.
Patricia fell silent.
Martin fell silent.
Ryan fell silent.
Kaleb fell silent.
Susan suppressed a smile and gestured towards the three of them. ""Billy, why don't you take them to play golf at the back?""
Kaleb, with a stern expression , displeasedly said, "" If they all leave, who will play chess with me?""
Susan glared at him. ""Isn't it enough that Joe and I are here with you? Let's play chess with three players.""
As she spoke, she turned her back to Billy and the others, hands behind her, waving continuously. Billy received the signal and immediately led the young group out the door towards the golf course at the back.
Outside, Patricia asked in puzzlement , ""Why did you all seem so scared to play chess with Kal- "" Mid-sentence, she realized the address was wrong, pursed her lips, and corrected herself, ""Were you all that afraid of playing chess with my dad?""
Lisa affectionately linked arms with her. ""Let me tell you, the scariest thing in the world is playing chess with Kaleb.""
Patricia fell silent.
Maximilian explained, ""Kaleb is usually fine, but he becomes a different person at the chessboard.""
Unconsciously, Patricia pictured Kaleb playing chess with the old men, her lips twitched involuntarily.
Lisa continued, ""You know, I've never seen anyone as tricky as Kaleb. If he regrets a move, he actually claims he made a mistake and takes it back.""
Patricia fell silent.
Ryan rubbed his chin. ""I never expected Kaleb to be like this, it's surprising! He usually has his heart set on Martin and Patricia.""
He seemed normal, a protective person.
Yet, he was terrifying at the chessboard.
Maximilian, fearing Patricia's image of Kaleb might shatter, coughed lightly. ""Kaleb gets a bit crazy only when playing cards or chess, out of control. He's normal otherwise.""
Patricia forced a smile.
Lisa added, ""That's why we get scared when we hear Kaleb wanting to play chess!""
As they spoke, the six of them arrived at the golf course. Being affluent and accustomed to grand settings, they weren't overly surprised to see the vast private golf course behind t he Hill family's villa.
Billy chuckled. ""My dad enjoys golf in his leisure time, so he had a golf course built at home. There's also an orchard at the back. If you don't fancy golf, we can go pick fruits in the orchard.""
Lisa excitedly said, ""Yes, there are lots of fruits in the orchard.""
Patricia glanced at Martin, hesitating between staying to play golf or going to pick fruits. She wasn't sure if Martin's health could handle the orchard.
Lisa suggested, ""Patricia, let's go pick fruits! We can pick some lemons to make refreshing drinks! The lemons from my home make delicious drinks.""
Though tempted, Patricia didn't immediately agree.
Martin sensed her thoughts and said, ""Let's go pick fruits! Are there apples?""
Lisa eagerly nodded. ""Yes, there are apples.""
Martin clapped. ""Let's go! I want to pick apples.""
Patricia worriedly asked, ""Are you sure you can?""
Martin chuckled. ""Do you know the phrase men hate the most?""
Patricia blinked. ""What phrase?""
Ryan smirked. ""Men hate being told they can't do something! It's an insult to us.""
Patricia glanced at Maximilian.
Maximilian agreed, ""I concur.""
Patricia looked at Billy.
Billy also chuckled. ""I agree too.""
Patricia sighed, ""Alright then, let's go!""
The orchard was behind the golf course.
Since the golf course was vast, Billy arranged two golf carts to take them directly to the orchard gate.
Martin, concerned about Patricia's well-being due to Charles's illness, stayed by her side throughout, allowing Patricia to relax and enjoy herself for once.
Everyone knew she had been through a lot worrying about Charles recently.
It was rare for her to have a moment of relaxation today.
The orchard at the Hill Residence was quite large.
It had almost all the common fruits found in the market.
It was now autumn.
Apples and lemons were all in season.
Patricia remembered Martin wanted apples. Upon entering, she immediately rolled up her sleeves and prepared to climb up to pick one.
Martin, worried she might fall, urged, ""Patricia, what are you doing? Come down quickly.""
Lisa, also alarmed, said, ""Patricia, what are you doing? Aren't you afraid of falling? Let my brother go, he's tough, he'll be fine even if he falls.""
Billy asked, ""Why not let Maximilian go?""
Lisa replied, ""It's too dangerous, what if he falls?""
Billy chuckled. ""What? Is my life not important?""
Lisa confidently stated, ""Of course! Your life is not as important as his.""
Billy playfully tapped her forehead. ""You heartless woman, have you forgotten that I'm your real brother?""
Lisa, nursing her sore forehead, hid behind Maximilian. ""Charles, Billy is bullying me.""
Billy fell silent.
While they bantered, Patricia had already climbed the tree.
Martin felt anxious.
""Patricia, come down, let Ryan go up.""
Ryan joked, ""Charles, my life is important too, you're being biased.""
Martin fell silent.
Empathizing with Ryan, Billy couldn't help but laugh, patting his shoulder. ""Bro, don't be sad, I'm here for you!""
Ryan fell silent.
Sitting on a large branch, Patricia waved down to Martin. "" Don't worry, I'm fine! Climbing trees is easy for me. Just wait, I'll pick a delicious apple for you.""
With determination, she stretched her neck, scanning the tree and quickly locking onto her target.
The target was a bit far from her. She inched forward on the branch, left hand gripping the trunk, right hand reaching for the apple.
Unfortunately, the apple was too far for her reach. Desperate to grab it, she kept moving forward, unknowingly distancing herself from the branch. The branch beneath her also grew thinner.
Martin was terrified.
""Patricia, come down, it's too dangerous! It's just an apple, we can buy one or get a ladder.""
It was heartbreaking to see someone get hurt over an apple.
Unfortunately, Patricia was determined to get that apple and couldn't hear Martin's words.
She had only one thought in her mind.
She had to get that apple for Martin.
The branch couldn't bear the weight of an adult like her, and with a snap, it broke.
Patricia screamed in terror as she and the branch plummeted from a height.
""Patricia."" Martin's breath caught, about to rush forward to catch her, but someone else beat him to it.
In the next moment, Patricia landed safely in Billy's arms."
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