Chapter 698 Patricia Hid Away
After settling Patricia, Martin began preparing to return to Sunset Bay with Ryan and Kaleb. Due to the fear of Patricia's location being discovered, she was not permitted to see them off.
Riley, preoccupied with company matters, had left for the office early and had yet to return. Hence, the only one seeing them off was Sebastian.
Kaleb's expression was serious and worried, his reluctance to leave Patricia visible. Ryan, too, wore a somber look, his usual banter and smiles absent since morning.
In contrast, Martin appeared notably more relaxed. Sebastian tried to reassure Kaleb, “Don’t worry. I will take good care of Patricia! Once everything settles down, you will be able to reunite.”
Thinking about parting ways with Patricia just after reuniting with her left Kaleb deeply uncomfortable. “If anything happens to her, please contact me immediately!”
Kaleb's reluctance to leave was palpable. Sebastian nodded reassuringly. "Don't worry. I promise I will take good care of Patricia. She is more important to me than my own life."
Kaleb was deeply moved by Sebastian's words. "With you looking after her, Patricia is fortunate."
Feeling slightly embarrassed by Kaleb’s praise, Sebastian chuckled. “You're too kind. Having her as a sister is a blessing for us too.”
Time was pressing. After a brief farewell, Martin boarded the plane with the fake Patricia, Kaleb, and Ryan. Despite the many farewells and concerns, Martin knew that only by leaving would Joe be convinced that Patricia had also gone.
Sebastian watched them until they disappeared through the boarding gate, then turned back, determined. He cleared his schedule for the day to personally prepare supplies for Patricia and install surveillance in the living room of her new hideout.
By the time everything was settled and he returned home, it was already evening.
As soon as he walked through the door, Brooke pulled him into a room, locking it behind them. Sebastian, puzzled, asked, “Mom, what’s going on? Why the secrecy? Do you have something you can't tell others?”
Brooke sat him down on the sofa, leaned in close, and whispered, “I need to know where you arranged for Patricia to stay.”
Sebastian replied casually, “Why do you need to know that? You’ve never approved of Patricia. Why the sudden concern? Realizing we’re family now?”
Brooke rolled her eyes. "Don't think I don't know. They offended the prime minister of Country D and fled back here! Sebastian, they offended the prime minister! This has nothing to do with you, so why interfere?"
Sebastian, hearing Brooke’s words, sensed something deeply wrong. He looked her in the eye and asked, “So, you’re asking about Patricia’s whereabouts to report them to someone?”
Caught off guard by Sebastian’s piercing gaze, Brooke’s eyes darted around, avoiding his. Her expression revealed everything to Sebastian.
Fury rose within him, and he stood abruptly. “How many times do I have to tell you? Patricia is our relative. No matter what happens, we should stand by her and protect her. She’s the victim in this matter. As her brother, protecting her is the least I can do. Even if she offended the President, I would still stand by her.”
Brooke’s eyes widened in shock. “She's just your cousin! Why don’t you treat Jeremy the same way?”
Sebastian’s expression turned even more serious. “Whether it's Patricia or Jeremy, I would do the same. And not just me. I believe that if we were in trouble, Riley, Ariel, and Patricia would risk their lives to save us.”
Brooke's eyes filled with despair as she looked at Sebastian. "Do you really trust them like that?"
Sebastian nodded without hesitation. "Yes, I trust them! That's what family is about. If you see a family member in trouble and don't help, how are you any different from a beast? Grandpa taught us from a young age to love and support each other, not to harm each other for selfish gains."
Unable to bear it any longer, Brooke stood up, her face flushed with anger. "In light of everything, why entrust the company to Riley while leaving you and Jeremy with practically nothing? Shane's favoritism is blatant, holding back a fair share of the assets from you both, worried about potential conflict."
Brooke looked at Sebastian as if she were seeing him for the first time, her eyes clouded with disappointment.
"Since when did you become so materialistic?" Sebastian asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
‘Did Mom always have this side, or did I just never see it?’ Sebastian pondered as he watched her.
His words struck Brooke deeply. "You think I'm materialistic?" she cried, her voice laced with hurt.
Sebastian remained silent, his gaze steady on her. Brooke’s eyes reddened instantly, torn between the urge to slap him and struggling to hold back her tears.
"I did all this for you and Jeremy! Why should the Koch family's vast fortune be Riley's alone? You and Jeremy deserve an equal share. Those shares should be justly distributed among you, Jeremy, and Riley."
Her outburst left Sebastian wounded as well. "He's not just some old man. He's your father-in-law, my grandfather..."
Brooke looked bewildered, her frustration mounting.
"If you can't even show basic respect to an elderly person," Sebastian said with a weary sigh, "then you don't deserve respect yourself."
With that, he turned to leave, his heart heavy. As he reached the door, he saw Riley standing outside, his expression inscrutable.
Riley had evidently overheard the entire exchange, his expression cold and unreadable.
Lowering his head, Sebastian spoke earnestly, "Riley, I'm sorry. My mom didn’t mean any harm. Neither Jeremy nor I have ever desired Grandpa's shares. You took over the company at twenty-four and have been dedicated to it. Jeremy and I haven’t contributed anything and have no right to claim any part of it."
Brooke, incensed, rushed to the door, pushing Sebastian aside and revealing her true feelings. "I’m stating facts. These things have been weighing on me for too long. You’re all the old man’s grandsons. Why should you get all the benefits? I’ve worked just as hard for the company, yet I’m only the logistics department manager. Why are you the vice president?"
Sebastian, anger flaring, cut her off. "Mom, enough! If you keep this up, I won’t acknowledge you as my mother."
Enraged and unable to hold back, Brooke let it all out. "I raised you; he's just your cousin! And yet, you won’t stand up for me? You, who treats me with such disrespect..."
Riley, clearly weary from the argument, coldly interrupted, "It’s late. Come in and have dinner."
He had originally come to invite Sebastian to dinner and ask about Patricia personally. Yet, overhearing the conversation, Riley realized the depth of Brooke's resentment.
Fearing Riley's wrath, Sebastian hurriedly followed him inside.
Brooke, still seething, wished she could break open Sebastian's head to understand his incomprehensible loyalty.
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