After Patricia went downstairs, Martin took a bath, changed into comfortable home clothes, and went down to stand in the kitchen doorway. Leaning against the frame, he watched Patricia bustling about with a warmth in his heart that was hard to put into words. He found himself wishing things could always be this way. Why hadn't he cherished her five years ago? For the sake of his damned pride and promises, he divorced her, leading to the situation he faced now. A man not prone to regret, Martin felt it now for the first time regarding his decision to divorce Patricia.As Patricia finished stir-frying a few dishes and was about to carry them out, she turned to find Martin leaning in the doorway, startling her: "How long have you been standing there? You didn’t make a sound; you almost scared me to death."Martin offered a thin smile and took the dishes from her hands to place them on the dining table outside. Patricia handed him the other plates. Gratefully accepting them, Martin che

Patricia was driving, mulling over her impending conversation with Samuel, when her phone rang again. She answered using the car's Bluetooth system, "Hello…"Samuel's deep voice filled the compact car's cabin, "Martin is following you. Lose him. I don't want him involved."Checking the rearview mirror at his warning, Patricia indeed spotted Martin's car. His Maybach was two vehicles behind, maintaining a cautious distance that would hardly be noticeable unless one was looking intently.Patricia sneered, "He's Charles' father; of course, he's involved. Why should I stop him from knowing?"Samuel's voice suddenly dropped, "If you let him know, I won't guarantee my next step. You'll regret it."The naked threat clenched Patricia's hold on the steering wheel, channeling her rage. Predicting her acquiescence, Samuel ended the call. Patricia glared in the rearview mirror, recalling the authority and influence Samuel wielded despite no longer managing the Langley Group. Earning his ire was

Touched by her vulnerability, Martin felt an itch at the tip of his heart and forcefully resisted the urge to embrace her. He then threw the umbrella to the ground, lifted her in his arms, and forced her into the passenger seat, draping his jacket over her as a gesture of comfort."Go ahead and cry, but inside the car," he said firmly as she wept, "it's raining out, don't mistreat your body."Hearing his concern, Patricia halted her tears, looking at him with wet lashes, appearing as a forlorn rabbit. Martin felt the tickle in his heart again, fighting the impulse to pull her into his arms, he closed the car door firmly, circled around to the driver's side, and sat down. Taking a dry towel from the compartment, he tossed it onto her lap."Dry yourself off first. We're going home. Everything else can wait until we get there," he said with an authoritative, husky voice.Patricia, head empty and unable to think clearly, complied blindly. Earlier, the heartache had numbed her to the c

Patricia’s breath caught, watching the ashtray hurtling toward her. At the last moment, she swerved aside. The ashtray whooshed by her face and crashed to the floor, shattering on impact. Seeing his attack miss, Gavin bellowed in fury, “You’ve got some nerve dodging!”Heart still racing, Patricia caught her breath, a mixture of relief and sarcasm filled her response, “Why shouldn’t I dodge? Why shouldn’t I? You’ve never stopped hitting me since I was a child. Why should I keep taking it?”Gavin, with a face uglier than the devil's, approached step by step, his rage mounting with each stride as he spoke.“Remember, I only gave you an hour! You’re late, so I burnt all your mother’s things.”Patricia was startled at first, then noticed the fleeting look of triumph in Gavin's eyes and realized what was happening, her lips curling into a smile. “I’m busy and have no time to waste here. If you have something to say, speak quickly or I’m leaving.” She stated indifferent to his empty threa

Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down her forehead.Patricia exerted all her strength to resist Debbie's force.Unfortunately, the deranged Debbie was frighteningly strong, and Patricia was no match for her.As the struggle wore on, Patricia began to lose ground.The knife's tip pressed against the tip of her nose.There was a sharp pain.Not very painful.Like a needle prick.But Patricia knew that if the fruit knife went any deeper, her nose would be gone.Despite using all her strength, Patricia's efforts were futile against the crazed Debbie. No sooner had she pushed the knife away than it came stabbing down again.And she could clearly feel the strength draining from her body.The back of her head ached against the cold ground, both painful and numbing.Sensing Patricia's weakening grip, Debbie's eyes shone with bloodthirsty excitement."Patricia, you're going to die!"With her words trailing off, Debbie bit down hard on Patricia's wrist."Ah..."Patricia winced in pain, h