“Grandpa, I’ll stay with you a little longer,” Patrick said in a solemn tone.
Since Old Pansy fell ill, he had been regretting not being attentive enough to his grandfather while busy with work. Now that Grandpa was fine, he promised himself to spend more time with him in the future.
Seeing his grandson caring so much about him, Old Pansy was in a great mood. He held Patrick’s hand, smiling, “Sure, sure.”
*The Pansy family.*
“Aunt, look, it seems like Cousin and that wicked woman, Jane, have fallen out,” Melissa said, holding her phone and showing the news of Patrick picking up Old Pansy from the hospital, the quarrel between Jane and Candice, and Jane being kicked out by Patrick.
“Really?” Beatrice was momentarily surprised. “Wasn’t Patrick not fond of that vixen? Why would they suddenly have a falling out?”
“It’s true!” Melissa handed her phone to Beatrice, excited. “Aunt, look, today when Grandpa was discharged, Cousin kicked Jane out.”
Beatrice’s gaze fell on the phone screen.
The photos clearly showed Jane being escorted away by security.
“So, it’s because of Candice.” Beatrice squinted slightly.
She didn’t like Jane, and she equally disliked Candice.
In Beatrice’s ideal daughter-in-law, she envisioned someone like Florence – an accomplished and well-mannered woman with a prestigious background.
“Aunt, now that Cousin and Jane have fallen out, will he let us go?” The thought of Patrick made Melissa’s heart ache.
Despite her deep love for him, he refused to spare her even a glance.
Patrick had always been indifferent to her.
If it weren’t for this, how could she have taken the risk of poisoning Old Pansy to frame Jane?
Unfortunately, she failed in the end.
Jane, that wicked woman, turned the tables, leading to Patrick locking her up!
Beatrice shook her head helplessly, “Your cousin confines us because of his grandfather.”
“What should we do now? How about we go plead with Grandpa? Since Grandpa is fine now, maybe he’ll soften his heart and ask Cousin to let us out,” Melissa suggested, pursing her lips.
These days, being confined at home, unable to step out of the front gate, made Melissa feel stifled.
She didn’t want to be confined like this for the rest of her life.
“Plead with him?” Beatrice coldly smiled. “Even if we kneel down and beg, he won’t let us out.”
“What should we do then?” Melissa felt despair creeping in.
She originally thought Patrick was just angry and would release them after a few days, considering family ties. After all, Beatrice was his biological mother.
But now, day after day, Patrick showed no intention of letting them out.
Melissa couldn’t see any hope.
“I have a plan,” Beatrice’s face grew colder.
“Aunt, what’s your plan?” Melissa’s eyes brightened.
Beatrice patted her shoulder, “Let me think it over.”
“Aunt, please make Cousin let us out soon. I can’t take this any longer. I might go crazy,” Melissa couldn’t wait any longer.
“Melissa, rest assured, we’ll be out soon,” Beatrice’s gaze flashed with determination.
After dinner with Old Pansy, Patrick stood up, “Grandpa, I still have some work to attend to. I’ll be leaving.”
Old Pansy nodded, advising, “Patrick, don’t overwork yourself. Take care of your health.”
“Okay.” Patrick gave a faint acknowledgment and turned to leave the grand gates of the Pansy family estate.
Watching Patrick’s car disappear into the distance, Old Pansy curled his lips in satisfaction.
His workaholic grandson now frequently takes time to accompany him, bringing great satisfaction to Old Pansy.
“Old Pansy, get some rest,” Mr. Maurice assisted Old Pansy back to his room.
As soon as Old Pansy entered the room, his phone rang.
He glanced down and saw that it was a call from Beatrice.
Old Pansy’s eyebrows furrowed immediately.
His daughter-in-law had disappointed him greatly by conspiring with Melissa to poison him for her selfish desires.
He directly hung up the phone, but the next second, it rang again.
After some thought, Old Pansy answered the call.
“Dad, it’s me,” Beatrice said on the other end, “Heard you were discharged today, so I called to check on you.”
“No need for your concern,” Old Pansy replied unenthusiastically.
“Dad, what are you saying? I’ve always been concerned about you,” Beatrice continued, “Originally, Melissa and I were supposed to go to the hospital to pick you up, but Patrick wouldn’t let us leave.”
“Then you should know why Patrick won’t let you out,” Old Pansy sneered. “What you both did disappointed me greatly!”
“Dad, we didn’t want to!” Beatrice sounded somewhat aggrieved. “Melissa and I were forced. It was Winston! He resents you for driving him away and wants revenge. Winston threatened us, held a knife to us, and if we didn’t comply, he’d take our lives. What do you expect us to do?”
“Heh,” Old Pansy scoffed, not believing a word of what Beatrice said.
“I’m telling the truth. The poison Melissa used on you was also given to her by Winston. I regret it now. Dad, no matter what, I apologize to you. Let Patrick let us out!” Beatrice circled around but finally got to the point.
Old Pansy’s voice turned icy, rejecting outright, “I’m old, and I won’t meddle in Patrick’s affairs.”
“Really? Dad, you should know that Patrick has always harbored resentment for his father’s death, right?” Beatrice’s eyes flashed with a cold light. “For so many years, he has never given up seeking the truth behind his father’s drowning.”
“That’s good. I also hope Patrick can find out the truth and not let his father’s death remain a mystery.” Thinking of his son’s burial at sea all those years ago, Old Pansy’s tone grew heavier.
“Dad, is that really what you want?” Beatrice’s voice turned colder. “If Patrick knows why his father went to sea that year, if he learns those secrets, what do you think he’ll do?”
At these words, Old Pansy’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you know?”
“I know everything. The night before Jianguo went to sea, I overheard what you and he said in the study.” Beatrice’s tone carried a hint of triumph. “Dad, you haven’t forgotten, have you?
No worries, if you’ve forgotten, I can say it again. What if I tell Patrick that it was his always-respected grandfather who personally sent his father to die? What do you think Patrick will do?”