Florence was simply born into a fortunate situation, growing up in the affluent and illustrious the Doyle family. Besides being pampered and having a spoiled temperament, she had no other merits!
To build a good relationship with the Doyle family, Erica repeatedly sacrificed herself to please Florence, acting as Florence’s lackey, fulfilling all of Florence’s demands. However, Florence didn’t see her as a person. Not only did she treat Erica disrespectfully, assigning blame for everything onto her, but she also schemed multiple times to drive Jane away from Patrick.
Osborn, whom Erica idolized, fell victim to Florence’s designs. Erica couldn’t bear to see Osborn manipulated like that.
Hence, Erica did many things behind the scenes.
That night, Erica leaked the incident between Florence and the hired hand in the rest area to the media, subtly pushing and fueling the situation, letting it escalate.
However, Erica was cautious in her actions. She knew that if Florence discovered her involvement, she would be in serious trouble.
“If I also threaten suicide, do you think it will work?” Florence, consumed by anger and incited by Erica, found her arguments quite reasonable.
Erica pursed her lips and pretended to be concerned. “It might work, but it’s too dangerous, Florence. You mustn’t do it.”
“As long as I can have him, what does a little danger matter?” Florence’s eyes flashed with determined ambition.
Erica’s words reminded her; since even Candice could play the victim to gain Patrick’s sympathy, why couldn’t she?
Seeing her scheme succeed, a subtle malicious glint flashed in Erica’s eyes.
Suicide?
It would only make Patrick dislike Florence even more.
Even if Florence came from a good background, so what?
Wasn’t she still being toyed with by Erica?
Back at the Doyle family, Florence returned to her room, locking herself in.
Until dinner time, Florence didn’t come downstairs.
“Where’s Florence?” Old Doyle, observing Florence’s prolonged absence, furrowed his brows and looked at Peter.
Peter raised his head. “As soon as she came back, she locked herself in her room. I have no idea what she’s doing.”
“Go call the young lady down for dinner,” Old Doyle ordered the butler.
“Yes, Old Doyle.” The butler respectfully responded, then turned and went upstairs.
He knocked on Florence’s door, but there was no response.
“Miss, it’s time for dinner.” The butler knocked for several minutes, but Florence remained silent.
He had no choice but to turn and go downstairs to report to Old Doyle. “Miss’s door is locked, and I knocked for a long time with no response. I don’t know if she’s sleeping.”
“At this hour, she shouldn’t still be sleeping.” Peter rubbed his temples, a sudden bad feeling rising within him.
Ever since the night of the Doyle Group’s 50th-anniversary celebration, Florence had been listless and dispirited.
Today, she went to find Patrick, and when she returned, she looked even more dejected.
Without a doubt, it was because of Patrick.
Peter could easily imagine how coldly Patrick treated Florence.
Yet, his dear sister insisted on clinging to Patrick.
Peter felt a bit worried. He stood up and walked towards Florence’s room on the second floor.
“Florence, what are you doing? Open the door!” Peter reached out and forcefully knocked.
However, the room remained eerily silent, with no sign of any movement.
The growing sense of unease in Peter’s heart became overwhelming. He fetched the key to the room, but the door was locked from the inside.
Frantically, Peter forcefully broke open the door.
“Florence, Florence!” Peter’s eyes scanned the room, but there was no one inside.
Florence wasn’t there?
It couldn’t be!
In the afternoon, he had seen Florence return to her room with his own eyes. She hadn’t come out since, and the door was locked from the inside. She should still be in her room.
“Florence, where are you?” Peter called loudly while searching the room.
He reached the bathroom door, saw it closed, and abruptly pulled it open.
Peter was stunned by the scene before him.
Florence lay in the bathtub, her right hand hanging down, a bright red wound on her wrist, continuously bleeding and staining the white bathtub.
On the floor, a fruit knife, tainted with the gruesome red blood, was a chilling sight.
“Florence, what happened to you?” Peter urgently approached, pressing down on Florence’s wound.
Florence opened her eyes laboriously, pale, her breath feeble. “Brother, I’m willing to die for Patrick.”
“Why would you be so foolish?!” Peter’s face was full of anguish.
He knew Florence loved Patrick, but Patrick didn’t love her.
Unrequited love was painful.
But he never expected Florence to attempt suicide for Patrick!
He anxiously lifted Florence. “Florence, hold on. I’ll take you to the hospital!”
“Brother, remember to tell Patrick… that I love him more than my own life.” Florence struggled to say before losing consciousness.
“Florence! You can’t die!”
Peter carried Florence downstairs, leaving Old Doyle and the servants who rushed in stunned.
The butler hurriedly helped Florence bandage the wound to prevent excessive bleeding.
Peter drove directly to the hospital for emergency treatment.
“Miss Doyle has lost a significant amount of blood; the situation is critical,” the doctor said after the examination.
Peter grabbed the doctor’s collar, his eyes red. “Whatever it takes, you must save Florence for me!”
“Yes, Mr. Doyle!” The doctor answered nervously.
Watching Florence being treated urgently, Peter felt heartbroken.
Florence ended up like this, all because of Patrick.
If Patrick had treated her a bit better, Florence wouldn’t have contemplated suicide.
After some thought, Peter dialed Patrick’s number.
Patrick had just arranged everything and was about to go to Y City for disaster relief when his phone suddenly rang.
He took out his phone and saw Peter’s call.
Patrick answered, his tone cold. “Peter, do you need something?”
“Florence attempted suicide because of you,” Peter said with a hint of anger.
Patrick was momentarily stunned.
Florence attempted suicide?
Was she out of her mind?
Seeing Patrick silent on the other end of the phone, Peter suppressed his anger and said as calmly as possible, “Florence is currently receiving emergency treatment at the hospital. Come and see her.”