“Let me think about it myself,” Nana said after a moment of silence. She didn’t agree or disagree with Jane, but used an evasive tactic.
Her mind was in turmoil and she needed to calm down.
Jane understood and gave her some simple instructions regarding her health before leaving.
…
In the blink of an eye, it was already the 12th day, only six days left until Patrick’s proposed engagement date.
Queena had been in a good mood lately. Since she showed Antony the plan book photos, he hadn’t called her once. At first Queena was worried that Patrick would find out something or that Antony would reveal his true intentions to him. But as time went on, she let go of her guard and focused on planning for the engagement.
Now almost everything had been arranged by Queena herself. She was overjoyed at being able to marry into the wealthy family but there was one thing that puzzled her and made her feel disheartened: Patrick’s attitude towards her.
Patrick had always been kind and gentle towards Queena but he never went beyond what ancient people called “courtesy without intimacy”. Every time Queena tried to get closer to him, he would come up with various excuses or simply avoid touching her altogether.
Over time, Queena began to suspect something fishy going on with Patrick. She refused to believe that he could resist her temptation!
That night, Queena deliberately put on a very sexy silk pajama set and walked into Patrick’s bedroom as if nothing were amiss.
She was taking a shower in his bathroom.
The sound of rushing water filled the air while Queena nonchalantly lathered soap all over herself while imagining what expression Patrick might have when he saw her later.
Suddenly there came sounds from someone entering through the door.
When Patrick returned home from work earlier than expected, he found no sign of Queena in the living room so he headed toward his bedroom where faint sounds could be heard coming from inside. He entered cautiously calling out “Candy?”
After a while, the sound of water abruptly ceased, and the bathroom door was pushed open. Queena emerged, wrapped in a white bath towel, with a wide towel in her hand, wiping her damp hair. Water droplets still trickled down from the ends of her hair.
“Patrick, you’re back…” Queena smiled shyly when she saw him.
Patrick glanced at her briefly before quickly looking away, but his gaze stopped on Queena’s face.
“Candy, what are you doing here?”
Queena smiled and slowly walked towards him with a blush on her face from the steam. “I was waiting for you.”
“Okay, go put some clothes on so you don’t catch a cold.”
Unexpectedly, Patrick remained unfazed and tried to grab the coat lying on the bed to cover Queena. However, Queena grabbed his wrist firmly, preventing him from doing so.
“Patrick, I bought a new perfume today and I wanted to wait for you to come back so I could show it to you. That’s why I’m taking a shower here…”
Queena looked at him pitifully and whispered in his ear with her voice as soft as silk, “You won’t be mad at me will you?”
“Why would I be?” Patrick held onto the hand that was clutching onto his shirt collar. Just when Queena felt happy thinking that Patrick might finally make a move…
He moved her hand aside. “I’m just worried about your health and also curious since this is your first time coming into my bedroom.”
“Patrick…” Queena frowned at him looking like she was wronged then lowered her head again while still trying to get closer to Patrick.
Her slender arms wrapped around his neck like snakes while the scent of perfume wafted up towards Patrick’s nose. This was what she had specially bought for today.
To everyone’s surprise, Patrick only shifted his gaze slightly, seemingly oblivious to the woman’s alluring figure and the suggestive cleavage. He attempted to remove Queena’s hand.
Queena hurriedly spoke, “Patrick… You’ve rejected me many times before, but now we’re about to get engaged. I… I’m willing.”
The implications of her words couldn’t have been clearer, but since Patrick already knew her true intentions and had his own plans with Jane, he wouldn’t let Queena succeed no matter what.
“Enough, Candy.”
Patrick took a step back, slightly raising his hands to avoid any physical contact with Queena.
Finally, he held Queena’s shoulders with both hands, completely releasing her grip on him. They moved a few steps apart.
Queena looked at him in confusion, and Patrick smiled gently as he reached out to stroke her cheek and tidy her hair. He spoke softly to her, “Candy, I understand what you want. But your health isn’t good right now, and like you said, we’re getting engaged soon. When we’re officially married, I’ll give you everything you want.”
Patrick’s words made sense, but Queena didn’t believe them at all. She was eager to become Mrs. Pansy in name and reality. She knew that only by doing something with Patrick could her wish come true.
“It’s late now; go back and rest,” Patrick said.
To Queena’s ears, it sounded like a dismissal. Her smile faded away slowly along with the light in her eyes as disappointment filled her heart. She took the clothes she had brought with her and left without saying anything more.
At the hospital:
Osborn’s wounds had healed almost completely during Jane’s care for him over this period of time; doctors had also checked on him multiple times before finally reassuring them both that, “Mr. Maltz is fine now; he can do some normal activities but still needs to be careful about his physical exertion.”
When Osborn heard this news, he finally smiled again.
Jane was relieved too when she heard this news from the doctor, “Okay Doctor, I got it. I will make sure he takes care of himself.”
Afterwards, Jane followed the doctor out of Osborn’s ward to handle his discharge procedures. Many media reporters were already waiting outside for their first-hand information scoop on Osborn’s discharge from hospital today.
As soon as Jane appeared outside with Osborn by her side, many reporters swarmed around them taking close-up shots while flashes kept going off non-stop.