Aimee arrived at Patrick’s room as planned, ready to give him a scheduled massage. Prior to her arrival, she had prepared a medicinal solution and stored it in the refrigerator to freeze. Once the time was up, she would retrieve it from the room.
Her only task now was to ensure that Patrick fell into a deep sleep.
Aimee massaged Patrick’s legs without engaging in conversation or even making eye contact with him. However, Patrick’s unwavering gaze remained fixed on her face.
Aimee felt a sense of unease. She couldn’t fathom what Camdyn and Patrick had discussed during dinner. Why was he continuously staring at her?
Moreover, Aimee couldn’t shake off the peculiar feeling that Patrick seemed to be engaged in a silent competition with her to see who could fall asleep first.
According to her plan, Patrick should be feeling drowsy by now and ready to drift off to sleep. Yet his eyes were as alert as a cheetah’s, displaying no signs of sleepiness whatsoever.
Unable to bear being stared at any longer, Aimee turned her head towards Patrick and inquired, “Mr. Hayden, aren’t you feeling sleepy?”
“Not sleepy yet,” Patrick responded.
Aimee discreetly furrowed her brow, feeling genuinely frustrated.
When she had recently encountered Camdyn, he was yawning and mentioned his intention to retire early that night. Why did Patrick seem unaffected by the soup’s medication?
Patrick noticed her expression and found it amusing. He asked, “What’s wrong? Should I be sleepy?”
“Ah?” Aimee snapped back to attention, immediately shaking her head. “I just thought it was time for you to rest.”
“And what about you?” Patrick inquired.
“I?” Aimee replied. “Of course, I’ll be here with you.”
She had made a decision to stay by Patrick’s side and ensure that he fell asleep before proceeding with her next step. Otherwise, she couldn’t find peace of mind.
“You’re not going to rest?” Patrick asked.
Aimee responded, “I’ll sleep after you fall asleep.”
“If you’re tired, you can go ahead and sleep now,” Patrick suggested.
Aimee promptly shook her head and insisted, “I’m not tired. Really, I’m not.”
On this matter, she was not lying. Aimee only needed one or two hours of sleep each day, and as long as she had that much sleep, she wouldn’t feel tired at all. Only when she had gone without sleep for 30 to 40 consecutive hours and expended a considerable amount of energy would exhaustion set in. Otherwise, her day-to-day tasks were not burdensome to her.
Patrick heard her response and gestured for her to sit beside him.
Aimee cast a perplexed glance at Patrick but ultimately complied, assuming an innocent and gentle demeanor.
Patrick stated, “Considering the time, we’ve been married for a few days. I haven’t given you a wedding, and I haven’t fulfilled my responsibilities as a husband. Even the marriage certificate was arranged directly by my grandfather. Aren’t you angry at all?”
Aimee was taken aback, completely unaware that Patrick would initiate a conversation with her. She gazed at him for a while, confirming that he genuinely wanted to know her thoughts without any ulterior motives. She responded, “I’m not angry. In fact, I think it’s quite good.”
The atmosphere in the Hayden family was a world apart from that of the Read family. Although Aimee had spent a considerable amount of time with Camdyn and Patrick, and had briefly met Casey, she hadn’t encountered or gotten to know the rest of the Hayden family. She wasn’t sure if they would accept her.
Yet, based on the current circumstances, Aimee was genuinely content. The warmth that Camdyn exuded was something she hadn’t experienced since her time with her teacher, and it had been absent ever since. She yearned to cling onto this long-lost warmth.
As for Patrick, her husband, Aimee considered him even more favorable. She had no expectations for him to fulfill any husbandly duties, given his current incapacitated state. Aimee was especially satisfied with that.
If it were an ordinary man, she would have to be cautious and guard against him.
Naturally, Aimee didn’t utter these words to Patrick.
However, Patrick was astute enough to grasp her intentions.
He sneered and remarked, “You don’t strike me as a greedy person. Besides money, I don’t know what I can offer you. Aimee, can you tell me why you agreed to marry me?”
Aimee lifted her gaze to meet Patrick’s and honestly replied, “It was my grandfather’s order, and I had no way to resist.”
As she said this, her tone turned indifferent.
However, Patrick didn’t believe that Aimee’s agreement was solely due to that reason. If she truly didn’t want to, there were countless ways to sabotage the marriage without having to compromise with Mason.
Patrick concluded, “I suppose I can understand that. As long as it allows you to leave the Read family, you’d agree to any family.”
Aimee pursed her lips, gazing unwaveringly at Patrick, but ultimately remained silent.
Indeed, there seemed to be nothing wrong with that reasoning.
Deep down, she had to admit that this was how she truly felt.
However, despite her silence, Aimee noticed a distinctly mocking expression on Patrick’s face.
Patrick’s tone turned cold as he uttered, “So, you’re actually looking forward to my demise now, huh? Or are you planning to endure a few more years before divorcing me?”
Patrick’s words dripped with venom, and the indifference in his gaze towards Aimee was a new level of apathy she had never witnessed before.
Even during their first encounter, when Camdyn brought her to him, Patrick’s eyes hadn’t held such detachment.
Aimee felt an inexplicable chill run through her entire body.
She tried to speak, to say something, but the words never left her lips.
However, her silence spoke volumes, revealing her true thoughts to Patrick.
In an instant, he felt even more suffocated.
The feeling had been building up since before, but now it turned into distress.
Patrick averted his gaze and continued speaking to Aimee in the most indifferent voice, “You don’t have to do anything for me. I can give you time to handle the matter with the Read family. Once you’re done, I’ll help you inform Grandpa that we’re getting a divorce, and you’ll be free to leave this place.”
Aimee bit her lip, attempting to explain something, but found herself unable to utter a word.
She stood up, looked down, and said, “I understand. Don’t worry. I won’t overstep my bounds. If you despise me to this extent, there’s no need to torment yourself. I’ll go and tell Grandpa.”
Patrick’s eyes darkened slightly, but he let out an angry laugh at Aimee’s words.
Was she intentionally distorting his intentions, or trying to embarrass him? Now she had the audacity to lay blame on him.
If Patrick could move at that moment, he wanted to grab Aimee and peer into her complex mind, searching for the unbelievable thoughts that allowed her to utter such infuriating words.
Aimee didn’t care about what Patrick was thinking. All she knew was that she wanted nothing to do with him at that moment.
So, she said, “I won’t disturb your rest. You can go to bed early. Goodnight.”
After speaking, Aimee left without looking back.
Patrick stared in the direction Aimee had departed, seething with anger and clenching his teeth.
He yelled at Trace through his headset, “The Growlers still haven’t acted? They’re taking forever!”
Trembling, Trace rushed in, bowing his head, and said to Patrick, “Mr. Hayden, we’ve been actively contacting the Growlers, but they’re being extremely difficult. They’re now demanding a price of 1. 6 billion directly.”
“Didn’t I already tell you to agree? What? You don’t have 1. 6 billion?” Patrick snapped.
Trace shook his head and replied, “Mr. Hayden, of course, we can easily come up with 1. 6 billion. We’re all prepared for it, but the Growlers won’t provide us with an account number. We can’t transfer the funds. We’re stuck waiting for them.”
Patrick laughed angrily, his anger boiling over, as he stared at Trace for a while before saying, “Trace, you’ve been with me for so many years. And now you’re telling me the way to handle things is to wait? Don’t you value your job?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hayden. It’s my fault,” Trace responded, feeling even more helpless. He hadn’t anticipated that dealing with the Growlers would be so challenging.
Especially now, when the terms had been negotiated, and the Growlers still hadn’t made a move. It was clear they were deliberately dragging things out.
Trace was also frustrated with the Growlers, but they had sought their help, and now they were paying the price.
Patrick fell into silence, fully aware of his subordinates’ capabilities. They wouldn’t be in this predicament if they hadn’t encountered a genuine problem.
After a prolonged pause, Patrick said, “Get prepared and bring my computer here tomorrow.”
Trace looked up at Patrick for a moment, tentatively asking, “Mr. Hayden, which computer are you referring to?”
Patrick felt that nothing would surprise him today.
Because his immobility had become a challenge they were all pushing against.
Gritting his teeth, he replied, “What do you think?”
Immediately, Trace realized which computer Patrick was referring to.
His eyes lit up with excitement, and he exclaimed, “Mr. Hayden, you’re finally ready to take action.”
“Now leave,” Patrick said.
He didn’t want to lay eyes on the guy again.
He was becoming unbearable.
Ignoring Patrick’s anger, Trace immediately responded, “Okay, Mr. Hayden. I’ll go right away.”