"After the previous general manager of IP&G Group, Robert, jumped off a building to demonstrate in
Venice branch, his two sons threatened the Group with gunfire, kidnapping, and other criminal
offenses.Now they have been arrested and are likely to be sentenced to more than 30 years...’’
The big TV screen in the VIP room was reporting a live press conference.
Christina sat beside the bed, watching TV with a complicated expression.
The reporters asked anxiously, "I heard that Hopkins Family's eldest grandson was appointed as the
CEO of IP&G Group three months ago, which caused a lot of dissatisfaction among the senior
management.The incident has directly affected the group's stock price.Will the board take it into
consideration.."
"This incident did have some impact on the group, but we will never compromise because of the
vicious threat!"
In front of the camera, the current vice president of IP&G Group replied solemnly and slowly, showing
the forceful attitude of the current management.
That was Patrick's style.
"Robert has been working for the Group for more than 30 years with outstanding results.There are
many doubts about his sudden departure and suicide…”
"Both of his sons are elites of famous international schools.This time, due to the impulsive act of losing
their father, they did such things.Do you consider bringing a reduction of sentence to the court on
account of Robert's previous contributions…”
A female reporter was agitated and asked loudly, "The current president is only seeking personal gain
and ruthlessly oppressing the old employees.Is this the culture that an international company should
have?"
Christina was inexplicably annoyed by the noise on the television.
Most people favored the Preston Family, thinking that they were disadvantaged groups, and Patrick
was obviously the vicious wolf who mercilessly put them into a desperate situation.
Picking up the remote control, she turned off the TV.
"Patrick…”
She sat on the bed in sorrow and murmured the familiar name.
What kind of person was Patrick? Christina looked at the spacious ward with complicated eyes.
There was no one else but her inside and four tall and sturdy bodyguards were guarding the door
outside because she was grounded.
'He is a very strong, and very...dangerous person’
"I'm going in.Let me in!"
All of a sudden, there was a loud argument outside the door.
"I beg you.Please let me in for a while...I would never dare hurt her.I just want to talk to her..."
It was the voice of a middle-aged woman.
She trembled and pleaded repeatedly.
"Please leave immediately!"
Not long after, the bodyguard's cold and serious voice came with a warning.
"Young madam, I beg you to come out.We just came here to apologize to you..."
The woman raised her voice nervously and shouted.
Christina walked to the window of the ward and saw a well- maintained middle-aged woman sitting on
the floor, hugging one of the bodyguards’ calves regardless of her image.
Her face was covered in tears.
She seemed too decisive and kept pleading, "Please let me in to talk to her, just five minutes.Please."
she said in an extremely humble tone.
"Get out of here now!"
The stern bodyguards pointed the gun at her head to warn her.
"No, don't kill my mother...’
On seeing the gun, another young woman was trembling with fear.
She immediately jumped in front of the woman and shielded her.
"F*ck off..."
The bodyguard lost his patience.
"Let them in.’’ Christina’ wrenched the door open and ordered the bodyguards.
The two women, who fell to the ground, heard the sound and immediately raised their heads.
When they saw that it was Christina, they crawled to her feet.
"Mrs.Hopkins, I know that you were scared last night.My two sons were ignorant and muddle-headed.I
can't believe that they had done such an ungrateful thing.I apologize to you on their behalf.I can do
anything for you..."
The middle-aged woman tugged at her feet and spoke in a trembling voice, unable to control her
emotions.
Her forehead was really pounding against the floor, making a thud sound...
The middle-aged woman seemed to be anxious, with a helpless look.
Christina's eyes widened slightly as she looked down at the dignified woman at her feet, who was
kowtowing to her, and she was stunned."Mrs.Hopkins, my brothers have never been like this before.
They have also participated in international volunteer work, but my father's sudden departure affected
them deeply...
Please forgive them.
They will change.
I promise...
The young girl was anxious as well, holding back tears in her eyes and tugging on her other leg.
This was Sean's sister, looking like a college student.
"Drive them away!"
The bodyguards behind them lost their patience.
They immediately went forward and dragged them, afraid that Patrick would come back and blame
them.
"Let them go” Christina said hesitantly.
The bodyguard did not listen to her at all, but replied in a formal manner, "Young madam, please don't
make things difficult for us’’
Yes, they were Patrick's men, so of course, they only listened to his orders.Christina pursed her lips
tightly without speaking.
The fragile mother and daughter could not resist the pull of the bodyguards.
They were carried by the back collar and ruthlessly dragged to the elevator.
Mrs.Preston's face was covered in tears.
She turned to Christina and shouted, "I Know that my husband, Robert, got what he deserved.He was
greedy.He was in a high position and used the group to smuggle, making billions of dollars..."
"Given that he has worked for the group for more than 30 years, Mr.Hopkins agreed to preserve his last
reputation and promised not to publicize these things.I have selfish intentions.I don't want my sons to
look down on my husband, so I didn't tell them..."
Mrs.Preston couldn't help but cry bitterly.
"Both my sons are in their early 30s.If they are in jail for 30 years, their lives will be over.."
They had been dragged to the elevator by the bodyguards, and Christina was still standing in front of
the door, clearly hearing their voices echoing in the corridor of the hospital...
As for the daughter who was dragged behind, she looked at Christina who had an indifferent
expression.
Hatred rose in her eyes.
"You are pregnant.You will be a mother.If you do those things to my brothers, the children you give birth
to will be punished!"
Bang...
The door to the ward was closed.
Christina could no longer hear their voice, but her eyes darkened and she sat back on the edge of the
hospital bed, the girl's cursing echoing in her ears.
In fact, she was not a good person, but the Preston Family's sons kidnapped her last night, and even
held a steel knife in her abdomen, trying to kill her child.
Patrick didn't do anything wrong, but...
She caressed her abdomen, thinking that there was human sympathy beyond the law.
She wanted to reduce the sentence for them in the name of the Group, taking it as a blessing for her
unborn twin sons.
But she was not sure if Patrick would listen to her.
Christina sat by the bed and suddenly blushed a little.
She remembered Charles's strange words this morning.
[ Patrick personally went to the abandoned factory to find you! ]
[ Christina, what's wrong with you! Cecilia is more attentive than you are.Patrick likes you, he likes you!
Can't you feel it at all! ]
‘'He likes me?’’ She pursed her lips and looked up awkwardly at the clock on the wall.
It was five in the afternoon.
The bodyguard had previously reported to her that Patrick was rather busy today and asked her to
have dinner in the hospital by herself.
At eight o'clock in the evening, he would pick her up and go back to Hopkins House.
Before that, she was not allowed to go anywhere.
Frankly speaking, he treated her fairly well.
After she married Patrick, she had a good life, and he didn't put her in a difficult position.
Moreover, Patrick would send someone to inform her when he couldn't be able to come home for
working overtime.
He seemed to like to tell her his schedule.
At first, she felt that it was because of Hopkins Family's good upbringing.
Now in retrospect, it seemed that he cared about her...
It was not that she couldn't feel it, but that she didn't dare to think about it.
No.
Because there was a huge gap between him and her.
"How could he like me?"
She blushed a little and retorted to herself in a soft voice, suppressing an expectation.
‘‘I'm not good at pleasing him, and I'm always against him..”
The thought of that made her even more upset.But there was a thought in her heart weighing her down,
and she wanted to figure it out, but she was a little scared...
"You're really afraid of what's going to happen if you leave her alone at the hospital.There are still a few
bodyguards outside."
It was Charles's bantering voice.
When Christina heard the sound and raised her head, the door to the ward had been opened.Christina
stared at the man in front of him in a daze.
‘‘Didn't he say he wouldn't be free until 8 pm?’’
"How do you feel?" Patrick asked in a cold voice.
Christina quickly lowered her head nervously.
"I'm ready to leave the hospital “ she said.
Patrick seemed to be satisfied with this answer.
He grunted, "Let's go home”
Christina had already changed her clothes, leaving her luggage to the servants.
She went to the bathroom and straightened herself in the mirror before leaving with him.
Charles walked up to her and whispered, "Christina, go and comfort your husband..."
"What?" Christina looked up at the balcony.
It was sunset, and Patrick seemed to be in deep thought.
He frowned and held his phone in his right hand.
The dim light hit the man's silhouette, revealing a sense of loneliness.
‘‘What is he thinking?’’
Inexplicably, she wanted to know.
"Patrick, you soaked in the river last night.Is the fever gone?"
Charles glared at her with hatred, then raised his voice and shouted.
Christina was startled and realized that he had a fever.
When he woke up next to her in the morning, his body was indeed hotter than usual.
"Hurry up and do your duty as a wife..."
Charles was so angry that he secretly pushed Christina on the balcony.
Christina took a few steps forward and hit Patrick's back with her nose.
"Watch out."
Patrick turned around and helped her up.
She was ashamed to hear that and took a step back, whispering, "Got it."
She said after a moment of hesitation, "Patrick, do you have a fever?"
"It's all right.’’ He was still in his cool demeanor.
Christina looked a little awkward.
"Well...Were you looking for me last night, too? Patrick looked at her who swallowed back the words on
the tip of her tongue.” He thought of something and said in a cold voice, "Leave the mother and
daughter of Preston Family alone’’ Christina looked at his resolute face and bit back the words she
wanted to ask.
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