CHAPTER 89: PATRICIA'S DETERMINATION
"Zac informed me of your ailment." Smiling gently, Giselle touched Patricia's forehead.She breathed a sigh of relief when her daughter's temperature felt normal.
Last night, she had received a phone call from Zac, who told her that Patricia had been hospitalized due to her high fever.
Fraught with concern, Giselle wanted to rush over to the hospital to tend to her sick daughter but was stopped by Zac.Giselle had felt reassured when Zac said that he would take good care of Patricia.
So, she had left her daughter in his care.
However, she hadn't expected to walk in and find them in such an intimate embrace when she came over this morning.
Giselle had always presumed that Zac had feelings for Patricia.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have called her multiple times to talk about something about Patricia or even stayed overnight at the hospital to tend to her in person.
And as for the rumors surrounding Zac and Lyndsy's relationship, Giselle always thought it was all fabricated by the entertainment reporters.
But being Patricia's mother, she believed it still necessary to confront Zac and confirm his relationship with Lyndsy.
Patting the back of Patricia's hand, Giselle said softly, "Patricia, by now, I'm sure you're able to clearly see how Zac feels about you.So, you shouldn't keep pushing him away."
As soon as she finished speaking, Giselle gave her daughter a knowing look.
Upon hearing her mother's words, the blush on Patricia's face deepened.
Grabbing her clothes nervously, she glanced in the direction of the bathroom out of the corner of her eyes.
Her tender gaze implied that she was waiting for something.Seeing the expression on Patricia's face, Giselle chuckled.
'How can I not understand what is on my daughter's mind? If Patricia is really in a relationship with Zac, I would be most pleased.’ Giselle always knew how Patricia felt about Zac.
So, she was gratified now seeing them act like a young couple in love.
Seeing the gleam in Giselle's eyes, Patricia hurriedly explained, "Mom, it's not what you think.I have nothing to do with Zac."
Patricia's heart trembled as she said this last sentence.
‘What is wrong with me? In the past, I had no problem saying something like this.
Now, such words seem to stick in my throat, like I can't bear to even say it out loud.' Giselle knew her daughter like the back of her palm.
Seeing Patricia like this, she understood exactly what was going on in her mind.
However, she thought it best not to reveal what she knew to be the truth to Patricia.
Giselle knew first-hand that this was something Patricia needed to realize on her own.
Saying too much now could worsen the situation. Patricia, not wanting to dwell further on her relationship with Zac, changed the topic.
"Well, mom, let's not discuss this anymore.How have you been faring in the Lowell family recently?" Patricia asked worriedly.
Looking at Giselle, she tightly grasped her wrist with both hands.
After that day at the rose garden, Patricia had been concerned about her mother's position within the Lowell family.She was fearful that the Lowell family would make things difficult for her mother.
Hearing her question, Giselle smiled gently.
Stroking Patricia's hair, she said softly, "Patricia, you need not worry.I'm fine.You should be more concerned about your affair."
Giselle then deliberately pointed in the direction of the bathroom with her eyes.
Patricia pursed her lips helplessly.She knew that her mother had deliberately changed the topic back to herself.This could only mean that the Lowell family was pressuring her mother.
And not wanting her to worry, Giselle chose not to say anything on the matter.
As her daughter, Patricia knew all too well how her mother thought and behaved.
However, she was unable to share her mother's burden.
Patricia couldn't help feeling dejected about this and subconsciously lowered her head.
Noticing the change in Patricia's mood, Giselle gently touched her back and said softly, "Patricia, I know you are worried about me.
But as long as your Uncle Richard sides with me, no one will dare harm me."
Patricia knew this to be true, but what would happen on the occasions when Richard was not around? Patricia didn't want to think of how the Lowell family would bully her mother in Richard's absence.
She knew that her mother would silently endure any pain and suffering inflicted on her.
Thinking of this and how herself had been treated in the past made Patricia sad and brought tears to her eyes.
‘Is there no safe place for mother and myself in this world?’ Seeing how depressed Patricia had become, Giselle pursed her lips and gently stroked her back.
As Zac exited the bathroom, he was greeted by this scene.
His heart hurt seeing Patricia like this.
He wanted nothing more than to step forward and hug her worries away.
‘What has made her so sad?’ As Zac made a move to step forward, his phone suddenly rang.
This unexpected noise broke the harmonious scene of Giselle and her daughter hugging each other.
They both turned and looked at Zac in unison as if waiting for him to answer the call.
Zac glared angrily at his phone resting in his trouser pocket.
He knitted his eyebrows in anger, and he wondered who could be interrupting him at such a crucial moment.
Taking out his phone, he glanced at the caller ID, only to see that it was Lyndsy calling him.
He immediately hung up the call.He had nothing to say to her, nor did he want to hear her voice.
‘Why is she calling me so early in the morning? This woman is so annoying!’ Patricia became suspicious when she saw Zac had hung up the phone.
She was curious to find out who the caller was and why the calling had angered Zac.
"Zac..." Before Patricia could say anything else, his phone rang again.
Apparently, the caller was anxious to get a hold of Zac.And it appeared as though they wouldn't stop calling until he answered.
Seeing this, Patricia said lightly, "You can answer the call, Zac.My mother will stay here and keep me company."
After two consecutive calls, Patricia assumed it was Zac's secretary calling him.So, she had told him to go ahead and answer the call without further delay. Original from .
Zac frowned in displeasure when he heard Patricia say that.She made it seem like she didn't need him around.
Glaring at her angrily, Zac strode out of the ward and into the corridor to answer his phone.
Unbeknownst to him, Patricia had meant that he didn't need to worry about her and could return to work if something urgent had presented itself.
So, Zac misunderstanding the meaning behind her words had upset Patricia a little bit.Giselle snickered as she watched her daughter pout.
Recalling something, she whispered to Patricia, "Patricia, today is your father's birthday.Are you going to the Sampson family's house today?"
Giselle didn't want her daughter to return to the Sampson family's house.
Yolanda and Lyndsy would be patiently waiting to bully her if she returned.
Moreover, Sullivan had gone too far last time.He was no longer qualified to be her father.
Patricia was stunned when she heard this news.She had forgotten that today was her father's birthday.
But her father had never liked her.Furthermore, he had allowed Yolanda and Lyndsy to vent their frustration on her.
Even so, she did not want to shrink back in fear.
Since today was her father's birthday, how could she, as his daughter, not be present? Even if she was kicked out, her identity as the eldest daughter of the Sampson family could not be changed.
"Mom, I will go over to the Sampson family's house today, " Patricia said word by word in a low voice, a resolute expression set on her face.
Besides, Yolanda and Lyndsy would stir up trouble if she didn't make an appearance, and they would make her out to be an unfilial daughter.
"Patricia, I'm afraid..." Giselle stopped short before she could finish her sentence.
Holding her daughter's wrist tightly, she looked worriedly at Patricia.
Giselle was well aware of how cruel Yolanda and her daughter could be to Patricia.
So, she was afraid that they would make things difficult for Patricia once she returned to the Sampson family's home.
Seeing the concerned expression on Giselle's face, Patricia planted a determined and confident smile on her face and said solemnly, "Mom, don't worry.I'll be fine.If anything happens, I will leave as soon as possible."
As soon as she finished speaking, she patted the back of Giselle's hand to reassure her.
Giselle nodded slightly upon hearing Patricia's promise.She patted the back of Patricia's hand as well, indicating to her to be cautious and not act rashly.