Not A Small-Town Girl

----

He opened the box and found three envelopes inside.

The sender was listed as Danielle. Patrick didn’t dare

open them. No way was he going to risk it—let the

boss deal with it when they got back.

"Let’s leave."

At Soufield’s St. Katherine’s Hospital, outside the

operating room, Polly was crying uncontrollably, her

face a picture of devastation. If you didn’t know any

better, you might think someone had died.

When Logan and Tara arrived, they were taken aback

by the sight. Even though they weren’t exactly fond of

Polly, seeing her sobbing outside the operating room

moved them.

----

"Grandpa, Grandma, you’re here. Dad’s been in there

along time, but he’s going to be okay. Don’t worry,

Grandpa, Grandma, Dad’s a lucky man, he’ll be fine."

Sebastian, his eyes red with tears, comforted Logan

and Tara. He looked every bit the filial child, and

anyone who saw him would believe he was trying to

be a good son.

“Mom, Dad, you’re here... It’s my fault. | didn’t take

care of Geoffrey. | let him drive out at night and now

this accident happened. If only | could’ve stopped

him... maybe this wouldn’t have happened."

Before Logan and Tara could say anything, their son

and daughter-in-law continued speaking non-stop.

“Alright, enough crying. The man’s still in surgery,

ight? It’s not your fault. He was speeding." Tara’s

voice was soothing, trying to calm the situation.

----

"Mom, Dad, | don’t know what’s

going on witlyGeoffrey. | called

David severat times, but he didn’t .

answer. Lasked the doctorto

contact him, but before the doctor

couldqinish, David hung up one.

It’shy fault... David never gifés me

acshance to make things right. He

hasn’t even come to see Geoffrey in

the operating room."

----

Polly’s words were veiled, a subtle

attack orDavid,

implying that heg>

wasn’t a good son—he couldn’teven

visit his father a

wasDavid’s deli

that had caused

ter the accidéftt. It

berate negligence

all this.

"Grandpa, Grandma, | called David

too, but he didn’t pick up. Even when

Dad calls,he doesn’t answer. If he

does, he just yel

s. | feel so bad for”

Dad. David doesn’t want me togpin

the gsmpany, and I’ll respect that,

butY’ve tried to t

alk to him.#e just

séems to hate me."

com

----

Sebastian added his own two cents, trying to paint

himself as the victim in the situation. He was playing

the good brother, the one who wouldn’t compete with

his envious older sibling, David.

Tara exchanged a glance with Logan, but she said

nothing.

“Call David. Tell him to come to the hospital."

Logan immediately took out his phone and dialed

David. Polly and Sebastian exchanged a glance. It

seemed their plan to discredit David was working.

If David lost Logan and Tara’s trust, then Sebastian

would have a chance to take over the Charrington

Group. The key now was to find a reliable ally for

Sebastian.

Polly’s eyes glinted with calculation, the worry in her

gaze completely gone.

----

Meanwhile, upstairs in the hospital room.

Awell-dressed woman, wearing sunglasses, entered

with an assistant carrying a fruit basket.

“Xavier, | just found out you were hurt! As soon as |

heard, | rushed over here. How badly are you hurt?

Does it hurt? Let me see!"

“Xavier, you’ve never had such a serious injury! Who

did this to you? I’m so heartbroken."

The woman hurried to Xavier’s bedside, tears flowing

freely, as if the world’s sorrow had just hit her.

Her dramatic entrance left the room’s occupants

speechless.