Chapter 2 Six Years Ago

• Patricia held Sylvie's hand and quickly went after him.
• Alas, the man had already reached a Maybach and was getting into the car.
• “Wait!” she exclaimed hastily, running faster but still failing to catch up.
• The man got into the car without looking back and soon disappeared from their sight.
• Sylvie stomped her feet frantically, tugging at Patricia's hand. “Mommy, we have to go after him! We have to catch up with Daddy!”
• Patricia was torn between amusement and exasperation. “We can't be sure of that.”
• Sylvie refused to listen. “He is Daddy!”
• Patricia picked her up. “Sylvie, that's enough. Let's go home.”
• The man had vanished, and no matter how much she wanted to chase after him, Patricia knew it was futile.
• She had not been back to Appleby for six years.
• The city had undergone significant transformations, so Patricia found herself confronted with many unfamiliar sights and surroundings.
• I wonder if Grandpa is still mad at me. I dare not head home.
• Back then, in her desperate attempt to escape after realizing she had been sold, Patricia had fled recklessly and accidentally tumbled down a mountainside, colliding with a passing car. Thankfully, the kind-hearted car owner rescued her and brought her overseas, where she gave birth to her triplets. It was only after several years that she returned to her hometown.
• Late at night, there was a commotion at OTG Hospital.
• “Doctor! Doctor!”
• Patricia burst into the emergency room, cradling her daughter in her arms. Her body trembled with fear as she pleaded desperately, “Please, you have to save my daughter. Her fever is so high that she's having convulsions!”
• As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks.
• The doctor quickly took the unconscious child from her. “Please wait outside. We'll give her emergency treatment.”
• Swiftly, the doctor initiated the necessary treatment while the nurse guided Patricia out of the emergency room. “Please take care of the payment first. Here's the invoice. Your daughter requires hospitalization and may need to be transferred to the ICU.”
• Patricia nodded vehemently. “Okay. Please do your best to treat her.”
• Nothing can happen to Sylvie. What if her fever has detrimental effects on her brain? She seemed perfectly fine when we arrived earlier. I never expected her temperature to spike so suddenly at night.
• Patricia dared not think of the possibilities. Sobbing silently, she made her way to the payment counter to settle the bill.
• Right then, hurried footsteps could be heard at the entrance of the hospital.
• A group of impeccably dressed men entered the hospital, led by a tall figure radiating an aura of coldness.
• Clad in a black trench coat, meticulously buttoned to the top, he exuded an icy presence.
• His sharp, chiseled features and piercing eyes bestowed upon him exuded an alluring and devilish charm.
• His lips were tightly pressed together, adding to his intimidating demeanor.
• Wherever he went, people would make way for him.
• Lost in her thoughts, Patricia walked with her gaze fixated on the ground, unaware of the approaching men.
• Abruptly, a jolt of pain surged through her head as she collided with the chest of a stranger.
• “Ow!” she yelped, losing her balance and toppling over.
• A familiar scent filled the man's nostrils. He instinctively reached out, his hand steadying her waist to prevent her from collapsing to the ground.
• “Thank you...” Patricia looked up to see a man's back.
• “Miss, please watch where you're going.” A cold voice rang out.
• She didn't even get to take a good look at his face before she was told off.
• She turned around and huffed, “Please watch where you're going, too, sir!”
• He was the one who ran into me! What a domineering man!
• The man heard her reply as he entered the elevator and turned to look at her. It was then that he noticed her disheveled appearance. She was wearing old-fashioned pajamas and had messy hair, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She looked like a complete mess.
• He glanced down and noticed that she was barefoot, and her toes had turned bright red from the cold. He also observed scrapes on her toes.
• The elevator doors gradually closed, obscuring his view entirely.
• In the VIP ward on the tenth floor, Phillip Arnold was lying in bed, connected to various tubes.
• When Isaac Arnold stepped into the ward, Philip immediately gave him an earnest look and forced himself to lift his hand.
• Isaac hurried over to the bed and held Phillip's hand. His voice was trembling in excitement as he said, “Grandpa, you're finally awake.”
• Six years ago, he had consumed a spiked drink sent by his grandfather and spent a night with a woman.
• The next morning, a phone call from the butler brought news of Phillip's deteriorating health. Shortly after, Phillip slipped into unconsciousness.
• Despite Isaac's frantic efforts to find the best doctors from around the world, Philip's condition showed no improvement. Meanwhile, the mysterious woman who had been with Isaac at the hotel had vanished without a trace.
• That night, out of the blue, Phillip regained consciousness. As soon as Isaac received the news, he hurriedly made his way to the hospital.
• Phillip said with difficulty, “M-Marry... the eldest daughter of the Aniston family...” Patricia Aniston.