Gloria looked stiffly at Patrick in her arms who was asking for help.
The others froze on the spot, watching the strange scene.
"Is that Patrick?" Stewart said skeptically, and everyone present shared the same doubt.
Sean's face suddenly darkened, and he said sternly, "Go! Get the pack doctor."
The pack doctor came, but Patrick refused to cooperate. He clutched Gloria's clothes with both hands and refused to let go.
Thus, all the people present looked at Gloria.
"He only listens to you now," Sean said calmly.
Under the gazes of everyone in the room, Gloria compromised and coaxed the child-like Patrick.
After giving Patrick a checkup, the pack doctor said, "Alpha Patrick seems not to remember the past."
Sean was also a medical worker, so he instantly understood what the doctor meant. "Are you saying that he lost his memory?"
"No. Alpha Patrick's IQ and cognition are now no different from that of an eight-year-old child." The pack doctor shook his head.
"In other words, he only has the understanding and cognitive abilities of an eight-year-old now?" Sean asked solemnly.
The pack doctor said regretfully, "Don't worry. He may get better after some time or some events."
Everyone knew that the doctor was comforting them. In cases like this, the patient may be cured in one or two months, maybe three or five years, or maybe longer.
"The good news is Alpha Patrick is awake, and his vital signs are normal," said the pack doctor, and then he left the ward.
Gloria looked at Patrick, who was lying on the bed. His face was still so familiar, yet his expression was totally strange. Right now, he was like a kid who had done something wrong.
"Have I upset you?" he asked in fear.
Gloria shook her head with a complicated look on her face.
"Then why do you look so unhappy?" His childlike innocent words made Gloria turn her head in dismay.
It was not until Patrick's condition stabilized that they returned to Gabbs together.
Not many people knew about this matter except Sean, Stewart, and several pack guards who had followed Patrick since he was a kid.
Those who knew would never reveal anything.
But when they got back to Gabbs, Patrick's strange behavior was almost impossible to stay unnoticed.
Unfortunately, they couldn't think of any other way for the time being.
Sean was the rational one and suggested, "I think the only way is to let Patrick take a break."
Stewart nodded with a heavy heart. "I guess that's all we can do for now. I hope he can get better soon."
However, everyone else knew that the odds were not in their favor.
Stewart clapped his hands. "Also, we should let Patrick make a temporary appointment. This way, we can deal with the matters of both the Hammond Group and the Black Thorn Pack, and no one will say anything. This kind of thing has happened before."
"But all plans require your cooperation, Luna Gloria," Stewart said gravely.
Gloria's mind was a mess for now. She nodded numbly.
She still found it hard to accept such a change.
Since they had made a decision, Sean and Stewart immediately set about preparing everything.
They went back to Gabbs. Because they had been out so long, Alex got suspicious. As soon as Patrick returned to Gabbs, Alex had someone send a message, telling Patrick that Alex missed him and wanted to see him.
On the second floor of the main villa of the Black Thorn Pack's Alpha, Patrick said indifferently and coldly, "Go back and tell my grandfather that I've been busy recently. I'll go over when I have time."
Once the messenger left, the indifferent Patrick immediately turned into a different person. He turned around and eagerly asked for praise, "Did I do well?"
Behind him, Gloria stood quietly.
"Yes," she opened her mouth and said. When he was talking to the man, she almost thought that he had been putting on an act.
She was unaware of the loneliness and disappointment she had tried so hard to ignore.
"Didn't I do well?" Patrick grabbed the corner of Gloria's clothes again.
"You did great," Gloria had no choice but to say.
His eyes lit up again, and he immediately leaned closer to her.
"What are you doing?" Gloria was a little confused.
"Reward. Sean said that if I did well, I could get a reward." His eyes were full of anticipation.
She opened her mouth with a hint of disappointment in her heart. She thought, 'Does he really not remember?'
"No reward?" It looked like Patrick was about to cry.
Gloria bit her lip. "Of course, there is. As I said, you did great." She rubbed his head.
The next moment, she was stunned to see the satisfied, happy Patrick resting his head on her shoulder.
Then Sean came from behind. "Everything is ready. We can send him away now."
No one said anything. As the car drove along the highway, Gloria looked sideways at Patrick, who had fallen asleep.
She remembered how once he had taken up most of her life. He was in every image she could remember.
The air suddenly became suffocating, and she turned her head to look out of the window abruptly.
He could not remember anything.
Those entanglements they shared, mixed with both love and hatred, were now exclusive to her.
The car headed for the suburbs, getting more and more remote.
It turned down an obscure path with towering trees on both sides.
After another forty minutes, they saw a manor hidden in the trees not far away.
They got out of the car. Sean bent down, supported Patrick by the shoulders together with Stewart, and walked into the manor.
Stewart had already arranged everything.
After everything was settled, Stewart asked Hank to stay and take care of Patrick.
Then Gloria, Sean, and Stewart rushed back to Gabbs overnight.
They all had many things to deal with.
Everything went well.
Hank called and said that Patrick clamored to see Gloria after he woke up, and it took them a long time before calming him down.
In the next few days, Gloria was so busy that she almost lived in the Carter Group.
Once one got busy, one would forget everything.
Gloria was immersed in her work, and the sky was getting dark.
"Miss Carter, it's time to get off work," Mandy said.
"You may go back. I still have some things to deal with." Gloria was still looking at the documents.
"I will stay with you." Mandy sat down. She knew how stubborn Gloria was.
"No need. You can go now," Gloria refused.
"No." Before Mandy could finish her words, she was interrupted.
"Go back." Gloria, who was behind the desk, raised her head. She said in a soft yet decisive voice, "Go back and get some rest. There's a negotiation tomorrow morning, and it will be tough to deal with."
"I see." Mandy nodded eventually.
When all was quiet, the lights in the office at the top of the Carter Group finally went out.
Gloria clung to the wall, feeling a little dizzy.
She only felt better after the security guard gave her a piece of candy.
She got into a taxi. She was tired and felt a bit drowsy.
As soon as she got out of the car, her phone rang.
"Patrick is missing!" Sean shouted.
"Say again?" Gloria immediately woke up.
"Hank just called. He is missing!" Sean repeated.
"Have they searched the entire manor?" Gloria asked hastily.
"Yes, but they didn't find him. Hank and the others found a hole in the back wall where they also found a button on Patrick's clothes," Sean explained.
Gloria hurriedly said, "What? Don't tell me he ran out!"
"I'm afraid you are right," Sean said.
Gloria was furious, but now was not the time to be angry. She took a deep breath and said, "The most important thing now is to find him."
"Hank and the others are on their way, but it will take time for them to get here." Sean was also very anxious.
"I'll drive there right now." Gloria ran to the garage.
She drove very fast and soon arrived at the Black Thorn Pack's Alpha's villa.
As soon as she got out of the car, she quickly knocked on the door. She went up from the first floor, and checked room by room.
"Luna Gloria, what are you looking for?" Kevin asked in confusion.
She pursed her lips and said nothing. Finally, she was exhausted and sat down on the ground.
"Luna Gloria, are you alright?" Kevin looked at her worriedly.
Gloria propped herself up on the ground and said, "I'm fine. I didn't find what I was looking for. I'm going back now."