Time ticked by. Gloria raised her wrist and glanced at her watch for the third time. Patrick's eyes were fixed on her.
The ringing sound of the phone broke the strange atmosphere in the room.
Gloria pressed the answer button.
She asked, "Have you arrived?"
On the phone, she could hear Sean's voice together with hurried footsteps. "I can't go. I'll leave Patrick to you for the time being."
Gloria became anxious and called out, "Wait a minute. Leave him to me for the time being? Isn't Hank there?"
"Hank is not free. All his men are busy now."
Gloria laughed out of anger. "What do you mean by that?"
Sean sneered and asked Gloria, "He was shot in Italy. Don't tell me you think it was a coincidence."
"What do you mean?"
"Stewart will stay in Hammond Group. Hank and I are going to Rome. Think about it. He is not short of bodyguards, but why did he still get shot?" Sean said quickly.
Gloria was silent. Although she did not want to admit it, she agreed with Sean.
"There are some clues about the incident in Italy. Hank and I have to go there now," Sean continued.
Gloria said through gritted teeth, "When are you coming back?"
Sean hesitated for a moment. "It depends on the situation there. We hope to find that group of people quickly and deal with them. Alpha Alex and Ellison are both ruthless and will notice something is off very soon."
Sean pursed his lips. "Stewart can't set aside any time. Hank and I have to go to Italy. The only person he can trust is you."
He paused again and then added in a low voice, "He is just an eight-year-old child now."
Sean did not say it explicitly, yet Gloria understood what he meant. 'Just forget everything that happened between you and Patrick for the time being. How can you argue with an eight-year-old child?'
Gloria felt her heart skip a beat. She hung up the phone without saying more.
She changed into her slippers and walked to the bedroom, feeling a little dizzy. She thought, 'Maybe I worked too much lately. I should take a rest today.' However, before she could pass the entrance, she fainted.
When Gloria almost fell to the ground, Patrick's expression changed greatly. He rushed over and held her in his arms. He looked at her and tightened his grip around her waist.
"Gloria?" He called out anxiously, but Gloria didn't respond to him.
He had no other choice but to dial Stewart's number. "Gloria passed out."
15 minutes later, Stewart brought a pack doctor over.
"She has a fever. You should have taken her to see a doctor sooner?" The pack doctor said with a hint of reproach.
Patrick pursed his lips, his eyes full of worry. "Gloria was caught in the rain yesterday."
The doctor said, "I'll make a call and get someone to prepare the medicine and bring it here."
A while later, Patrick went downstairs to get the medicine. He walked to Gloria's bed with the medicine kit in his hand and fed her the medicine.
Before leaving, Stewart looked at the unconscious Gloria and the worried Patrick.
"We will come again tomorrow." With that, he left in a hurry.
It was getting dark.
Gloria woke up. She felt weak all over and had a headache.
Just as she moved, Patrick also woke up and opened his sleepy eyes. "Gloria, you're awake!" He cried out in joy.
Gloria looked at him, and her anger had long vanished. "What happened to me?"
"You fainted. It was all my fault. I ran out and got you into the rain, or you wouldn't have had a fever." There was self-blame in his innocent eyes.
Gloria softened her tone and asked him in a low voice, "Have you had dinner yet?"
Patrick cried out in surprise. "Oh, I forgot. You haven't eaten anything yet."
He ran out of the bedroom before Gloria could say something.
Gloria leaned weakly against the wall in the corner of the living room, quietly looking at the busy Patrick in the kitchen.
This was the first time Gloria had seen a completely different Patrick.
In a trance, she recalled that in the past, she had fantasized about their future.
Gloria suddenly became sober.
Between the two of them, it was a mistake from the very beginning, so it brought them so much pain.
"Gloria."
Gloria raised her head.
"Gloria, come and eat something." Patrick walked over happily.
A bowl of oatmeal was placed in front of her.
Gloria glanced at him and could see the anticipation in his eyes.
Without thinking, she sent a spoon of oatmeal into her mouth.
Her hand holding the spoon froze at her lips, and her expression changed dramatically.
It tasted bad.
"The food I made is the best!" Patrick raised his head to ask for praise.
Gloria put a spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth. She saw him finish it with a bitter face, and her lips curved into a smile unconsciously.
She turned to the bathroom. As warm water flowed down from the top of her head, scenes emerged in her mind.
She raised her hand and wiped the water on her face. She rushed out of the bathroom after a quick shower.
Suddenly, a loud noise startled Patrick in the living room.
"Gloria, what's wrong?"
Before Gloria could reply, the door was kicked open.
Gloria held her waist, and her face blushed. She scrambled to get something to wrap around her body, but there was nothing within her reach.
She could only curl herself into a ball and shouted angrily, "Who said you can come in?"
Patrick was stunned on the spot.
Gloria flew into a rage out of humiliation. "Get out!"
Patrick shook his head firmly. "No."
As he spoke, he walked toward Gloria.
Under Gloria's glare, he walked in front of her.
When Gloria came back to her senses, Patrick carried her up. "Gloria, you can't catch a cold. I'll carry you to the bedroom."
He placed her on the bed, grabbed the quilt, and wrapped her tightly, leaving only her head outside.
Patrick picked up the hair dryer and said, "Hank helped me dry up every time I took a shower."
Gloria wanted to avoid it but was tightly held by him.
It took a long time for her hair to dry.
Gloria said coldly, "You should go back to the living room to sleep."
"No. The doctor said that you have a high fever and that your family should pay more attention to you." Patrick stared at Gloria with clear eyes.
"I don't need anyone to accompany me," Gloria said calmly. "Otherwise, I'll send you back to where you should be tomorrow."
"Gloria, even if you send me away tomorrow, I will stay by your side tonight." Patrick got out of bed, put on his shoes, and left the bedroom in a fit of pique.
Gloria thought, "He said he would stay by my side, but left so decisively.'
She did not notice the dissatisfaction deep in her heart.
"Liar." She whispered unconsciously, her lips pale.