Mysterious Mrs. Pansy

When Patrick heard Jane’s unflattering evaluation of him, he was furious. She had described him as stingy, short-tempered, irritable, and annoying. It was a blow to his ego, as he had always been seen as a successful, privileged individual with a lavish lifestyle. Why would Jane hold such a negative opinion of him? And why did she seem to think that Osborn was better?

“Patrick, why are you here?” Jane inquired, taken aback as she observed the sullen man standing before her. She wondered if he had overheard her conversation with her grandfather.

“Let’s go home,” Patrick stated bluntly.

Go home? What did he mean by that? Was he suggesting that she accompany him back home? Recalling the embarrassing incident from earlier in the day, Jane hesitated.

“You can go, but I need to work late tonight. I won’t be going home,” she responded.

“Have you forgotten that you have hypoglycemia? What if you faint again? I don’t want to be calling a doctor for you in the middle of the night,” Patrick pointed out, squinting at her.

Was she working late just to avoid him? Even if it meant compromising her health? Did she have such a strong aversion to him? Jane felt slightly embarrassed by Patrick’s reminder.

“I won’t faint again. It was an accident. Please stop bringing it up,” she replied.

“Let’s go,” Patrick insisted, checking his watch; it was already midnight. “As your boss, I order you to finish your work and come home with me now.”

His tone was commanding, leaving Jane with little room for argument. While Jane had indeed been working late to avoid Patrick, it seemed he wouldn’t leave until she left with him.

Rain was pouring down from the sky as they sat in Patrick’s car. Jane watched the raindrops race down the windshield, her mind drifting. She had been in Guavo for nearly a month, as she had promised her grandfather to spend three months with Patrick. She had initially thought that she could leave afterward. After all, she and Patrick couldn’t stand each other. However, things seemed to be spiraling out of control. Patrick’s actions had been beyond her expectations. At times, he was overbearing and unreasonable, yet he also seemed to care deeply for her. He had protected her when Monica attacked her with a knife, and now he had insisted she leave work to prevent her from overexerting herself.

Jane couldn’t quite grasp what Patrick was thinking. Would he let her break off the engagement after the three months were up? Could she sever her ties with him without consequences? Jane stole a glance at Patrick, who was gripping the steering wheel as he concentrated on driving.

The car ride was filled with silence, making the confined space feel stifling. Jane closed her eyes, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her after a long day. Suddenly, Patrick’s voice broke the silence.

“Jane, am I truly that bad?”

Startled, Jane opened her eyes and looked at him, puzzled by the unexpected question.

“What?” she responded.

Patrick turned his head to face her and repeated, “Am I stingy? Do I have a bad temper?”

Jane was left momentarily speechless. Patrick had overheard her conversation with her grandfather, and it had evidently embarrassed her.

“Patrick, do you make a habit of eavesdropping on other people’s phone calls?” Jane retorted.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Patrick furrowed his brow. “Do you habitually talk about others behind their backs?”

“Talk about others?” Jane glared at him. “I wasn’t gossiping. I was simply telling the truth.”

Patrick’s expression turned cold. “So, I can’t measure up to Osborn in any way?”

Where had she come up with such an idea? How did Osborn even enter the conversation? Jane didn’t quite grasp the connection.

“If you believe that, there’s nothing I can say,” she replied angrily, feeling as if she had inadvertently confessed something to Patrick.

In her eyes, Osborn seemed to surpass Patrick in every way.

Was that the reason she had approached Osborn to be the spokesperson? Had she forgotten that Patrick was her fiancé? “Damn it!”

Recalling the scene in the café where Jane and Osborn had kissed, Patrick pounded the steering wheel in frustration. His face darkened as he stated, “Jane, remember your place!”

Before he could continue, the car veered out of control, causing Patrick to step on the brakes. The car collided with the guardrail with a screeching sound.

Creak…

Jane was thrust forward, narrowly avoiding hitting her head on the windshield. Dazed and shaken, she inquired, “What happened?”

Jane rubbed her head in disbelief. Patrick, with a stern expression, opened the car door and stepped out to inspect the damage. Through the window, Jane saw him standing in the rain, getting drenched. She grabbed an umbrella and approached him.

“Why did you get out?” Patrick asked. “Is everything okay?”

Jane held the umbrella over Patrick, her half-soaked body exposed to the rain. Water dripped from her hair onto her cheeks. Her dress clung to her, accentuating her figure. The situation was unexpected, and Patrick’s desire stirred. He reached out and took hold of Jane’s waist, urging her to come closer.

Bowing his head, he gazed intensely at the girl in his arms, his eyes blazing like flames. The sudden closeness made Jane blush. She took a deep breath, trying to express her feelings, and spoke softly but firmly.

“Patrick, don’t do this.”

The night was silent, with the only sound being the raindrops falling on the black umbrella. Under the umbrella’s shelter, Patrick’s face appeared distant and unhappy.

Jane felt uneasy. After a moment of silence, Patrick asked coldly, “Is this about Osborn? Am I really inferior to him in every way?”