Patricia’s gaze fell on his bandaged hand, and she suddenly remembered her promise from the day before. She quickly apologized, “Oh dear, I’m sorry, I promised to visit you at the Ellenstein Villa District last night, but it slipped my mind because it got too late.”After speaking, she walked over, gently held his hand, and asked with concern, “How’s your hand doing? I hope there hasn’t been a fracture?”Just as her hand touched the sore spot, Martin sharply inhaled with an exaggerated display of pain, his face contorted, “It hurts, it hurts... please, be gentle.”Seeing him in such agony, Patricia anxiously inquired, “Does it hurt that bad? Could it be broken? Did you get an X-ray? Where is it? Let me see?”Martin pouted, a mix of self-pity and distress in his voice, “Do you even care about me? I thought you were only concerned with going out on dates and wouldn't care about me.”Patricia asserted righteously, “I was the one who injured your hand, how could I not care?”Hearing her w

After a while, Martin regained his composure and took out his mobile phone to call Patricia.In his line of sight, Patricia and Hunter had just stopped under the dim light of a streetlamp.They paused, and Patricia made a motion as if she was about to reach for her phone. Moments later, her voice came through the line, crisp and clear, "Hey, what's up? Is there something else?"With a deadpan expression, Martin asked, "Where are you now?"Patricia replied, "I’m at the hospital! What's the matter?"Her impatient tone pierced Martin's heart with a sharp pain."In which part of the hospital are you? It's snowing, and you didn't bring an umbrella. I can bring one to you."Patricia declined the offer without hesitation, "No need."In the past, such persistent rejection would have led Martin to hang up immediately. He was not one to be indulged.It seems that only others had ever tried to please him; he's never stooped to this level of desperation.

Patricia bit her lower lip tightly, still unable to completely snap out of the daze from their recent kiss.Martin's gaze subtly swept over Patricia, recalling the image of her under an umbrella with Hunter, his heart stung painfully. He tilted his head and gave Carter a meaningful look without making a sound.Carter looked at him in confusion.Before Carter could decipher the meaning, Martin suddenly pushed both him and Hunter away, claiming Patricia by pinning her against the wall and kissing her fiercely, biting her lip punishingly. He thought he was dreaming before.But this time, he was wide awake.He wanted to show Hunter that Patricia belonged to him, and no one else could take her away.Patricia flinched from the pain on her lips, inhaling sharply. This time, her response was swift; her hands pressed against his chest, trying hard to push him off.But Martin was immovable, like a fortress. His tongue skillfully pried open her teeth, swept int

The ruthless words sent Martin spiraling into an abyss of despair. His tall frame swayed, almost falling. He gripped her arms tightly, his voice a hoarse roar, "Impossible, I don't believe it. You used to love me so much; how can you just stop loving me?"Patricia snorted softly, "You're right to say it used to be! Five years have passed, even the deepest feelings can fade."With that, she pried off his fingers one by one and calmly began picking up her clothes from the ground, dressing one piece at a time.On the surface, she seemed cold and heartless, but her heart was bleeding.Her words pierced through Martin's heart like sharp arrows. Reluctant to let her go so easily, he pressed her against the wall with a firm grip, roughly tearing the clothes she had just put on. His fervent lips touched her skin, searing over the marks left from last night, branding her once again with his scent and imprint.Compared to her helplessness the night before, Patricia wa

Unfortunately, after sending the message, it disappeared without a trace, with no response.Thinking that Martin hadn't received it, Carter excused himself to the restroom under pretense of needing a break, temporarily leaving the private room, and made a phone call to Martin.The phone was answered after two rings."What's up?"His voice was deep, betraying no emotion.Hearing him put it that way, Carter was even more convinced that Martin hadn't received the message, so he hurriedly said, “I saw Patricia and Hunter at Basque Taste, with Charles and a little girl tagging along. It looked pretty official, like a meeting with the parents.”Martin's grip on the phone tightened, his knuckles turning white from the strain. Despite Patricia having already left him battered that morning, he hadn't managed to develop a thick skin; his heart still ached fiercely.Silence from Martin prompted Carter to ask, puzzled, “Martin, are you listening to me?”Martin to