“Okay,” Patrick agreed without hesitation. “I’ll take you to Kransbay, where it’s warm all year round. There is also a magnificent sea. You’ll definitely like it.”
Genevieve nodded.
I don’t care where we go as long as we can get out of here.
Seeing that Genevieve was feeling a little upset, Patrick opened a bag of snacks and handed it to her, telling her she would not have the energy to leave if she did not eat anything. Following that, he started thoroughly inspecting the hotel room.
Later, he discovered two pinhole cameras under the set-top box and in the bathroom, which he immediately destroyed.
“Genev, do you want to take a shower?”
It was pouring rain as they left Jadeborough. Genevieve’s clothes and hair were drenched, and she still had not cleaned up.
Patrick saw her curled up in the chair, her legs encircled in her arms. He asked again because she did not seem to hear the first time.
However, the woman continued to ignore him.
Noticing that something was amiss, he approached her and squatted down so that they were at eye level. “Genev?”
After a while, Genevieve blinked blankly and typed on the phone, inquiring: What’s the matter?
“I just called you. You didn’t hear me?”
In response, Genevieve shook her head and replied: No.
Immediately, Patrick’s expression darkened. He then gave her ears a quick glance before abruptly lifting his hand to cover her right ear. “Can you hear what I’m saying right now?”
Gazing at him, Genevieve tapped away on the phone: I saw your lips move, asking if I could hear you…
At that moment, she came to a realization, and her fingers stopped moving on the screen.
She lost hearing in her left ear.
The next moment, Patrick removed his hand from her right ear and queried, “Did you hurt your ear before coming out? Or did something happen?”
Genevieve replied: When I went into the study to look for Grandma, I found her dead on the couch. Later, Marilyn and the housekeeper came in. I failed to stop her from slapping me across the face.
Marilyn slapped her so forcefully that she could hear a ringing in her ear for a brief moment before she could hear clearly again.
Once Patrick learned that the deafness in her left ear might be caused by Marilyn, he had a vengeful look in his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, he handed the pajamas and a clean towel to Genevieve. “Genev, go take a shower and go to bed. I’ll take you to the hospital first thing tomorrow morning.”
However, she did not move and merely dipped her head and tightened her grip on the pajamas.
Moments later, she picked up her phone and asked: Patrick, am I stupid? I’ve lost my family, and it’s obvious that those around me are taking advantage of me. I ought to be more cautious and wiser…
But not long after that, I fell victim to a man once again, and this time, I’m damned for all eternity.
“No, Genev. You’re a smart woman. It’s just that they’re plotting against you. If I were you, I wouldn’t be able to protect myself from them either,” comforted Patrick. Raising his hand to caress her cheek, he stated, “It’s all right. I’ll take you to a place by the sea, and since I have a lot of money in foreign bank accounts, you are free to spend as much as you like there. Once the police stop looking for you, I’ll investigate Old Mrs. Faulkner’s death and prove your innocence. I’ll also take Specter Corporation back for you. All you have to do is be happy.” After a brief pause, he promised, “Genev, I’ll protect you. Nobody can take you away as long as I’m here.”
Genevieve could see the determination and gentleness on his face. Moving her lips, she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only nodded with reddened eyes and walked to the bathroom while holding her pajamas.
At the same time, Patrick took out a laptop from his luggage. After logging in, he altered the program, and the screen lit up once again. He could view the surveillance footage from all of the surveillance cameras within a thousand meters of the hotel.
As soon as he was done reviewing the surveillance footage, he went onto the dark web and contacted his friends to request their assistance in obtaining visas and fake passports.
He entered the bathroom after Genevieve had finished her shower. Moments later, he came out and leaned against the chair to rest.
In the blink of an eye, it was seven o’clock in the morning. The light of dawn seeped into the room.
Before going to a private hospital, Patrick changed into a different outfit and reapplied the unique dye on Genevieve and himself to disguise themselves.
The doctor radiographed Genevieve’s left ear. After some examination, his expression turned gloomy. “Her left ear’s spiral organ hair cells and auditory nerve have both suffered serious injuries.”
