When Colton showed up at the hospital carrying a fruit basket, Ruby was still in surgery.
He didn’t waste any time, making his way through the halls like he’d been there a hundred times before. At the nurse’s station, he introduced himself, polite but confident.
“Mr. Martin? I’m Colton Padi, from Cloud Peak–the Padi family.”
The moment Emerson heard the Padi name, he shot up from his seat.
“Mr. Padi, hello!” he said, looking both surprised and nervous.
Colton gave him a small, measured smile. “We’re truly sorry about what happened to Ms. Martin at Cloud Peak. My uncle, Oliver, insisted Ie personally to see how she’s doing.”
Oliver Padi. The infamous third son–the business shark everyone talked about.
People still whispered about how, a few years back, someone tried to cross him over rare resources. In the end, that whole family ended up in prison.
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In the business world, Oliver’s name was legendary. Hispanies were always making headlines, both at home and abroad.
Emerson’s voice was apologetic. “I’m so sorry my daughter’s caused all this trouble.”
Colton shook his head. “idents happen, Mr. Martin. No need to apologize.” He nced at Johns, who stepped forward and handed over the fruit basket.
The basket looked expensive, wrapped in clear cellophane and tied with a bright red ribbon.
It practically screamed upscale.
“Just a little something, Mr. Martin. Please ept it. We’ll leave you to it.”
Emerson nodded so many times it looked like his head might fall off–grateful, but also clearly on edge.
After they left, Emerson let out a huge sigh and set the fruit basket on the chair next to him.
Tina stood up, ripped open the wrapping, and when she saw the basket was full of red dragon fruit, she threw it on the floor in frustration.
“What’s that supposed to mean, giving us red dragon fruit?”
“Are they trying to say ‘good luck‘ or what?” she snapped. <fn0982> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn0982>
Emerson’s lips pressed tight, his face turning sour.
He’d noticed the fruit right away. He didn’t want to ept it, but refusing just wasn’t an option. If the Padi family showed up in person, you could call it ‘checking in, but everyone knew it was really a warning.
“Ruby’s ident happened on their property. If word gets out, it’ll look bad for them too. They’re here to remind us not to make a fuss.”
“And we’re supposed to just go along with this?” Tina shot back.
19-31
Emerson didn’t answer. His thoughts were already spinning, trying to figure out who he could talk to, to ease the tension between their families.
Downstairs, Colton was just about to <b>get </b>into his car when he spotted Joseph’s ck BMW speeding
past.
He frowned. “What’s he doing here?”
Johns noticed his hesitation. “Something wrong<b>?</b>”
Colton shook his head, brushing it off. “Nothing. Let’s get <b>going</b>–gotta report back.”
Back at the Padi house, Oliver was draping his trench coat over his arm, looking ready to <b>leave</b>.
A couple of staff were loading luggage into the car outside.
Colton came in, checked his watch, and raised an eyebrow.
“Uncle Oliver, you’re heading to the airport this early? Just for coffee?”
Who actually went to the airport hours ahead of time? And Oliver wasn’t the type to waste a minute.
“Avoiding traffic,” Oliver replied, short and to the point..
“Outer ring road’s slow, but even then it doesn’t take two hours,” Colton argued.
Oliver didn’t bother responding. He just got in the car and told the driver to head for the airport.
Inside, a few of the younger family members heard themotion and started whispering among themselves.
“Is Uncle Oliver sneaking off for a secret date?”
Colton rolled his eyes. “Not a chance!”
“Who’d even want an old guy like him?”
“Dating him would be like dating your own dad.”
“You’d do it if you had the chance?” someone teased.
The one being teased looked horrified. “Are you kidding me? I’d have to be insane.”
On the drive to the airport, as Oliver’s car cruised down the outer ring, a convoy of fire trucks raced by in the opposite direction, sirens ring and lights shing.
They were headed straight for Patricia’s vi.
By half past ten, Patricia had taken care of everything. She sat just behind the sheer curtains, catching muffled sounds from outside.
A slow, satisfied smile spread across her lips as she watched the mes light <b>up </b>
the night sky.
She moved her wheelchair through the dimly lit house<b>, </b>gliding from room to room, her figure a ghostly shadow–a woman who looked like she had no intention, or hope, of escaping.