Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law-Chapter 204: Dying Young 2

Patrick didn’t make it far out of his room before he was stopped.

He had just descended the staircase and was about to reach for the coat stand when a shadow slipped into his path. Spencer. Leaning against the bannister with a smug tilt to his chin, arms folded, he blocked the way like a dog guarding its bone.

"Going somewhere? Father?" Spencer asked, his voice oozing with false concern. "Didn’t you just say you weren’t feeling well? Or was that just an excuse to run off before you showed your true feelings and concern for Adam in front of us?

Patrick didn’t miss the glee in his tone. The boy was practically salivating at the thought of catching him red handed. But he too, was this boy’s father. He knew how to handle people like him. He stared down Spencer for a moment and then said slowly, "I’m indeed not well, Spencer. That much is true. And when a man isn’t well, he tends to see a doctor."

Spencer raised an eyebrow, as his lips twisted in a smirk. "A doctor? This late? In this weather?" His gaze darted to the window where grey clouds pressed against the panes like smog. "How very sudden. Need me to call one in for you?"

Patrick let out a soft breath and shook his head. "No. I would rather visit the doctor. Of course, if you’re so worried," he said dryly, "you’re welcome to follow me. See where I go. Hold my hand if it helps. I would not mind my son’s love and care."

The sarcasm was not lost on Spencer, who immediately stepped back as if Patrick had asked him to accompany him to the guillotines. "Why the hell would I care where you go? You can die on the steps for all I care. One less problem for the family."

Patrick gave a slight nod, like he expected nothing less even though the words did hurt. "I thought as much."

With that, he stepped past him and reached for his coat, and walked past Spencer, not wanting to waste anymore time.

Unknown to him, the moment the door closed, another man stepped out of the library from behind and stared at the closed door, his eyes cold.

Sir Robert Collins stood in the doorway of the library, his old fingers trembling slightly as they gripped the mobile phone in his hand. His eyes followed the outline of his son disappearing down the driveway like a hawk watching prey. He didn’t miss the stiff posture. The tension in Patrick’s shoulders.

And then, he made a call.

"Follow Patrick. Now. I want to know exactly where he goes, who he meets, and what he does. Do not let him out of your sight. Am I clear?"

The reply was immediate. Sir Robert didn’t wait for pleasantries. He ended the call and turned, only to find Spencer standing there, arms folded again, but this time without the smirk. This time, his face held something darker. Sharper.

"You’ll see it now, grandfather. You’ll finally see who he is. What he’s been hiding. I told you, grandfather. Father has never truly been loyal to you. He’s always walked a line. That’s why he went away because he did not want to stay back and fight against Adam. I am sure if you look closely, you might find that he has been helping Adam all along."

Sir Robert sent a sharp glance towards Spencer, something in his words nudging at his mind but then he shook his head slowly and said," Spencer. If Patrick is proven innocent this time, then I want you to remain civil to him after this. Am I clear?" fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

Spencer tried to protest but the sharp glance from his grandfather silenced him and he could only mumble his next question," What if he is caught red handed?"

"If Patrick has done anything to interfere with my plans, or if he dares to lift a finger to save that Melanie- he will answer for it. I won’t care if he’s my son. I won’t allow betrayal to rot this family from the inside." Sir Robert said grimly.

And so they waited.

Spencer paced the drawing room like a caged animal, muttering under his breath. Sir Robert sat still in his high-backed chair, the phone clenched tightly in his gnarled hand, the silence growing heavier with every passing second.

Then, finally, it rang.

Sir Robert snatched it up and pressed it to his ear. "Well?" he barked into the phone.

There was a pause. Then came the low, urgent voice from the other end, muffled but frantic.

Sir Robert’s face changed.

It drained of color, lips pressing into a thin line as his eyes widened—just slightly, but enough to send a chill through the room.

"What?" he whispered. "He what?"

Another pause. Sir Robert rose to his feet slowly, as though the words had taken the strength from his bones.

Spencer leaned in eagerly. "He’s caught, isn’t he? I knew it—"

"Shut up!" Sir Robert roared, the sound sharp and sudden enough to make Spencer flinch.

Spencer stumbled back, stunned. "W-what?"

"He collapsed," Sir Robert said harshly, eyes still locked on the phone though the call had ended. "Your father... collapsed at the hospital. He didn’t go to meet anyone. He went... to see a doctor. Just like he said. And over there, while waiting to see the doctor, he collapsed!"

"But... he’s faking it. Right? He’s trying to get sympathy- he has to be-" Spencer tried to speak but Sir Robert cut him off with a look," Enough. You wanted to catch him in a lie, and now you stand here hoping that his body is failing just to prove your point? Be quiet, Spencer before I forget you are his son!"

For the first time in a very long while, there was something in Sir Robert’s face that resembled shame because he had really doubted his son.

Spencer, however, could only stand frozen, the echo of his grandfather’s shout still ringing in his ears. He had been so sure-so certain that Patrick was hiding something.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on fre ew𝒆bnovel.com