Chapter 220: The strangers

Words : 1120 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Chapter 220: The strangers Paule looked at Margaret, his gaze lingering on the pain etched into her face. Her tear-filled eyes held no trace of deception. He could see it clearly; she had missed her daughter deeply. But kidnapping? That word didn’t sit right with him. His memory was vivid, undistorted by time. He had found Anne alone, abandoned by the roadside. If she had been taken, why would the kidnappers just leave her behind? No Paule believed she hadn’t been kidnapped. She had been discarded like something unwanted. And he had taken her in, loved her, and raised her. Yet, the tears in Margaret’s eyes didn’t feel false. Confusion twisted inside him. The lines between truth and perception blurred, and Paule didn’t know what to believe. "This is her," Nathan said and handed Paule an old photograph. "This is my sister, Raya. Please look closely. Is this the girl you found?" Paule took the photo, and the moment his eyes landed on it, a cold shiver ran through him. A little girl beamed at the camera with two ponytails, bright eyes, and a soft smile, just like the girl he had taken home. The resemblance was unmistakable. It was Anne. His hands tightened around the photo. ’They were telling the truth,’ his mind whispered. ’This woman is Anne’s mother.’ His breath caught. Two decades had passed. Twenty years of raising her, loving her as his own, protecting her. He had almost forgotten she hadn’t always been his. And now, her biological mother had come to him, asking about her. He felt a tug at his heart. Would Anne leave him and forget about him? "Mr. Clair," Margaret’s voice cracked as she stepped forward, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Please... just tell me. Is she the girl you took in all those years ago? Is she my daughter? I’ve waited so long—please help me find her." Paule opened his mouth, but no words came. His throat tightened. Worry and confusion swirled inside him. "Who are you?" A sharp voice cut through the room like a whip.fгeewebnovёl.com All three turned to see a woman storming into the room, her eyes narrowed, her tone icy. "What are you doing here?" Patricia snapped, eyes locked onto Margaret and Nathan. "My husband is unwell. He doesn’t need strangers hounding him. Get out before I call security." Margaret stiffened, her mouth parting in outrage as she took a step forward, but before she could say anything, Nathan stepped in swiftly. "Ma’am, please don’t be upset," he said quickly, pulling his mother back by the arm. He gave Patricia a respectful nod. "We are sorry for the disturbance. We were actually looking for a relative who is admitted here... We entered the wrong room by mistake." Margaret stared at him, stunned and speechless, disbelief washing over her face. "Let’s not bother them, Mommy," he added with an awkward smile, carefully steering her out. Patricia watched them leave with disdain. "Weird people," she muttered, curling her lip in annoyance. Then she turned toward Paule, her expression shifting from irritation to suspicion. "Who were they?" she demanded. "What did they want?" Paule looked at her, his face blank. "Strangers," he said, his voice weak, rasping. "They came by mistake." He echoed Nathan’s words exactly, hiding the truth. Then he looked away, toward the window, avoiding her eyes. "I want to go home." Patricia’s mouth twisted into a sneer. "Your perfect daughter Anne, and her doting husband are the ones who arranged the medical team to treat you. You don’t get to walk out of here without their approval. Did you forget what the doctor said the other day? You still need at least a week. Therapy has just begun. They are not discharging you anytime soon." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "And I’m tired of this. Coming here every single day. God knows how long this will go on." Paule didn’t argue. He simply sighed and eased back into the bed, tugging the blanket over himself. "If you are so eager to leave," Patricia said with a sly edge in her voice, "talk to Anne." Paule remained quiet. He did want to speak with Anne. He needed to tell her the truth of the day he found her, about Nathan and Margaret. But at the same time, he didn’t want to disturb her on her honeymoon. Patricia handed him her phone with a smirk. "Go ahead. Call her. Tell her you want to go home." Her eyes gleamed with a quiet cunning. Paule didn’t take the phone. Noticing his reluctance, Patricia was irritated. "How would you even call her?" she scoffed. "You can’t speak clearly. Leave it to me." She dialed Anne’s number. Miles away, Anne had just arrived at Augustine’s villa. She had barely settled onto the bed when her phone lit up with an incoming call. The screen showed Patricia’s name. Her stomach tightened. She sat upright instantly. ’Is Papa okay?’ She answered the call instantly. "Hello?" Patricia’s voice came through, syrupy and artificial. "Anne, I hope I’m not disturbing you." Anne’s brow furrowed the moment she heard Patricia’s unnaturally gentle, overly sweet voice. It was a tone she knew all too well. Patricia always put on an act when Paule was nearby, wearing kindness like a mask. "What is it? Why are you calling me?" she asked coldly. Patricia laughed softly. "I know, I know...you are on your honeymoon. I really didn’t want to bother you. It’s just... your father has been asking to go home. But the doctors said he still needs another week in the hospital." "Then he should listen to the doctors," Anne replied firmly. "His therapy has just started. He needs it to rebuild his strength. If he leaves now, he’ll have to go back and forth every day. It’s not practical." "I know, I’ve told him that too," Patricia said with a dramatic sigh. "But it’s hard for me, being at the hospital all the time. And Lorie is caught up in her own world as usual. Honestly, it would be easier if he were discharged. I can bring him in daily, of course... but," she paused, her tone shifting, "I’ll need a little help with the costs. His treatment, medications, you know my financial condition. If you give me some money, it’ll be helpful." So that’s what this was about. Anne was not surprised. Patricia’s entire performance had been a setup to ask for money from her. "I’ll send you the money," Anne said flatly. "But he is staying in the hospital for the full week. He needs the care." Without waiting for a reply, Anne ended the call.

Chapter 220: The strangers

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