Mystery Bride's Revenge

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of Harvey Group in Pollerton, the capital of Frehar, it was only three in the morning due to the time difference. The bustling metropolis, filled with the allure of wealth and grandeur, carried on with its endless streams of cars and lights. Patrick, who had just finished an overtime task, stood by the window on the 30th floor, sipping on an iced coffee prepared by his secretary, Nathan Smith. The office building was mostly dark, except for the 30th floor where Patrick was working, bathed in light. In this rare moment of quiet, Patrick allowed himself to shed the fierce determination he usually wore. Exhaustion crept into his expression. At 29, he was single-handedly leading Harvey Group's expansion into the international market far from home, and the weight of that responsibility was immense.

Patrick tugged off his moss-green tie, shrugged out of his black suit jacket, and stood there in a crisp, white textured shirt, One hand tucked into his pocket, his perfectly chiseled face, an inheritance from his parents, Quinton and Sara, caught the city's neon reflections. The bitter taste of the coffee lingered on his tongue as his eyes stared out at the glittering night. A cold, lonely aura enveloped him.

Despite the late hour and the success of his work in Frehar, an inexplicable unease gnawed at him. He had been too busy to keep in touch with his family, working until 3 a.m. every night for the past month. For the year he spent working in Frehar, Patrick had only returned home once for the New Year. Now that the expansion of Harvey Group in Frehar was almost complete, he decided it was about time to return to the country.

"It's about time I returned," he murmured. Once Patrick finished the current project and presented a detailed report to Quinton, he could finally take a well-deserved break. After all, balancing work and rest was essential for peak performance.

As Patrick was about to dive back into his work, his phone rang. It was a call from Nathan, who spoke over the phone, sounding unusually frantic. "I have some bad news, Mr. Harvey." Upon hearing that, Patrick's brow furrowed slightly. Nathan was someone Patrick had personally trained, a trusted confidant who usually remained composed even in dire situations. The fact that he was panicking now only confirmed Patrick's uneasy premonition.

"What happened?" Patrick asked in his usual calm tone.

"It's... It's about your family in Sokovis," Nathan replied, quickly relaying the events that transpired in Sokovis to Patrick. The scandal had exploded not just in Clusia but even made headlines internationally. After all, good gossip was always welcomed by everyone all around the world.

For once, Patrick's voice betrayed a hint of emotion. "I see. You may continue with your work. I'll handle that."

"Aren't you surprised at all, Mr. Harvey?" Nathan was still surprised, although he knew Patrick was always unflappable, no matter how challenging the situation. It was this composure that allowed him to take on such a heavy burden at a young age, leading Harvey Group's expansion in a foreign land. This was also why Nathan was so loyal to him.

However, with Patrick striving tirelessly in Frehar, the sudden upheaval within the Harvey family, especially one involving his sister, Ashley, was enough to rattle even the most steadfast individuals. Nathan had hesitated, torn between whether to inform Patrick, worried about the impact it might have on the upcoming proposal. Yet, Patrick appeared utterly unconcerned.

"Panicking won't help at this point. Besides, I trust that Mr. Harvey and Mrs. Harvey will handle the situation well," Patrick said, trusting his parents' abilities and taking pride in them. His brothers had already returned to Sokovis. Although this turmoil was unexpected, it remained a family matter and would have little impact on the company.

What shocked Patrick most was that this incident involved Ashley. Despite their sibling relationship, Patrick had always viewed her with a certain detachment, neither doting nor indifferent. The last time he saw Ashley's smiling face during the New Year, his intuition had told him that she was far from the simple, carefree person she appeared to be.

Born into a top-tier family, even a woman couldn't be completely devoid of cunning. Ashley could do as she pleased if she didn't endanger the Harvey family. However, this time, the situation had escalated beyond reason, and Patrick knew he couldn't stand idly by. The only issue was to deal with Ashley.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"When do you plan to return, Mr. Harvey? I can arrange a private jet for you," Nathan asked, trying to gauge his next move.

"I'll make a call to check on the situation first. The Pollerton Park project is nearing the bidding phase. This is the most crucial piece of Harvey Group's expansion in Frehar. Unless necessary, I need to be here to oversee it personally," Patrick said. He had been working tirelessly, putting in long hours for this project. Hence, he could not afford to let things fall apart now. If he returned to Clusia and missed this opportunity, it would take years to regain the momentum.

"Awaiting your instructions, Mr. Harvey," Nathan replied.

After ending the call, Patrick immediately dialed Frederick's number. It wasn't long before the line connected, and Frederick's weary voice answered, "Patrick, I knew you'd call."

The incident with Ashley had caused such a stir that it dominated the trending headlines in Clusia. Even Harvey Group's influence could not suppress the news. With the additional trouble involving Quinton and Sara, the headquarters was in chaos. Despite their efforts, Frederick and the

0

others could no longer keep the situation under wraps, and he had no illusions that they could continue to hide it from Patrick.

"Frederick, tell me everything. Leave nothing out." Patrick trusted in his parents' ability to manage the situation, but now that he was aware of it, he could not just remain in Frehar, calmly focused on work.

"Patrick, this matter is serious, though not catastrophic. But it's far from trivial. After all, it's about Ashley. The impact on our parents is immense, and the damage to the Harvey family's reputation is undeniable. And then there's the issue with Selina... It's all giving me a massive headache," Frederick expressed.

"Selina? What does she have to do with this? Didn't she already cut ties with the family? Or is she siding with Trevon against us? Does she even have the capability?" Patrick asked. He had only heard about Selina severing ties with the Harvey family through an irate phone call from Quinton, who had vowed never to acknowledge her again.

As for Selina, whom he had even less attachment to than Ashley, she had been missing for 21 years. If she had chosen to sever ties, Patrick was content to let her go. However, if she were aiding an outsider in attacking the Harvey family, Patrick would not hesitate to deal with her as an enemy, regardless of their blood ties.