Vera felt too embarrassed to look at Patrick.


    She mumbled, "Babe, I didn''t expect the dog in my dream to be so ugly. In real life, my husband is so handsome, right? Just forget what I said earlier, okay?" Patrick replied, "Sweetie, I heard it loud and clear."


    Feeling awkward, Vera nced at the kiss mark on her corbone, remembering what had just happened.


    Luckily, Molly came to the rescue. "Vera, Patrick,e downstairs for dinner."


    Vera quickly headed to the walk-in closet to change into something that covered her corbones. Once she was dressed, she made her way back to Patrick, gently sliding her hand into hisrge palm. She wrapped her fingers around one of his, and though she wasn''t overtly yful, her entire demeanor was a silent plea for affection.


    Her actions tugged at Patrick''s heartstrings, making him feel a soft warmth inside.


    In his eyes, all her little acts of defiance were indulgently allowed. If she had been a princess in the Middle Ages, she would have been the most pampered and demanding one.


    Vincent, given his age, treated Molly with a blend of elderliness and a brotherly affection. Despite the age gap, his concern for her was deep, though often understated. Vincent didn''t chat with Molly about everyday matters; however, whenever he heard about any issue concerning her, he was quick to show up and lend support.


    Vincent asked, "Molly, is n from Vertex Innovations Group pursuing you?"


    Molly immediately looked at Vera, her eyes asking, "Did you snitch?"


    Vera blinked innocently as if saying, "I didn''t even tell Patrick, could I have?"


    Patrick asked, "Who?"


    Shawn red. "Which guy?"


    Vincent added, "I looked into it. The Miller family is a mess; they''re not good enough for you. If you''re dating him, end it soon."


    At the dinner table, everyone except Vera, who was enjoying her food, was staring at Molly.


    Molly''s heart raced a bit. She didn''t know why, but she wasn''t nervous when Ellie and Timothy found out n was pursuing her. She even dared to curse him out. But when Shawn, Patrick, and Vincent knew, she felt inexplicably tense.


    Molly exined, "I actually rejected him a long time ago."


    In the business and political circles, news tended to spread quickly. At thest dinner party, word got out fast that n had been pursuing Molly recently.


    When Vincent caught wind of this today, his concern for Molly took precedence over any pressing matters. He immediately set about finding out more about the Miller family and their background.


    Vincent asked again, "Why do I still hear that he''s pursuing you and openly expressing his feelings at parties?"


    Molly got angry upon hearing this. "Vincent, next time someone mentions this to you, just snap back at them for me.


    "Does he have no shame? I rejected him long ago, and Timothy also warned him. Is n addicted to being shameless?


    "I cursed him that day. If I had known he would spread it behind my back, I would have cursed him more harshly." Vera, now full, shifted her focus. "What did you curse n with?"


    Molly replied, "I called him shameless."


    Veramented, "Your curse was too mild; just stating a fact."


    Molly thought about it and then nodded, fully agreeing with Vera''s point. "Yeah, I didn''t really curse him."


    Shawn felt ufortable knowing Molly was being pursued by someone unsuitable.


    Shawn said angrily, "I''ll go see who it is someday. He seems to have high standards."


    Molly stopped Shawn. "Dad, if you go, he''ll know my connections. Randall told me guys like him are opportunistic. If he finds out Patrick and Vincent are my brother, and Vincent is the mayor, he''ll cling even more. I''ve finally been having some peacetely, so please, don''t go."


    Vincent already had a n to help Molly shake off her pursuer.


    "How does Randall know you''re being pursued?" Cindy asked, overly concerned whenever Randall''s name came up these days.


    Shawn said, "They''re always together, so they share info. With Randall around, I''m not worried about Molly being pursued."


    Shawn was very confident, maybe a bit blindly.


    While others started eating, Vera had already put down her fork. She''d been eating while everyone else was talking, so by the time they were ready to eat, she was already full.


    "Vera, have some more."


    Vera shook her head. "Small meals, more often. You guys take your time; I''m going to take a walk in the backyard."


    She took her phone and went outside to call Noah.


    Noah mocked, "Congrats on missing our chat and finally waking up."


    Vera was puzzled by Noah''s sarcasm.


    Noah asked, "You haven''t checked the chat history, have you?"


    Vera said, "Wait a minute, I''m checking now."


    With her phone on speaker, she read the chat history whileining to Noah. "Who said I''m an unqualified mom? Not only am I qualified, but I''m also excellent. No matter howpetent Patrick is, he can''t have kids without me, can he?" Noah said, "The only difference between you and Patrick is that he can''t have kids. If he could, do you think he''d need you?"


    The call with Noah left Vera fuming. She waited for Patrick to finish eating and then took her phone toin to him.


    Patrick listened, chuckled, and then personally told Noah how much he loved Vera, which finally satisfied her. Meanwhile, Noah couldn''t stand it anymore.


    "Patrick, you''re so capable. How can you be swayed by love? It''s one thing to like someone, but how can you like Vera?"


    Vera''s anger red up again. She grabbed the phone, put it to her ear, and yelled, "Don''t even think abouting home in this lifetime!" Noah hung up, ignoring the threat.


    Their conversation didn''t go unnoticed by those around him.


    "Noah, do you know Patrick?"


    Noah looked at the friend who had figured out the truth first, recalling that he had initially asked if Patrick was his sister''s husband.


    "Yes." After answering, Noah proudly announced, "He''s my sister''s husband."


    It turned out that Noah had be family with the very Patrick he admired, all thanks to Vera.


    The revtion left everyone stunned.


    Fuming, Vera messaged Warren to let him know they should forget about Noah.


    No one in the group responded to her.


    "Honey." She went to Patrick forfort again.


    Molly scoffed, "I can''t stand women like you who constantly seek Patrick''s attention."


    Vera retorted, "Says the woman who never misses a chance to find Sebastian."


    Both women were far from easy to handle.


    Vera and Molly went back and forth, neither giving an inch.


    After a while, Molly changed the subject. "Vera, I met someone at the hospital the other day who made me very ufortable. I remember Randall once told us about him. I suspect he''s the one who hit Sebastian, and I think I knew him when I was a kid!"