Chapter 180
Landon and Amelia rushed home excitedly, eager to share their good news with Gloria. To their surprise, the house was packed with people. Donna was there, along with Henry and Cynthia, and even Camila. Camila’s face was tear-streaked, and she looked completely disheveled.
Landon and Amelia exchanged bewildered glances, thinking, "What’s going on here?"
“Landon, please release Patrick. Fraser is sick. Only Patrick’s blood can save him!” Camila begged tearfully.
Landon suddenly understood. "Camila had already revealed Fraser’s true parentage! Fraser was Patrick’s son. Though born of an illicit union, he was now Henry’s only grandson, the sole heir."
"So, their whole family accepted this fact and came en masse to plead with me," Landon thought.
“Landon, I know Patrick has done many wrong things. But Fraser is innocent. Just release him!” Donna said.
Landon thought, "When she was young, she favored Henry. When she had a grandson, she doted on Patrick. Now with a great-grandson, she’s playing favorites more than ever."
“Grandma, how should I know where Patrick is?” Landon shrugged and took a seat, while Amelia quietly sat beside Gloria and whispered, “Gloria, do you agree too?”
Gloria sighed. “Oh, that poor child…” As a mother, Gloria couldn’t bear to see any child suffer. Amelia fell silent, waiting for Landon to make his own decision.
“Landon, stop playing games with us. You were the last person Patrick met before he disappeared. We’ve already checked with the Atkinson family. You’re the one who got him out of here.” Henry’s tone was meek, a far cry from his usual arrogance.
Amelia couldn’t help but think, "Serves him right."
Landon said, “Uncle Henry, what are you trying to say? Where could I possibly have sent Patrick? Maybe he’s just pulling a disappearing act. Why don’t you try calling the police?”
Henry’s face contorted in disgust, as if he’d swallowed a fly. "If calling the cops would help, would I be here begging you?" Henry thought.
“Landon, no matter what, the child is innocent. Please, save Fraser,” Cynthia pleaded, pretending to wipe her eyes, her voice choked with emotion, but her eyes remained completely dry.
“If Uncle Henry is willing to take a stand, I’d be happy to help look for Patrick,” Landon said.
Henry asked, “What kind of stand?”
Landon narrowed his eyes. “Disown Patrick from the Kingsley family and let him fend for himself. From now on, he gets no share of the Kingsley Group’s dividends.”
"Patrick’s so ruthless. He’s made Amy suffer so much. There’s no way I’ll let him keep living off the Kingsley Group’s money," Landon thought.
Henry hesitated. “It won’t affect my share of the dividends, will it?”
“My father promised you’d always receive your share, and I intend to keep that promise. But I don’t want to support Patrick anymore," Landon replied.
“Alright!” For the sake of his grandson, Henry gritted his teeth and agreed.
Donna felt sorry for Patrick and pleaded, “Landon, can’t you make another concession? For the sake of the Kingsley family’s bloodline…”
“No,” Landon scoffed with disdain.
"I’m so tired of them doing everything in the name of the Kingsley family," he thought. "Fraser is Patrick’s son, not mine. Besides, my son is on the way. Only my son will be the true heir to the Kingsley family."
“Landon, won’t you even listen to me now?” Donna raised her voice in anger.
Landon offered no defense, simply fixing his gaze on Henry. Knowing his nephew’s temperament and methods, and anxious to see his son as soon as possible, Henry turned to persuade Donna instead. “Mom, let it go. Let’s do it this way…”
“Once you finish the legal separation, notify me and I’ll arrange for someone to look for him. It’s getting late. I won’t keep you any longer,” Landon said firmly.
Henry’s family slunk away in defeat. Before leaving, Camila bowed to Landon. “Thank you…”
“Don’t do that,” Landon quickly stopped her. “Just make sure he doesn’t cause any more trouble.”
“I’ll keep a close eye on him,” Camila said.
Camila, the forever-unacknowledged daughter-in-law, looked grateful. "She is the only one in Henry’s family with any decency left," Landon thought.
Gloria sighed, “Now that Fraser’s true parentage has come out, Camila’s husband almost beat her to death. They’ve already kicked her out of the house.”
Landon smiled and said, “Mom, that’s not our concern. Your daughter-in-law is pregnant. You should be worrying about her instead.”
“What?” Gloria was overjoyed and stunned.
Landon waved the hospital report smugly and said, “I’m telling you, you’re going to be a grandma.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful, so wonderful…” Gloria clutched Amelia’s hand tightly. “Amy, tell me this isn’t a joke.”
“Gloria, it’s true! I’m pregnant,” Amelia said shyly, biting her lip.
Gloria pulled her into a hug. “I’m going to be a grandma! Isaac, can you see this from heaven? We’re going to have a grandson.”
Amelia reminded her, “Mom, we don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl yet.”
“As long as it’s our family’s child, they’ll be the next CEO of the Kingsley Group,” Gloria said.
Amelia shook her head and laughed, thinking Gloria was over the moon. It wasn’t until much later that Amelia realized Gloria hoped this baby would be a girl and wanted to raise her to be just like Landon, because it was her way of making up for what she owed Kayla.
Henry’s family acted swiftly this time. By the next day, they had completed the formal disownment procedures. They also prepared a notarized severance agreement, officially severing all ties between Patrick and Henry, and promising Patrick would no longer receive dividends from the Kingsley Group.
Landon was just as efficient. He called someone to bring Patrick back. But unexpectedly, the person on the other end said, “Mr. Kingsley, Patrick is missing.”
“How is that possible?” Landon was shocked.
He thought, "Patrick had his tendons severed in his limbs. Even after treatment, he is permanently disabled. Moreover, he’s confined in Ausposh and is under constant surveillance. How could he possibly disappear?"
“He vanished three days ago. We thought we’d try to find him first, so we didn’t report it to you…” the person on the other end said.
“And now? Any leads?” Landon asked.
“None. It’s like Patrick had vanished without a trace. We can’t find a single clue. We’ve reported it to the local police, but it hasn’t helped…” said the man on the other end.
Landon’s expression darkened.
Henry nervously asked, “Landon, what’s going on?”
“He’s missing. We need to find him,” Landon replied.
Henry’s expression changed instantly. “Missing? What the hell do you mean?”
“He escaped,” Landon said coolly.
“What are we supposed to do now? Fraser needs his blood transfusion to survive!” Henry’s eyes reddened with anxiety as he slammed his hands on Landon’s desk, glaring at him. “Did you kill my son?”
“I don’t do anything illegal,” Landon said coldly. “For now, get Fraser treated. I’ll send more people to search.”
Henry hissed, “Landon, you’d better find my son. If anything happens to Fraser, I swear to God, I’ll fight you to death!”
With that threat, Henry rushed to the hospital to see his grandson.
Aaron frowned in confusion. “Mr. Kingsley, how could Patrick possibly escape in his condition? And if he did, why didn’t he come home?”
The words hit Landon like a bolt from the blue. He suddenly sat bolt upright. “He didn’t escape. Someone abducted him.”
"But who would want to abduct Patrick?" Landon wondered.