Unexpected Fiancée

Chapter 28: Jane, Thank You

Chapter 28: Jane, Thank You

Jane gracefully excused herself, offering a polite bow. "I'm sorry. I have to leave for a while."

Patrick, curiosity etching his face with a slight frown, inquired, "Where are you off to? Lunch will be served soon."

Jane's response was succinct, "Something just came up." Without further ado, she stood and exited the room, promptly placing a call to the veterinary hospital.

"Hello, Jane North speaking. I left a dog for treatment a few days ago. How is it now?"

The veterinarian's reassuring voice emanated from the other end of the line. "I was just about to call you. The dog has fully recovered."

Jane heaved a sigh of relief and responded, "That's good to know. I'm on my way to pick it up now."

A striking resemblance between the dog in the picture Mike held and the stray Jane had rescued began to nag at her. Additionally, the collars matched perfectly. Jane had a gut feeling that the stray dog was none other than Mike's long-lost pet, Dolly.

Given Mike's visible attachment to the dog, it seemed to hold significant sentimental value. Jane was determined to reunite them immediately.

Back at the table, Beatrice simmered with frustration. "What's wrong with Jane? She just walked out on all of us!"

Florence chimed in, "I can't believe she left us all waiting for her before lunch. Who does she think she is?"

Patrick's eyes shifted briefly to Mike, and he intervened on Jane's behalf, providing an explanation. "I believe there's an emergency at work, so she went to handle it."

Patrick felt compelled to defend Jane, even though he was unaware of the precise nature of her urgent matter. He wouldn't stand by while the women at the table berated her.

Beatrice, however, was unappeased. She raised her voice indignantly, exclaiming, "Stop making excuses for her! What's so important that it takes precedence over spending time with your grandfather?"

Mike's response veered from the others, asserting, "I'm not offended at all. Since Jane rushed to the company to address a problem as soon as she received the news, it shows she's hardworking. That's commendable."

Beatrice was rendered speechless by the unexpected support from Mike. Florence, on the other hand, grappled with her jealousy. Inwardly, she cursed Jane. Why did Mike place such high value on Jane when her family background and appearance paled in comparison to Florence's?

Florence concealed her true feelings and offered a feigned expression of concern. "Jane should have informed us when she'd be back. It's already lunchtime, and you shouldn't go hungry, Mike; you need nourishment for a quicker recovery."

Attempting to shift the focus, Patrick encouraged the start of the meal. "Let's just eat." Despite the strategic reason behind his engagement to Jane, he wouldn't allow anyone to speak ill of her.

"Mr. Maurice, serve the dishes," Mike ordered. The butler promptly acknowledged and instructed the servants to commence serving.

With the dishes being placed before them, Florence was determined to make amends. She picked up a drumstick and placed it on Mike's plate, asserting, "Please have a drumstick. It's good for your

health."

Mike, however, pushed the drumstick aside, resuming his meal without acknowledging the gesture. Florence felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Observing Patrick, Florence admired his attire, his white shirt and loosened blue tie projecting an air of ease. Even in a relaxed state, he remained impeccably elegant. In the midst of peeling a prawn, he managed to exude an air of nobility and perfection.

Peeling the prawn appeared to be a refined endeavor when performed by Patrick. Florence found herself enamored, indulging in her fantasies about him. Still, she couldn't help but ponder why he had not reciprocated her affection despite her clear signals over the years.

In a gesture of sacrifice, Florence attempted to feed him a prawn she had peeled. Her hopes were dashed, however, when Patrick flatly rejected the offering, saying, "No need. I don't eat what someone else has touched." As the prawn slipped from her hand and fell to the table, Florence was left stunned. Her pride had led her to perform the act of peeling a prawn for Patrick, only for it to be promptly turned down. Her heart ached.

Beatrice sought to diffuse the situation, appealing to Patrick. "Don't be harsh, Patrick. She peeled that prawn out of kindness."

Patrick's response was terse, as he remained steadfast in his decision. "I appreciate the gesture, but I don't eat food that others have handled."

As Patrick was on the brink of making a statement, his attention was captivated by a familiar figure. He broke into a soft smile, addressing Jane with enthusiasm, "Jane!"

Caught off guard by Patrick's sudden outburst, Florence reacted with anger, exclaiming, "Jane, why did you bring a dog here? We are having lunch. Get that thing away!"

A chorus of barks filled the room as the dog began to bark and struggle to free itself from Jane's arms.

Impervious to the criticism, Jane bent down, allowing the dog to bound off her arms. The dog sprang toward Mike, rubbing against him affectionately.

"Dolly!" Mike exclaimed, his eyes alight with joy. He looked at the dog with disbelief. Dolly's excited barking seemed to affirm its identity.

Mike expressed his heartfelt relief, saying, "So good to see you, Dolly. I have missed you so much!" He lovingly stroked Dolly's fur, tears of joy welling in his eyes.

Dolly, the long-lost pet, had finally found her way home. Patrick's inquisitive gaze shifted to Jane. "Jane, where did you find Dolly?"

It occurred to him that Jane had just seen a picture of the dog minutes ago. How had she managed to locate Dolly so quickly? What was the story behind this remarkable reunion?

Jane, slightly out of breath from her swift return, took a moment to catch her breath. She then explained, "Do you recall when I was almost late for work a few days ago, and Monica nearly had me fired?"

Patrick nodded, remembering the incident. That day, Jane had asked him for permission to leave work early, citing an urgent matter. Monica, their colleague, had provoked a scene in the CEO's office, insisting Jane be dismissed for taking unauthorized leave. Ultimately, Patrick had intervened, demanding Monica apologize to Jane.

"That morning," Jane continued, "Sherry's car nearly collided with Dolly. I had to rush her to the vet."

And with that, the pieces fell into place. Jane had sacrificed her work and faced misunderstandings and gossip for the sake of rescuing a stray dog, little knowing it was the very pet Mike had lost.

Patrick's gaze toward Jane deepened, and he expressed his genuine gratitude. "Jane, thank you."