Ch. 1..10
Chapter 1
Nonsense Rayna Garland had never imagined that her husband would cheat on her on their very first wedding anniversary. No. Perhaps he had been cheating all this while, but she hadn’t found out until now. Based on her original plan, she should have been on a flight to Marsingfill. However, after much deliberation, she decided to cancel her business trip. Instead, she—in order to give her husband a surprise—ordered some flowers, cake, and red wine. And yet, she ended up receiving an even larger surprise. Rayna heard the female voice again. “Julian, I’m divorced, so when are you going to do the same? You shouldn’t delay it anymore. It’s better to just get it over with, rather than prolong the agony.”
“There’s no need to rush. The divorce is just a matter of time,” Julian Faymon replied. He, too, had once thought that love was enough to maintain the marriage. However, other than hugging, he and Rayna had made no progress whatsoever. As time went by, he began to feel frustrated. Nevertheless, the idea of divorce was still too abrupt for him. He had yet to figure out how to tell Rayna and get her to leave without taking any assets. Rayna gripped her phone and suppressed the churning in her stomach. No wonder Julian has been coming home less frequently. It turns out that he has been having an affair! Also, I remember that woman. She’s Julian’s superior at work. In fact, Julian even mentioned that he has to ingratiate himself with her in order to get promoted. Is this his way of gaining her favor? Rayna gritted her teeth in anger and resisted the urge to barge through the door. Her rationality kept her from throwing away the cake and flowers in her hands. Instead, she whipped out her phone and took a picture of the scene in the bedroom.
After walking out of the main entrance of the condominium, Rayna disposed of the items she was holding in the bin. As she raised her hand to hail a cab, the phone in her pocket rang. Instead of picking up, she bent down, entered the cab, and settled herself in the backseat. Her phone screen continued blinking, an indication of the caller’s persistence. Feeling annoyed, she finally answered the call from Julian’s mother—Rolanda Macpherson. “Rayna, what’s the meaning of this? I’ve made you an
appointment with the city’s top fertility specialist. It’s one thing for you to stand him up, but how dare you not pick up my call? If you don’t want to bear any children for the Faymon family, you should make your intentions known earlier and divorce Julian. There are plenty of women who are willing to take your place,” Rolanda ranted. The mere mention of the Faymon family caused Rayna to clench her fists. Ever since she married into the Faymon family, her parents-in-law had never treated her as a family member. From their perspective, she—having come from a poor background—should feel grateful to have the honor of bearing a child for the Faymon family.
Hmph, why was I taken in by Julian’s false promises back then? He vowed to care for me for the rest of our lives and to convince his parents to accept me. In fact, he didn’t mind not sharing a bed because of my past emotional trauma and was willing to work toward reopening my heart. And now, I’m ready to do so, but what about him? With Rolanda’s curses echoing in the background, Rayna was so outraged that her fingers turned pale when she recalled the scene at the condominium. She tightened her grip on her phone and enunciated, “You can rest assured that I will divorce Julian. There’s no need for you to keep pestering me. Also, since you want grandchildren so much, I’ll bear them for you.” However, they will not be from Julian’s seed. Since he had already cheated on her, she didn’t mind returning the favor before their divorce. “You despicable woman! What nonsense are you talking about?” Rolanda continued to chide Rayna over the phone. Rayna ended the call abruptly and said to the driver, “Take me to Heavenly Palace, please.”
Chapter 2
Meeting Uncle Curtis Heavenly Palace was famous in the city as a sleazy bar, where all kinds of physical pleasures could be satisfied. Sitting at the bar, Rayna downed a few shots of whiskey as an insidious thought snowballed in her mind. It doesn’t matter who the father of the children is. In fact, the children will be even more beautiful if I find myself a handsome man. Suddenly, her gaze—which was scanning the dancefloor—fell upon a towering silhouette. Even though she couldn’t see his face clearly, his build clearly stood out from the crowd, and the fact that he was surrounded by a group of sharply dressed men and women added to his allure. He will do! After making her decision, Rayna took a deep breath before tossing her hair to the side and swaggering toward him in her heels. “I’m so dizzy…”
When passing by, Rayna pretended to stumble by accident and fell right into Curtis Faymon’s arms. The next moment, a pair of big strong hands threaded around her waist and caught her steadily. Lying in an unfamiliar embrace, Rayna began to feel dry in her throat as Curtis’ masculine pheromones overwhelmed her senses. In fact, she could feel her rationality gradually drifting away. “You smell amazing…” Curtis furrowed his brows while his assistant and bodyguards all gaped in shock. What an audacious woman to do something like that in broad daylight! “Miss, please mind yourself,” Curtis said icily. Recognizing the familiar voice, the stunned Rayna raised her head. When she looked at the man’s cold eyes, her heart skipped a beat. She widened her eyes in shock, and after a long pause, she murmured in disbelief, “U-Uncle Curtis?” Oh my God! What’s going on? How did I end up running into Julian’s uncle? It was public knowledge that Curtis was Alfred Faymon’s adopted son, for the latter didn’t have any of his own. Early on, he had sent Curtis overseas to study management, and on Alfred’s sixtieth birthday, he had named Curtis as the heir to Faymon Group.
As a result, Curtis had become the most eligible and admirable bachelor in the city. In fact, Rolanda had more than once thought of getting into Curtis’ good books, saying that Julian’s career depended on him. Unfortunately, Curtis never had the time to even entertain her. Therefore, their family, including
Rayna, seldom had the opportunity to meet Curtis in person. This was the first time Rayna had come within close proximity of him. He had the chiseled features of a male model, and his thin frame exuded an air of aloofness. Given the cold look in his eyes, she felt as if he could easily read her mind. “Uncle Curtis… I-I’m sorry.” It wasn’t until he heard the way she addressed him that Curtis finally realized what was going on. He knitted his brows and quickly released Rayna, preparing to leave with an indifferent look in his eyes. He had never shown any interest in women who threw themselves at him. “Uncle Curtis, wait!” Gritting her teeth, Rayna decided to go all out to fulfill her goal. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could hitch myself onto a gold mine, would it? “I… I’m feeling depressed today and had too much to drink. Aren’t you worried about leaving me alone in this bar? It’s not safe for me here.” Rayna, biting her lower lip, put on an innocent expression.
When she snuck a glance at Curtis and caught the emotionless look on his face, she pretended to grimace in pain. Then, she rubbed her ankle. “Besides, I sprained my ankle… and it really hurts.” Curtis curled his lips into a smirk, his eyes glistening.
Chapter 3
Are You Satisfied Her acting is so terrible that I can easily see through her. But, anyway, this is interesting. “U-Uncle Curtis…” Faced with Curtis’ sharp gaze that seemed to have pierced through her lies, Rayna began to grow nervous. However, the very next second, her eyes widened when she felt herself being swept off her feet. Curtis had abruptly carried her in his arms. Flustered, Rayna wrapped her arms around Curtis’ neck. Feeling the warmth from his chest and being covered by his breath, Rayna blushed and felt her heart pounding. What’s with the sudden brazenness? Didn’t he pretend to be a gentleman just now? “Does it still hurt?” Curtis’ voice—one that was devoid of warmth—rang out above her head. “Um…” Rayna gulped. “No… It doesn’t hurt anymore.” She couldn’t peel her eyes away from Curtis’ handsome face.
“Ha…” With a twitch of his lips, Curtis, surrounded by his subordinates, strode toward the car that was parked at the bar entrance. What is he planning to do? Rayna was stunned. It wasn’t until he carried her into the car that she regained her senses. Just when she was about to say something, Curtis ordered the driver, “To the Intercontinental.” Rayna was speechless. I-Intercontinental? That’s a five- star hotel! Upon arriving at the luxury suite on the top floor of the hotel, Curtis threw Rayna onto the bed before going into the bathroom. Only after a minute had passed that Rayna gradually realized the gravity of the situation. I-I seduced Curtis, and now we’re in a hotel? This is way too easy. Is this a trap?
Regardless, Rayna could not care less. Just thinking about how she had walked into Julian cheating on her was enough to steel her resolve. Drawing courage from the alcohol she had consumed, she had no fear of what was going to happen. In fact, she was even looking forward to it. He’s attractive. Sleeping with him is well worth it. Moreover, he’s Julian’s uncle, which makes revenge against that jerk all the sweeter. She grabbed her bag and began rummaging through it, hoping to take the pill before Curtis came back out. During her university days, her boyfriend, who turned out to be a monster, had
attempted to force himself on her. Fortunately, she had managed to fight him off with all her might. However, the trauma from the incident had resulted in her phobia of close contact with the opposite sex. After marrying Julian, she tried to accept his advances. However, her stomach would churn at the crucial moment every time. Not only did Julian have to comfort her, but she also ended up fleeing to the next room to sleep. Consequently, the better Julian treated her, the guiltier she felt. Hence, upon learning that there was a drug overseas that could treat her condition, she got her friend to buy a box for her and planned to use it on their first wedding anniversary.
Yet, Julian ended up giving her a huge surprise. After failing to find the drug in her bag, Rayna recalled that she had switched bags before she left home. Right then, the bathroom door was pulled open, and Curtis emerged from within. Rayna stared at him intently and gulped. Uncle Curtis is a fine specimen indeed! Having seen plenty of women like her, Curtis put on a frosty expression. He dried his hair with a towel, then looked down at Rayna and leaned closer to her burning cheeks. “Are you satisfied?” “I-I am…” Intoxicated by his masculinity, the giddy Rayna began struggling to hold herself together. “Uh… I’m going out to get something.” She wanted to avoid puking all over Curtis in the event her stomach churned.
Chapter 4
See You Never “There’s no need to trouble yourself. It’s on the table.” Assuming that she was looking for contraceptives, Curtis lifted his chin at the bedside table, where a basket filled with them could be seen. Rayna was surprised. Since when have hotels become so attentive? “O-Okay. I’ll go take a shower, then.” Rayna pushed Curtis aside, her heart pounding furiously. She could sense what Curtis’ intention was. D*mn it. I was clearly the one leading him on. So how did I end up becoming some sort of sacrificial lamb? Has he been playing dumb all this while just so he could take advantage of me?
Her eyes were tinged with anxiety when she snuck a suspicious glance at him. Curtis took in Rayna’s every expression and had clearly seen through her thoughts. Plenty of women are interested in taking her place, and she’s probably the first one who seems intent on fleeing. This is interesting… The night quickly went by, and dawn approached just as swiftly. When Rayna awoke and turned around, she saw Curtis sleeping by her side. Despite the coldness of his features, she found him to be less fearsome in his sleep. Just like a lion in slumber, he was bereft of his intimidating aura. Leaning over, she carefully observed him. Her gaze gradually shifted from his exquisite features and fair skin to the stubble on his chin and long eyelashes. She couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. I can’t believe how attractive he is. As if because of the candidness of the look she was giving him, Curtis’ brows furrowed slightly, causing her to quickly lie back down. Fortunately, there was no further movement from him. She discreetly moved his hand away from her waist. To prevent him from noticing, she even held her breath. Not wanting to face the awkward moment when Curtis woke up, Rayna used the opportunity to get dressed and slip away. Just before she did, she took out all the cash from her bag and left them on the table. Ten minutes after her departure, Curtis finally awoke.
Expecting not to see her by then, he calmly got out of bed and put on his clothes. No sooner did he do so than he noticed something on the table and walked over to check. On it was a note and a pile of
cash. It wrote: Uncle Curtis, I enjoyed myself last night. I left you some money, and I wish you good luck. See you never! “See you never?” Curtis snorted as he skimmed the message.
Then he threw the note away and kept the cash. At that moment, Gabriel Tylinski, his personal assistant, called to inform him that the flight tickets had been reserved. Subsequently, he added unnecessarily, “Mr. Faymon, if you’re busy today, I can reschedule the flight for tomorrow.” “It’s fine. I’m heading over right now.” After a brief hesitation, Curtis instructed Gabriel, “By the way, come to the hotel and investigate the woman from last night.” “Yes, Mr. Faymon.”
Chapter 5
Divorce My Son Rayna’s heart continued thumping even after she exited the hotel. It wasn’t until the cold breeze struck her cheeks that she finally got a grip on herself. I actually slept with Curtis Faymon! I’m not dreaming. This is real! He’s actually Curtis Faymon! Do I have a death wish? Rayna swatted her own head, then pulled out a hundred from her pocket and hailed a taxi. Forget it. I’ll head home first and figure this out later. Right before she entered her house, Rayna made sure that there were no marks on her that would give her away. The moment she stepped in, she saw Rolanda having breakfast at the dining table. “Mom,” she greeted in a gentle tone. “The nerve of you to come back here!”
Recalling how Rayna had talked back to her on the phone the day before, Rolanda was furious to see her. “Get a divorce! Divorce my son at once!” Faced with Rolanda’s resentment and desire for her to leave the Faymon family, Rayna gradually clenched her fists, her face dark. She was well aware of her humble family background and the fact that she had married up. Nonetheless, she had been working hard in life and was now a senior interpreter in the translation department of Faymon Group. She had a decent career and was capable of taking care of herself. Yet, Rolanda simply looked down on her.
Ever since Rayna married into the Faymon family, she had been nagging her incessantly. When she saw that Rayna still wasn’t pregnant after a year, her animosity intensified to the extent that she accused Rayna of being barren in front of their relatives. She would often introduce her friends’ daughters to Julian in front of Rayna as well. For the sake of their family and her love for Julian, Rayna had been enduring it all and did not hold a grudge against Rolanda. In fact, she would give the money she earned to the family. Unfortunately, Julian had now cheated on her. After reminding herself to bear with it, Rayna took a deep breath and answered, “Mom, I didn’t miss the doctor’s appointment on purpose. I was just too caught up with work. As for what I said to you yesterday, it was just my frustration at work talking.” However, the unconvinced Rolanda insisted on the divorce, saying, “Don’t
call me Mom. You’re no daughter-in-law of mine. If you can’t bear any children, you should just divorce my son!” “Mom, I feel bad too for not getting pregnant after a year,” Rayna said apologetically, holding Rolanda’s arm. “Don’t worry. If I still can’t get pregnant this time, I… I’ll divorce Julian and not hold him back.” The scowl on Rolanda’s face disappeared when she heard that. Then she glanced at Rayna’s stomach. “Rayna, if I don’t see any progress soon, I will not tolerate your presence any longer. When the time comes, you’ll have to divorce Julian!” Rayna forced a smile, but deep down, she was crushed.
Julian did not care about her, while Rolanda simply treated her as a tool to produce grandchildren for her. Rayna didn’t argue with Rolanda any further. After going upstairs to get changed, she drove straight to the office. She and Julian worked at Faymon Group, but in different departments. He worked in the planning department, whereas she worked in the translation department. Faymon Group Tower was huge, and both of them were separated by thirty floors. When she first arrived at Faymon Group, Julian had told her that office relationships weren’t allowed and that they were to keep the fact that they were married a secret. As a result, no one in the office knew that they were husband and wife.
Now that Rayna thought about it, she realized how foolish she was. As one of the top conglomerates in the country, Faymon Group was packed with talented and pretty ladies. Naturally, Julian was worried that his marriage would get in the way of him hitting on them. That was the reason why he didn’t wear his wedding ring at work. After putting her car key into her bag, she picked up a square cufflink from inside. At the sight of the brand, she instantly recognized it and knew that a single cufflink cost north of two hundred thousand. She held it up to take a closer look and knew that Julian could never afford a crystal cufflink like that. It was then a handsome face emerged in her mind, causing her heart to skip a beat.
Chapter 6
The Scent Of Her Perfume Really? How did Curtis’ cufflinks end up in my bag? Considering how rich he is, I’m sure he doesn’t mind losing it. Rayna stuffed the cufflink back into her bag. As she strutted into the office in her heels, she looked up and saw Julian walking with a slender-looking lady and bantering with her. Upon taking a closer look, she realized it was the lady who had been with Julian the night before. The sudden sight of Rayna caused Julian’s expression to change drastically. In his mind, Rayna was supposed to be in Marsingfill for a business trip. When did she come back?
Or did she not go at all? At that moment, the woman beside Julian leaned in and whispered something to him. After she caught Julian’s attention and exchanged glances with him, she turned around and entered the elevator. With a hickey visible on her neck, she cocked a brow at Rayna as if to scoff at her. Rayna’s expression darkened. It looks like his affair has been going on for some time now. Julian threw Rayna a glance before both of them entered the elevator in silence. Once the elevator doors closed, Julian let down his guard and stated, “She’s my superior. She was asking me about work. By the way, didn’t you say that you were going to Marsingfill for business?” Rayna clutched her bag as a myriad of disturbing emotions descended upon her. Due to what happened at university, she suffered from a sexual disorder that prevented her from being intimate with Julian despite repeatedly trying after marriage. As a result, both of them had never slept with each other before. As Julian was an ordinary man, he naturally couldn’t hold back his urges.
With such thoughts flooding her mind, her satisfaction from exacting revenge on Julian the night before began to dissipate. Pursing her lips, she said softly, “Last night was our first wedding anniversary, so I put off my trip, hoping to celebrate with you. But after I learned that you were working late, I didn’t come to the office to see you.” Julian was momentarily unsettled, but he quickly recovered his composure after touching the box in his pocket. “I’m sorry to have forgotten such an important occasion. But”—he fished out the box and opened it to reveal a diamond ring—”I’ve prepared a gift for you.” Looking at the
diamond ring, Rayna could instantly tell that the design was the same as his superior’s earrings. He probably wanted to give it to her. At once, Rayna felt a sudden distance between them, and she retracted her hand by reflex. Julian, who was about to help her put on the ring, was puzzled by her reaction.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like rings?” “I do, but we’re in the office now. It won’t be nice if someone sees us,” Rayna replied, using the opportunity to take the ring from his hand. The unsuspecting Julian then put his arm around Rayna’s shoulders. “Let’s have dinner tonight so that I can make it up to you.” Rayna knitted her brows when the scent of the woman’s perfume lingering on his body stung her senses. Just when she was about to push him aside, the elevator doors opened with a ding. Standing outside was a colleague of theirs. When the colleague saw their intimate posture, she simply stood there and looked at them curiously. “Be careful, Ms. Garland.” Julian’s reaction was swift. After pulling his arm back from Rayna’s shoulders, he explained to the colleague how he had caught Rayna when she lost her balance due to her heels. Rayna felt bitter about it. He’s fine with being intimate with his superior in public, but not with me, his wife. What a joke! “Thank you, Mr. Faymon,” Rayna replied flatly. After expressing her gratitude, she walked right out of the elevator. The perfume lingering on his body nauseated her. That afternoon, she swiftly found a lawyer to draft the divorce agreement. Although Julian had cheated on her first and she had gotten her revenge, she knew that there was no way both of them could ever reconcile. By suggesting the divorce first, she wouldn’t look so pathetic. However, before Rayna had the chance to bring the divorce papers back, she was informed that she would be needed in Norham. Thus, she headed to the airport that night with no time to even pack her things.
Chapter 7
Recognized Her When Rayna returned from Norham, it was already two weeks later. Despite turning on data roaming on her phone in the last two weeks, she had received only two text messages from Julian. One of them was a brief reply to her farewell message before she left for Norham: Travel safe. Rayna finally decided to give up on him. She had always thought Julian cheated on her in the past because of her sexual disorder, but now, it seemed that he had lost interest in her. She decided to confront him when he returned tonight. Just as she was about to arrive at the company, she received a call from her supervisor. A business partner from Sumanthova had just arrived at the company, and he could only speak the Rodunstian language. Since he did not come with an interpreter, and the only Rodunstian language speaker from the CEO’s office was outstation, the translation department had no choice but to send Rayna over.
Rayna wanted to turn down the task, but since she was the only Rodunstian speaker in the company, she could only accept it. Half an hour later, she arrived at Aurelius Club. Rayna took a glance at her wristwatch and noticed it was only eight-thirty in the evening. The business meeting would only begin in another thirty minutes. She started preparing the food and wine according to the business partner’s preference, as per the information given by her superior. After finishing all the preparation by eight-fifty, Rayna tidied herself and made her way to the entrance. It was then that two Mercedes-Benz pulled to a halt in front of the club. A few men in suits stepped out of the first Mercedes-Benz once the car doors were open. All of them had sculpted facial features. Based on the information she had read earlier, Rayna knew they came from Sumanthova.
Flashing a pleasant smile, she greeted the guests in the Rodunstian language. However, she could not help but glance at the Mercedes-Benz behind. There were a few vice CEOs in the company, and they were all ill-tempered. One of them even hated women so much that he would only bring a male interpreter to business functions. I hope he’s not here. Right then, a tall, serious-looking man openednoveldrama
the car door and got out of the vehicle. Then, he moved to the other side of the car and opened the door on that side. Rayna thought the assistant looked familiar, but instead of wasting time trying to figure out who the assistant was, she stepped forward and was ready to greet the vice CEO. A man with a slender figure, wearing a pair of shiny leather shoes, stepped out of the car. The man was tall and had broad shoulders, and he was clad in a fitting metallic gray suit. His hair lay flat, looking absolutely tidy, but there was a glint of indifference in his eyes. He was poised and elegant, but at the same time, he looked unapproachable. Uncle Curtis? Rayna’s eyes widened in disbelief when she recognized the man. The man took a sidelong glance at her and narrowed his eyes, surprised to see her there. Gabriel had provided him with some information about Rayna after that night at the hotel. Having read through the document, Curtis finally understood why Rayna had addressed him as Uncle Curtis at the bar. While Julian was his cousin’s son, whom he did not have a close relationship with, Rayna was Julian’s wife in name and also Faymon Group’s senior interpreter.
The man’s insolent stare sent a chill up Rayna’s spine. Her legs trembled, and she tripped on the mat and fell forward. “Watch out, Mr. Faymon!” Gabriel could only warn him from a distance. Before he could do anything, Rayna had fallen into Curtis’ arms. Curtis’ lips twitched. Gabriel had been working for Curtis for many years, but he had never seen a woman who had the audacity to fall into Curtis’ arms twice. Rayna’s face hurt as she smashed against the man’s chest, but she was immediately captivated by his body scent. Her heart started beating wildly. This is what Uncle Curtis’ body smells like! “Be careful, Ms. Garland,” Curtis said in a warm voice. As a gentleman, he helped her up. The moment his cold fingertips touched her skin, Rayna started having goosebumps. While Gabriel was observing their interaction, he began to wonder if Curtis recognized her since he called her Ms. Garland.
Chapter 8
Are You Pregnant “T-Thank you, Mr. Faymon.” Rayna instantly steadied herself even though her fingers were still shivering. “I’m Rayna Garland from the translation department. I’ll be serving you as your interpreter in this business negotiation.” Curtis hummed in response and said excitedly in a deep voice, “Thank you, Ms. Garland.” “You’re welcome,” Rayna responded with a cursory smile. Thank goodness he didn’t make things difficult for me. Rayna heaved a sigh of relief when Curtis entered the club with the business partner. She then caught up with them and led the way.
She had to book a large private room since many people were involved in the negotiation. After leading Curtis, the business partner, and their entourage to the room, she went out and told the waiter to serve the dishes in twenty minutes. When she returned to the room, she saw that the chairs around the table had been fully occupied. “Ms. Garland, you can take my seat.” Gabriel stood up and gave her his seat. “We really need your help with the interpretation. I’ll leave soon because I have other urgent matters to attend to.” The seat was right next to Curtis, while the representatives from Sumanthova were sitting on the other side. Rayna had no choice but to sit beside him. That afternoon, they would be negotiating the ocean freight rates. The Sumanthovean company had been importing goods from a company under Faymon Group for years. They wanted to increase their bulk purchase this time, but the ocean freight rate was quite costly. That was why they hoped Faymon Group could quote them a lower price. Rodunstian was a gentle language, so the Sumanthovean representatives were quite soft-spoken.
Rayna had to lean forward to get a better picture of what they were asking. Since Curtis was sitting next to her, she would occasionally brush her arm against his. And because he was only wearing a thin shirt, she could feel the warmth of his body. There were moments she zoned out when she recalled the night at the hotel, and her cheeks would begin to flush. Stop thinking about it, Rayna! After completing a round of interpretation, Rayna pulled herself back to hide her embarrassment. Then she immediately grabbed a glass of wine and took a few sips. When she felt someone watching her, she tilted her head
to the side and saw Curtis resting his chin on the back of his hand and giving her a baffling smirk. Why is he looking at me like that? Anxiety kicked in. Rayna looked around the table and realized she was holding Curtis’ red wine glass as hers was still sitting on her left. She had accidentally drunk his red wine. No wonder he gave me that look! The red wine in her mouth was like a piece of burning iron, and she was unsure what to do with it. In the end, she decided to gulp it down and put the glass down as if nothing had happened. Curtis’ eyes glinted with amusement as he took in her every little action. What a steady woman.
Because of Curtis’ generosity in agreeing with their terms and conditions, the negotiation ended thirty minutes early. Now that the business talk had ended, they finally got to enjoy their lunch. The air conditioner was set to a lower temperature as many people were in the private space. Rayna began to feel discomfort in her stomach after taking a few bites, and Curtis noticed she was breaking out in a cold sweat. “We’re done with the negotiation. Go and take a rest,” Curtis said in a calm voice. “Thank you, Mr. Faymon,” Rayna said. Feeling nauseous, she covered her mouth and dashed out of the private room. The man glanced at her and knitted his brows. After entering the restroom, Rayna wrapped her hands around the toilet bowl and started throwing up before she could shut the door. She felt much better after vomiting. When she turned around and was about to leave the cubicle after flushing the toilet, she noticed someone standing in her way. “M-Mr. Faymon.” Rayna nearly bit her tongue when she saw the man leaning by the door frame. “This is the ladies’ room. The restroom for men is next door.” Curtis looked up and fixed his gaze on her belly, and that made Rayna even more nervous. He walked up to her with a hand in his pocket. Inching closer, he glared at her and asked in an indifferent tone, “Are you pregnant?”
Chapter 9
Not Easy Rayna stilled briefly as she realized why he had looked at her stomach like that. “It’s not what you think, Mr. Faymon,” she explained, feeling her cheeks warm. “I just had a little too much for breakfast, so my stomach isn’t feeling so well.” Curtis lowered his head, finally having the time to observe her. The woman looked completely different from when they had met at the bar. That night, she had an alluring slip dress on and had boldly thrown herself into his arms in a drunken stupor. This time, she was wearing a grey suit that accentuated her perfect figure. Not only that, but with her thin, pale-colored high heels along with her hair tied in a ponytail, she looked like a lady boss. Rayna kept her head especially low, as though she was afraid of meeting his gaze, and the fragrance she wore wafted into Curtis’ nostrils. The man felt his abdomen tighten. Thanks to their encounter in the hotel room that night, he knew how seductive the woman could be. “Julian is my nephew, so shouldn’t you be referring to me as Uncle Curtis?”
he asked while leaning closer with a smirk. “Just like what you called me at the bar that day, no?” Rayna’s mind went blank. She had only decided to visit the bar out of spite that night because of what Julian and his mother had done to her. Still, she regretted it, and she certainly had no intention of getting herself involved with Curtis. It’s been half a month. I thought he’d have forgotten all about that by now! “Oh, s-sorry, Uncle Curtis.” Rayna took a few steps back as her legs quivered slightly. “I really wasn’t entirely sure if that was you. I just sort of lost myself after seeing how handsome you looked.” The man stared at her in silence. Rayna couldn’t help but feel unsettled as the atmosphere grew tense. She then sighed with relief only after Curtis retracted his finger. “I heard you’ve been married to Julian for over a year,” he mentioned out of the blue. Rayna knew what he was implying. How did you remain a virgin even after a year of marriage? Thinking about Julian, Rayna merely nodded and smiled forcefully before trying to change the subject. “I have something for you, Mr. Faymon.” She began to rummage through her purse to return the man’s cufflink, only for her phone to ring at that very moment. It was her younger sister, Roxanne Griffith.
Rayna apologized to Curtis before stepping aside to take the call. “What’s up?” she asked softly. “Rayna! I called you so many times. Why didn’t you answer me sooner?” “I have some work to do, so I muted my phone. What do you need?” “Don’t you know that Mom’s broken her leg?” Roxanne grumbled over the phone. “I was supposed to audition for a super important role, but I had to give it up and look after Mom instead!” She then told Rayna to rush over to the hospital with some extra cash. The latter hung up after a few more exchanges. “I’m sorry, Mr. Faymon. Something came up. I have to go now,” she remarked anxiously, worried about her mother. “A family member’s gotten into a bit of an accident.” Curtis had vaguely heard the phone conversation. Seeing how frantic the woman looked, he decided not to question her further. “Go ahead.” “Thank you.” Then she left in a hurry, forgetting to give his cufflink back. Being the efficient worker he was, Gabriel had already sent the Sumanthovean representatives off by the time Curtis came out. “We’ve received the lab reports on that plant, Mr. Faymon,” the assistant announced in a slightly excited tone while handing a document over to Curtis. “It’s exactly as you predicted.” Curtis flipped the first page and glanced through the details. Yet, he didn’t appear as thrilled as Gabriel upon noticing some important digits.
“If we manage to find it, that means other teams will too. Get an interpreter to head out with me right away before someone else signs the contract.” Gabriel fell silent as a troubled expression appeared on his face. Curtis shot him a glance and frowned. “What? Is this not something that can be easily done?” “It really isn’t, Mr. Faymon. The people of that village can only speak Uronian, but it’s such a rarely used language that pretty much no outsider speaks it.” Curtis’ face fell. It had completely slipped his mind that if it weren’t for the language barrier, someone else would have already snatched that plant away long ago. After remaining quiet for a moment, the man responded, “Make a secret trip to a translation academy. Talk to the teachers and students there. If such a language exists, there has to at least be something about it written in books.” “Sure. I’ll do that right away.” Gabriel nodded.
Chapter 10
Cufflink After withdrawing some cash from the bank, Rayna took a taxi and arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later. She entered a ward to see her mother lying in bed with a leg cast. There was also a young woman in her early twenties seated nearby, screaming away while playing a game on her phone. “What happened, Mom?” Rayna asked, walking over and placing some fruits on the table while gazing at the older woman with a frown. “Weren’t you perfectly fine? How did you end up with a broken leg?” “I fell down while doing some cleaning,” Linda stammered, seemingly afraid of her daughter. “It’s no big deal.” “That is not what happened,” Roxanne butted in icily. “She was cleaning windows as her part-time job and fell so hard that she couldn’t get up.” Rayna’s brows furrowed. “Mom, why can’t you just keep watch at the library? Why did you end up cleaning part-time?” Linda lowered her head, not daring to speak.
“She just couldn’t stand being bored, not to mention she’s totally brainless,” Roxanne murmured while putting her phone down. “She fell at someone else’s house but chose to call me instead of getting them to pay for the damages. What an idiot.” “Shut your mouth, Roxanne!” Rayna threw her purse onto the bed in a fit. “This is your mother lying in bed, and you’re calling her an idiot? Would she have had you if she were brainless?” “Am I wrong?” the younger woman retorted, although still not daring to start a fight with her sister. “Anyway, I’ll be going now that you’re here. Oh, my school fees are due, by the way.” Rayna laughed in exasperation. “It’s no wonder you told me to bring more cash. You have fees to pay, huh?”
“Give it to her, Honey,” Linda piped up. “Her fees cost a bomb. I’ll pay you back when I get more money.” A sense of helplessness crept into Rayna. She resented Linda so much for insisting on having more children when the latter couldn’t afford to, and now, the burden of looking after them fell on her shoulders since she was the oldest sibling. If Linda hadn’t swallowed her pride and gone around borrowing money just to fund Rayna’s education at the overseas translation academy, the latter would
have abandoned her family by now. Thankfully, she had worked hard on her own and managed to mingle with the Faymons, although she also had her fair share of rebuffs from Rolanda after getting married to Julian. At present, Rayna suppressed her emotions and took a stack of cash out of her purse, accidentally retrieving the cufflink too. The tiny cufflink rolled on the floor, and Roxanne picked it up. “Rayna, this cufflink’s worth a ton!” she exclaimed with twinkling eyes, aware of the item’s brand since she read fashion magazines frequently. “Are you really close to this guy?” Although Julian worked at Faymon Group, Roxanne knew how much of a cheapskate he was.
There’s no way Julian will buy something this fancy even though he earns so much. Rayna must’ve gone looking for some other guy. “It’s none of your business,” Rayna responded curtly while snatching the cufflink and stuffing it back into her purse. Then she handed the wad of cash over. “This is the last time I’ll pay your school fees. Make your own money from now on. Do you hear me?” Seeing her sister remain mum, Rayna raised her voice and reiterated, “Do you hear me, Roxanne Griffith?” “Yes, I do!” Roxanne pouted, grabbing the money the moment it was in front of her. “Honey, you look like you still have some cash. Why don’t you give that to your brother? He said he doesn’t have enough,” Linda said as she glanced at Rayna’s purse. “This is for your hospital bills, Mom.” Having already given half her salary to Rolanda, Rayna grew infuriated as soon as her mother requested her to finance her brother too. “He goes to a school with accommodation. The school provides his food, and I buy him new clothes every month! What more does he need?” “Well, he’s a guy. He always goes out for meals with his friends,” Linda replied meekly. After counting the money she had just received, Roxanne leaned close to her sister. “I’m not young anymore, Rayna. Surely you must know a few executives at Faymon Group. Why don’t you introduce me to one of them?” “Get out of here, Roxanne.” Rayna clenched her fists while gritting her teeth. “Keep pissing me off, and you won’t get a single cent for your fees.” At that, Roxanne backed off in fear and stopped talking. Before leaving the ward, however, she snuck open Rayna’s purse and swiped the cufflink while the latter was in the middle of a conversation with their mother.