Ch. 211..220
Chapter 211
Chapter 211 Jealous Of His Own Son
Somebody very important to her?
Recalling her gentle tone while she was on the phone, Theodore became even tenser. “You’re getting married on the twentieth of next month, Jasmine,” he said coldly. “Please watch your conduct.”
Jasmine glanced at him. “Watch my what?”
His hardened face and cold tone were easy hints to pick up. At once, her face broke into a smile.
Is he actually jealous of his own son?
Back when they were at the banquet hall, she dared not approach him or say anything as there were too many people present. As of then, however, they were alone in the car.
Jasmine pursed her red lips, then began, “You’ve misunderstood, Theodore. Actually—” Unexpectedly, his ringing phone cut her off.
As cars like his were difficult to maneuver, Theodore had to fish out his phone and put it on loudspeaker.
“Where are you, Teddy?”
A girl’s voice, sweet and feminine, sounded as soon as the call connected.
Jasmine felt chilly to the core as though cold water had been flung on her.
That term of address is too intimate.
Theodore did not notice the change in her expression. Even though he was greatly annoyed at the phone call, he tried hard to suppress it as though he had some misgivings. “I’m on my way home. Why did you call me?”
“C-Could you come over? I’m at the place where we last dined together.” The girl spoke in a coy voice before adding pitifully, “They are bullying me…”
“Hey, watch your words, Stephanie. Since when were we bullying you?”
“Exactly. You were the one who lost the bet!”
“Get your boyfriend over here to drink!”
After the girl spoke, a chorus of five other voices sounded, all laughing with glee at her, who then told them off angrily to stop lying.
“I can’t make it,” Theodore answered. “Call someone and have them pick you up.”
“I can wait,” the girl said gingerly. “Come pick me up, Teddy. Don’t let them make fun of me,” she added in an earnest plea.
After a long silence, he replied, “It’ll take a while for me to get there from here. Wait for me.”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”
Theodore ended the call quickly and glanced sideways at the seat beside his.
Jasmine remained sitting quietly with a smile on her lips as if she was not discomfited by the phone call.
In fact, she even offered, “You can drop me off here if you’re rushing to pick up your girlfriend, Mr. Xavier. It’s very easy to hail a taxi here.”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” he retorted instinctively.
“Oh.” She nodded, still smiling faintly. “She will be.”
Theodore could not stand her tone. Frowning deeply, he made another call and stopped the car at the next junction, where a black Mercedes-Benz was already waiting.
A man standing by the car came over to greet him, “Mr. Xavier.”
Theodore waited for Jasmine to exit the vehicle before ordering, “Send Ms. Sanders home. I have matters to attend to.”
Then, he briskly got back into his car and drove off.
The man opened the door to the Mercedes-Benz swiftly. “Please, Ms. Sanders,” he said respectfully.
“Thank you.”
From within the car, Jasmine stared in the direction where Theodore had left. Her mind wandered off to the memory of the phone call and the girl’s voice, and she felt a little uneasy.
“How long have you worked for Mr. Xavier?” she casually asked the man at the wheel.
“Two years,” he replied. “I’m in charge of Mr. Xavier’s daily affairs and am the designated driver when he isn’t driving.”
“Did you come from Norham with him?”
“I did.”
“Seeing as you’ve worked for him for so long, do you know how many girlfriends he has had?”
“Mr. Xavier is a workaholic and has no women by his side. You know, this always makes me wonder if he’s gay,” the man joked.
None for the past few years?
The knot in Jasmine’s heart loosened, but the remembrance of the girl on the line made her speak again. “Maybe you’re just unaware of it. A girl called him earlier and asked him to pick her up.”
The man pondered for a second before replying, “Are you referring to Ms. Stephanie? Her father, Commander Goath, is close to Mr. Xavier’s father, so it won’t look nice if Mr. Xavier snubs Ms. Stephanie.”
“Is that so?” Jasmine recalled her meeting with Emma four years ago, and hatred flared in her eyes. “Indeed, only the ones from the same social circle would get along.”
I will not have my son walk the same path as I did. One day, I’ll have Emma beg me and have her taste the humiliation that she subjected me to back then!
Soon, the car arrived at Jasmine’s residential area.
Due to its exclusivity, unregistered vehicles were not permitted entry, so the man dropped her off at the gates and turned the car around.
Just as he was about to leave, he inadvertently glanced at the rearview mirror and caught sight of a young boy suddenly emerging as Jasmine was walking into the residential area.
A mask covered the boy’s face. His height seemed to be about one forty, and he was gazing up as he said something to Jasmine. With her arms extended, she looked as though she wanted to lift the boy but could not manage to, so she vigorously tousled his hair and left hand in hand with him.
The man was flabbergasted.
Having learned from the news that Jasmine and Curtis were to be wed on the twentieth of next month, he reckoned that the entire country would know about it the following day.
What is this? Does Ms. Sanders have a child?
Then, he convinced himself that he was overthinking, as the boy could very well be a relative of Jasmine’s. After all, to him, it was improbable for an engaged woman to be involved with such unsavory affairs.
At that thought, the man no longer paid the matter further mind and drove off.
Rayna’s chest still felt uncomfortable when she woke up.
I seem to recall fainting halfway through a conversation with Theodore. How did I wake up in my apartment?
“Are you awake, Nana?”
Jessica pushed open the door and entered. Though she looked ludicrous, clad in cleaning attire with a mop in her hand, the roundness of her face made her look adorable.
“In the future, you shouldn’t drink alcohol at any social events you attend, whether it is a cocktail reception or whatever. Mr. Faymon sent you home yesterday drunk as a skunk. What a fright you gave me,” she chastised upon seeing that Rayna was awake.
The corner of Rayna’s lips twitched.
I barely had two glasses of champagne and still got drunk. Is my alcohol tolerance really that poor? Besides, I recall that I fainted from the discomfort of my rapid heartbeat!
However, that was not what she paid the most attention to. Instead, it was the part about Curtis sending her home.
“Curtis sent me home?” Rayna repeated.
“That’s right.” Jessica adjusted her spectacles, grumbling, “I asked him to place you on the couch, but he insisted on bringing you into your room as if he intended to take advantage of you.”
Rayna felt thoroughly embarrassed for having Curtis send her back not long after she made the declaration to distance herself from him and Faymon Group.
“From now on, I’ll give you a call before I attend a cocktail reception or any event of that sort.” Rayna patted Jessica’s shoulder before adding seriously, “My safety is in your hands.”
Jessica grunted in affirmation.
Then, she scrutinized Rayna from head to toe before asking hesitantly, “Did you…”
“No!” The latter hurriedly dismissed her friend’s wild imagination.
Though it was wrong of Curtis to deceive her, Rayna firmly believed he was not one to take advantage of somebody’s misfortune.
In addition to the discomfort in her chest, Rayna had not had a proper rest from her hectic period at work of late. Thus, she sent her assistant a message, informing the latter that she would not be going in to work for the next couple of days.
Chapter 212
Chapter 212 Unsolicited Help From Curtis 1
Jessica diligently cleaned the condominium and even waxed the floor, giving new life to the place. In the meantime, Rayna did not remain idle either, going to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
A few minutes later, Jessica dashed over.
“Nana, where did you get this from?” She held a stone before Rayna’s face, uttering in excitement, “It’s so beautiful! Can you give it to me?”
It was a pink heart-shaped stone, delicate and pure like one’s adoration for one’s beloved.
Stunned, Rayna stared at it and stuttered, “W-Where did you find it?”
“I found it in your room,” Jessica replied. “I wanted to help you tidy up your luggage, and this stone fell out when I lifted it. Isn’t this a souvenir you bought from somewhere?”
At that, Rayna recalled her trip to Hallsbay. When she had a barbecue with Jefferson, she overheard the girl beside them saying, “If a couple finds a heart-shaped stone on Passerine Island, their love will last forever.”
Did Jefferson go to Passerine Island to search for a heart-shaped stone and stuff it into my luggage? Does he believe in that story?
Complex feelings surged within Rayna’s heart when she thought of Jefferson purposely going to Passerine Island to find a heart-shaped stone on the beach full of rocks.
Since she did not meet Jefferson again after the charity dinner, she did not even manage to return the necklace to him. Did he go back to Yartran?
“Hey, Nana, I’m talking to you!” At the sight of Rayna spacing out, Jessica waved her hand before her friend. “What are you thinking about?”
Rayna regained her senses and smiled. “Nothing.”
“Then give this stone to me. You don’t seem to like it either.” As Jessica spoke, she curled her fingers around the stone, planning to keep it away.
“It belongs to someone else.” Rayna grabbed the stone and clutched it in her hand. She would have let it be if it were just an ordinary stone, but it was related to that story. “I want to return it to him when I see him.”
Surprised by her response, Jessica exclaimed, “It’s just a stone. Is there a need to return it?”
“This stone is different.”
“What’s so different about it?” Jessica asked. “Could it be that it can materialize a treasure from thin air?”
“No.”
“Tell me, then. What’s so different about it?”
Since Jessica insisted on getting to the bottom of it, Rayna had no choice but to take out a horseshoe bracelet and lie that she brought it back from Hallsbay as an auspicious gift to her.
Being a superstitious person, Jessica instantly accepted the gift and stopped asking Rayna questions.
When the duo was having their breakfast, Wyatt arrived to pick Jessica up to work. However, he stayed to enjoy the meal without hesitation upon noticing the food. In fact, he even publicly displayed his affection for his girlfriend in front of Rayna.
It was too much to bear that Rayna had the urge to roast them.
“Can you two stop being lovey-dovey?” she roared.
Initially, she thought Wyatt and Jessica would only date each other for a month at most because their characters were worlds apart. To her surprise, the couple was still going strong. Worse yet, Wyatt kept coming to their place to freeload on food.
“Being lovey-dovey brings us joy!” Wyatt chuckled. “On the contrary, Mr. Tylinski frequently shares photos of his pets on his WhatsApp status. Wouldn’t it be better for him to utilize his free time to get a girlfriend?”
“Whoa! Really?” Jessica asked in curiosity. “I can’t believe Mr. Tylinski likes keeping pets.”
“What’s so good about keeping pets? You have me!” Wyatt unabashedly gave her a kiss. “Come on, Babe, have some oatmeal.”
“I’m sick of eating this every day.”
“I’ll have someone to prepare some buns for you. We can collect them later.”
“I want croissants as well.”
“Sure!”
Their mushy conversation caused the veins on Rayna’s forehead to bulge. She then grabbed a broom and chased the couple out expressionlessly. “Please hurry up and go to work. Don’t come back at night!”
“You sure have a fiery temper, sweetheart.” Daily new chapters upload Only On Alaniniz(dot)com Wyatt dodged the broom while wearing a playful smile. “You can invite Curtis over for breakfast too. We won’t
mind.”
Jessica pinched him before bellowing, “Don’t mention Mr. Faymon, that scumbag! Since you have so many connections, isn’t it better for you to throw a party to introduce some men to Nana?”
He clicked his tongue and said meaningfully, “But it depends on whether Ms. Garland likes it or not.”
Rayna slammed the door. How annoying!
With that, she was all alone in the condominium. After tidying up the kitchen, she brewed a cup of coffee for herself. Her skill had improved so much that even she praised the coffee to the skies.
Then, she replied to some urgent emails through her phone and decided to handle the rest when she returned to the office.
Just as she was about to exit WhatsApp, Wyatt’s words flashed across her mind, so she scrolled through the status page and happened to see Gabriel’s status from twenty minutes ago. It wrote: I can only take a sunbath at home.
The photo showed his arm in a cast and a fluffy, adorable Ragdoll cat.
Then, Rayna checked on him.
Gabriel: I accidentally fell from the chair and broke my arm when I was in the warehouse looking for something.
Rayna: Impressive.
Gabriel: How are things at the new company, Ms. Garland? Are you adapting well there?
Rayna: Everything’s pretty okay. Today’s my day off.
Gabriel: That’s perfect. My Ragdoll kittens are weaned, and there’s one more left. Do you want to take it, Ms. Garland? Don’t you quite like cats?
Seeing his offer, Rayna felt tempted to keep the kitten.
Although she liked cats, she hated cat shedding, not to mention that the animal was slightly aloof.
Rayna was about to reject Gabriel’s offer by using the excuse of her busy schedule when he sent her a few photos of the kitten. The Ragdoll kitten looked adorable in the pictures, and a hint of shyness could be seen in its blue eyes. At that moment, she changed her mind.
Rayna: Send me your address. I’ll head there right now!
Gabriel could even feel her eagerness from her response. Feeling satisfied, he hurriedly sent a WhatsApp message to his superior.
Gabriel: Mr. Faymon, there’s some problem with the two documents I submitted previously. Please send them to my house.
Curtis texted back with a dagger emoji that showcased his blatant murderous intent.
Curtis: Can’t you get it yourself? How dare you ask me to send it to you!
Gabriel: I don’t feel well as my arm is broken. It’s all right if you’re busy, Mr. Faymon. Ms. Garland will come to see me later. I might feel better after having a chat with her.
After sending the message, Gabriel switched off his phone and stroked his Ragdoll cat while sighing. “A great employee like me who is capable and can settle a superior’s relationship crisis is as rare as a four-leaf clover!”
Meowing, the Ragdoll cat flung its tail and raised its chin coldly.
It was clear that it refused to let him touch itself.
He immediately took some cat treats to feed the cat. “You’re such a good pet, Elizabeth. You gave birth to a beautiful Ragdoll kitten. Let’s get money from Mr. Faymon when he gets married!”
Look at me! I even let my beloved cat give birth to kittens for the sake of my superior. I’m so great!
Since Gabriel stayed at a manor on an old street hidden in the deepest part of the alley, Rayna took a lot of effort to locate it.
When she arrived, he opened the door and welcomed her in. “You’re here, Ms. Garland.”
While pointing at the manor, Rayna asked, “I didn’t expect you to stay in a place like this. I bet you’d get enormous compensation for relocation, huh?”
“That’s not it. Don’t you find this place atmospheric, Ms. Garland?”
His reply left her speechless.
The manor appeared shabby from the outside, as though it was about to collapse. However, the interior looked vintage and beautiful with the floor-to-ceiling windows because Gabriel renovated it in an exotic style.
After entering the courtyard, Rayna could not tear her eyes away from the Ragdoll cat sunbathing on the shelf.
Chapter 213
Chapter 213 Unsolicited Help From Curtis Part 2
“Oh my gosh! Such a beautiful cat!”
“Of course! Elizabeth has been the reigning champion in the International Domestic Cats Competition for four years in a row!” It was natural for Gabriel to be thrilled when his beloved cat was well-liked.
Just as he moved to hold Elizabeth, planning to let Rayna carry her, the aloof cat jumped gracefully onto the cat post installed below the roof.
Gabriel scratched his head and said in resignation, “Forget it. Let’s go and see her daughter instead.”
He then led Rayna into the house to check out the Ragdoll kitten.
The palm-sized kitten was recently weaned. She was as white as a snowball except for a gray patch at the tip of her ears. The clingy kitten wobbled as she walked.
Rayna’s heart was about to melt when she saw the kitten nuzzling at her hand. She could not wait to bring the adorable animal back to her home.
“Ms. Garland, have you ever had a pet cat before?” Gabriel asked.
A brief silence later, Rayna replied, “No…”
He then began to give specific instructions for caring for the cat and the different types of food required at the various stages of growth. She listened to him intently and even took down notes on her phone.
Woof! Woof!
Suddenly, a black dog dashed out from the courtyard, frightening Rayna.
After carefully looking at the dog, she realized it was a majestic-looking black wolfdog. Behind it was a miniature and unattractive version of it.
“So, you also own wolfdogs?” Rayna exclaimed in surprise.
“That’s right. This one’s name is Kristoff.” Gabriel then called over the larger wolfdog with a look of disappointment on his face. “Other than eating, he’s useless. He always goes out to play, and he even found himself a girlfriend.”
As it turned out, Kristoff was overly active and could not be kept within the courtyard, so he ran out frequently to have fun. Coincidentally, the wealthy lady staying on the street across from Gabriel owned a female dog of the same breed. The two dogs played together, and in the end, the neighbor’s dog got pregnant.
Furious, the lady came over and gave Gabriel a good telling-off. Left with no choice, he had to offer monetary compensation and sincere verbal apologies to appease her. That was how the puppy ended up at his place.
Rayna laughed till her sides ached. “I have always thought that dogs of this breed are very imposing. I didn’t expect your dog to be the same as a Husky and even get another dog pregnant. Kristoff is really something,” she commented, gloating over his misfortune.
Gabriel let out a sigh. “Ms. Garland, I’m already in a tight spot. Please don’t laugh at me, okay?”
“Okay, I won’t.” With that promise, she stopped teasing him and asked, “What do you intend to do with the puppy? Do you plan to keep it?”
“No, it takes too much of an effort.”
His gaze was all it took for her to know what he was implying. “No way. I don’t have a yard at my place, so there’s no way I can keep it. Furthermore, I don’t know how to care for it too.”
“Poor puppy,” mumbled Gabriel as he stroked the small wolfdog. “Once my arm has recovered, I’ll find an owner for you.”
After a short chat, Rayna was ready to leave. However, she felt terrible for taking the Ragdoll kitten for free, so she offered to pay Gabriel, who adamantly refused to accept her money.
“Ms. Garland, it will be an insult to me if you insist on giving me money,” he said sternly. “I’m only giving the kitten to you because I know you love cats.”
“Then, let me buy you a meal,” she replied after pondering for a while.
Gabriel pointed to his arm, which was still in a cast, and said, “I’m not in the condition to go out, but I heard that you’re a good cook, Ms. Garland. Why don’t you make me a meal instead?”
“Sure.”
Anyway, she was not working that day and would have to cook for herself when she returned home. Considering that, she might as well cook for the both of them there.
Just as Rayna stepped into the kitchen, the doorbell rang.
Gabriel quickly rushed out because he was very sure that it was Curtis. However, when he opened the door and saw the latter, he still feigned a look of surprise. “Mr. Faymon, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to pass you the documents.”
“Oh, thank you!” Gabriel took the documents and wanted to slam the door shut with his leg but was stopped by Curtis.
“Can I help you with anything else, Mr. Faymon?” he asked.
“I’m your boss, yet I came all the way here to deliver the documents to you. Aren’t you going to invite me inside for a glass of water?” Curtis rem
Chapter 214
Chapter 214 An Evil And Eloquent Woman
Rayna’s face immediately turned red as she retorted, “I don’t know him, ma’am.”
“You don’t know him? Then why did he ask if you needed help?” The middle-aged lady looked at her skeptically before continuing, “By the looks of it, this must be a lovers’ spat, right?”
“It’s not—”
Before Rayna could finish her sentence, the middle-aged lady shook her head and scolded Curtis, “You’re so dashingly dressed, yet you don’t know how to appease your girlfriend? How can you be such a failure?”
Her tone was sharp. Upon seeing Curtis’ changed expression, Rayna could not help but laugh.
Afraid that she might be caught laughing, she quickly turned away.
“You’re right.” Surprisingly, Curtis was not angry. He even walked over and talked to the lady. “Judging from what you said, you must have a son, and you’re worried sick about him, right?”
The lady immediately replied, “That’s right.”
Just like that, the two of them hit it off and had a pleasant chat.
Rayna was bemused.
Just as she was about to listen in on their conversation while picking up a fish with the net, the duo had finished chatting.
“Young man, not only are you handsome, but you also have a silver tongue.” The female fishmonger smiled as she added, “Still, you have to treat your girlfriend better. Otherwise, it’ll be too late to cry over
spilled milk if someone were to snatch her away.”
Rayna denied it for the second time. “Ma’am, I don’t know him.”
“Oh,” was all the older lady said before she asked enthusiastically, “Have you chosen a fish, dear? Which one would you like?”
Rayna was rendered speechless.
After buying the fish, Curtis helped to push the shopping cart.
They left together. Rayna shot him a sidelong glance as she mocked, “Mr. Faymon, didn’t you hate places with pungent smell? Are pigs flying now?”
“You’ll be cooking the meal, after all. It would be rude of me not to make any contributions,” he replied.
His response evoked a sneer from her. “I’m impressed that you have the nerve to say that, Mr. Faymon. When have you ever contributed during the times I cooked for you previously? Besides, I’m cooking for Mr. Tylinski this time around. I never invited you.”
Nevertheless, Curtis was full of confidence, drawling, “I’m his boss, and I also have something important to discuss with him. He won’t kick me out during a meal.”
He paused for a moment before he continued, “Ms. Garland, if you feel like you’ve suffered a great loss from the previous meals, I can compensate you.”
“It’s not like I’m dirt poor and want to cheat you out of your money!”
“There are other ways to compensate you.”
Rayna shot a disdainful look at Curtis and mocked, “Mr. Faymon, do you have anything else apart from money?”
All of a sudden, he stopped in his tracks.
Rayna followed suit. That was when she saw him loosen his tie and undo the first button of his shirt to reveal a peek of his collarbones. It was a seductive sight.
“I can compensate you like this,” he uttered.
It took the stunned woman five whole seconds to return to her senses. Once she did, she quickly turned around and put some distance between the two of them. At that moment, her heart was beating like crazy. She could not believe he was the same aloof Curtis that she knew.
He’s lost his mind! How can he say something like that?
Curtis’ attire and aura were too eye-catching. Every so often, a woman would purposely walk past them, and their ardent eyes would linger on him.
Unable to stand it any longer, Rayna took the shopping cart from him and said through clenched teeth, “Mr. Faymon, please wait for me at the checkout counter. I still need to buy vegetables!”
“It’s not like I asked them to look at me.”
It was impossible for her to come up with a response.
At that moment, a young woman walked forward and cast them curious looks. “You are Mr. Faymon, aren’t you? I saw on the news that you and Ms. Sanders will get married on the twentieth of next month. Is that true? If so, what’s your relationship with the woman next to you?” Her voice was filled with excitement.
Rayna pursed her lips.
That’s right. Last night at the cocktail reception, Curtis announced his marriage to Jasmine before all members of the upper-class society. A union between two families of magnates is bound to cause a huge sensation.
The words from the young woman who appeared out of nowhere caused Curtis to frown. Judging by her tone of voice, it was evident that she was not a reporter. However, he still grabbed her arm since she looked suspicious.
The young woman was holding onto a phone, and the voice recording application was shown on the screen.
Curtis snatched the phone from her hand, exuding an oppressive sense of formidableness. “If you know me, then you should be aware of my temper. I hate it the most when people do things behind my back.”
“S-Sorry.” The young woman paled and backed away in fear. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
If she were to be blacklisted by Faymon Group, the leading magnate of the business world, then she would have zero chance of getting decent positions in any companies in the future. That was why she apologized to Curtis.
Curtis demanded, “Your ID and password.”
The young woman did not hesitate and told him her phone’s ID and password, trembling terribly as she did so.
He unlocked her phone and scrolled through it for a minute before he broke it in half and threw it into a nearby trash can. Gabriel, who had been gone for some time, appeared at the opportune moment.
“Check the price of this phone and reimburse it to her,” Curtis ordered.
“Miss, come with me.” Gabriel brought the young woman away. “Let’s talk about the reimbursement.”
The whole process took less than three minutes.
Rayna was impressed by Curtis’ bizarre method of dealing with the matter. It was not her first time seeing it, but it did not stop her from grumbling. “You should’ve just deleted the video permanently. Why did you have to delete her ID too?”
“I was afraid she might have synced it to a drive or something similar,” he replied.
Annoyance bubbled up inside Rayna. “Mr. Faymon, you must have a persecutory delusion disorder! I’m not working at Faymon Group anymore. Even if this video gets onto the internet, it won’t affect you in any way.”
Is he that bothered about his marriage with Ms. Sanders?
Curtis glanced at her, and the corners of his lips curved upward as though he was smiling. “I’m not worried about myself but you. You’ve just joined Hatchair Group and even took over as the vice CEO. Considering your unstable foundation, it’d be hard for you to discuss any business deals in the future should someone use this video to destroy your reputation.”
He then explained, “Jasmine and I are not getting married for real. There won’t be a marriage certificate, rings, or the like. Once she gets the shares of Sanders Group, we’ll hold a press conference to clarify things.”
So, it’s a fake marriage?
Rayna was relieved by his explanation. However, her expression remained cold, and she even jeered at him. “I didn’t think that the unscrupulous Mr. Faymon would be so kind as to help Ms. Sanders with
such a big favor. I think it’s best if you two get married for real since you two are a match made in heaven!”
Unexpectedly, Curtis pushed her against a shelf and seized her hands. “Ms. Garland, it’s been a few months since we last met, but you are still as eloquent as before.”
“Let me go!” Rayna struggled to break away from his grip. Such a situation filled her with a sense of embarrassment. “This is a supermarket, and there are surveillance cameras everywhere. Be shameless all you want but count me out.”
However, he still maintained an iron grip on her So, hands, even leaning forward and bringing their faces closer together.
His warm breath on her face made her feel terribly uncomfortable, so she tried to back away. Alas, the shelf behind her rendered it impossible for her to hide from him. Just as she parted her lips to say something, they were sealed by another pair of lips.
Curtis used his tongue to pry her mouth open. The kiss was fierce and passionate, all part of his attempt to envelop her with his aura. It was as though he was punishing her for giving him the cold shoulder for months.
That’s right. Why would I help someone if I get nothing in return? Of course, I’m doing it because of you!
Curtis could smell a fragrant scent on her. It was faint, not the least bit pungent, making one’s senses tingle. He forcefully pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss.
It’s all because of this d*rned woman! Half a year ago, she pretended to be drunk in that bar, fell into my arms, and openly seduced me. She’s the one who forced herself into my world and messed up my life! This woman is so evil and full of wit.
Chapter 215
Chapter 215 Curtis Says One Thing And Does The Other
The long and passionate kiss dizzied Rayna. For a moment, she lost herself in the intimate exchange but soon punched his chest from the lack of breath.
Once Curtis let go of her, she immediately backed away and stuck herself close to the shelf. “Mr. Faymon, I’m going to sue you for sexual harassment!” she snarled, glaring at him.
At that, the man loosened his tie even more. His narrowed eyes carried a hint of playfulness, showing how scheming he could be. “Sure. Let’s also include the incident at the bar from half a year ago.”
“Y-You’re shameless!” Every one of his actions on that day gave Rayna the impression that she barely knew him. “You were the one who said we’ll write off that incident if I followed you to seal that business deal in Tyrandas.”
“That’s right, but that business deal wasn’t sealed.” Curtis took advantage of the loophole in her words as he gently placed his arm next to her head. “Besides, after that, I helped you again.”
Rayna was choked with fury.
Did he lose his mind or something? Why did he become so flirty?
“Rayna, the car accident was my fault; I used you.” Curtis’ tone suddenly became serious. “But I’ve never thought of you as a pawn. You’re worthy of my trust.”
He had been in the business world for so long, and the women around him consisted of businesswomen, celebrities, lawyers, and even socialites. All those years, the only person he could trust was Kristie.
As of then, he could also place his trust in Rayna.
When he sought her help, it was undeniable that he thought of using her to achieve his own goals. However, it was more accurate to say that he wanted to push her to her limits and make her shine.
His words brought up the pain in Rayna’s heart.
If it were not for Curtis’ nudge, she would not be where she was then. Indeed, she should thank him, but she still could not reconcile herself to Julian’s death.
A person died. This isn’t a data spreadsheet that can be restored if it’s gone.
“Mr. Faymon, it’s all in the past now. There’s no use bringing it up.” Rayna titled her body and brushed past him to leave. Her flat tone of voice caused Curtis to press his lips together tightly.
Annoyance filled his heart, and he slammed his fist on the shelf.
Later, when the two of them walked together once again, it was evident that there was an awkward tension between them. Rayna was purposely putting some distance between Curtis and herself. Even when they were paying for the groceries, she insisted on paying for them herself.
Gabriel was also bemused.
My plan was so perfect. I made Ms. Garland and Mr. Faymon come out together so that they could spend time alone and improve their relationship, but why does it feel like the atmosphere around them became more awkward after they shopped at the supermarket?
Rayna brought the groceries to the kitchen when they arrived at Gabriel’s house.
In the meantime, Gabriel shuffled close to Curtis and asked softly, “Mr. Faymon, what happened? Ms. Garland’s mood is now worse than when she first saw you today.”
“Get lost.”
Gabriel zipped his mouth shut.
Fine. It looks like Mr. Faymon is also in a bad mood.
The Ragdoll kitten was clingy, nuzzling against Rayna’s leg constantly. Wherever she went, the kitten would follow. Afraid of stepping on her, Rayna brought her out of the kitchen and closed the door.
With wobbly steps, the kitten made her way to Curtis, who was sitting on the couch. Before her head could touch his dress pants, he raised his legs, and his expression changed.
With an expressionless face, he called Gabriel over. “Get your cat away from me.”
“Mr. Faymon, it’s just a kitten that’s barely a month old. What are you afraid of?” Gabriel walked over and carried the kitten away. “Ms. Garland absolutely adores her. She even wants to bring her home as a pet!”
“You’re letting her keep this long-haired thing?”
Gabriel corrected him sternly. “Mr. Faymon, this is a Ragdoll cat. It’s purebred, so it’s very expensive!”
Curtis was rendered speechless.
That’s why I smelled a milky scent on Rayna when I kissed her earlier. It turns out that she’d carried this thing before.
“Go, Mr. Faymon,” Gabriel urged suddenly.
Curtis stared at him in bewilderment. “Go where?”
Gabriel rolled his eyes at him and pointed toward the kitchen with his chin as he said in a low voice, “Even if you don’t know how to cook, you should also act like you do in front of Ms. Garland and look for an opportunity to talk to her.”
“I still have some emails to take care of.”
“I can’t deal with you.” Gabriel was frustrated. Even though he had not dated much, he felt like his superior was dimmer than him in the dating aspect. “Will the emails send you a wife?” he questioned.
Hearing that, Curtis frowned. “You’re overthinking. I don’t like Rayna.”
Gabriel let out a mocking laugh in his heart.
He could finally understand the meaning of getting a clearer view of the picture as an onlooker.
“Whatever. Even so, you have to help her. We can’t let Ms. Garland exhaust herself, right? If my arm weren’t hurt, I would’ve helped her,” he said.
Curtis stared at the kitten in Gabriel’s arms. “Move away so that I can go there.”
His assistant was at a loss for words.
Curtis opened the kitchen door, and the smell of smoke and seafood wafted through the air. Hot steam rose from the steamer, and it looked like seafood was being steamed inside. Rayna had her back toward him as she busied herself cooking.
The way she cut vegetables was fluid. A potato soon became thin slices under her knife. When she moved on to cut the green peppers, her pan was already oiled and ready for cooking. Not a single second was wasted.
Curtis glanced at his hands and realized there was not anything he could help with. However, he still asked, “Do you need any help?”
Rayna shot a glance at him before staring at the pan again. With a disdainful tone, she remarked, “What can you help with? I reckon you can’t even wash the vegetables properly. You might even soil
your suit. It’s best if I do it alone!”
Throughout his life, she was the only person ever to disdain him.
In fact, it was not the first time such a thing had happened.
“I’ll wash the vegetables, then.” Curtis rolled up his sleeves, which revealed the firm muscles on his arms, before approaching Rayna. His tall figure towered over her as he asked, “Which of these vegetables needs to be washed?”
Seeing that he was adamant about helping, Rayna pursed her lips. As though she was purposely trying to make things difficult for him, she pointed toward the countertop and said, “Devein the prawns and wash the peas.”
A few strands of her hair fell to her face, and she realized that she did not tie her hair up. However, her hands were dirty, so touching her hair with them was not an option. “There’s a hair tie in my pocket. Take it out and help me tie my hair.”
“Is it this pocket?” Curtis searched her right pocket.
As he had to take something, it was unavoidable for the two of them to stick close to one another. Rayna tried her best to put some distance between them. “Forget it. I won’t tie my hair if you can’t find it.”
The second she finished her sentence, Curtis found the hair tie and stood behind her. He carefully gathered all her hair and placed it in a ponytail before using the hair tie to tie it up.
Rayna coughed and awkwardly said, “Hurry and wash the vegetables. I’m almost done with this dish.”
“Okay.”
Curtis had never cooked before, but he was quick to learn. She briefly taught him how to devein a prawn, and he quickly got the hang of it. The two pounds of prawns were soon deveined.
In the kitchen, one person prepared and cooked the vegetables while the other washed them. The two of them worked in tandem, which was a heartwarming sight.
Half an hour later, all the dishes were done. Rayna even steamed a few crabs.
Looking at the dishes on the table, Gabriel felt himself salivating. “Ms. Garland, you have such great cooking skills! Whoever marries you will be blessed with happiness!” he praised.
Curtis gave him a look.
Gabriel clicked his tongue discreetly. You said you weren’t interested in Ms. Garland, yet you got jealous when I complimented her!
When they were eating, the Ragdoll kitten came to nuzzle up against Rayna again. At that sight, she carried the kitten and placed her on her lap, allowing the kitten to grab her shirt and play with it. Her actions were filled with indulgence, which caused Curtis’ lips to twitch.
I just can’t understand how a long-haired pet can be cute.
Halfway through their meal, Rayna received a call from Beau, who wanted to entrust a collaboration to her. However, she had never been involved with that area, so she could not understand the technical terms he used.
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Chapter 216
Chapter 216 A New Pet
Having picked up on the slight hesitation in her tone, Curtis narrowed his eyes and took over the phone in her hand.
“Mr. Chambers, this is Curtis.”
He then put the phone on speaker so Rayna could listen in on the conversation as she continued eating.
Due to his deliberate use of layman’s terms, she finally understood what the men were talking about at the end of their conversation.
After hanging up the call, Curtis returned the phone to her, saying, “You’ve never handled something like this before, so it’s normal not to understand what’s going on right away. I’ll have Gabriel send the relevant documents to you, and you should get a better idea once you’ve gone through them.”
“Isn’t this considered an abuse of power, Mr. Faymon?” Gabriel interjected. “If Ms. Garland wants any documents, she should be getting them from Hatchair Group.”
“There’s nothing interesting about Hatchair Group’s documents.” Curtis narrowed his eyes at his assistant. His tone was chilly as he remarked, “I advise you to think more and speak less.”
Learning of the man’s intents, Rayna thanked him with utmost sincerity. “Thank you, Mr. Faymon.”
“You’re welcome.”
After having lunch at Gabriel’s house and staying there for a little longer, Rayna took her leave. She still had things to take care of, and she had to go through all of the documents Gabriel gave her.
A moment after she left, Curtis was about to go as well.
Unfortunately, he was stopped by his assistant. Gabriel wore a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes as he queried, “Mr. Faymon, you’ve already wasted all afternoon. I don’t suppose a couple more minutes will matter.”
“What is it?”
Gabriel pursed his lips and whistled. Soon, an ugly-looking pup came into view, causing Curtis’ expression to darken. He quickly pulled his assistant to the front, blocking himself from the puppy.
“Mr. Faymon, it’s a puppy, and it doesn’t have much fur. Do you mind taking care of it?”
Casting a glare at the man, Curtis enunciated, “Come again?”
“It’s not just an ordinary puppy, Mr. Faymon. It’s an intelligent breed, so it can help guard your house.”
“I have a home security system.”
“It might be useful when you’re out and about. It can help carry things.”
“I have a driver.”
Gabriel sighed in resignation after his suggestions were refuted by his boss. Suddenly, an idea occurred to him, and he exclaimed, “Mr. Faymon, did you know Ms. Garland gave it a name? She named it Lucky.”
Noticing Curtis’ lack of response, Gabriel continued to persuade him, “Ms. Garland wants to raise the puppy, but she doesn’t have a courtyard, and the condominium she’s staying at doesn’t allow dogs. Don’t you think it’s auspicious to have a cat named Happy and a dog named Lucky?”
Curtis inched backward as the puppy was about to lunge at him, his face devoid of expression the entire time.
“I’m not raising it.”
He wasn’t interested in raising a pet.
“Please reconsider, Mr. Faymon,” Gabriel coaxed. “Ms. Garland really likes it. She’ll be happy to invite you in for a coffee if you bring Lucky to visit her.”
At that, Curtis let out a snort of laughter. “I don’t need a dog’s help for that.”
Gabriel stroked his chin. He begged to differ from his employer’s statement. “I noticed that Ms. Garland didn’t seem too keen to see you. Don’t you think so, Mr. Faymon?”
Once again, Curtis was left speechless.
Finally, after his assistant’s relentless persuasion, he left with a crate and a bag of kibble in his hands. It was a heart-warming scene, but a complicated expression was plastered on his face.
On the way back, Curtis’ gaze landed on the crate sitting on the passenger seat. The puppy looked back at him and wagged its tail excitedly, wanting to get out of its crate.
He shifted his gaze and massaged his temples helplessly. “I must be crazy.”
I hate animals, yet I’m raising one now because Rayna likes it. Daily new chapters upload Only On Alaniniz(dot)com It seems my principles are changing because of her. This is nonsense!
The Ragdoll kitten was young, but because it had been adequately socialized, it wasn’t afraid of humans at all. It sprinted around the living room and played with the toys Rayna brought from Gabriel’s home.
Jessica loved the kitten, too, and would spend all day playing with it, leaving Wyatt heartbroken.
When he came to pick her up the next day and saw she was playing with the kitten again, Wyatt asked piteously, “Am I not handsome enough? Why are you only paying attention to the kitten and not me?”
“Behave yourself in broad daylight, please!” Jessica chided, kicking him in the leg.
“I’m on my best behavior!” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and lifted a brow. “Such a tiny little thing can’t please you, can it?” he asked teasingly.
“Wyatt Lopez! You pervert!”
Looking at the bantering couple, Rayna felt the urge to beat Wyatt up.
Life is hard!
Her Mercedes-Benz was undergoing maintenance work. It just so happened that Hatchair Group and Faymon Group weren’t far apart, so Wyatt took her to work. “What did you two name the kitten?” he queried.
“Happy.”
Upon hearing her response, he burst out laughing. “Curtis named his puppy ‘Lucky,’ and you named your kitten ‘Happy.’ This is too funny!”
“No way. Mr. Faymon’s raising a puppy?” A hint of surprise could be heard in Jessica’s voice. “Doesn’t he hate hairy animals? One time, an employee accidentally brought their cat to the office, and he punished them by deducting half a year’s worth of bonus.”
“Well, people’s preferences can change.” Wyatt glanced at Rayna through the rearview mirror and hinted, “Perhaps it’s because of a certain someone.”
“Just drive!” Rayna rolled her eyes at him in response.
“Okay, okay. I’ll obey my sister-in-law’s words,” said the man with a playful smile plastered on his face. “I’ll refer to you as my sister-in-law from now on. Don’t forget about everything I’ve done for you guys when you two work out.”
Displeased, Jessica scoffed. “Curtis isn’t deserving of our Nana.”
“How so?”
“He just isn’t! He’s such a jerk. There’s nothing he can do to redeem himself!”
“All right, whatever you say.” Wyatt grabbed her hand, planting a kiss on it. “I was just kidding. I’m always on your side, Jessie.”
Rayna was stunned and speechless by the love birds’ public display of affection. At that moment, she couldn’t help regretting getting into the same car as them.
I’m never going out with both of them at the same time ever again!
As soon as she arrived at the office, Rayna instantly began settling the sky-high piles of documents on her desk. Not long after, her assistant informed her of an appointment with the person in charge of Universal Investments Corporation.
They had some time that morning, so Rayna brought the contract her assistant had prepared and headed to the café to meet with them.
All of Universal Investments Corporation’s equipment was imported from Dartan. The equipment was highly efficient, but they were also accompanied by an astronomical price tag. Hatchair Group wasn’t
planning on mass-producing their product, so Rayna thought of outsourcing the production to Universal Investments Corporation.
Previous collaborations between Universal Investments Corporation, Hatchair Group, and Faymon Group went without a hitch. Coupled with Rayna’s humble attitude, the person in charge consulted their advisors and swiftly signed the contract.
Due to other engagements, they opted not to stay for lunch, so Rayna walked them out.
Just as she was about to hail a taxi to head back to the office, someone called out to her.
It was a middle-aged woman who was dressed elegantly. She had a smile on her face, and the graceful aura she exuded couldn’t be emulated by an ordinary woman.
“Are you Rayna Garland?”
“Yes, I am.” Upon taking a closer look at the woman, Rayna confirmed she was a stranger.
“I’m Theodore’s mother. I need to speak with you, so why don’t we chat in the café?”
Theodore’s mother?
She didn’t know why Emma was looking for her, but out of respect for someone older than her, she agreed to go with the latter and picked a table near the window.
After taking her seat, Emma cut straight to the chase. “Ms. Garland, you’ve been taking care of your siblings since your parents divorced while you were young, correct?”
Rayna hummed in acknowledgment.
“I’m impressed. You managed to get into Norham University despite your familial background.” There wasn’t much admiration in Emma’s gaze as she looked at the younger woman. “You even managed tonoveldrama
claw your way up to this position.”
Chapter 217
Chapter 217 Unknowing Reunion 1
Rayna wasn’t a fan of Emma’s condescending attitude, nor did she like the older woman’s tone of voice. “If that’s a sincere compliment, I’ll accept it and thank you for it. If there’s something you want to say, please just get to the point.”
Unfazed, Emma took a sip of coffee, her movements exuding grace and elegance. “I’ve seen your contract with Theodore. Your family is lacking, but you’re hardworking, and I suppose you can be considered befitting of my son.”
“You’ve seen it?” At the thought of Theodore showing his mother their contract, Rayna felt an intense wave of anger burning in her chest. Nonetheless, she tamped down her temper and tried to put a lid on her emotions. “Mr. Xavier was merely joking around with me.”
“I can judge for myself whether it’s a joke or not.” The older woman’s eyes narrowed into slits, and her voice was laced with displeasure. “My son’s too stubborn. He could’ve fallen for any other woman, but alas, he fell for an illegitimate child. Well, that illegitimate child is pretty capable herself. It’s been four years, yet my son still signed this contract all for her sake.”
Her scathing remarks didn’t end there. After a brief pause, she continued, “That doesn’t matter anymore. It’s a pity that someone like Mr. Faymon ended up marrying Jasmine, but I can finally heave a sigh of relief now that they’re married.”
Since Rayna wasn’t close to Jasmine, she had no intentions of sticking her nose in the latter’s business. However, Emma’s tone vexed her, and she couldn’t help but retort, “You can stop calling her an illegitimate child. Haven’t you heard that the Sanders family has acknowledged Ms. Sanders, and she’s now one of the higher-ups of Sanders Group? Moreover, she holds twenty percent of the company’s shares.”
A disdainful smile spread across Emma’s face when she heard that. “She’s capable, so much so that she forced the Sanders family to acknowledge her. Despite that, she’ll always be an illegitimate child in my eyes, and nothing can change that.”
I won’t allow an illegitimate child to taint the reputation of the Xavier family.
At that thought, Emma’s expression dimmed. “Theodore is a smart boy. He had a bright future ahead of him, and if it weren’t for that d*mned illegitimate child, he would’ve taken over his father’s position!”
“Whether you like her or not, it’s none of my business,” Rayna responded as she got to her feet. “I have nothing else to say to you, so I’ll take my leave now.”
Before she could leave, however, Emma reached out to grab her arm, appearing rather friendly and pleasant. “Indeed, I don’t like her, but I have a good impression of you, Ms. Garland,” remarked the older woman.
“I can tell Theodore likes you a lot. Moreover, you’re currently the vice CEO of Hatchair Group, and that goes to show how talented you are. Hence, I believe that with our help, everything you do will be smooth sailing from here on out,” she continued.
Rayna’s heart was filled with disgust.
This woman’s such a drama queen! She acted all high and mighty earlier in an attempt to assert her dominance, but after seeing how I wasn’t intimidated by that, she completely changed her tune and is now acting friendly with me. This is unbelievable!
“I’m not interested in your son, Mrs. Xavier, and I’m sure he isn’t interested in me either.” Rayna withdrew her hand and stood her ground, showing no signs of relenting. “Thank you, but I’ll work hard to get what I want.”
That prompted a subtle smile to spread across Emma’s face, and she tightened her grip. “That’s fine. You can start off as friends. Maybe your feelings will change after being around him. You’re a good girl, Ms. Garland.”
Rayna was bereft of words.
“I don’t have much to gift to you. This is an emerald bracelet Theodore’s grandma gave me.” As she spoke, Emma removed the piece of jewelry that was adorning her pale and slender wrist.
Before Rayna could pick up what was going on, the older woman had already grabbed onto her hand and slid the bracelet onto her wrist.
She wasn’t as meticulous as Emma when it came to taking care of her appearance. Hence, her wrist wasn’t as smooth as the latter’s. As the bracelet was forcefully placed on her, Rayna felt a pang of pain and took a sharp breath.
Her face contorted in pain, and with great difficulty, she uttered, “Mrs. Xavier, you—”
Rayna quickly held her tongue and inhaled deeply to avoid spewing the profanities that were swirling in her mind. On the other hand, Emma had a smile plastered on her face as she continued to hold onto Rayna’s hand. “It’s nothing much, so please accept it.”
“Well then, thank you!” Rayna muttered through gritted teeth. At that moment, she was focused on the throbbing pain on her wrist and failed to notice the camera outside the window that was pointed at them.
After much difficulty, she finally managed to escape Emma. Rayna had the urge to smash the bracelet into pieces when she saw how red and swollen her wrist was. Afraid the woman might want it back in the future, she dared not act on her impulse and stormed into a jewelry store instead.
“Please take this bracelet off of me. Don’t damage it.”
A couple of employees quickly surrounded Rayna and applied a thick layer of hand cream onto her wrist to provide some lubrication as one of them attempted to slide the bracelet off. Unfortunately, since the bracelet was forcefully slid onto her, even the slightest touch hurt her. In the end, an employee had no choice but to hold Rayna by her arm to keep her still as he pried the bracelet off of her wrist.
The employee carefully placed the piece of jewelry into a box and returned it to Rayna. “The color of the emerald is rich and brilliant. A bracelet of this quality is usually priced at seven figures. You have good taste, miss.”
That had her staring at him in silent disbelief.
I’m so glad I kept myself in check and didn’t smash the bracelet into pieces. Otherwise, things might have turned out really bad.
Rayna continued rubbing her throbbing wrist. Just as she left the mall, she received a series of messages from Carl, asking where she was at the moment. Through his texts, she could sense that he was frantic.
Rayna glanced at the clock and didn’t feel like returning to the office. As such, she sent Carl the address of a restaurant and swiftly made her way there. She had just begun eating when the boy arrived.
“Have you eaten?” she said, sliding the menu toward him. “Order whatever you like.”
“Something terrible has happened, Ms. Rayna!” Carl pulled his mask down, revealing the anxious expression that was plastered on his countenance. “Did you see the news? Mom is getting married to someone else!”
Rayna knew that a boy as smart as Carl would eventually stumble upon the news when he was on the computer. However, there was nothing she could do about it.
“Did you ask your mom about it?”
The boy clenched his fists. “I did, but Mom said she had no choice but to get married and advised me not to worry about it. How can I not, though?” he huffed. “Even if she was left with no choice, she’s getting married, and the whole world knows about it! Mom told me we’d wait for Dad to come back for Christmas and go skiing at Harfush. She lied to Dad and me.”
Stunned, Rayna looked at him and queried, “She said your dad will be back for Christmas?”
But Carl’s Dad is Theodore, so why would Jasmine say that? Is she lying to Carl, or is she planning to have someone pose as Theodore when Christmas rolls around?
“Yeah, but based on her actions, I can’t help feeling like she’s lying to me. I just want my dad. I don’t want that Mr. Faymon guy to be my dad.”
She furrowed her brows in frustration. “He can’t be your dad either!”
That would be a mess, no?
Carl instantly lifted his head, his eyes sparkling as he glanced at her. “Ms. Rayna, do you like Mr. Faymon? Why don’t I help you two elope?”
“W-What nonsense are you spewing!” Rayna’s face flushed crimson as she choked on the food. After gulping down a cup of water, she hissed, “Who would like that man?”
“Then why did you say he can’t be my dad?” he probed.
Because he’s your uncle!
She put her hand to her forehead, sighing helplessly. “Because he’s not a good man, okay? I’m afraid your mom would be taken advantage of if she married him.”
“I think so, too.” Carl wholeheartedly agreed with that statement of hers and added disdainfully, “He’s not that handsome either. He can’t even hold a candle to my dad, and who knows where he got all that money from?”
Once again, Rayna was stunned speechless.
“Ms. Rayna, you’re so smart. Don’t you have an idea?” The boy cast a pitiful glance at her, costing her a great deal of self-restraint to avoid pinching his soft and supple cheeks.
“I don’t. What about you?”
“Me neither.” Carl scratched the back of his head as the gears in his mind began turning.
All of a sudden, his eyes lit up, and he turned to Rayna. “Why don’t we have someone sabotage him during the ceremony and have them accuse him of being a playboy? That way, they won’t be able to go through with the marriage!”
Chapter 218
Chapter 218 Unknowing Reunion 2
“You’re smart. I’m surprised you could come up with this idea.” Rayna gave him a thumbs-up before raining on his parade. “However, there’ll be a lot of people when Mr. Faymon marries your mother. The security will be tight, and strangers won’t be allowed in. Moreover, doing that will hurt your mother’s reputation.”
“What then?” Carl rested his cheek on his palm and frowned. “I can’t possibly watch my mother marry him, right? What about this? I’ll make a fuss when they marry. I’ll say I’m Mr. Faymon’s illegitimate child!”
Rayna’s brows twitched. She dared not imagine the chaotic scene that would ensue after the boy’s declaration. “Have you forgotten about how your mother doesn’t allow you to appear outside?”
Carl sighed. “I wish Daddy’s back. If he comes back, everything will be resolved. I miss him too.”
Rayna pursed her lips.
She desperately wished she could tell him that his father was right by his side, but who was she to tell that secret to him?
“Rayna.”
Right then, Rayna heard someone calling her. When she lifted her head, she saw Theodore entering the restaurant, his expression far darker than it usually was.
“Quick! Put on your mask! Do it now!” Rayna whispered to Carl, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest. Right as Carl put on his mask, Theodore reached their table.
“Perfect timing. I was about to call you,” Rayna said.
“Have you lost your mind?” Theodore snarled as he hunched over. “I told you this is a private contract, and you told everyone about it?”
Not knowing what Theodore was going on about, Rayna drew her brows together and snapped, “Mr. Xavier, you were the one who went back on your words! Your mother came for a coffee with me an hour ago, saying that she knew about the contract and that she wanted to matchmake us.”
She then showed Theodore her reddened wrist. “She even said she brought a gift for me and instantly forced the bracelet on my wrist. Look at how red my wrist became just to get that bracelet off!”
The gaze in Theodore’s eyes changed when he glanced at her wrist. “You weren’t the one to tell my mother about it?”
“Did you think I was the one to tell your mother about the contract?” Rayna asked as she realized what was going on. After rolling her eyes, she continued, “You’re involved in this contract too. I’d say you were the one who told your mother about it!”
“She went through my things, and…” Theodore tossed the phone to Rayna. “She instructed the reporters to hide outside the cafe.”
Rayna then watched him clicked the video.
As it turned out, the video was her meeting with Emma in the cafe an hour ago. In the video, she could see how Emma put on the bracelet for her with a wide smile on her face, as if Emma adored her.
“My goodness, your mother is a scheming woman!” Everyone in the country must have seen this by now, Rayna angrily thought as her hands shook.
And I was wondering why Emma had a hundred-and-eighty-degree turn. So, she was putting on a show for the reporters! What the heck? She’s too crafty!
“’A poor but vain village girl trying to marry into the Xavier family’? What in the world are they talking about?” The more Rayna read, the more she was rendered speechless by the reporters’ writing. “It’s such a waste for them to be reporters at this point.”
After switching off the phone, Rayna grabbed Theodore’s sleeve and started walking toward the door. She hissed, “No. I can’t just let this be. Regardless of everything, I’m a woman of dignity. I’m going to clarify things with a press conference!”
However, Theodore remained rooted to his spot. “The video wasn’t even blurry. How are you going to clear this up with them? They’ll think that this is part of your plan to make me propose to you.”
“Then what am I supposed to do? Just let them slander me?”
“I’ll deal with this,” Theodore icily said. “Don’t meet my mother if she asks to see you again.”
Rayna scoffed.
There’s no way I’m going to meet your mother again.
“Mister, if you don’t want to marry this lady, why don’t you think about marrying my mommy?” At one point in time, Carl had jumped off his chair and was raising his head to look at Theodore.
Carl had a typical child’s voice, but he did not sound like he was joking at all. The boy’s eyes were bright as he said, “My mommy’s pretty and capable. You won’t lose out if you marry her, and you’ll even have a son. Won’t that be great?”
“Why are you always wearing a mask?” Theodore abruptly asked as he reached out to pull off Carl’s mask, finding it strange to feel a sense of familiarity when he looked into the boy’s eyes.
Nevertheless, Rayna was quicker to pull Carl behind her and flashed a smile at Theodore. “That’s because his immune system is weak, and there are plenty of germs in the air. That’s why he’s always
wearing a mask.
Theodore narrowed his eyes. Wanting to see the boy, he demanded, “This is a restaurant, and there aren’t that many germs here. Move aside.”
“He can wear it if he wants to. Do you have a problem with it?” Rayna uttered. “Get someone to give birth to your kid if you like children this much. Stop eyeing other people’s kids.”
Carl popped his head out from Rayna’s back and hastily said, “You don’t need to get someone else to give birth to your kid. Just marry my mommy! I can be a free son for you. I’m a smart boy.”
“Smart, my foot!” Rayna smacked the back of his head and pretended to angrily say, “You can’t say things like these even if you don’t like the fact that your daddy’s an athlete. You’ll end up getting punished if you keep this up.”
Hearing that, Carl lowered his head miserably.
He would rather have his mother marry the man standing before him than have her marry the vice CEO. Moreover, this man looks the same as me. Maybe we’re relatives.
Theodore was displeased with how haughty Rayna was acting. “Use your words, not your fists, with the boy.”
Rayna was speechless to hear that.
They really are father and son, huh? His heart is aching just because I hit Carl on the head.
“Well then, Mr. Xavier, I’ll leave the news to you.” Rayna did not wish to linger there any longer. “I need to bring the boy back as quickly as possible.”
“Where does he live? I’ll send you there.”
“No, no, it’s fine.” Rayna squeezed a smile onto her face. “We’ll hail a taxi—”
“I said I’m sending you,” Theodore interrupted before standing in her way. It was as though he would not move aside unless Rayna agreed to it.
After exiting the restaurant, Rayna suddenly said, “I just recalled that I have something I haven’t bought yet, so I’ll need to take a trip to that mall. Mr. Xavier, we’ll part ways here.”
Theodore insisted, “I’ll help you take the things.”
Rayna pressed her lips tightly together.
F*ck!
Having run out of excuses, Rayna had no choice but to let Theodore tag along. She and Carl walked in front of him, and once they were a distance away from Theodore, Rayna whispered to Carl, “What were you doing earlier? Have you gone mad?”
“I don’t want Mr. Faymon to marry my mommy,” Curtis said as he shot a glance at Theodore. “This man looks much like me. Maybe we’re family.”
You’re right about that.
Then, in a tone of admiration, Carl continued, “Don’t you think that this mister’s a handsome man? Look at those muscles and the way he carries himself. My mommy’s going to get a good deal if she marries him.”
“Does your mother know how fast you are to come to conclusions?”
However, Carl’s answer was, “It’s fine. My mommy values appearances too. I’m certain the windows shook when she screamed at the sight of the handsome men on the sports channel.”
Rayna nearly dropped her jaw at his response.
Right then, Theodore suddenly said, “Hey, boy.”
Carl halted in his tracks and turned to look at him. “What’s the matter, mister?”
“Your shoelace is untied,” Theodore replied before walking over to crouch down before him and tying his shoelace.
The sight of his broad back was a sign of security.
Chapter 219
Chapter 219 Tacit Understanding
“Thank you, mister!” Theodore was earning more and more brownie points from Carl.
He’s handsome and stylish, and he looks like me! Daddy must have something to do with this mister.
While he was preoccupied with those thoughts, Rayna quickly pulled him over and whispered, “Find a chance to sneak away once we’re in the mall.”
“Can’t I stay?” Carl was hesitant to go. “I like this mister, and I want to talk to him for a little longer. What if he turns out to be my daddy’s brother?”
For the third time, Rayna was speechless.
No, he is your father.
“Even if he’s related to you, this isn’t the time.” Jasmine and Theodore’s relationship is just going to get even tenser if Theodore finds out about this. Won’t I become a sinner if that happens?
Pursing her lips, Rayna continued, “Carl, your mother has her own plan, and you promised her not to let anyone recognize who you are if you’re out here. Have you forgotten about that?”
Carl’s eyes dimmed at that, and he gloomily mumbled, “I know.”
Although Carl was young, he was a mature and intelligent child. He knew that his mother was doing those things for his sake, but he could not help feeling drawn to the man.
Furthermore, he did not like the man his mother had to marry.
“Be good, hm?” Rayna patted his head.
The green light lit up. Just as she was about to lead Carl across the street, someone darted out of nowhere and grabbed the woman in blue beside her before holding a fruit knife against her neck.
The woman’s legs went weak at the sensation of the cold blade against her skin. She could not even scream. At the same time, Theodore swiftly dragged Rayna and Carl to a safe spot.
Once the people around them realized what was going on, they screamed and began running for their lives.
“Hey, do you have a million?” the attacker snapped at the woman, his blade drawing blood.
“I-I don’t have a million. P-Please don’t kill me!” the woman stammered out, nearly losing control of her bladder from her terror. “I’ll give you everything I have!”
“How much do you have?”
“T-Two hundred thousand…”
“F*ck, that’s barely any change,” the man cursed before pressing the blade harder against her skin. “Where are your friends? Call them and get their money!”
When the man noticed someone around him sneakily fishing for their phone, he bellowed, “Get the f*ck away from me! I’ll drag whoever dares to call the cops to hell with me!”
At that, he undid his jacket to reveal the several bombs he had tied to himself. The explosions of the bombs would cover a wide range, and those remaining people around the man scrambled away.
“Come here, Carl!” Rayna pulled Carl backward.
She felt bad for the victim, and she wished to save her, but she knew she was incapable of doing that— she knew she could not play the saint in a perilous situation like this. Moreover, she had discreetly
messaged the police about the situation earlier, so they were going to be there at the scene soon.
However, Carl pushed Rayna’s hand away and said, “Trust me, Ms. Rayna. It’ll be fine.”
“You—”
Before Rayna could say anything else, Carl had gotten out from under her arm to face the ruffian. The woman he held hostage was crying and making calls as she begged the man not to kill her.
“Mister, all you want is money,” Carl said to the ruffian. “Look, even the lady’s crying from how frightened she is, and she’s failing to make the calls properly. Your time is getting wasted. Why don’t I take this lady’s place? You can let me go after you get the money. I’m sure you’re a man of your word, right, mister?”
When the ruffian realized that a boy was speaking to him, he instantly realized the boy posed no threat to him. Furthermore, it was true that the woman had been unable to make a call in her fumbling, and he was getting impatient. “Fine. Get over here.”
Carl slowly walked over to the man.
Rayna panicked and tried to lunge over, but Theodore stopped her. He seemed strangely calm as he said, “Stay right here.”
His gaze was fixed on Carl.
When Carl walked past him earlier, the boy had tapped twice on the back of his hand. That gesture was a code, and Theodore could understand it.
He had to admit that Carl was a genius.
By the time Carl reached the ruffian, the latter roughly kicked the woman away and quickly hooked his arm around Carl’s neck.
“Get your friend to scan this code right now. If they fail to transfer the money in forty seconds, I’ll kill him first. Then, I’ll detonate these bombs to kill you too!”
The woman’s legs were already barely holding her up before this. Upon hearing his threat, she shuddered and fell to the ground.
In fact, she even wet herself.
“Ma’am, have your friend transfer the money as soon as possible,” Carl told the woman before slowly adjusting his posture. “This mister only wants money. He won’t hurt us.”
“O-Okay, I’ll ask them to do it right now.” The woman then began tapping away on her phone with her shaking fingers.
While waiting for the woman to transfer the money to him, the ruffian warily scanned his surroundings.
Just a few seconds later, he turned impatient because he was scared that the police were coming. “Why are you taking so long? Do you have a death wish?”
Carl weakly muttered, “Mister, it feels really uncomfortable to have your arm hooked around my neck. Why don’t you use a knife instead? You can see how small I am. I won’t be able to even lift a rock, so you don’t need to be scared of me.”
“Shut up, brat,” the ruffian snapped before smacking Carl’s head. “Do you want to die too? Believe it or not, I’ll send you to meet your maker!”
Carl flinched and shrunk away from him as tears welled in his eyes.
“I’m doing it! I’m doing it now!” the woman squeezed out before showing the man the proof of transfer.
Right as the ruffian looked at the screen and relaxed, Carl twisted the man’s knife-wielding. Despite his small size, he managed to break the ruffian’s wrist with that twist.
The ruffian cried out in pain.
In the next second, a gust of cold wind brushed across the ruffian’s face. Theodore then ruthlessly struck the man’s temple before punching his stomach. The ruffian did not even have any time to react before he collapsed to the ground.
Only after pulling out his shoelace to tie the ruffian’s hands and making sure that the coast was clear did Carl straighten up to look at Theodore with reverence. “Mister, you were amazing!”
“You were great, too,” Theodore praised before crouching before the boy. “You’re small, but you have astonishing explosive power. Were you taught by a proper teacher?”
Carl nodded and proudly explained, “My mommy found the teacher herself, and he’s my daddy’s friend!”
A smile grew on Theodore’s lips, but at the same time, he felt disappointed.
He did not even know why.
Meanwhile, Rayna was stunned to her core after witnessing everything from the safe spot.
She never thought Carl would be able to pull off a sneaky trick like that with his petite body and explosive power.
She was exceptionally shocked by how his cooperation with Theodore had been flawless.
They really are father and son!
The police cars soon came. After taking a simple statement from Rayna, they cuffed the ruffian and took him away.
The woman who had been held hostage felt immensely grateful to Carl, and she insisted on giving him a thousand as a reward.
Theodore had a cold look on his face as he chided, “This ruffian was obviously not a hard-hearted criminal. That’s why he wasn’t wary of you. The ones who really are heartless won’t have any mercy toward children. You mustn’t put yourself in danger in situations like these in the future. If you have to do this, you must never let yourself have a chance of failing—you have to exercise ruthlessness, or else you’ll be the one who’ll be dead. “
“Of course, mister,” Carl obediently responded.
After Theodore chided him, Carl curiously asked him what real ruffians were like and what he should do if he had to face them. Theodore patiently answered his questions.
The father and son chatted and walked, completely ignoring Rayna. They even left her walking behind them.
Rayna sighed inwardly.
What can I do if they click with each other? The only thing I’m worried about right now is the news. I’m guessing that Jasmine has already seen it. Oh, what a hard life I have.
Chapter 220
Chapter 220 I Will Swallow This Liquor Bottle
The news of Rayna and Emma chatting at a cafe reached Curtis in just an hour, turning Curtis’ face as grim as death during a meeting.
All the executives in the conference room immediately shrank into their seats for fear of further upsetting the man.
“The meeting’s over!” With that, Curtis pushed his chair away and left the room before hurriedly dialing Theodore’s phone number.
At that moment, he was nothing if not troubled.
Curtis could not reach Theodore even after calling the man twice, unfortunately. On top of that, he received a few documents from Gabriel that required his immediate attention and had to join an international video conference, so he had no choice but to suppress his emotions until the business at hand was taken care of.
Sometime past six o’clock in the evening, Wyatt called. “Curtis, we’re waiting for you at the usual place! Did you see the news this morning? That was really something, huh?”
“Shut up,” ordered Curtis sternly before inquiring, “Is Theodore with you?”
“Yeah!”
After Curtis was done handling the work at hand, he drove over to the clubhouse and entered the usual VIP room filled with people he knew well.
“Hey, Curtis is here!” Wyatt removed his long legs from the table to make room for Curtis and poured the man a glass of brandy. “Would you like some?”
“No.” Curtis rejected by pushing the glass away.
“D*mn! I just got this delivered from Epea two days ago. Why would someone who appreciates good alcohol like you turn it down? Do you think it’s not high-end enough for you, Curtis?” responded Wyatt with an exaggerated expression.
With a half-smile, Jeremy teased, “It has more to do with the high alcohol percentage of the brandy than whether the drink is high-end enough. Why would Curtis want to get drunk in front of us?”
“Oh, I understand now.” Wyatt smiled deviously at Curtis. “No wonder you refuse to drink. It’s because Ms. Garland isn’t around.”
“Curtis, you can drink if you want to,” uttered Jeremy before taking a pill out of a small box. “I got this from the research center. You won’t ever get drunk again after taking it.”
Then, Wyatt thoughtfully poured Curtis a glass of warm water to go with the pill. “Water will make it easier to swallow.”
“You just wasted your capitalists’ money on useless research!” scoffed Curtis.
“How is a pill that could prevent someone from getting drunk useless?” asked Jeremy. “Since it’s unavailable in the market, many would pay a fortune to get some.”
“I think Curtis doesn’t want it because he’s afraid that it would get in the way of his relationship with Ms. Garland,” stated Wyatt directly.
In response, Curtis looked daggers at the man. “You sure do have a lot to say, don’t you? Maybe I should sew your mouth shut.”
After Wyatt sighed and slumped into the couch, Curtis looked around for Theodore. “Where’s Theodore?”
“He went out to answer a call,” replied Jeremy. “His phone rang before we could ask him about the news. Then, you arrived.”
“Theodore couldn’t have fallen for Rayna, could he?” Wyatt inquired curiously like a gossipmonger while touching his lips. “I couldn’t tell at all since he always treated Rayna so coldly.”
“First, you announced that you’d be marrying Ms. Sanders next month. Then, Theodore was rumored to be marrying Ms. Garland soon. What the heck is going on?” Jeremy felt as though he was about to have a serious headache.
“Curtis, you know Theodore still hasn’t gotten over Ms. Sanders, right? What’s going on between you two? Are you fighting over a woman?” questioned Jeremy while giving Curtis a strange look.
“Jasmine needs my help to get six percent of the shares from Mr. Sanders, so as soon as she gets it, we’ll hold a press conference to clarify our relationship to the public,” explained Curtis calmly.
Being the troublemaker that he was, Wyatt uttered, “Curtis, you’ve always been heartless. You don’t seem to have any problem using Ms. Garland, so why would you risk your reputation to help Ms. Sanders? Have you fallen for her?”
Click! Suddenly, the door to the room opened, and Theodore walked in with his long legs. Even though he had heard Wyatt’s words, his face remained stoic.
“Theodore, care to explain what the morning news was about?” Curtis was the first to question Theodore after he and the others instinctively shifted their attention to the man.
Despite knowing that Theodore was not the type of person Rayna would fall for, Curtis still felt uncomfortable after seeing the news.
“My mother saw me meeting with Rayna last time.” Theodore did not bring up the contract. “She thought I had feelings for Rayna, so she went to Rayna and even got a reporter involved.”
“Haha! Your mother did all that just to force you to get married, huh? She’s pretty crafty if nothing else,” remarked Wyatt, amused by what he had heard. “Is she worried that you can’t find yourself a wife?”
Curtis’ eyebrows finally relaxed after listening to Theodore. “Since it’s only a misunderstanding, I’ll let the Public Relations Department handle the situation.”
“No need.” Theodore turned down the offer. “I’ll handle it. You’re marrying Ms. Sanders next month, so I don’t want you to be connected to any scandal.”
“Theodore, the relationship between Ms. Sanders and me is purely professional,” explained Curtis because he knew Theodore had misunderstood. “We only arranged for a fake marriage so she could get Sanders Group’s shares.”
A fake marriage? So they don’t have feelings for each other? Theodore furrowed his eyebrows tightly in silence.
“Theodore, I don’t want you to misunderstand my relationship with Ms. Sanders. In fact, I only agreed to help her because of you,” added Curtis.
“Curtis, Ms. Sanders promised you something, didn’t she?” Jeremy was clever, so he guessed there was more to Curtis’ cooperation with Jasmine than the man let on. “Knowing Theodore’s relationship with her, you wouldn’t have worked with her for no good reason.”
“A high-speed railway station is to be built in the eastern district, and bidding has begun,” Curtis revealed since there was no point in hiding the truth.
“Well, I’ll be d*mned! That’s quite the lion’s share!” With his interest piqued, Wyatt curiously inquired, “But why have I never heard you mention this during the meetings? I’m at Faymon Group too.”
“That’s because Curtis is trying to help a certain someone’s company,” chimed in Jeremy with a half- smile.
“A certain someone… Hatchair Group?” Wyatt was so shocked that he spewed his brandy. “I’ll swallow this liquor bottle if you still deny that you have feelings for Ms. Garland, Curtis!”
“Theodore and Curtis may look heartless, but they’re actually hopeless romantics,” stated Jeremy with a sigh. “I’m glad we cleared things up today. Otherwise…”
“Otherwise, we’d probably get one heck of a show!” joked Wyatt, chuckling.
Curtis ignored the others and turned to Theodore instead. “I’ve already told you everything. All you have to do is say the word, and I’ll stop working with Ms. Sanders immediately; we’ll cancel the fake marriage.”
However, Theodore simply kept quiet and stared blankly at the floor.
Ten seconds later, the glass in his hand suddenly shattered. “What did I do to deserve to fall under her spell?” Theodore could not understand why his path had to be intertwined with Jasmine’s again.
“Why don’t you tell me about you and Ms. Sanders, Theodore? Let me help you with your trouble.” Wyatt then leaned in and acted as if he was a caring brother.
In response, Theodore glared at the man. “Get the heck away from me!”
“Come on. I just want to be helpful.”
“Get lost!”
Just when Wyatt was grumbling while moving back to his seat, somebody suddenly kicked the door open.
The person who stormed in was none other than Jessica.
After finding Wyatt, she started swinging her handbag at the man as tears flowed down her cheeks. “If you wanted to break up with me, you could’ve just told me! You didn’t have to be such a jerk!”