Ch. 391..400

Chapter 391

Wyatt listened to the housekeeper and made a quip to Gianna, “I didn’t expect you to remember their names, seeing as you typically criticize and look down upon them.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly said, “You bought this mansion for me, Mr. Lopez. Of course I will remember their names to order them around more efficiently. Surely this shouldn’t come as a surprise to you.”

“Not in the least.” He nodded in agreement with a cold glint in his eyes.

Gianna stood beside him, her heart pounding rapidly and uneasily against her chest.

She tried to reassure herself. Mr. Lopez rarely comes here, and the mansion has no surveillance cameras. I have bribed all the housekeepers, so he shouldn’t know what’s happening here.

Wyatt sat with his leg slightly propped up, sipping his coffee every now and again.

All the housekeepers who were off the clock were summoned to the mansion and stood quietly, not daring to breathe loudly. As for the few housekeepers on leave, they received a phone call from the head housekeeper to return and started arriving one after another an hour later.

The head housekeeper took a step forward and cautiously informed Wyatt, “Mr. Lopez, the housekeepers are all here.”

“Is that so?” He nodded and swept his sharp gaze over them. “Who is in charge of Ms. Marsh’s care on the third floor, including prepping her meals?”

Heidi was among those who stood forward with their heads bowed.

Wyatt continued evenly, “Did she start losing appetite two months ago? Was the food fresh from the kitchen, including the milk and eggs?”

One of the housekeepers answered with a quiver in her voice, “Yes, Ms. Marsh’s appetite has always been poor.”

“The vegetables and meat are fresh and bought from the market every morning,” another housekeeper said, handing Wyatt the grocery receipts.

He scanned them briefly before asking, “What are her favorite dishes, and what does she dislike?”

The housekeepers exchanged a look and lowered their heads without answering.

“Was that a difficult question to answer?” Wyatt sneered. “Does this mean all of you failed at your job to take care of her?”

“That’s not the case, Mr. Lopez. It’s difficult for us to determine her likes and dislikes when Ms. Marsh doesn’t eat much.”

“That’s right. Ms. Marsh only takes a few bites of every dish.”

“Bullsh*t!” Wyatt threw his coffee cup on the ground, shattering it into pieces. The housekeepers jumped, their hands and feet trembling.

“If it were her favorite dish, she would take a few more mouthfuls, despite her lack of appetite. The ones in charge of her meals should monitor what she eats every day and note it down. Why the f*ck did you show me a godd*mn groceries list? Is the salary I pay too little or do you all think I’m an imbecile?” he snarled.

He closed his eyes to rein in his temper and inquired, “Who was in charge of her care last month on the twenty-second?”

No one answered.

Wyatt’s eyes darkened, and he turned his attention toward the head housekeeper. “I’m paying you a lot of money to oversee the upkeep of this home, yet you don’t even have a duty roster. Are you whiling your time away sleeping and eating?”

“We do have a duty roster, Mr. Lopez. I-It’s…” The head housekeeper was flustered. “Mary, who was on duty previously, mistook the logbook for trash and threw it out. Thus, we lost last month’s duty roster.”

“What a coincidence that the logbook went missing just as I requested it.” Wyatt laughed and stood up, sending a kick in the head housekeeper’s direction.

The action sent the head housekeeper sailing across the room before landing in a heap on the ground.

The rest of the housekeepers cowered, and Gianna felt tendrils of fear unfurling inside her at Wyatt’s ruthlessness.

She knew that only death awaited if she said the wrong thing now.

Wyatt withdrew his leg and stated calmly, “Step forward, the housekeeper on duty on the twenty- second. None of you will get away with a mere kick if silence ensues.”

“M-Mr. Lopez.” Someone spoke up, spurred by fear of Wyatt. “Heidi was on duty on the twenty- second.”

The housekeeper pointed to Heidi, who was standing beside herself.

He approached Heidi, towering over her as he asked, “Were you on duty on the twenty-second of last month?”

“Yes…” she replied, a tremor coursing through her legs.

“Why didn’t you answer my question just now?” Wyatt advanced toward her, a murderous aura emanating from him.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and her teeth chattered in fear as she answered, “I-I had forgotten about that. After all, it was last month, and I have many tasks on hand every day.”

“Oh, so you forgot about it, not that you didn’t want to answer me.” He sounded sympathetic.

He slid a paper before her just as she let her guard down and asked, “Did you know the milk she drank that morning contained a contraceptive pill?”

Without waiting for her answer, he went on, “I instructed all of you to keep track of her ovulation when you arrived. Why did you have contraceptives, and why did you spike her milk with them?”

Wyatt pinned her with a hostile gaze. “Would you mind explaining?”

“I-I…” The words were lodged in Heidi’s throat under his piercing stare, and she couldn’t finish her sentence as color leeched from her face.

He asked gently, “You don’t know, do you?”

“Yes, yes, I don’t know,” she stuttered. “I only carried the food upstairs. Maybe Ms. Marsh added it herself…”

Wyatt kicked her to the ground and stepped on her face. “She lives on the third floor, and all of her meals are delivered by you. Where could she have obtained contraceptives?”

“I-I really don’t know, M-Mr. Lopez.”

He stomped on her face viciously and ordered another housekeeper, “Bring me the cleaver!”

Heidi immediately burst into tears and stopped lying. “It was Ms. Gianna! She told me to put the contraceptive pill into the milk!”

“Lies!” Gianna’s face darkened at how she had been thrown under the bus, and she snapped, “When did I tell you to do that?”

She looked at Wyatt and softened her expression to an aggrieved one. “I have been nothing but compliant since moving in here. I have never been on the third floor or had a dispute with Ms. Marsh. This housekeeper is maligning me!”

“I think so, too,” he agreed. “I let you stay in this mansion, give you a sizable allowance, and the housekeepers are at your disposal. Life is comfortable here, so there’s no way you could have done that.”

He brought his foot down on Heidi’s legs. “Do you have a grudge against me, and this is your way of retaliating? This is all your doing, isn’t it?”

She cried, “It’s not me, Mr. Lopez. Ms. Gianna told me to do it!”

“What a rotten character! How dare you slander your employer?” Gianna interrupted. Then, she said to Wyatt, “Mr. Lopez, I hope you will teach her a proper lesson!”

Another housekeeper came back with the cleaver. Wyatt sank to his haunches and pinned Heidi’s hands on the ground.

The knife was a hair’s breadth away from cutting into her wrists.

He demanded, “Did you spike the milk with your left or right hand?”

“Let me go, Mr. Lopez, I beg you!” Tears and snot were mingling as they rolled down her face. “Ms. Gianna gave me the contraceptive pill to put inside Ms. Marsh’s milk!”

Chapter 392

“Also, Ms. Marsh’s menstrual cycle is normal. Her period ended two days earlier, but Ms. Gianna told me to inform you that Ms. Marsh has hormonal imbalances and missed her period.”

Gianna’s face fell, and she exploded in anger, “What nonsense—”

Wyatt shot her a warning look, and she recoiled a few steps, swallowing the rest of the sentence.

“Anything else?”

“Yes.” Heidi continued in a fit of sobbing, “Once Ms. Marsh came down with a fever, a very high fever. I wanted to phone you, but Ms. Gianna told me not to bother you. I suggested calling a doctor, which she didn’t allow either.

“Ms. Gianna assigned me the task of leaving Ms. Marsh’s meals at her door so she can get them herself. It’s not that Ms. Marsh is a picky eater but that Ms. Gianna told us to limit her servings. She pays us whenever we follow her orders and physically and verbally abuses us if we don’t, claiming that she’s the mistress of the house and that we must obey her.”

Wyatt maintained an expressionless face, but inwardly, he was overcome with the urge to strangle Gianna.

“Are you the only one working for her?” he questioned.

“Her, her, and her. They are under Ms. Gianna’s payroll too.” Heidi pointed at a few housekeepers. “We all take turns bringing Ms. Marsh food.”

Gianna raced over and tried to defend herself. “She’s falsely accusing me, Mr. Lopez! I have no ill will against Ms. Marsh and would never harm her. They’re all conspiring against me!”

“You have to believe me, Mr. Lopez! I’m innocent!” She raised three fingers. “I swear on my entire family that I didn’t do any of the things they accuse me of!”

Wyatt patted her cheek and smiled. “I never said I didn’t believe you. Why are you in such a hurry to swear an oath? The housekeepers did it, after all, and you only verbally abetted them. What good would it do to swear?”

He had seen through Gianna’s ploy, and a chill ran from her toes to the top of her head.

She forced herself to calm down and told herself to insist she was being slandered regardless of what the housekeepers claimed since there were no surveillance cameras.

“What Heidi said is true. Ms. Gianna is behind all of this.”

“Yes, Mr. Lopez. She beats and scolds us if we don’t follow her orders.”

“Mr. Lopez, we didn’t mean to make things difficult for Ms. Marsh. This is simply Ms. Gianna’s animosity toward Ms. Marsh.”

The housekeepers who were initially afraid of Wyatt began to speak up after Heidi exposed the truth, hoping that he would show them leniency.

Gianna paled and quickly played the victim. “Well, you alleged that I abused all of you and mistreated Ms. Marsh. Where’s your proof, then? Do you have wounds on your body to prove that I beat you all?”

The housekeepers’ silence bolstered her confidence, and she straightened her spine. “You don’t have concrete evidence, yet you vilify me!”

“We have proof that you paid us,” one of them said and took out a wad of money from her pocket. “This is what you gave me the day before yesterday when you asked me to turn off the water heater in Ms. Marsh’s room.”

Wyatt’s gaze darkened.

Gianna casually barked a laugh. “I’m never more than a phone call away from having someone go grab something for me. I do not need to leave the mansion, so why would I have so much cash on me?”

Anxiety was reflected in the housekeeper’s voice. “You gave me this money. It has your fingerprints all over it!”

“All right. Let’s have Mr. Lopez get someone to dust it and see if it has my prints,” Gianna said confidently, not at all worried.

Fortunately, I consider skin contact with the housekeepers to be filthy and would always wear gloves when handing them money.

God must be on my side!

The housekeepers couldn’t argue with Gianna, and their eyes started to redden in frustration when they realized the mansion didn’t have surveillance cameras.

Gianna chuckled smugly and said in a plaintive voice, “Look, Mr. Lopez, they are dragging my name through the mud, accusing me of mistreating them and Ms. Marsh. You have to seek justice for me!”

In response, Wyatt tipped his head up and gazed at the luxurious chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

A few beats later, he turned to a housekeeper and instructed, “Get a ladder and take out the object inside.”

There was a switch in Gianna’s expression, and her panicked gaze flew to the chandelier. Her heart started pounding when she couldn’t see anything amiss amid the glittering lights.

Two housekeepers carried over the ladder and propped it under the chandelier.

One of them climbed up, removed a black box from within, and handed it to Wyatt.

He nonchalantly fiddled with the black box and waited for a housekeeper to bring over a laptop before plugging it in. The screen displayed the surveillance footage of the foyer after a few clicks.

He rewinded to the first day Gianna arrived and turned up the volume. The footage started playing, showing Jessica heading downstairs to prepare food but passing out in the kitchen before Gianna began ordering the housekeepers about. It then showed Gianna inviting her friends over for card games, Heidi hurrying downstairs to call Wyatt but being stopped by Gianna, her conversation with her friends during the card game, and them advising her to buy expired food for Jessica. The scene where Gianna ordered Heidi to take the contraceptive pill from her room to add into the milk was also projected for all to see.

Wyatt saw red. He had been completely unaware of the full extent of abuse Jessica had endured while he wasn’t around.

No wonder she lost weight. It isn’t because she was finicky, but because the housekeepers were limiting her meals and giving her unnutritious foods. She was confined to the third floor and couldn’t come downstairs either after the instructions I left to the housekeepers.

Gianna had no idea there would be a surveillance camera hidden in the chandelier, and she was horrified at how the situation was unfolding.

Her hands and feet grew cold, and she stammered, “It was just a momentary lapse of judgment on my part, Mr. Lopez. I was jealous of her and did all this—Ah!”

Wyatt aimed a vicious kick at her and quickly followed to pin her down, wrapping his hands around her neck. He gritted out, “I gave you money, yet you tried to scheme against me and harmed someone who belongs to me!”

His vise grip clamped Gianna’s airway shut, and she clawed at his hands, her feet flailing wildly in the air.

“I’m sorry… M-Mr. Lopez…”

“Your apology means nothing to me!” Wyatt spat out in hatred.

His heart wrenched when he remembered Jessica being underweight. It’s all my fault for hurting her.

“Heidi, right?” He glanced at the housekeeper still on the floor and asked, “Answer me honestly—which hand did you use to add the contraceptive pill into the milk?”

“Please have mercy on me, Mr. Lopez…”

“Answer me!”

Heidi trembled in fear when he yelled at her. “R-Right hand.”

Wyatt seized Gianna’s right hand and chopped it with the cleaver.

It was a clean cut, with only a little blood on the ground.

A blood-curdling scream escaped Gianna as her body spasmed in pain.

Wyatt tossed the cleaver aside and gave her a hard slap, his stony gaze hardening further. “You refused the comfortable life of receiving money without doing anything and tried to go against me. Who do you think you are?”

“I’m curious how you will recover from this!” He stood up and told the housekeeper, “Break her legs and throw her in the landfill. The rest of you clean up this mess and piss off!”

“Yes, Mr. Lopez!” they replied hastily and breathed a sigh of relief.

Wyatt went upstairs and prowled outside the bedroom door, afraid of waking Jessica up and that she would ignore him.

 

Chapter 393

After thinking for a long time, Wyatt still ended up opening the door.

As soon as he entered, flames caught his eyes. He realized Jessica had lit a lighter in her hand, and the fire was burning fiercely.

It gave him such a shock that he darted over, slapped the drawing out of her hand, and frantically put the fire out using his jacket. Only when the fire went out did he finally let out a sigh of relief. “Do you have a f*cking death wish?” he scolded, his countenance cold.

Jessica did not look at him. With her head hung, she merely stared at the jacket on the ground and said, “When he sent me my meal the other day, I thought he had a great figure. So, I asked him to be my model. I don’t know how it happened, but as I drew, the drawing turned into someone else. When he saw it, he asked me who it was.”

Wyatt belatedly realized she was talking about the drawing. Somehow, he seemed to understand something.

Jessica’s eyes were empty and lifeless. Even her tone was flat. “I told him that was a man I once loved. From now on, he’s dead. I won’t love him anymore.”

Her words left him frozen to the ground.

Then, she wriggled her arm and freed it from his grip. Without even looking at him, she walked over to the bed, pulled the covers, and buried herself in it as if she was alone in the room the entire time.

Moments later, Wyatt’s fingers finally twitched, showing signs of him returning to his senses. He lowered himself to pick up his jacket, revealing the charred drawing on the ground.

Using his hand, he cleaned the drawing. The moment he saw the facial features of the man on the unburned part of the paper, especially his affectionate gaze and languid smile, he was shocked. It’s me.

Wyatt’s heart clenched, and he felt a terrible ache in his chest. Even his fingers that were holding the drawing were trembling.

Jessica never drew another man. The one she loves is me. I was the one she drew.

For the past two months, Rayna used all kinds of aggressive methods to convince all the politicians and elites on the list. Of course, she also utilized the influence of the Terblanc family, their backer, to do so. However, there was one person she failed to convince, and that was Marcus.

The man was involved in the fabric business. Though he was not as powerful as the politicians, he was still on the list, which meant that he was equally important.

Throughout the past two weeks, Rayna talked to him countless times and even negotiated with him using the formulae of some fabrics that were difficult to dye. Still, he was unfazed.

Finally, Marcus gave her a hint. “Ms. Garland, I really wish to work with you, but there’s nothing that can be done. Someone else offered me something more valuable.”

“And who’s that?”

“I don’t know. That’s something for you to find out.”

Rayna frowned after the call ended.

Even if those politicians and elites supported Arnaud, they at least knew that Boniel adored Jefferson the most, meaning that Jefferson had a huge chance of winning. Otherwise, she could not have convinced them so easily.

Profit was every capitalist’s main priority. They would either support whoever was most powerful or choose to do nothing. Hence, it was impossible for them to help Arnaud and go against Jefferson openly.

Who else would not want Jefferson to regain his rights as the heir apart from Arnaud?

Rayna was so engrossed in finding the answer that she failed to hear the knock on the door or notice Jefferson entering. It was not until a bowl of hot soup appeared before her did she snap back to her senses.

“It’s freshly made chicken soup,” he said and sat down beside her. The sight of her pale face distressed him, so he asked concernedly, “Did Marcus reject you again?”

Sighing, Rayna massaged her temples with her slender fingers. “Yeah. He told me someone had bribed him into not signing the agreement. The thing is, he refused to tell me who it is.”

Jefferson consoled her by saying, “Forget it if he doesn’t want to sign the agreement. Don’t worry too much, okay? Being emotional will bring bad effects on the baby.”

Hearing that, Rayna instinctively caressed her belly.

She was more than three months along with twins, yet her belly was still relatively small.

If she had not secretly checked the fetuses’ heartbeats every night and discovered that they were normal, she would have been worried to death.

Rayna picked up the bowl of soup and took small mouthfuls of it. In between sips, she said, “Even if he refuses to sign, we have other methods that we can use. Sometimes, despicable means are worth using to ensure a win.”

“You’ve long thought of doing this, haven’t you? Is that why you asked me to look into him?” Jefferson asked.

That setback was beyond her expectations as well. “I just wanted to be safe. Who knew someone would bribe him? Besides, he’s been in the business world for many years. I’m sure we can find some dirt on him.”

She paused momentarily before asking, “Have you found anything about him?”

“Ringo’s sorting out the information. It should be sent to your phone in the afternoon. You’re getting better at this. I wonder who taught you so well,” he teased, booping her on the nose.

It was only after he finished saying that sentence did he realize something was off, and his expression took on a slight change.

Rayna’s eyes glinted, and she quickly pressed her lips into a smile. “It’s only natural that I adapt my speech and thinking when it comes to dealing with politicians. Have you forgotten that humans are the most advanced beings on earth? We pick up things fast.”

Jefferson forced an unnatural smile. “Yep. You’re right.”

Changing the topic, she asked worriedly, “How are you feeling? Does your heart still hurt?”

He answered in a low and gentle voice, “It hardly hurts now, and I stopped coughing up blood. The doctor says I’ll live for another six months if I stay emotionally stable and take my medications on time.”

She felt so bad for him that she could no longer bring herself to drink the chicken soup.

“I’m sorry. If I had been more careful back then, Arnaud’s scheme wouldn’t have succeeded, and the lab wouldn’t—”

Stroking her long hair, Jefferson cooed, “It’s not your fault, Belle. You know how vicious Arnaud is. You couldn’t have prevented it no matter how careful you were.”

Rayna moved her lips to say something, but he pressed a finger on them and shook his head. “Belle, you really don’t have to blame yourself for it. I’m more than satisfied to have you by my side even if I only have six months left.”

“But I want you to live longer,” she choked out as tears welled up in her eyes.

The reason she made up her mind to follow him to Yartran was to use him to deal with Arnaud and avenge Kristie. At the same time, she wanted to care for him and not let him die so soon.

However, there was no one else she could turn to for help.

Jefferson’s heart ached when he saw her weeping all of a sudden. “There, there. Don’t cry. What if the babies cry with you? I still have six months, anyway. Perhaps a glimmer of hope may arise then.”

Suddenly, Rayna yelped and clutched her belly. “I think the babies kicked me.”

“Really?” He carefully stroked her belly. It was so flat that he could not help but worry. “You’re already in your second trimester. Why isn’t there a bump yet?”

Rayna flashed him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I check their heartbeats every night, and they’re normal. Maybe they’re a little slow in absorbing the nutrients. That’s why their growth is slow. I’m sure my belly will be as big as a ball when I’m in my seventh or eighth month of pregnancy.”

Her words left Jefferson in a daze. “Were you pregnant before? How are you so sure of all this?”

“I looked it up on parenting websites.”

“That won’t do. You still have to get a prenatal checkup at the hospital to be on the safe side,” he advised, his eyes fixed on her flat belly.

Then, he hesitated for a moment before looking up at Rayna and asking, “Can I listen to their heartbeats?”

The way he asked was very cautious, which made Rayna’s heart soften. Alas, several seconds later, she hardened her heart to decline his request. “I’m a little tired, so I’d like to take a nap. Don’t you have other matters to deal with?”

A look of disappointment flashed past Jefferson’s eyes, but he quickly put on a smile. “Get some rest, then. I’ll get going now.”

“Okay.”

When he was out of sight, Rayna glanced at her belly but did not touch it for fear of causing complications to the babies if she touched it too much.

She knew Jefferson really wanted to take care of her and the babies, but she only wanted to make it up to him and let him live a healthy life. In fact, she wanted him to have a life of his own without putting her at the center of it.

Ultimately, the babies were hers and Curtis’. No matter how serious their fight was, he had the right to know about her pregnancy.

I’ll bring them up on my own if he says he doesn’t want them.

Rayna had been too busy for the past two months to think about other things. At the sudden recollection of Curtis, her heart clenched.

How is he doing? Has he found a new girlfriend? Did he dump my cat?

 

Chapter 394

Soon, the night of the party arrived.

Boniel and Arnaud had changed into their suits and got into a car to attend the party.

Jefferson and Rayna were the only ones left in the manor.

Since Rayna was still waiting for the housekeeper to get her gown from Bruce, she said to Jefferson, “You didn’t have to wait for me and should have gone ahead with your dad. I know the place, anyway.”

“You’re my girlfriend. It’s only right that I go with you.” Pouring a cup of water for her, he asked softly, “Are the babies behaving themselves today? Will they disturb you at the party?”

She also replied in a soft voice, “They’ve been great these two days, so it should be fine tonight. Thank goodness that I haven’t gained any weight and that my belly’s not protruding. If not, I won’t be able to put on a gown.”

Jefferson grinned. “I’ve never seen a chubby version of you. I’m actually looking forward to seeing it.”

“Hey! You’re going too far.”

The two of them only bantered with each other in muted voices for a while more when the housekeeper returned with the gown.

Eyeing the gown, Rayna asked in confusion, “The gown I tried on back then was a long-sleeved, champagne-colored, fishtail gown. Why have you brought a black one instead?”

“Mr. Bruce said the gown was accidentally ruined by his assistant’s cat. This was the only gown in the studio that fit your measurements, Ms. Rayna,” responded the housekeeper.

Displeased, Jefferson reprimanded, “That gown was tailored two months ago, and she really liked the color and the design. How could he simply replace it with another gown when the original one is ruined?”

The housekeeper hung her head in silence.

“Never mind. Let me have a look at the gown,” Rayna said, taking the outfit from her.

The entire gown was hand-stitched and had a narrow waist design. Not only did it have a plunging neckline, but it was also backless. There was also a high slit that extended from the ankle to the thighs. All in all, it was a grand gown that could show off the wearer’s excellent figure.

“Get Bruce over here!” Jefferson’s expression darkened the moment he saw the design.

“Understood.”

While the housekeeper had gone to fetch Bruce, Rayna was still examining the gown. “It’s a little revealing, but the design is great. Bruce has so many outfits in his studio, so how could this be the only one that fits my measurements?”

With that, she turned to Jefferson, whose expression turned grimmer when he understood what she meant.

Soon, Bruce arrived. He immediately bowed before Jefferson and Rayna, apologizing about the original gown and informing them there was no way she could wear that to the party since the cat tore the fabric with its claws.

“Pick another gown closest to her measurements and alter it!” Jefferson ordered.

With a troubled expression, Bruce uttered, “There isn’t any. As you know, Ms. Lilia and the others are very slim, so most of my designs are in smaller sizes. It would be better if I altered the larger-sized

ones, but their colors and designs are all outdated. Besides, Ms. Rayna has gained a little weight. It’s really impossible to alter the smaller-sized gowns.”

Rayna was at a loss for words when she heard his explanation.

“Then call up your friends and ask if they have any gowns available. I’m going to fire you if you tell me no again,” Jefferson spat.

At that, Bruce hurriedly pulled out his phone. “I’ll ask them now.”

After making a few phone calls by the window, he slowly walked over and said carefully, “There are two studios that have many gowns that fit Ms. Rayna’s measurements, but—”

“Get them to send the gowns over, then!” Jefferson ordered with a frown.

“It’ll take at least thirty minutes to bring them from the nearest studio. There isn’t enough time, Mr. Hamilton. The party’s admission time ends at eight-thirty,” Bruce explained softly.

At that instant, Jefferson almost lost his temper. Thankfully, Rayna stopped him, looking as calm as ever. “All right. Don’t make things difficult for Mr. Bruce. It’s not like he didn’t think of a solution.”

Knowing what she was thinking, Jefferson voiced his rejection at once. “You can’t wear this! It’s too revealing! Let’s check out the stores on our way there. I’m sure we can find a suitable gown.”

Rayna assured, “It’s fine. I’ll just wear this. We might not find one that fits my measurements if we go gown-hunting in other stores. If we miss the admission time, we’ll be done for. Wait for me here while I go get changed.”

When she walked past him, she whispered, “Don’t draw unnecessary attention.” With that, he repressed his desire to rebuke Bruce further and stood there in silence.

In about ten minutes, Rayna reappeared in the gown.

The gown fitted her body perfectly. It flaunted her perfect curves, and her slender legs could sometimes be seen from under the hem of the dress as she walked.

Her fair skin and sharp yet languid gaze made her exude an alluring yet powerful aura.

She looked like a mighty queen as she descended the stairs.

The whole time, Jefferson was so mesmerized by her that he badly wanted to make her his exclusive item.

When she finally reached downstairs, she smiled at Bruce and praised him. “Your craftsmanship is truly amazing, Mr. Bruce. I feel like I’ve become much more sophisticated the moment I put on this gown.”

“Oh, you flatter me. It’s your beauty that brings out the best of this gown, Ms. Rayna.”

“Thank you.”

After taking her handbag from the housekeeper, Rayna turned around and saw Jefferson still standing there. Rapt, he gazed at her with his deadly attractive blue eyes.

Even so, she was not captivated by them, merely waving her hand at him. “Jefferson? It’s time to leave.”

Only then did he snap out of his trance. After studying her a few more times, he blurted, “Belle, you… you look really beautiful today.”

“So? Can we leave now? It’s really late.” Rayna waved her phone in the air.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Hearing that, she stepped out of the house first.

When she turned around, Jefferson caught sight of her fair back, which was almost completely exposed.

Her beautiful shoulder blades and slender waist were laid before him to feast his eyes on.

Right then, an intense emotion coursed through his veins. He marched over and quickly draped his coat over her. At the same time, he told the housekeeper to bring a shawl that matched the color of the gown.

Rayna said, “A shawl isn’t necessary. This is fine—”

“It’s not!” Jefferson cut her off. “There are too many people at the party. I’m afraid I can’t watch over you. It’s either we get you a new gown, or you put on a shawl. No negotiations.”

He could not bear the thought of the guests seeing her delicate figure.

Worried they would be late to the party, Rayna had no choice but to go with the latter option.

Their transport was already waiting by the entrance. It was a Rolls-Royce luxury minivan, which resembled a small house. After the duo got into the vehicle, the stylist began setting up Rayna’s hair.

In the meantime, Jefferson, sitting across from them, occasionally took things for the stylist, though he never looked away from Rayna.

When Rayna inadvertently flashed a glance in his direction and met his unblinking stare, she could not help but chuckle. “Hey, can’t you read magazines or something?”

“They’re not as attractive as you.” Jefferson’s tone was low and gentle, which brought a blush to her face.

She cleared her throat and changed the topic to divert his attention. “I’ve negotiated with everyone on the list, all except for Marcus. I’ll talk to him again later.”

He knew how tired she had been for the past few weeks, so he did not want her to rush about anymore. “I’ll do that. What do you have in mind?”

 

Chapter 395

Rayna shook her head. “We are not sure whether the person Marcus mentioned is on Arnaud’s side. If that person isn’t aligned with Arnaud, Arnaud will definitely interfere with you knowing that you have not convinced Marcus. Keep an eye on Arnaud’s movements, and leave me in charge of dealing with Marcus.”

Jefferson said in distress, “I don’t want you to be so tired.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been doing this for so many days, so one night more won’t make a difference.” At the end of her reply, she beamed at him. Her radiant smile was alluring, instantly enchanting him.

There was nothing for him to be discontented about when he had such a gorgeous and brilliant lady by his side.

The car arrived at Atlantis Hotel at eight in the evening.

Atlantis Hotel was one of the few eight-star hotels in the world. The luxurious hotel hosted a lot of famous banquets and auctions. In fact, royalties even celebrated their birthdays here.

Rayna had stayed in a seven-star hotel before on a business trip, but it was her first time visiting an eight-star one. As soon as she got out of the car, she was shocked by the opulence of the hotel.

After following Jefferson into the elevator, she leaned closer to him and whispered, “I heard that this is a grand party, and almost all of the elites and politicians in the city are here. Is it true?”

He grunted an acknowledgment in response before saying, “At first, the party was hosted by royalty for entertainment purposes. Unexpectedly, some foreign businessmen view the party as an opportunity to gain fame and expand their businesses. Politicians also leaped at the chance to do networking. The royalty figured that this was a great chance for them to earn easy money and rope in foreign

investment, so they decided to hold it every year. Since then, the number of guests has increased yearly, and the celebration has become increasingly grandiose.”

“Well, the royalty sure are very business-minded!” Rayna remarked. “If I were to spend one million to attend the party, I’d still be profiting from the networking opportunity even if I didn’t manage to negotiate a deal. I could call them when I’m free. No business person would miss a profitable business, right? If we couldn’t be business partners, I could still use them to expand my network further.”

“That’s a very astute analysis.” Jefferson nodded with a smile. “You make me want to entrust my business to you.”

Waving her hands as a sign of rejection, she muttered, “Please don’t! It was just the talk from a layman. Theory is very different from practice. Don’t think too highly of me.”

“It’s not that I think highly of you, but it’s that you are very smart and learn things quickly,” he said, his tone full of honesty. “I don’t mind suffering the loss of a few companies if you can learn something from it. I’d think it’s worth it.”

“We’re here.” As soon as the elevator doors were opened, Rayna strode out. “Let’s talk about this some other time.”

Jefferson’s eyes dimmed in disappointment at her forced interruption.

It took him an entire month to digest the reality after he found out about his parentage that night. Even so, he could not accept the fact that he and Curtis were half-brothers.

He refused to acknowledge his relationship with Curtis. At the same time, he did not want Rayna to return to the latter one day.

On the surface, she was good to him, but he knew she would never see him the same as Curtis.

She was willing to take over Faymon Group and went the extra mile working for Curtis. On the contrary, she turned down everything he offered to her, no matter how valuable the proposition was.

Noticing that Jefferson was still in the elevator, Rayna turned around and asked, “Why are you still there?”

“Here I come.” Jefferson concealed his emotions very well. With a gentle look in his eyes, he stepped out of the elevator just as the doors were about to close and walked to her side.

The duo entered the ballroom after verifying their identities at the entrance.

The banquet hall was spacious and extravagant. It was almost impossible to see the end of the hall. Elegant jazz music streamed from the central broadcasting system, and the dignitaries in the venue were all dressed to the nine as if they were attending a royal feast.

Rayna walked at a moderate pace beside Jefferson while sweeping her gaze around.

There were politicians who occasionally showed their faces in the news, as well as business people with hundreds of billions of assets. All of them gathered in small groups, each holding a glass of wine while chattering with one other.

Right then, a slender figure came into her view.

The man was wearing a well-tailored black suit. Under his well-groomed dark hair were sharp facial features. His thin crimson lips quirked up into a faint smile.

He was holding a glass of wine while saying something to the person across from him.

His tall and slender figure stood out from the crowd, overshadowing his friend as well as the guests around him.

Rayna’s eyes widened in shock. Her chest heaved wildly from rapid breathing, and her heart almost stopped beating.

“Excuse me.” She squeezed through the crowd, staring at the man intensely.

No sooner had she taken a few steps forward than the man, standing in the distance, disappeared into the crowd after saying something to his friend. It was as if what she saw earlier was just her illusion.

Rayna wanted to rush over, but her wrist was gripped from behind.

It was Jefferson. “Belle, what’s wrong?” he asked in concern.

“I saw Curtis,” she hurriedly replied as she searched the crowd. Alas, she failed to locate the man.

Jefferson’s heart clenched at the sight of her looking for Curtis so anxiously and eagerly.

“Belle, there’s no way he’s here. Don’t you remember? You must have mistaken someone else for him,” he said gently.

His words were like a bucket of cold water pouring on Rayna, damping all of her enthusiasm.

She forced a smile. “Right, I must have seen it wrongly. There’s no way he’ll be here.”

The two gunshots and his cold gaze at the hotel two months ago still lingered in her mind. He had expressed his utter disappointment toward her at that time. It was impossible that he would show up at the party.

Jefferson held her hand. “Let’s go and greet my dad.”

Rayna nodded.

At that moment, his father was chatting with a few friends. When Jefferson brought Rayna over, Boniel immediately introduced his friends to his son.

He even pointed at Rayna and gave her a proper introduction. “This is Calbert’s girlfriend, Rayna Garland.”

“I know her. Harold told me about her before.”

“You truly are lucky! Not only do you have an outstanding son, but you also have an excellent daughter-in-law. I’m so jealous of you!”

Boniel burst out laughing. “They’re still kids. I would have to ask all of you to watch over them in the future!”

In just a few sentences, he managed to help Jefferson build some connections.

The whole time, Rayna silently stood in place, holding a glass of wine with a smile.

When she finally spotted Marcus, she tugged at Jefferson’s sleeve and whispered, “I’m going to talk to Marcus. Keep your eyes on Arnaud.”

Jefferson nodded. “Be careful.”

Then, he shot a glance at her and said, “Keep the shawl around you. Don’t take it off.”

“Got it!” Rayna hurriedly blurted out a reply when she saw Marcus walking off.

Then, she nudged her way through the crowd and watched as Marcus entered a high-class private room at one side of the hall.

After reading the sign on the center of the door that read “Entertainment Room,” she took a deep breath and reached out to push the door open.

The entertainment room was warm and bustling, with people sitting in front of the billiards and chess tables. There was a huge floor-to-ceiling glass embedded in a wall, giving others a panoramic view of the occupants of the entertainment room.

There were also a few gorgeous, slender women in the entertainment room. However, their charms paled in comparison to Rayna’s impeccable appearance. Uncontestedly, she was the belle of the room the second she stepped in.

Rayna simply ignored their gazes and walked toward Marcus.

“Mr. Marcus, can you please spare me two minutes?” She lowered her voice and continued, “I would like to have a few words with you.”

“I’m busy.” With a cigarette held between his lips, Marcus was focused on playing billiards. He did not even spare Rayna a glance. “Let me finish the game first.”

“All right.” Rayna smiled and moved to the side, where she stood waiting patiently.

 

Chapter 396

Marcus played round after round of billiards with his friends while chatting happily with them. Whenever Rayna tried to speak to him, he pretended not to hear her and continued with his game.

A long time later, she eventually realized he was making a fool of her. Right from the start, he never intended to spare her some time to talk.

Seeing how smug Marcus looked from defeating his friend, Rayna swiveled her eyes around, and an idea struck her. “You’re really skilled at billiards, Mr. Marcus!” she complimented as she walked over to him.

“It’s so-so, I suppose.” Marcus finally flashed her a glance and asked, “What about it? Do you play as well?”

“Yeah. I took lessons last time.” Smiling, she requested a cue stick from an attendant and suggested, “Mr. Marcus, if you don’t mind, may I play one match with you?”

“Haha, sure!”

After getting an affirmative answer from Marcus, Rayna seized the opportunity and added, “Why don’t we add some excitement to the game? I will give you ten million if I lose.”

“Oh?” Marcus’ interest was piqued. Arching an eyebrow, he asked, “It sounds too good to be true. Is there a catch?”

With a twinkle in her eyes, she leaned against her cue stick. It was a picturesque sight to behold. “I think losing ten million is worth it as long as I can play a match with you.”

Those words pleased him greatly. “What happens if you win, Ms. Garland?” he asked.

“If I am lucky enough to win, I hope that you will give me two minutes of your time.”

“Sure, we have a deal!” Marcus agreed at once, thinking that he had gotten the good end of the bargain. “Since you’re a lady, I shall let you decide on the type of game.”

“Don’t mind if I do!” Rayna smiled. “How about we play a match of snooker?”

He then beckoned the attendant over and instructed, “Set up the table for snooker.”

“Yes, sir.”

The attendant speedily cleared the balls on the table and set up the twenty-two balls required by a round of snooker.

“Well, once again, ladies first.” Marcus gestured for Rayna to start the game. Then, he eyed her and said, “However, your outfit might put you at a disadvantage.”

Hearing that, Rayna removed her shawl and handed it to the attendant.

With the extra covering out of the way, her exposed porcelain skin glowed under the illumination of the lights. At the same time, her cleavage, which was visible due to the plunging V-neck of her dress, excited all the men in the billiard room. Every one of them had their attention on her, their eyes ablaze with desire as they took in her sensuous figure.

Even Marcus, who had met countless gorgeous women, was mesmerized by Rayna’s beauty. With mock wistfulness, he said, “I should have asked for your company at dinner as my reward for winning instead. Alas!”

Rayna ignored his words, leaning closer to the table. “I shall take the break-off shot, then.”

Marcus took a few steps backward and watched quietly.

Although Rayna appeared calm, she was feeling somewhat nervous internally.

It was fortunate that she took a few days of billiards lessons from Curtis during their vacation in Jetroina back then and was thus familiar with the different types of games. Otherwise, she would not have dared to request a match with Marcus.

If she were not familiar with billiards, she would have ended up having to leave without getting a chance to speak to Marcus.

Rayna gripped her cue stick and took a deep breath, reminding herself that Curtis had previously complimented her for being a natural talent at billiards. If I put forth my best shot, I might stand a chance to win.

As she was extremely focused on the game, she did not notice that the glass wall was actually a one- way mirror. Everything that was going on in that room could be clearly seen by those in the room across from them.

Apart from a few men playing billiards, there was not much activity going on in the other billiard room. One of the men stood out from the rest, displaying a regal bearing with every movement he made.

However, his countenance his cold, and so were his eyes. The coldness he exuded kept people away from him.

The man bent forward slightly and hit the white ball lightly with his cue stick.

After being set in motion, the ball slid across the table and knocked the number eight black ball with precision, sending it into the pocket.

“You won again, “Mr. Faymon.” Gabriel glanced at the table and sighed. “Why are you, a world champion, playing with an amateur like me?”

“He’s bored, and you’re the only person available to play with him.” Jeremy, who was leaning against another billiard table, chuckled and continued, “You can’t expect him to be chatting with those people outside, right?”

Sorrow filled Gabriel’s heart.

But I’m just an assistant! Not only do I have to accompany my boss to dinner, have drinks, and go on business trips with him, but I also have to play billiards with him! I must be the most miserable person in the world.

“You owe me three hundred thousand in total,” Curtis said placidly while the attendant was preparing the table for the next game. “Let’s carry on.”

“Huh? Are we continuing?” Gabriel’s face fell at once. In a pitiful voice, he said, “That’s more than my monthly salary. Mr. Faymon, please let me off!”

Curtis shot him a glance from the corner of his eye.

That was enough to send shivers down Gabriel’s spine. The assistant straightened his back immediately and replied, “Let’s carry on! Mr. Faymon, I will play with you for as long as you like! We can even play all night.”

“Such a poor assistant.” Jeremy shook his head.

While taking a sip of his champagne, he seemed to have noticed something as his eyes narrowed in the next second. His face then broke into a smile, and he remarked, “Mr. Tylinski, you don’t have to play billiards with your boss anymore. Our female lead has just shown up.”

“Female lead?” Gabriel asked, feeling curious. He followed Jeremy’s gaze and saw the door of the billiard room across from them being pushed open before a young woman entered the room.

Shocked by the appearance of the woman, Gabriel gaped. “S-S-S-She…”

He glanced at Curtis and fumbled for words.

Ever since the incident that happened two months ago, Gabriel had not heard any news on Rayna. He had assumed that he was at the party with Curtis to do business.

Never had he expected Rayna to be in Yartran, not to mention at the same party.

Realization dawned on him that instant.

Curtis’ countenance remained stony as he looked toward the room on the opposite side of the glass wall. He saw Rayna entering the room and standing aside after saying something to a man.

A few minutes later, she stepped forward again and exchanged a few sentences with the man, who nodded in response.

Suddenly, the woman removed her shawl, revealing her black gown.

Curtis’ eyelids immediately twitched.

“Our female lead is beautifully dressed today,” Jeremy started commenting on Rayna’s outfit. “Did Yartran do something special to her? She’s gotten much prettier.”

Gabriel nodded in agreement. “I’ve seen Ms. Garland in quite a few gowns previously, and I think she looks the best in this one… D*mn!”

The assistant almost bit his tongue in shock when Rayna suddenly turned around, exposing her flawless bare back and a bit of her slender waist.

Equally astonished, Jeremy choked on his wine. Once he regained his composure, he wiped the corner of his lips with a piece of a napkin and said teasingly, “Indeed, one should conform to local practices when living in a different place. It seems like our female lead has become bolder after staying here for a while.”

Gabriel was rendered speechless.

Mr. York, can you keep quiet? Can’t you see how grim Mr. Faymon’s face is?

“Ahem, ahem.” Gabriel coughed into his fist and asked, “Mr. York, do you think the air-conditioning is faulty? It suddenly feels so cold. Shall we—”

“I don’t think so. I feel that the temperature is just nice,” Jeremy interrupted the assistant smilingly and continued observing the other room with much interest.

While watching, he said to Curtis, “I noticed that our female lead plays billiards like you, Mr. Faymon. Could it be that you taught her how to play? I am suddenly very interested in learning billiards. Can you mentor me too?”

After taking a pause, Jeremy continued, “Look at those men! They are just like predators eyeing their prey. Tsk, tsk. If I were in her shoes, I would have been scared out of my wits.”

 

Chapter 397

“Oh! She scored again.”

Suddenly, Curtis spoke with a dark look in his eyes. “Gabriel, since he loves champagne so much, bring three bottles and pour them down his throat.”

“Understood.” Immediately, Gabriel set off to get the champagnes.

Jeremy was rendered speechless. “Where did you find an assistant like him? He’s still so obedient to you even though you keep exploiting him! Is he going to get rid of my body if you wish to kill me?”

Curtis sneered soundlessly. “If you don’t shut up now, he might actually buy a coffin for you later.”

Choked with fury, Jeremy rolled his eyes. When he looked at the other private room again, he realized something was amiss. “It’s her turn to play, but why is she covering her collarbone instead of moving?”

Curtis followed his gaze. Indeed, Rayna was standing still.

Because her body was tilted, he could see she had one hand on her collarbone and was biting her lip slightly with a troubled look on her face.

Upon taking a closer look, he realized she was doing that because the silk ribbon supporting the weight of her gown had snapped.

“Her gown must be torn,” Jeremy commented, having understood Rayna’s predicament as well. “Considering that the gown hugs her body, I reckon it’d drop to the ground if she let go,” he added with a smirk.

He then clucked his tongue. “I’m sure those men in that room would want to see the beautiful body underneath that gown.”

By then, the people in the room across from theirs had caught on too, and they seemed to be making things difficult for Rayna. Jeremy glanced at Curtis, only to see that the latter had an indifferent look on his face. It appeared that he was unaffected by the happenings.

Hah! There’s no way Curtis isn’t affected by what he’s seeing! If he didn’t care about this woman, he wouldn’t have put his work aside to come here.

“The beauty is surrounded by a group of beasts. How pitiful. Since I’m free, I’ll help you save her,” Jeremy said as he placed his glass on the billiards table and rose to his feet.

Right when he was about to leave, Gabriel returned with the three bottles of champagne.

That rendered Jeremy speechless again. “You actually went to grab those? Your boss was only kidding!”

Gabriel said seriously, “Mr. Faymon never jokes around. Mr. York, are you going to chug the bottles on your own? If you find that too hard, I can help pour them down your throat.”

Jeremy could not come up with a reply.

Moments later, he patted Gabriel on the shoulder. “Why don’t you enjoy these bottles of champagne? I’m going to save the damsel in distress.”

“You’re staying here to finish the champagnes.” Curtis was not planning on sparing Jeremy any dignity.

With a grim expression, he took off the brooch from his suit and summoned the attendant, who had been behaving like an invisible person the whole time.

“Take this to the opposite room and give it to the woman in the black gown,” he said as he passed the brooch to the attendant.

“Yes, sir.”

Having sensed the threat in Curtis’ tone, Jeremy tried to flee. “Mr. Faymon, our female lead is trapped in a wolf’s den. An attendant can’t be of any help. It’s better for me to go over.”

Before he could move, Gabriel blocked his way.

“Mr. York, you should enjoy your champagne. Or would you rather I help you with it?” He brought a bottle of champagne up to Jeremy’s face.

“No thanks! I don’t need it!” Jeremy forced a smile over gritted teeth and glared at Gabriel. “I’ve never met an assistant as annoying as you!”

“You flatter me, Mr. York.”

Jeremy was at a loss for words again.

Rayna thought Arnaud prepared that gown to test if she dared to wear it. Never did she expect him to tamper with it.

As the silk ribbon had broken on its own, she dared not move at all, standing still in the same spot.

The gown was nicely fitting, but it was not tight. The innermost layer was made of smooth silk fabric. Without the ribbon’s support, the entire gown would drop to the ground.

Rayna took a deep breath and said to Marcus, “I have to go to the restroom for a while.”

“Oh, come on. The match’s almost over. Just hold it in for a little longer, Ms. Garland. Here. It’s your turn,” he replied as his lustful eyes roamed her body.

The other men in the room responded with an equal amount of enthusiasm.

They were staring at her like a group of ravenous wolves as if they knew something was wrong with her gown.

It was not Rayna’s first time encountering that kind of situation, so she could handle it composedly. But I’m close to winning. It’s really a shame if I give up now. Still, it’s better to give up now than to let them see me naked.

“I’m sorry—”

Rayna pursed her lips and was about to say something else when the door was pushed open.

The attendant who entered looked around the room. Upon spotting Rayna, he walked toward her and handed the brooch to her. “A gentleman asked me to give you this.”

“Thank you.”

Great. This brooch can hold the gown together. It’s just what I need right now. Perhaps Jefferson knew something was wrong with my gown and asked someone to send it over.

Thoughts ran through her mind as she quickly fastened the brooch on the ribbon. Wait. I don’t recall Jefferson wearing a brooch today. Did he borrow it from someone?

Once she was done, she smiled at Marcus. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“It’s fine.” Despite his disappointment, Marcus still faked civility, saying, “Ms. Garland, you should’ve told us that something was wrong with your gown. No man could bear to see a gorgeous woman in distress.”

Rayna let out a soft chuckle. “I’m easily embarrassed, so I can’t bring myself to trouble other people.”

At that, he gritted his teeth in secret. D*mn! This woman is silver-tongued. How dare she insinuate that I’m petty!

A few minutes later, the white ball was the only ball left on the table.

After counting the scores, the attendant announced the results, “Mr. Marcus scored a hundred and thirty-three points while Ms. Garland scored a hundred and forty-seven points.”

Although Marcus’ face turned grim, he continued smiling and complimented, “Ms. Garland, not only are you beautiful and intelligent, but you’re also great at snooker. I admit my defeat.”

Rayna flashed him a faint smile as she passed the cue stick to the attendant. “My mentor is a world champion. If he wishes to play, there’s no one who can win against him.”

Marcus was curious. “Which world champion taught you to play?”

She evaded the question. “Mr. Marcus, I won. You have to give me two minutes.”

“Fine.”

The two of them walked out of the private room and went to a quiet corner before Rayna talked to him about that matter. “We’re friends, and I sincerely wish to negotiate with you. I know Mr. Cyrus has a lot of supporters, and you’re one of them. But you must’ve heard Mr. Boniel adores his younger son even more. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have arranged for a test like this when Jefferson wished to regain his status as the heir. “

A hint of lust flashed across Marcus’ eyes as he stared at the collected, eloquent young woman in front of him. “Since you’ve proven your sincerity, Ms. Garland, I suppose I can discuss things with your further.”

Then, he got closer to her and continued, “I want fifty percent of the Terblanc family’s shares, or you can be mine for one night. What do you say?”

Rayna stood with her back ramrod straight and eyed him with a fake smile. “I hear that you and your wife have an agreement that if one of you has scandals reported on the news, either party will have to give up all their assets after the divorce. The market value of your company is worth tens of billions, right? That’s quite a lot. Besides, your wife is here today. Aren’t you afraid that she’ll find out?”

Marcus’ lips quirked. “Isn’t there a saying about giving everything up for a beauty? If I can spend a night with you, I can give up everything I have.”

“If that’s the case, I guess we have nothing to talk about anymore,” she said. Then, she glanced at the time on her phone and continued, “Two minutes’ up. Well then, I won’t bother you anymore, Mr. Marcus.”

Refusing to give up, Marcus called out to her, “Wait! I know I’m the last signature you need on that document. Are you really willing to let your boyfriend lose such a good opportunity?”

 

Chapter 398

Rayna glanced back at him, her porcelain white face was a mask of calm. “He’s just unable to obtain the right to be the heir. However, he’s still the second scion of the Terblanc family. The fact that I’m able to convince so many to support him is proof of my capabilities. As long as I’m with him, it is only a matter of time before he gains leadership of the Terblanc family.”

This stunned Marcus for a moment.

He had heard about Rayna being a mere senior interpreter. The fields of translation and finance could not be more different. One could not be good at finance just by dabbling in it. Such skills, like any other, had to be honed over time.

However, he could not sense any apprehension from this woman. If anything, she shone.

Is she a natural, or did someone coach her?

The failed negotiations with Marcus did not make Rayna angry. When she went to the private lounge to seek out Marcus, she could already tell from his general demeanor and tone of voice that negotiations were off the table.

Rayna was merely disgusted by what the man had proposed.

When Rayna strode into the banquet hall, she quickly spotted Jefferson. She was just thinking of approaching him, but her sharp eyes also noticed that Arnaud was standing in front of him. Immediately, Rayna left the area.

If Rayna approached Jefferson now, then Arnaud would have noticed her. It would be difficult for her to get away.

As Rayna rode the elevator down, she decided to give Ringo a call.

After the call was connected, Rayna’s voice dropped into a whisper as she said, “I didn’t manage to secure a deal with Marcus. You should bring his mistress over and find a way to get Marcus’ wife to leave. I’m going to the concierge now to get a keycard.”

Ringo replied, “I’ll let you know when I’ve accessed the hotel’s system.”

“Okay.”

Since Rayna was also worried that tonight’s negotiations might fail, she asked Ringo to look into Marcus in advance. She needed to know what he was doing in private as well as details on the agreement he signed with his wife.

If the negotiations went bust, Ringo could then bring Marcus’ mistress over and make his wife disappear for a bit. Marcus was not one to miss out on a rendezvous with his lover, after all.

Rayna deliberately dawdled by the elevator door for a while.

The moment Ringo sent her a message, she immediately walked toward reception and spoke to a beautiful blonde woman. “My head hurts a little. Would you mind helping me book a suite?’

Rayna also massaged her temples to feign a look of extreme discomfort.

“Of course. Please wait a moment.” After tapping for a while on the keys, the receptionist replied, “We’ve got more guests staying in tonight, I’m afraid. There aren’t any suites available. May I suggest a room on the sixty-sixth floor instead?”

“Of course.”

The receptionist took Rayna’s ID for verification. Just as she was about to proceed with the booking, the screen went blank.

The receptionist moved her mouse around but to no avail. She then spoke into the intercom and requested for someone to take a look, but the screen lit up on its own once more.

After completing the transaction, the receptionist handed Rayna the documents saying, “I’m sorry about that. The screen suddenly went dark.”

“It’s not a problem,” responded Rayna with a gentle smile.

Ringo had successfully hacked into the hotel’s systems and Rayna’s room was not actually booked. Rather, when Marcus tried to get a room for himself, he was going to be sent to her room as long as he opted for a suite.

On her way down, Rayna glanced at the time on her phone.

The party should end at eleven. I’ve got plenty of time to kill.

All she needed to do now was to install the hidden camera to capture Marcus’ tryst and show him the footage before the end of the party to force him into signing the document.

Rayna sighed out loud. “I never thought I’d resort to such nefarious means someday.”

She used to be so innocent and naive during her senior interpreter days. All she had to do was be a human translation machine. It was not a particularly aggressive form of work, unlike what she was engaging in today.

The babies in Rayna’s belly suddenly gave her a kick. It was not quite gentle, which made Rayna furrow her brows in pain. “Hey, now. Don’t kick me just because you can use your hands and legs! Your father isn’t innocent either.”

Look at how he has tainted me!

Just then, Ringo sent her a message informing her that Marcus’ wife had left the hotel, but his paramour had just arrived. Marcus had already sent for someone to use his ID to book a room.

She’s here already?

Rayna was surprised. When the elevator reached the sixty-sixth floor, she dashed outside and ran toward the room she had to be in.

In her haste, she had not noticed that the door was not locked at all. Rayna quickly made her way toward the bedroom, turned on the lights, and took out a video camera the size of her thumb.

Rayna surveyed the room, looking for a suitable place to hide the camera. The suite was sparsely decorated, and there were not that many flowers in the vases that could serve as a hiding spot. She ruled out the shelf since it could easily fall out, as well as the television since it was too obvious.

Soon, the brightly-lit chandelier caught Rayna’s eye. Very carefully, Rayna pulled over a nearby stool and climbed onto it. She could just barely reach the chandelier.

The tiny video camera could be hidden right at the edge of one of the bulbs.

From this angle, one had a clear view of the whole bedroom. Unless they swept the room for bugs, nobody could tell that there was a camera hidden in a light fixture.

Rayna had barely slid the stool back in place when the room suddenly became dark, giving her quite the fright.

She did not even have the time to respond. Rayna could feel someone grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her close to his chest. She was so frightened that all her hair stood on the end.

Rayna felt the urge to scream, but another hand reached for her in the dark and angled her head, drawing her into a powerful and harsh kiss.

The mysterious person held her in a vise grip. Rayna was nearly out of breath, trying to break free from his grip. As she struggled, she caught a hint of the man’s scent but realized that it was familiar.

Is that him?

Rayna’s mind was all over the place. She did not dare believe that he would have come all the way here. Rayna sniffed the air again harder, which made her absolutely certain about who he was.

So I wasn’t hallucinating in the banquet hall. He really is here!

The longing that Rayna had been suppressing all this while threatened to claw itself out, making her heart skip a beat and her eyes sting. Rayna hugged him and kissed him back with equal fervor, wishing that he could tell how much she had missed him.

Curtis kissed her with fierce passion. She could almost feel a hint of hatred in it.

By accident, Curtis had kissed her too hard and injured her on the lip. It hurt Rayna enough that she sucked in cold air. The smell of blood soon filled her nose.

You bit me? Geez, you’ve already drawn blood!

Rayna cursed at him inwardly, but she could hear faint noises coming from outside. Rayna could vaguely make out the sounds of someone fidgeting with the door handle, followed by the sounds of a conversation taking place.

“Huh? Why is there another keycard here?”

“I think the housekeeping staff may have forgotten to remove it while cleaning. Forget about that, darling. Let me hold you.”

Hearing the sound of Marcus’ voice immediately snapped Rayna out of her stupor. She suddenly remembered what she came for and grew anxious, having not anticipated them to be there so soon.

If they catch me, then everything I’ve meticulously planned out would be ruined!

Rayna elbowed Curtis twice, but he did not budge. Finally, as the footsteps drew closer, Rayna bit Curtis, which forced him to let go of her.

Very vaguely, she could make out the silhouette of a closet that was big enough to fit the two of them. Rayna quickly shoved Curtis inside.

She had barely managed to open the closet door when the door to the room was opened and two people strode in.

With a click, the lights were turned on.

In a split second, Rayna hurriedly closed the shutters and waited.

Curtis was caught off guard by her sudden ministrations and ended up landing on the storage box behind him. Eventually, Rayna, who had squeezed herself inside, slid down his chest and stopped squarely on his lap.

When the two figures entered the bedroom, they immediately threw themselves at each other, landing on the bed.

“I heard that your wife was staying here,” said the woman with a smile. “Aren’t you afraid of being spotted?”

“You’re too irresistible. I just couldn’t wait any longer,” murmured Marcus, stroking her body suggestively. “Did you get those done lately? They seem to have swelled since I last saw you.”

 

Chapter 399

“Yes. So what if I had some work done? If you don’t like it, then don’t touch me,” replied the woman with a huff.

“Oh no, I absolutely adore this. You’re so nice and soft here. Why don’t you take my card later and get your a*s plumped up too?”

In the cramped closet, Rayna was huddled close to Curtis with her head in his embrace. She could hear his strong heartbeat and feel his warmth, but she did not dare to move.

Just hearing the couple’s dirty talk was enough to make Rayna’s skin crawl from secondhand embarrassment.

All she wanted to do was install the hidden camera. Rayna had not anticipated Curtis’ arrival, nor had she expected Marcus to show up with his lover so soon. As such, they could not even leave the room.

What a mess this is!

The two of them said nothing. The only thing that filled the silence between them was the faint sounds of their breathing. Meanwhile, the other couple had been engaging in foreplay and activities more sexual in nature.

Rayna began to silently count sheep to distract herself.

After some time, Rayna heard Curtis’ low voice in her ear, asking, “Why do you like to push me into weird places whenever something happens?”

“I didn’t know you were going to come over,” whispered Rayna.

Rayna’s thoughts went to the second time she met Curtis. She shoved Curtis into the nearby toilet and accidentally discovered Julian’s affair with Meredith. On a trip to Tyrandas, Curtis entered the wrong bathhouse. They both ended up hiding in a small cubicle because they did not want the students to notice them.

The very thought of this made Rayna feel embarrassed. She could feel herself blushing.

Fortunately, there was very little light coming in from outside, so Curtis could not see Rayna’s face clearly.

Curtis said nothing else, and the two immediately fell into a deep silence once more. In the meantime, the dirty talk from the other couple outside had turned into high-pitched moans. Rayna desperately wished she could find some cotton and stuff them into her ears to block out the noise.

“But why are you here?” asked Rayna quietly after a while.

“What, did I ruin your good deed or something?” The closet was relatively dim. When Curtis looked down, he could only see the faint outline of her against his body. His gaze followed the light through the cracks and noticed that it landed on her shoulder.

Her milky skin seemed to shine as a result.

Curtis immediately thought of the time he saw Rayna in the billiard room. Through the one-way glass, he saw that she was wearing a little black dress. The dress hugged her slender waist and exposed her beautiful back, and he could feel his heart race just thinking about it.

Curtis smirked. “Looks like you still have that bad habit of spying on others, Ms. Garland.”

Immediately, Rayna shushed him and clamped a hand over his mouth, and inched even closer. “Don’t be so loud,” hissed Rayna. “They might hear us. If you hadn’t entered and turned the lights off, do you

think this would’ve happened?”

“I didn’t turn the lights off.”

“Really?” scoffed Rayna. “Do you expect me to believe that they turned themselves off?”

Curtis said nothing, yet Rayna noticed that his hands were stroking his chin, seemingly about to take his tie off. In a split second, Rayna’s hands were pulled behind her and kept there by his iron grip.

Rayna was stunned. She could not see it, but she could feel Curtis binding her hands with his tie.

This only made her even more frantic. “Why the heck are you tying me up?” asked Rayna in a harsh whisper.

Curtis’ warm breath tickled the top of her head, and he still did not respond. Instead, he trailed his hands down her waist and rested them near the small of her back.

“Y-Y-You…!” stammered Rayna.

Because she was acutely aware of where she was, Rayna was so shocked that she immediately became tense. It also did not help that the woman outside was not moaning with reckless abandon.

“Weren’t you asking why I tied you up? Let me explain,” murmured Curtis. He then raised one hand and gently stroked the brooch she used to fasten her shawl, his fingers tapping idly on the cool metal.

In the same harsh whisper, Rayna said, “Curtis Faymon, don’t you dare try anything weird! We’re in a closet! Also, we’ve broken up! I-If you dare lay a finger on me, I swear I-I’ll…”

“Look at you, stammering like this. Have you lost your guts?”

“You’ve borrowed something of mine. Aren’t you going to return it to me?” queried Curtis, his breath falling warmly on her face. Rayna could feel her skin prickle.

“What exactly have I taken?”

Curtis did not answer. Instead, he began to toy idly with the brooch.

Rayna suddenly felt something around her neck loosen as the silk shawl immediately slid off her body. Realization then dawned upon her. It was not Jefferson who sent her the brooch, but Curtis who asked someone to deliver it.

In the dark, Rayna felt another harsh kiss descend upon her red lips. All she could sense and smell was Curtis as he pulled her close.

Without realizing it, Rayna accidentally stumbled back and hit the shutters.

Although Curtis immediately pulled her up, Marcus had already picked up on the dull thud.

Marcus immediately stopped and asked his lover, “Did you hear something?”

“Goodness no! Please continue!”

“I could have sworn that I heard noises coming from the closet. I’m going to take a look.” Marcus rolled over and got off the bed and walked toward the closet in large strides.

In the closet, Rayna huddled even closer to Curtis. She felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

Oh no! We’re done for!

The closet is only so large. If Marcus pulls the doors open, he’ll see me and Curtin in here!

Da*n it! On top of that, I’m practically half naked!

Curtis’ hand was still hovering near her lower back. He could feel how tense she had become.

Marcus was quickly approaching the closer, but Curtis did not seem perturbed. In a mild tone, he asked, “Come now, Ms. Garland. This isn’t your first time spying on someone. What are you afraid of?”

Rayna hastily shut him up by covering his mouth with hers.

From the corner of her eye, Rayna caught a glimpse of a man’s legs standing near the closet. She could not help but shudder and close her eyes.

How I wish someone had a pause button! That would be really helpful right now!

Without hesitating, Marcus opened the closet door and saw nothing but two bathrobes on their hangers. Just as he was about to open the other door, a mouse suddenly rushed out toward them.

Marcus was shocked and took two steps back.

“Ah! A mouse!” shrieked the woman on the bed. “Marcus, it’s coming this way! Save me!”

“It’s only a mouse, darling. Don’t be frightened,” said Marcus. He had given up trying to open the other door and tried to chase the mouse away instead.

The mouse fled extremely quickly from under the bed to a new hiding spot behind the locker.

“This room is disgusting! There is even a mouse in here! I don’t want to stay here anymore. We need to change rooms!”

“Okay, we’ll ask the front desk to handle this.”

Marcus could not bear to see his lover so distressed. He probably also thought that the mouse in the room had ruined their mood too. As such, they both got dressed and promptly left the room.

Rayna only relaxed when she could no longer hear anything outside.

Immediately, her expression turned cold as she reprimanded Curtis through gritted teeth. “Are you insane? Thanks to your actions, a stranger could’ve seen me naked!”

The doors to the closet were wide open, allowing for some much-needed light. Some of the light illuminated Curtis’ face. He was staring at Rayna, his eyes dark and domineering.

Curtis smirked. “You seem to enjoy it when men ogle at you.”

“That’s not remotely true!” retorted Rayna, biting her lower lip. She was wounded by his words. “Someone ruined the custom-made dress I ordered. This was the only one available.”

“Couldn’t Jefferson help you buy another one?”

“There wasn’t enough time,” mumbled Rayna. “Besides, I might not find one that fits me if I go to the store. When we left, he brought a shawl along too. I didn’t expect that—”

Before she could finish, Rayna was cut off mid-speech by Curtis’ harsh kiss. The cut on her lip burst open again due to the sheer force, hurting her.

Rayna felt lightheaded, as if she had no energy.

When she finally regained her senses, Rayna suddenly realized that Curtis had brought her to a different room. She watched as a very tall and handsome Curtis began to shed his diamond cufflinks carelessly on the carpet.

“We’ve a-already…b-broken up! stammered Rayna. She dared not move for fear of her coat falling off. “If you t-try anything, I’ll sue you!”

 

Chapter 400

“What do you think I’m going to do?” Curtis gave her a pointed look as he strode toward her. His gaze was still cool.

As he advanced toward her slowly, Rayna felt like every step he took inched closer to her heart.

“W-What a-are you doing?” stammered Rayna.

She was so flustered that she subconsciously shielded her chest.

After all, Curtis had removed his cufflinks and unbuttoned his shirt. How could she not tell?

Rayna knew that when Curtis was angry, she was going to deal with certain repercussions.

“What’s wrong, Ms. Garland? Cat got your tongue?” asked Curtis mildly. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that Rayna was showing a bit of skin. Immediately, his gaze darkened.

“I… I’m a little unwell. I need to see a doctor.” Seeing that Curtis was inching ever closer, Rayna tensed her shoulders. She had so much to do, and the unfinished tasks made her feel anxious.

Rayna wanted to go back to Marcus’ room to retrieve the camera. She did not have time for Curtis’ games.

Seeing that Curtis said nothing, Rayna raised her head gingerly to look at him and said, “I’m really feeling unwell. I’m not lying. Why don’t you get a doctor? When the doctor arrives, you’ll soon find out whether or not I’m lying. I swear I’m not.”

Very earnestly, Rayna made the gesture for a vow, as if she were concerned that Curtis was not going to believe her.

Curtis smirked at her scornfully. “Ms. Garland, I’m afraid I have little faith in your vows. If I’d not known you any better, I’d have thought you were a really good actress. It’s a fine show you’re putting on now.”

Rayna turned pale when she heard Curtis mocking her. I think this man isn’t going to let me off the hook.

“What’s the matter? Have I said something wrong? You’re either a seasoned liar, or you like the attention of men on you.”

The more outrageous the accusations, the deeper Rayna blushed. With a slight shudder of rage in her voice, Rayna hissed, “Just what the he*l are you on about?”

Curtis noticed that she was looking at him with a raised brow as her enticing red lips spat out words of anger.

His gaze deepened. Immediately, he picked Rayna up and pushed her against the wall.

All it took was a single touch of this woman to completely ruin his composure and control.

Rayna wanted to struggle, but Curtis managed to thwart her attempt with a kiss.

“It hurts. Stop biting me,” said Rayna. She then took advantage of their brief respite to say, “The skin there is quite thin and it scars easily. They won’t look nice when they heal. Could you… perhaps… bite me elsewhere instead?”

Curtis let out a bark of harsh laughter. “You’re still worrying about scarring at a time like this?”

“Yes. It’s important, okay?” retorted Rayna petulantly.

However, she soon regretted what she said when Curtis decided to listen to her and bit her on her clavicle.

“Ah!” exclaimed Rayna in pain. Is this a man or a beast?

He used so much force that he definitely bruised the skin. I’m certain of this.

Rayna was enraged. She looped her arms around Curtis’ neck and bit down, hard. At the time, she wished she could bite hard enough to kill him.

Curtis only looked at her mildly. With raised brows, he did not even make a sound.

“How are you so thick-skinned?” exclaimed Rayna, rolling her eyes at him in annoyance. She had bitten him with all her might, but there was nothing but faint teeth marks imprinted onto his skin.

“You don’t like that?” asked Curtis with a raised brow.

“I do not!” said Rayna, frowning. Absentmindedly, she reached up to stroke her neck because it hurt.

“I like it, though!” Rayna was briefly stunned when she heard that. Subconsciously, she stole a glance at Curtis.

When Curtis glanced at her, she noticed a flurry of emotions in his fathomless eyes. Apart from hatred and longing, there was a fleeting sense of affection.

Am I imagining things?

“Fine, we’ll stop. I think we should rest early.” Curtis seemed to sense Rayna’s gaze on him. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace, gently patting her lower back with his large hands.

Since they had not met for so long, Rayna wanted to ask how he was doing, whether or not he’d found another girlfriend, and if he occasionally thought of her.

It was likely due to her pregnancy that she felt worn out and flustered. Without saying anything to him, she leaned back and fell asleep.

It took Curtis a while before he managed to adjust his breathing. He looked down at the woman in his arms and trailed a finger across her face, stopping at the newly-formed welt near her collarbone.

Curtis admitted that he was quite mad. He wanted to devour every inch of her whole so that she could never leave his side.

Curtis also hated himself. After all, they had already broken up. Despite that, Rayna was always on his mind. All reason went out the window the moment he laid eyes on her.

It was obvious that Rayna had betrayed him and went off with other men without hesitation. Yet, why did he think of her all the time?

Why did he drop everything and make his way here?

As he mulled over Rayna’s fickle nature, Curtis finally stopped his moping. He lifted the covers and made his way to the bathroom.

When Curtis finished his shower, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Jeremy waited at the door for a few minutes. When he saw that Curtis opened the door in a bathrobe, Jeremy was briefly stunned. His gaze could not help but land on the welt near Curtis’ neck.

“I just knew you didn’t come here with pure intentions,” tutted Jeremy with a shake of his head. “She’s the girlfriend of the second scion of the Terblanc family! You really are a scoundrel!”

Curtis squinted his eyes and mildly asked, “Is it done?”

“It was Wyatt’s contact who got in touch with Marcus, forbidding him from signing that document.” Jeremy seemed to think of something amusing and laughed out loud. “You needn’t worry too much, Curtis. Ms. Garland is extraordinary.”

“She was the one who arranged for Marcus’ wife to leave and for his paramour to show up,” added Jeremy. “Let me guess. Did she install a camera in the room?”

When Curtis did not respond, Jeremy smiled and said, “She wanted to threaten Marcus with the footage to give herself the upper hand. With this hanging over his head, he’s definitely going to cave in. The last thing he wants is for this to be leaked to the public. Ms. Garland didn’t care whether I showed up. She had already asked someone to forge my signature on the document. She truly is clever!”

“What about James?”

“I have no idea.” Jeremy crossed his arms lazily and said, “However, the hotel is in a complete mess now. Marcus caused a ruckus about the mouse in there and the manager has been repeatedly apologizing to him.”

Jeremy fished out a mouse from his pocket.

It was a remote-controlled mouse with lifelike hair and eyes. The mouse could easily pass for a real one.

Jeremy handed the mouse over to Curtis and said, “Curtis, you should be thanking me for sweeping the room beforehand. If this ended up in the hands of the housekeeping staff, Marcus would have started to suspect something was amiss.”

“However, I am curious. How did you know what Ms. Garland was up to?” asked Jeremy suspiciously. “How did you even manage to get the timing right? Do tell me!”

“Just leave if you’ve got nothing else to say.” Curtis snatched the mouse from Jeremy and promptly shut the door in his face.

“Oh well. Since I am of no use to him, I should leave,” mused Jeremy aloud, feeling quite sorry for himself. Before leaving, he said, “When Arnaud went to the bathroom, he was hit by what seemed to be a bullet that entered from the window. He reacted quickly and so the bullet only hit him on the right shoulder.”

Jeremy turned around to leave, but he walked a few steps further and added, “I heard that the bullet was also poisoned and that his arm needs amputation. Jefferson and Boniel are now busying themselves with him at the hospital!”