Ch. 421..430
Chapter 421
“You weren’t worried when you two didn’t meet for four or five years. It’s only been a few months this time, yet you can’t stop thinking about him?” Rayna raised her eyebrow.
“It’s different this time,” Jasmine replied concernedly. “I’ve been having awful dreams lately. I’m afraid something bad will happen to him. I can’t allow him to die so soon after my son reunited with him.”
Rayna failed to suppress a chuckle. “All right. I’ll definitely take good care of my future son-in-law, so you don’t need to worry about anything. Just go.”
“Thank you.”
After Jasmine entered the company, Rayna headed to Lopez Group to meet with Wyatt.
“I’m Rayna from Glory Corporation,” Rayna informed the receptionist politely. “I would like to meet with Mr. Lopez.”
The receptionist glanced at her before making a call with the internal phone.
Roughly twenty seconds later, the receptionist apologized, “I’m sorry, but Mr. Lopez isn’t here right now. Additionally, he likely won’t be coming back at this hour. Is tomorrow or the day after tomorrow all right?”
Wyatt’s not here? Furrowing her eyebrows, Rayna thought about her next move and asked, “Can I ask what places he often visits?”
“That I do not know. I’m just a receptionist.”
“All right, thank you.”
Just as Rayna was about to leave, the gossipy receptionist asked carefully, “I heard you used to date Mr. Faymon, Ms. Garland. Is that true? Why did you two broke up? Are you really getting together with Glory’s mixed-blood CEO?”
Rayna’s lips twitched before she forced a smile. “Where did you hear this gossip?”
“I’m a member of a few gossip groups within the finance industry. Therefore, I’m able to learn many things about other companies quickly even though I’m in Lopez Group. The groups have been solely talking about you for the past few days.”
“I’m quite curious. Can I take a look at the groups?” Rayna requested calmly. “I didn’t know about any of these.”
The receptionist hesitated for a moment before handing her phone to Rayna.
Upon glancing through the gossip groups, Rayna committed their names to memory before returning the phone to the receptionist. “Thank you. I’m glad that no one in the group posted ugly pictures of me.”
After she stepped out of Lopez Group, she sent the names of the gossip groups to Ella. Then, she ordered, “Add yourself into those groups and change the latest topics by diverting their attention to other news. If that fails, use legal means to shut them down.”
The fact that she was dating Curtis was a secret that no one but their relatives and best friends knew.
I didn’t expect to learn that rumors about my relationship with Curtis and knowledge of Glory’s new CEO’s identity are spreading across the industry after returning to the country. It seems like someone’s masterminding this dissemination to ruin my reputation. However, I don’t have time to take care of this right now for I’m still really worried about Jessie. I couldn’t find Wyatt in Lopez Group, nor do I know where he went recently. I guess I’ll send a WhatsApp message to Gabriel. Curtis and Wyatt are close,
and Gabriel’s technically Curtis’ personal housekeeper, so he must know where Wyatt frequents. As she sent Gabriel a message, she was clueless about Curtis’ appropriation of his account.
Curtis had just returned to Faymon Group and was scheduling when to meet up with a few business partners through WhatsApp. As he returned to the main page, he saw he had received a message in Gabriel’s account, which, aside from Rayna, had barely any other contacts.
His finger hovered above the screen for a few seconds before he ultimately switched to Gabriel’s account.
Rayna: Are you busy, Gabe?
Gabe? Curtis was ticked off. Even though she’s not familiar with Gabriel and used to call him Mr. Tylinski, she’s now calling him Gabe? Why does he get that treatment now while she calls me Mr. Faymon? She even speaks formally with me when she’s angry!
He replied: What’s the matter, Ms. Garland?
A few seconds later, Rayna texted back: Don’t treat me as coldly as your boss, Gabe! We’re good friends, aren’t we? Fine, fine, I was wrong last time. I apologize, okay?
Last time? What did she talk about with Gabriel last time? Before he could reply, she sent another message: Don’t be angry, Gabe! I promise I’ll treat you to a super tasty meal next time I’m free!
Then, a second later, another message: Say, you often head outside to do stuff for your boss, right? You must’ve met Wyatt. I need to discuss something with him, but I can’t find him in Lopez Group. You don’t need to ask your boss about it. Just tell me a few places Wyatt often visits.
As Curtis read the messages expressionlessly, he grew more tempted to smash the phone into pieces every time he saw the word “Gabe.”
It really ticked him off.
Seeing how he wasn’t replying to her, Rayna asked: Can you say something, Gabe?
With a scowl, he typed: You can find him in his club, Alright Golf Course.
Rayna responded gratefully: Thank you, Gabe! You’re the best! You’re not like the petty Mr. Faymon at all. My heart ached when I heard he transferred you to the secretarial department and put you in charge of taking calls. Once I achieve great accomplishments at Glory, come join me! I’ll give you a higher annual salary than he does!
That infuriated Curtis so much that he laughed. This woman is ruthless! She speaks ill of me, and now she’s trying to steal my people!
Thus, he replied: I belong to Faymon Group, Ms. Garland, and I’ll serve the company for as long as I live. Don’t dislike him too much. I think Mr. Faymon is pretty good.
Rayna: Haha! You’re at least ten times better than him! For real, if you didn’t already have someone you like, I probably would’ve married you.
That rendered him speechless.
Rayna: Well, I need to find Wyatt now. I promise I’ll treat you to a meal next time!
Curtis’s line of sight was affixed on her second sentence.
It was then Gabriel, who didn’t sense the danger in the air, stepped into the room.
“I just received a call from Mr. Snyder, Mr. Faymon,” he reported. “He’s asking if you’re free tonight as he wishes to drink and talk business with you.”
When he saw Curtis looking at him with a gloomy look, he felt a chill run down his spine as he tensed up. “T-Tilly wasn’t around, and since I noticed you’re still in your room, I thought I should inform you about it.” Why does he look like he wants to kill me?
Curtis inquired, “How well do you think Faymon Group treats you, Gabriel? “
“Very well.” Frightened by his boss’ cold tone, he answered devotedly, “Faymon Group is my home. I’m willing to stay in and serve Faymon Group for the rest of my life.”
“What if another company tries to hire you with a higher salary?”
“I only have eyes for Mr. Faymon and Faymon Group. Even if the richest man in the world asks me to work for him, I still won’t take up the offer. I’m willing to sacrifice my life for the company!”
A satisfied smile formed on Curtis’ countenance as he uttered in a deep voice, “A very good answer. As expected of someone who has been working under me for many years.”
Gabriel felt relieved upon hearing that.
However, a second later, Curtis spat, “Yeringham is still lacking in manpower, so I want you to head over there tomorrow. You can return once you’ve taken care of the matters there.”
“Mr. Faymon…” Gabriel was dumbfounded. I didn’t say anything wrong, so why am I forced to go on a business trip again?
“I’m only asking you to travel to another state, not to another country.” Curtis’ tone sounded a little relaxed. “I even gave you a night to pack your things. Aren’t I a good boss?”
Chapter 422- will we update soon....
Chapter 423
“Ms. Garland.” Jasper Snyder was wearing a white shirt and a pair of black pants. It was hard for anyone to tell from his handsome face that he was already thirty-six years old. With a smile, he nodded at her. “It’s been a while.”
Upon noticing the clients by his side, Rayna said, “I’ll make a move first.”
“Oh, they’re not clients. They’re just my friends,” Jasper explained before asking, “I heard you joined Glory Corporation?”
“It’s a small company. I didn’t expect you to know it.”
A faint grin formed on his face. “It’s small, but you’re famous, Ms. Garland. If you aren’t busy, you’re free to join me. Now that you’re in Glory, you’ll have to attract investors in the future. It’s better to learn and gain experience whenever you can.”
Rayna was stunned before she informed, “I resigned from Faymon Group already, Mr. Snyder.”
“I know. I invite you because you’re Glory’s vice CEO, and I’m a businessman. It’s only normal for me to seize any profitable opportunities. Besides, I want to make more friends.”
His logic is certainly flawless. Wait, I just remembered something. Snyder Group dumped a huge investment on a movie not too long ago. Maybe I can work with his company. When her train of thought ended there, she smiled at him. “I hope you won’t find me silly, Mr. Snyder.”
“Not at all. You’re too humble, Ms. Garland. I hope you won’t find my proposal too awkward.”
As they spoke, they entered a luxurious, premium private room.
Then, she realized a few men were inside.
The men were chatting with each other when they noticed Jasper entering the room with Rayna. In response, they turned their lines of sight toward the two.
After Jasper exchanged pleasantries with the men, he introduced Rayna to them. “This is Rayna Garland. She used to work with Mr. Faymon, but she’s now the vice CEO of Glory.”
After that, he introduced them to her.
With an amiable smile, she shook their hands and exchanged a few polite words with them.
She noticed that when she shook hands with some of the men, they wouldn’t look straight at her. It was safe to say they wouldn’t have paid attention to her if not for Jasper.
Still, Rayna maintained her smile and overlooked their actions.
People on different levels of the industry had their own social circles. It was only natural they would look down on her since she didn’t have her own company or incredible fame while they all had both.
After pleasantries had been exchanged, she wanted to sit at the side, yet Jasper gestured for her to come closer. “Sit here, Ms. Garland. This way, you can hear us speak more clearly.”
Due to his insistence, she had no choice but to listen to him.
There were roughly ten men in the room, and Rayna was the only woman inside. Additionally, she was sitting in the middle of the room. Being surrounded by those domineering big shots would’ve made an ordinary person feel pressured.
However, after spending so much time in Faymon Group and with Curtis, she was used to it already.
With a faint smile, she said, “I’m grateful for this eye-opening opportunity that you have granted me, Mr. Snyder.”
Shock flashed past Jasper’s eyes. I’m impressed. Her demeanor has been greatly honed by her experience. She seemed panicky the first time I met her, but now, she appears composed. I bet I would’ve pursued her if I were a few years younger.
Rayna drank a glass of juice as she listened to the men talking about their families, gossip, and the stock market.
Rather than looking down on her, it would be more accurate to say that the men were ignoring her presence as they talked about random stuff without holding back.
For example, one of the men said he had three lovers in three different cities outside the country. He would visit one lover on a certain festival while another on a different festival. He even mentioned he had to remember not to wear the wrong ring.
Another example was a man who told his story of getting rich by relying on his wife’s family. As he had no love for his wife, he wanted to dig up dirt on her and use it to leave her for a better woman.
Then, a third man brought up his vested interest in twenty-year-olds because they were “ripe at the right age.” If he were too annoyed with one of them, he would chase them away with money before getting together with the next twenty-year-old to prove that he wasn’t old.
All the stuff they talked about made Rayna’s heart skip a beat.
She was aware of how colorful the upper-class society was, but she had no idea it was even worse than what people told her. No one could’ve thought those people were that nasty under their pleasant exterior.
The fact that they were willing to share their secrets in front of her meant they weren’t worried she would spread the word about their disgusting nature.
Power and influence can be terrifying sometimes. It’s like these people think they can control everything. As Rayna thought about random stuff, she heard someone calling out to her.
Upon raising her head, she noticed the man sitting on her left was staring at her, though she didn’t hear what he said properly.
Hence, she grinned politely. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear what you said earlier.”
“I said it’s boring for you to drink only juice.” As the man spoke, he raised a wine bottle. Then, he poured its content into a glass to the brim and handed the drink to her.
When Rayna smelled the exquisite, spicy scent of whiskey, she glanced at the bottle in the man’s hand. It’s a forty-two percent alcohol-by-volume liquor.
Instead of accepting the glass, she tactfully rejected it, “I’m sorry, but I’m allergic to whiskey. How about I drink a few glasses of Lafite with you instead, Mr. Reed?”
She wasn’t going to put her babies in danger.
Jasper, who was speaking with a few men, turned around in response and suggested, “It’s best if you give Ms. Garland red wine instead. You should take allergies seriously. Some people die from them.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone being allergic to alcohol before.” Morton Reed was still holding the glass of whiskey with dissatisfaction. “Whiskey is the most delicious drink in our country, Ms. Garland. It’s lame that you’re only drinking juice.”
Rayna apologized, “I’m sorry, I can’t—”
With a deep voice, he interrupted her, “Do you not see me as a friend, Ms. Garland?”
“You’re exaggerating, Mr. Reed.” Upon glancing at his watch, Jasper grinned and offered, “Since Ms. Garland can’t drink whiskey, how about I drink it on her behalf?”
Then he tried to grab the glass in Morton’s hand.
However, Morton retracted his arm and joked, “Are you worried about Ms. Garland because you’re interested in her?”
Shaking his head with a smile, Jasper explained, “Not at all. I’m simply acting gentlemanly.” Sure, I’m interested in her, but she belongs to someone else already. Besides, only an idiot would be foolish enough to ruin their future by burning bridges with Curtis over a woman.
“That suits me fine because I’m interested in her!” As Morton spoke, he leaned toward Rayna. “You don’t have a boyfriend, right, Ms. Garland? Can I pursue you?”
Rayna backed away, barely maintaining her smile. “I appreciate the gesture, Mr. Reed, but I’m not interested in starting a relationship now.”
“Are you rejecting me, Ms. Garland?” He inspected her several times and scoffed, “I heard the rumors of your relationship with Mr. Faymon. I can’t believe you think that highly of yourself just because of that.”
His words rendered her speechless.
“You know, I often share meals with Mr. Faymon. I know his character, so I’m certain you’re not his type. You’re allowed to join us today because we’re showing our respect to Mr. Snyder. Do you think you could’ve stayed here otherwise? Who do you think you are?” Before Rayna could answer his
question, Morton continued, “How about this, Ms. Garland? If you kiss me, I’ll be happy enough to drink this glass of whiskey for you. If not, you’ll have to do it instead!”
Chapter 424
The edges of Jasper’s mouth curved even higher when he heard that. Then he glanced at his wristwatch again.
Rayna stared straight at Morton with a cold, resolute look. “I didn’t expect a gentleman like you to be interested in forcing women into submission, Mr. Reed.”
However, Morton didn’t back off. “So what? Do you want to drink this whiskey or not, Ms. Garland?”
Upon accepting the wine, she gazed at it with pursed lips. Even though I won’t stay in Norwal City for long, Glory’s branch company is located here and is in Jefferson’s hands. In the future, collaboration with these businessmen is inevitable. If I don’t show him respect today, it’s possible he’ll bear a grudge against me and trouble me in the future.
Thinking that he had intimidated her when he saw her taking the glass, Morton smirked. “It seems like you do know how to respect—”
Rayna cut his sentence short by pouring the drink onto him.
That dumbstruck him.
The other men in the room promptly turned their sights toward the two of them. They didn’t expect her to have the guts to do that.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Reed. My hand slipped.” Calmly, she smiled. “Ops, I even wetted your clothing. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to compensate you for that.”
Enraged, Morton roared, “You b*tch! You’re going to pay for this!”
Rayna brushed the droplets on her sleeve away, ignoring his fury entirely. “You’re amazing and have a vast social network, Mr. Reed. However, no one wins forever. You’re free to disturb me in the future for refusing to accept your drink. However, in the future, you must remember not to ask why someone bullies you when they do.”
“You!” He didn’t expect a woman to dare embarrass him in front of so many big shots in the industry. His face was flushed with anger as he picked up the whiskey bottle on the table and swung it in her direction.
Her pupils constricted when she saw that.
Jasper was surprised by that turn of events and reflexively attempted to grab Morton’s arm.
It was then a slender figure with a jacket on his arm opened the door and stepped into the room.
When Morton heard someone shout, “Mr. Faymon,” he trembled and halted his movement before turning his sight toward the entrance.
Curtis’ eyes darkened when he saw Rayna. “What’s the occasion? It’s so lively here.”
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long while, Mr. Faymon,” Jasper welcomed.
As he led Curtis into the room, he recounted casually, “Mr. Reed thinks Ms. Garland is lame for only drinking juice, so he poured a glass of whiskey for her. However, Ms. Garland unintentionally ticked him off when she accidentally spilled the drink on him.”
“Mr. Faymon.” Morton calmly placed the bottle on the table. “It took two months of waiting before I received this suit, and it was ruined in a night by Ms. Garland. That was why I lost my temper in a fit of rage.”
The reason he was still acting fearlessly was that he was certain Curtis had no reason to protect Rayna. I don’t believe they have a relationship with each other. After all, if they do, why would she leave Faymon group for Glory?
As he expected, Curtis didn’t defend Rayna that much. “You can buy another one if your customized suit is ruined, Mr. Reed. It’s not like you can’t afford a few of them. You don’t need to hold a grudge against a woman.”
Relieved, Morton grinned. “I’ll keep your words in mind, Mr. Faymon.”
Jasper glanced at Morton. Despite sneering in his mind, he maintained an amicable expression. He then left his seat, allowing Curtis to sit next to Rayna.
The moment Curtis sat, Rayna stood.
“This spot is too hot. I need to get some breeze at the side,” she proclaimed before leaving, as though she was avoiding a plague.
He remained silent.
After she plopped herself down on a slightly dim corner, a waiter served a few plates of fresh fruits. When she saw the oranges, she promptly grabbed one and peeled it. She could hear the men conversing with laughter, as though the episode where Morton tried to bully her didn’t happen.
As she ate the oranges, she found them juicy and slightly sour. It’s better than the ones I ate before. These should come from that orchard.
Rayna enjoyed them so much that she ate one after another. Upon unintentionally raising her head, she saw Morton pouring a glass of whiskey for Curtis with a bright grin. She couldn’t hear what they were talking about, though she did see Curtis replying to Morton with a polite smile.
As she ate the oranges again, she felt extremely aggrieved for some reason.
Even if we have broken up, can’t he at least help me out when I get bullied for old times’ sake? Can’t he at least sell me some of the oranges from his family’s orchard? Why does he continue to sleep with me after we go our separate ways? Besides, it’s not like I must eat these oranges. It’s my babies who want to eat them.
Those thoughts were already making her feel indignant. Thus, when she thought about how Stella intercepted the call she made to the CEO’s room as well as the intimate pictures of Curtis and her being exposed and published, she started crying.
It began as a small sob, but the more she thought about it, the more disgruntled she felt. In the end, she couldn’t help but wail, which shocked the men in the room.
Curtis’ heart ached when he saw tears stream down her cheeks and damped her pants.
He approached her, squatted in front of her, and wiped her tears away. “Why are you crying?”
As Rayna cried, she munched on the oranges and complained, “We may have broken up but do you have to be so petty? You would send oranges to the club, but you disallowed their sale to me. D-Do you think I wanted to eat them? A-Also, you can simply not accept my call if you don’t want to. Why do you have to blacklist my company? It’s not like I won’t pay if I collaborate with Faymon Group.”
Curtis was taken aback. “You’re crying because of that?”
“You’re bullying me!” She wept even louder, causing her voice to turn hoarse. “Why do you refuse to sell me oranges? I just want to eat a few of them. Why are you so petty?”
All the men in the room were stunned silent.
Jasper grinned. “Yeah, Mr. Faymon. It’s only a breakup. Why do you refuse to sell oranges to her?”
Curtis had nothing to say so he smiled.
It’s not like I knew Rayna was in Glory back then. I also didn’t expect her to cry so loudly because she didn’t get to eat the oranges.
“Stop crying. It’s going to make your eyes swell.” He wiped the tears on her cheeks away again. “I’ll ask someone to deliver two baskets of oranges to your condominium tomorrow, okay? Do you want to go back now?”
Of course, Rayna didn’t want to spend time there any longer because she was immensely disgusted by the sight of Morton. Thus, she nodded as she continued to sob.
Upon pulling her up, he held her in his arms.
When she saw there were more oranges on the plate, she grabbed them.
Before she left, she turned to Jasper and uttered hoarsely, “Can I have your phone number, Mr. Snyder? I’ll call you if I wish to collaborate with you.”
“Sure.” Just as Jasper pulled out his phone, Curtis covered Rayna’s eyes.
Then, Curtis forcefully pushed her out of the room. “If you want to collaborate with someone, do it with me. He’ll only charge you accordingly.”
Chapter 425
Jasper clicked his tongue in response. “Mr. Faymon, don’t accuse me of being a cunning businessman when I’m obviously a kind person.”
Curtis couldn’t be bothered to respond.
He led Rayna away, and a pin-drop silence descended upon the private room.
Jasper scanned the surroundings and cocked a brow. “Why is everyone so quiet?”
“Um… About Ms. Garland and Mr. Faymon…” Morton stammered with fear in his eyes. “Didn’t they break up?”
Everyone could clearly see how Curtis had spoken to her affectionately and had had his arm around her when they left.
It sure as hell doesn’t look like it!
Jasper shrugged. “On the surface, yes, but who knows in reality? Mr. Faymon forbids Ms. Garland from working with me. It’s evident Mr. Faymon’s interest in Ms. Garland is far from over.”
Upon hearing those words, the rest of the men were secretly relieved that they didn’t offend Rayna in any way.
Curtis wasn’t just an outstanding young man, but one whose methods were extremely ruthless.
Despite being an adopted son of the Faymon family who started out with a small stake in Faymon Group, he managed to end up taking ownership of the entire company—a feat that was simply unprecedented.
Getting on Curtis’ nerves was the equivalent of committing suicide.
While everyone was sighing in relief, Morton was the only one who looked distraught.
He hadn’t forgotten how he had forced Rayna to drink and ended up having her throw the drink back at him. When he wanted to retaliate, Curtis’ indifferent expression made him assume that things were over between them. Yet, that did not seem to be the case.
I’m doomed!
As he left the club with her in his arms, Curtis was amused at the sight of Rayna peeling an orange while sobbing. “Those are just oranges. Why are you crying so hard over them?”
She makes it look as if someone has bullied her.
Upon arriving at the entrance, they realized it was raining cats and dogs outside.
At that moment, the waitress who had served Rayna at the restaurant came up from behind and handed Curtis two umbrellas. “Mr. Faymon, congratulations!” She wore a cheeky smile on her face as she spoke.
Congratulations?
After watching the waitress return inside, Curtis turned to look at Rayna. Wyatt’s staff must be taught a lesson. They’re such blabbermouths.
Upon spotting Gabriel’s car that had stopped by the sidewalk, Curtis opened the umbrella to shield Rayna as they scurried toward it.
When Gabriel hurriedly alighted from the car and saw a woman in Curtis’ arms, he assumed Curtis had found himself a lady after getting himself drunk.
However, he quickly realized it was Rayna upon taking a closer look.
The sight of Gabriel staring blankly at them caused Curtis to frown. “Open the damn door!”
“Oh, right!” After he frantically opened the door and watched Curtis help Rayna into the car, Gabriel felt the urge to be nosey. “Mr. Faymon, why is Ms. Garland—”
The next moment, Gabriel was cowed into silence when Curtis shot him a murderous glare.
Any more questions would mean the death of him.
Gabriel turned on the heater in the car and drove silently. Rayna, sitting in the back, didn’t say a word throughout as well. All she did was continue peeling her orange, filling the entire car with its fragrance.
Upon noticing how unrestrained she was eating them, Curtis snatched them from her hands, worried that she would overeat.
“Take a break before you continue.”
Rayna threw him a glance. She could feel the repressed frustration swell up within her. The very next second, she burst into tears. “I just feel like having them. I-It’s not like I refuse to pay you for it.” She retrieved her purse and grabbed a wad of cash. “Is this enough?”
Feeling helpless against her tendency to cry at a moment’s notice, Curtis replied, “I didn’t say you need to pay. I just wanted you to take a break so that you don’t die from overeating.”
Rayna gave him a teary-eyed look. “Are you cursing me?”
Curtis was rendered speechless.
Gabriel, who was at the wheel, burst into brazen laughter. While trying to suppress his smile, he said, “Mr. Faymon, you should let Ms. Garland have them. Oranges are easily digestible.”
Curtis responded with an insidious gaze. “Do you think I don’t know that? It’s easy to get a cough from having too many of them.”
Gabriel quipped, “Do you prefer to watch her cry?”
“You’re a jerk to bully me even though we have broken up.” Rayna snapped at Curtis right then.
For some inexplicable reason, she felt particularly sensitive and vulnerable, where the slightest emotion was enough to make her cry, especially in front of him. She had the feeling that he was enjoying himself while she was wallowing in her suffering.
Frustrated by the situation, Curtis had no choice but to return the oranges to her.
Rayna snuggled up to the side to finish her orange, paying him no heed at all.
Gabriel watched the scene through the rearview mirror and held back his urge to laugh for fear of incurring Curtis’ ire. “Mr. Faymon, when I was at your place delivering something in the afternoon, I noticed Happy coughing out hairballs, so I bought some hairball gel for it. Remember to feed it twice every week so that it doesn’t choke to death from licking its own fur.”
At the mention of Happy, Rayna looked up at asked, “Is it shedding a lot of furs?”
“It loses fur easily when the seasons change. A little hairball gel won’t hurt,” Gabriel replied. “Anyway, Ms. Garland, I’ll drive you inside your residential area. It’s difficult to walk because of the rain.”
Instead of answering immediately, Rayna looked in Curtis’ direction.
A short while passed before she finally spoke. “Since I’m free today, I’d like to take the cat back home.”
With suspiciously fast reflexes, Gabriel answered with a gleeful smile, “Okay. In that case, I’ll drive you home later by myself.”
Curtis’ eyes darkened instantly, for he had never felt Gabriel to be this annoying before.
Soon, Rayna finished all the oranges. Instead of being satisfied, she became even hungrier.
Carrying three babies made her digest her food fast, and hunger would come just as quickly.
Stroking her stomach, Rayna wondered how lucky Curtis was for impregnating her with triplets. At the same time, she lamented the fact that she had to be the one to suffer in the end.
When Curtis looked at her from the corner of his eyes and noticed her awkward reaction, he asked with furrowed brows, “Did you really overeat?”
“Overeat, my foot!” Rayna turned her head away to ignore him, exasperated.
Curtis was dumbfounded.
Soon, they arrived at the residential area Curtis was staying in.
The heavy rain at night had covered the ground with puddles where a single step was enough to wet the hem of one’s trousers.
After waiting for Curtis to alight, Rayna moved herself to the right, hoping to stay under the cover of Curtis’ umbrella.
Curtis read her mind. He handed her the umbrella before sweeping her off her feet. The abruptness of his action took her by surprise, causing her to wrap her arms around his neck frantically.
Once she calmed down, she bit her lip and said, “I can walk by myself. I’m not a cripple.”
“Your cat just bathed two days ago. I’m worried it would nuzzle itself against you when it sees you,” Curtis said in a grim voice. “If it rubs itself against your dirty pants, it’ll have to take another bath
tomorrow.”
When Rayna saw the flooded ground and how the water splashed against Curtis’ pants, she refrained from commenting further.
As she leaned intimately against his chest, the warmth of his body made her heart race. Her sensitive mind began to wonder if he had carried Stella this way too.
The resulting jealousy made her feel aggrieved again.
Just as she sniffled, the spicy and fragrant scent she detected in the air triggered her hunger pangs. When she finally settled down in front of the door, she couldn’t help but burst into tears again.
“You’re crying again?” Curtis pinched his already wrinkled brows. “I beg of you, please stop crying. I’ll get someone to send oranges to your condominium later.”
In between her sobs, Rayna murmured, “I… I want a cheese bun.”
Curtis was bereft of words.
Chapter 426
Staring at her, Curtis saw that she had cried her eyes red. The pitiful expression on her face made her look as though someone had bullied her.
Both of them stood frozen at the door for more than ten seconds. Only then did Curtis walk down the steps and handed a wad of cash to Gabriel.
Filled with resignation, he instructed Gabriel, “Drive around and see if you can find any cheese buns. Get a pack of them if you do.”
“Huh?” Gabriel stood stupidly still, looking at Curtis in shock. “C-Cheese buns?”
Curtis glowered. “Are my instructions not clear enough?”
Gabriel looked in Rayna’s direction. The sight of her bobbing shoulders made him realize something. “Mr. Faymon, this is too much trouble. It’s raining now. I have no idea who would still be selling buns at this hour. You should just open the door and bring the cat to Ms. Garland. When I send her back later, I’ll see if there’s any place selling buns along the way.”
“Don’t you know how to search?”
“It’s too troublesome that way. The buns will already be cold by the time I come back.”
Curtis was speechless.
“Mr. Faymon, you should hurry up and open the door. I’ll be waiting right here.”
Curtis shot Gabriel an insidious glare before stuffing the money into his hands. “Go and buy the cheese buns. If you don’t return with them, you can start packing your bags and prepare to stay in Norham for
a year.”
“I’m on my way!” Feeling a chill down his spine, Gabriel swiftly hopped into his car after taking the money.
Being his assistant is a challenging job indeed!
Curtis finally returned to the living room after watching Gabriel drive off.
When he saw Rayna still sobbing, as if he was the one who caused it, he couldn’t help but feel lost.
He consoled her, “Stop crying. I’ve sent Mr. Tylinski out to buy some. It’s just cheese buns after all.”
Even though he had known Rayna for a long time, this was the first time he had seen her cry so relentlessly.
She cries when she doesn’t get to eat her oranges or cheese buns. Where did all her tears come from?
Feeling even more aggrieved, Rayna glared at him with her reddened eyes. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying that I’m spoiled? It isn’t my fault that my tastebuds are so picky. How could you accuse me of something like that?”
“I didn’t say—”
“You did! I can tell from the look on your face that was what you meant!” Rayna cried even louder. “It’s just a few oranges. Why wouldn’t you sell them to me?”
“I didn’t know it was you who got someone to call the orchard,” Curtis said calmly as he retrieved a card to open the door with a swipe. “Come in first. It’s cold outside.”
“Then why did you block my assistant?”
Curtis was stumped.
Throughout his life, Rayna was always the one responsible whenever he was humiliated. He truly didn’t know what to do with her.
As he opened the door, he maintained his nonchalant gaze on her. “If you’re not going to come in, I’m going to ignore you. Also, I’ll stop them from sending you the oranges and order Mr. Tylinski not to buy you the cheese buns. You’ll be sent home right away.”
Terrified by his threats, Rayna entered the house without a word of protest.
Behind her, a look of amusement flashed across Curtis’ face. I should have done this from the beginning if I had known it would work.
As Rayna took off her shoes in the hallway, her eyes began to scan the surroundings like radar. Her heart was beating anxiously as images of a woman’s high heels or other footwear began appearing in her mind.
Did he ever bring someone here?
After scrutinizing the area and the shoe cupboard, she didn’t see any feminine footwear around. The only one there was a pair of size thirty-seven indoor slippers in blue, which she had worn previously.
The sight consequently alleviated the anxiety in her heart.
She put on the slippers and arrived in the living room and saw a white fluffy bunch running toward her before falling down on her slipper.
Upon regaining her senses and looking downward, she realized it was Happy, covered in its soft fur. It nuzzled itself against her slippers and looked up with its mesmerizing blue eyes, letting out a gentle purr.
“Oh my god! It’s just been a few months and you’re already so big?” Rayna squatted down to stroke the cat. She couldn’t believe its current size when she recalled how small it was when she just left.
Her heart melted at how cute it was. She couldn’t help hugging it tightly and giving it a kiss.
Unbeknownst to her, a huge dog had appeared right in front of her. Instead of barking, it stared at her while wagging its tail excitedly and nuzzling its head against her leg.
“Hi, there! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Rayna petted the dog on its head. “It’s only been a few months, but you’ve almost grown to be as fearsome as your daddy.”
Curtis, who had walked over, curled his lips at her words. “It can finish a four-pound bag of specially formulated dog food and various other canned food in two weeks. Even a human being on the same diet would grow just as fast.”
At the sight of Curtis, the dog began to bark and jump excitedly all around him, eliciting a look of annoyance from him.
Even though he had spent the last few months raising the dog, he still didn’t feel comfortable being in such close proximity to a pet.
He waved his hand and gave it a stern look.
Rayna was speechless when she saw the dog lower its tail and retreat a few steps. “He’s your dog, for goodness’ sake. Can you stop treating it like your employee? Look at how fearful it is of you.”
Settling down on the couch with Happy in her arms, Rayna called out, “Come here, Lucky. Let me shower you with some love.”
As if he understood her, Lucky ran over to Rayna while wagging its tail furiously.
Rayna picked up a ball from the carpet and threw it in the direction of the outdoor swimming pool. When Lucky sped after it and returned with it in its mouth, Rayna threw the ball again.
Right then, Curtis returned from the kitchen with a soda in his hand. He was warmed by the sight of Rayna playing happily with Lucky, Happy on her lap.
He stopped in his tracks and took a sip from his drink as he continued to observe Rayna.
Her swinging action had caused the fringes neatly tucked behind her ear to fall onto her pinkish cheeks. Staring at her side profile and listening to her gentle laugh, Curtis conjured a clear scene in his mind.
Once they had children, he could imagine her playing with them just as tenderly as she was doing now.
When the children fought over their toys, she would glare at him for standing idly by before demanding that he step in to help.
At that moment, thoughts of the distant future warmed his heart.
It also dawned on him that his lack of love was the reason he was so adamant about finding out his family background.
However, the void he felt now could be filled by the woman he loved and his children.
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, a sudden yelp from Rayna jolted him back to his senses. He subsequently saw her stroking Happy on her lap as she snapped, “Stop kicking me, or I’ll be mad at you!”
Hasn’t Happy always behaved? Throughout its time with me, it has never kicked me before.
Worried that Happy would scratch Rayna, Curtis put down his drink and strode over to take Happy off her hands. “You must have been gone too long. That’s why it kicked you out of anxiety.”
Rayna was briefly stunned, her face red.
In truth, it was the babies who had kicked her instead of Happy. Rayna figured that they were probably feeling grumpy due to her empty stomach. Little did she expect Curtis to think that Happy was the culprit.
“I’m hungry. Are there any snacks?” Rayna changed the topic casually.
“Let me take a look.”
Curtis seldom ate at home. A housekeeper would clean the house routinely, and Gabriel would take care of the pets’ daily needs. He really had no idea if there were any snacks at home.
Chapter 427
Curtis rummaged through the kitchen and was slightly surprised to see that the cupboard was stocked with snacks.
Why in the world did Gabriel buy so many snacks?
After checking the production dates, Curtis chose a few that looked delicious for Rayna.
“There’s more in the cupboard if this isn’t enough.”
“Thank you.” Truly famished, Rayna ripped open a bag of chips unabashedly and began digging in. At the same time, she felt for the remote and turned on the TV before slumping languidly onto the couch.
Happy jumped up to join her and nestled itself by her legs, whereas Lucky lay down on the carpet with its tail wagging in glee.
Curtis couldn’t help but smile as he took in the scene.
She really has made herself at home.
Worried that he would say something wrong and cause her to cry again, Curtis settled down by the side to deal with his work.
Just as he had gone through a few emails, Gabriel, who was sent to buy buns, finally returned.
At the sight of him entering with a few bags in hand, Curtis dropped what he was doing to help Gabriel. “What else did you come back with when I only asked you to get some buns?”
“Mr. Faymon, I didn’t manage to get any. All the shops selling them are closed,” Gabriel said as he changed out of his shoes. “Fortunately, the supermarket is still open. I got some flour and cheese
instead. I can make the buns for you!”
Curtis’ brows knitted slightly. “You actually know how to make them?”
“I do. I know how to make all sorts of buns and I guarantee Ms. Garland will find them delicious!”
Curtis was at a loss for words.
When he saw Curtis standing motionless, Gabriel added, “Mr. Faymon, please step aside. The flour still needs time to ferment. Once Ms. Garland finishes them, I’ll send her home right away. The rain is getting heavier. I have no idea when it’ll stop.”
“You head home first, then.” Curtis took the bags from him by force. “It’s time you go back and rest. You still need to take an early flight to Yeringham tomorrow.”
Gabriel was stunned. “I-If I leave, who’s going to send Ms. Garland home?”
“I’ll send her.”
“No, no, Mr. Faymon. It’s better that I do it since it’s my job.” Gabriel attempted to enter the house as he spoke. “I even bought some pork. Does Ms. Garland like pork pies? I can make her some too.”
Curtis refused to budge as a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. “Gabriel, if you think Yeringham is a wonderful place, you’re welcome to stay there for a couple of months. Ms. Turner is more than capable of taking over your role.”
Jolted by Curtis’ devious tone, Gabriel finally realized that something was amiss.
Without another word, he changed back into his leather shoes and opened the door in a hurry, disappearing in less than three seconds.
Rayna ran over upon hearing the commotion. Staring blankly at Curtis, she asked, “Has Gabriel returned with the cheese buns?”
She was surprised when she noticed the bags Curtis was holding didn’t contain the buns.
“Where are the cheese buns?”
After a brief hesitation, Curtis said helplessly, “There isn’t any. All the shops are closed.”
As disappointment set in, Rayna’s tears began to flow. “Why are they closed?”
Curtis was at a loss for word.
How would I know?
Rayna cried uncontrollably. “It’s one thing to not sell oranges to me, but how could you stop me from having cheese buns? I can’t believe you’re bullying me this way…”
“I’m not stopping you. It’s just that the shops selling buns are closed.” Curtis panicked. “Please stop crying. I’ll make them for you.”
Holding back her tears, Rayna threw him a glance. “You have to use aged cheese and cut down on the sugar.”
Curtis flashed a smile at her. “All right. I got it.”
Only then did Rayna return to the living room reluctantly and settle down on the couch to watch TV.
Upon entering the kitchen and placing the bags on the counter, Curtis stared at them, looking distraught.
He was an expert when it came to managing a profitable company, but terrible in the kitchen.
He was clueless about making buns. He didn’t even know where to start.
Just the thought of Rayna crying incessantly from not having a bun was enough to give him a headache. When he tried looking for instructions online, he got even more confused by the variety of methods available.
Upon deliberation, he put on his Bluetooth earpiece and gave Wyatt’s club a call.
After answering the phone call, the receptionist rushed frantically into the kitchen and yelled at the top of her voice, “Mr. Faymon just called to ask if anyone knows how to make buns. Quick, do any of you guys know?”
At that hour, only two kitchen assistants were left in the kitchen.
One of the confused assistants asked, “Mr. Faymon wants to have buns? But the club has never sold buns!”
“He’s asking how to make them!” The receptionist rolled her eyes at him before scanning the surroundings. “Doesn’t the head chef know how to cook everything? Where is he?”
“In the restroom.”
“Bring him back here at once. Mr. Faymon is waiting!”
The head chef was dragged back into the kitchen right after he washed his hands and emerged from the restroom.
“Chef, do you know how to make buns?” the receptionist asked anxiously.
“I do, but we’re done for the night.” Assuming that it was a customer’s order, the chef added, “Besides, I can’t make any since there’s no flour here.”
“It’s fine. All that matters is that you know how to.”
After the receptionist conveyed the situation to Curtis and Curtis turned on his phone camera, she handed the phone to the head chef. “Mr. Faymon, this is our head chef. He knows how to make them, so feel free to ask him anything.”
Shocked by the sight of Curtis, the head chef stammered, “M-Mr. Faymon, are you looking to have some buns? Which flavor do you like? I’ll get someone to buy them for you right away.”
“It’s not for me… I’m looking to make cheese buns, and I have all the ingredients at home. All you have to do is teach me.”
Even though Curtis was hesitant in his speech, the head chef immediately realized what was going on.
He had prepared their dinner earlier. He knew of their relationship and was also aware that Rayna was pregnant.
Pregnant ladies go hungry easily, which causes volatile swings in their moods. It’s common. Ms. Garland must be throwing a tantrum over her desire for cheese buns.
The head chef nodded. “No problem. Mr. Faymon, you have to first make the flour into dough and bring out the yeast. Let me teach you how to…”
“Okay.”
Worried that Rayna would hear him learning how to make buns over a video call, Curtis lowered his voice and put his phone in a corner before proceeding based on the head chef’s instructions.
Once the dough was mixed and left to ferment, the head chef taught Curtis how to prepare the rest of the ingredients. “Ms. Garland seems to have a good appetite recently. I would suggest you add some pepper to spice it up a little.”
Curtis froze momentarily before humming in acknowledgment.
The head chef observed Curtis knead the dough over the video call. The latter didn’t show any frustration despite the sweat beading off his forehead. He complimented, “It’s rare for someone as busy as you to spoil someone else. I’m sure Ms. Garland will be elated to taste the buns made by you. By the way, Mr. Faymon, there are some high-grade herbs in the club which you can boil into a nutritious soup for Ms. Garland. I guarantee that the children she bears will be strong and healthy after that!”
Curtis smiled at the head chef’s ramblings but didn’t feel annoyed at all.
After watching TV for a while, Rayna began to feel bored.
She sneaked into the kitchen with the knowledge that Curtis was busy there. When he saw him folding the dough diligently, all the grouchiness within her gradually dissipated.
Chapter 428
Rayna did not know what was going on with her either. Recently, she had been having mood swings, and she had been picky with her food. She had been craving cheese buns, and if she could not get them, she would feel upset.
She had never thought Curtis would make her cheese buns because he could not find them.
It was her first time seeing him being in the kitchen for such a long time. His back was broad, and the sight of that made her feel safe.
Rayna tiptoed over and reached out to touch his back.
A little more, and I’ll be able to hug him…
Right then, Curtis shifted his shoulder and turned around.
Rayna instinctively retracted her arm and stood transfixed in her spot, her eyes meeting with his.
“Not gonna watch TV anymore?” Curtis was a little taken aback to see her in the kitchen. He moved a little to the right, afraid that she would see the phone beside the knife block.
Rayna lied, “I’m scared you’ll end up putting sugar as if it’s salt, so I came to supervise you.”
Curtis was rendered speechless.
“How’s it going?” Rayna asked, glancing at the spot behind him. It was then she saw the wonky-shaped buns behind him and how some of the buns even had cheese spilling out of them.
When Curtis looked in the direction she was looking at, he stiffened and said awkwardly, “It’s hard to wrap it around them. I’ll redo them later.”
Rayna shook her head and smiled. “It looks good. I’m sure it’ll taste good too.”
This is already good considering that this is his first time making buns.
Then, she added, “I’m serious. This is your first time making this, and you even know how to prepare the dough and the cheese without anyone teaching you. That’s amazing!”
Curtis nodded in agreement. “It looks like I’m talented at making food.”
The chef, who had accidentally overheard the conversation, pursed his lips.
Stop bluffing, Mr. Faymon. If Ms. Garland wants you to make a whole feast, you’ll be quick in admitting your mistake.
Rayna wanted to stay in the kitchen a while longer and enjoy him working away, but alas, the doorbell rang.
Curtis said, “It’s probably the oranges. Open the door, will you?”
“It’s raining. Aren’t you just tormenting them by asking them to deliver oranges here?” Rayna grumbled, but her heart was melting from his gesture, and she jogged over to open the door.
When the deliveryman saw that it was a woman who opened the door, he froze. “Huh? Is this where… Mr. Faymon stays?”
“Yes. He’s busy in the kitchen right now.” Rayna’s eyes drifted toward the two baskets of oranges before the entrance. The smell of them was enticing, and she could not help but pick one up to peel it. “Please move it in for me.”
“Oh, okay.”
The deliveryman brought the baskets to a corner before sneaking a glance at Rayna. When he saw how much she was enjoying the oranges, he realized with a start that it was not Curtis who wanted to eat the oranges but his wife.
Before leaving, the deliveryman said to Rayna, “Mrs. Faymon, I’ll take my leave now. Please ask Mr. Faymon to just call the orchard if there’s anything else you’d like to eat. I’ll deliver it to your doorstep.”
Before Rayna could react to that, the deliveryman put on his raincoat and rushed into the rain.
Mrs. Faymon?
Curtis had once set her up and made her get engaged to him. Gabriel had been calling her Mrs. Faymon, but she had felt nothing about it. Yet, now, she found that she quite liked the form of address.
A blush crept onto Rayna’s face, and she glanced in the direction of the kitchen at the man with a smile on her face.
There were no women’s shoes and things other than hers at the residence.
Maybe he didn’t get a new girlfriend. Maybe it’s a heartless reporter jumping to conclusions.
Rayna was in love with the oranges, and she simply could not stop eating them.
Rayna lost track of how many oranges she had eaten. Finally, Curtis came back out of the kitchen with a plate of hot cheese buns in his hands.
When the man placed the plate on the coffee table, Rayna eagerly reached out for it, only to put her hands on her earlobes to cool it down in the next second after scalding it.
“Silly, it just came out of the oven. It’s certainly going to be hot,” Curtis said, amused by her actions.
Rayna shot him a glare. “You’re the silly one!”
Not wanting to be childish as her, Curtis picked up a bun and blew on it. Once it no longer felt as hot, he handed it to her.
Without hesitating, Rayna took a huge bite.
The cheese inside was still hot, and it was a little spicy, but the texture was surprisingly good.
“This tastes great,” Rayna mumbled as she took another bite.
Before taking her first bite, she had been thinking about how she was going to finish the bun even if it was bad since it was Curtis’ first time making food. Little did she expect it to be so delicious.
She ate one after another like a glutton.
Curtis sat at the side quietly and watched her gobble away. When he saw some cheese on the corner of her lips, he took a napkin to wipe her lips. “What’s the hurry? If this isn’t enough for you, I’ll make you more.”
His action was gentle, and his voice was soft. For a moment, Rayna had forgotten she was eating, and she could only stare at him in a daze.
How can I not fall for a man like this?
Rayna mulled over the gossip the men in the club room had uttered. Then, she thought about how the man before her was handsome, rich, and so capable of making yummy cheese buns.
He needed not to do anything. All he needed was to stand there, and a whole group of women would throw themselves at him.
When Rayna thought about how he would be this gentle to another woman and make great buns for another woman, tears sprang into her eyes, and she began crying.
Her tears made Curtis panic, and he quickly moved over to her and asked, “Why are you crying again? Do the buns taste bad?”
“It tastes good.”
“Then can you please stop crying already?” Curtis relaxed when he heard her words. “I’ve only been wiping your tears today. Why do you have that many tears in you?”
Rayna lifted her head and choked out, “Will you get a lover in every city and make sure that you won’t be wearing your ring when you see them?”
Curtis stiffened.
“Will you only like university students at the young age of twenty?”
Curtis continued to be silent.
“Will you love someone and get sick of her eventually? Will you try every way to get rid of her?”
Curtis was exasperated, and he questioned, “What in the world is on your mind?”
“Will you?” Rayna asked.
“I won’t, and I won’t waste my time doing that. I’m busy. I don’t want to have a lover in every city. I’d have to take time out to see them, and I’d have to make sure that I’m not wearing a ring. I’m not interested in twenty-year-old university students either.”
After a pause, he continued, “I won’t get sick of someone I love, and I won’t think of ways to get rid of her. If that person thinks that their significant other is sick of her, then their significant other must not have loved her right.”
Only then did Rayna feel relieved.
So not all men are the same. Some will do that, and some won’t. Mr. Faymon’s the best man in this world.
“What about the newspaper?” Rayna asked him nervously.
What she had been unable to let go of was the intimate photo of him and another woman she saw in the newspaper the other day, and how Stella had picked up the CEO’s office’s phone.
I think Curtis still loves her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t dote on her and spoil her in this way. There’s still a chance between the two of them.
As Rayna fixed her eyes on him, she asked, “Do you… like Stella?”
As long as Curtis could give her an explanation for it, she would believe him. She would then court him again and tell him about the babies.
How can the babies grow up without a father?
To her surprise, Curtis did not answer her right away. He frowned, and that made her anxious.
After a long while, the man uttered in a steady voice, “Rayna, I’m not twenty years old. I don’t have the impulsive streak of youth. I know well what I should be doing.”
Chapter 429
Rayna’s expression froze, and her heart sank.
She knew well what he meant.
He’s not denying it. The pictures in the newspaper aren’t baseless rumors. He’s in a relationship with Stella. Looks like I was just overthinking things. Curtis has already put things behind him.
Curtis felt his heart ache a little when he saw her head hung low and looking gloomy. Even so, he said nothing about that. He only asked, “Are you full?”
“Yes.”
When Curtis noticed it was still raining cats and dogs outside, he felt a pang of sympathy. “Looks like the rain won’t be stopping tonight. It’s not safe to drive in the rain. You can sleep in the guest room tonight. I’m going to deal with some matters first.”
Bobbing her head, Rayna said, “Thank you, Mr. Faymon.”
Curtis’ gaze turned gloomy when he heard her words.
Just as he arrived at his study upstairs, his phone rang. It was a call from Jasper.
“Mr. Faymon, didn’t we agree the profits from this collaboration will be split equally between both parties? How did it get changed to a seventy-to-thirty ratio in just one night?” asked Jasper as soon as the call was connected.
Curtis replied nonchalantly, “I contribute the most. Besides, the employees belong to my company. It’s only reasonable that it’s a seventy-to-thirty ratio.”
Jasper, who had always been calm and gentle, could not help but curse. “Damn it! Me bumping into Ms. Garland at the club was a total coincidence. I took her to the private room only because I wanted to train her. If you’re mad about it, you should take it out on Mr. Reed. Do you have to be so cruel by secretly setting me up on the project?”
“She’ll only be hearing vulgar content if she hangs out with a group of men. I bet you just wanted to let others bully her,” Curtis sneered.
“You guys have broken up, and you refused to sell her the oranges. Why are you playing hero now?”
Curtis snapped, “Still, I won’t let anyone bully my person. The project will have a seventy-to-thirty ratio. Take it or leave it.”
With that, he hung up, feeling extremely frustrated.
He did not understand why he still thought of Rayna when they had already broken up.
For some reason, he felt the urge to protect her when he saw her getting bullied. He even secretly learned how to make cheese buns from the chef of the club when she cried over not getting to taste them.
He really wanted to explain things to her when she asked about the newspaper earlier, but he felt there was no need to do so the moment he recalled the video.
This woman only cares about others. Never once did she consider my feelings. She trampled over them many times. I’m human. It’s only normal that I have selfish motives, too.
At that thought, he calmed himself down and turned on the computer to begin working.
Recently, he had been too busy to travel abroad. He had been holding virtual meetings with subsidiary companies in other countries. Nonetheless, virtual meetings could be troublesome for places like
Norham, which had a ten-hour difference from the local time.
The rain was less heavy by the time he turned off the computer. It was already one o’clock in the morning.
Noting the time, Curtis returned to his bedroom to wash up and change into his pajamas.
Upon recalling how distracted Rayna was that night, he quietly opened the guest room door and stepped into the room, only to find her sound asleep on the bed with the white Ragdoll cat sprawling on the blanket. It looked like a guardian angel.
Happy lifted its head and meowed gracefully upon seeing Curtis approach the bed.
Curtis knew Happy was a graceful pet that rarely meowed. At most, it would scratch Lucky’s face until it bled when it was mad. He quietly sat beside the bed.
Rayna’s black locks of hair were pressed on the pillow as she slept peacefully. As he stared at her, he noticed her face was chubbier than before.
Curtis could not help but brush his dry and warm hand over her cheeks to feel how chubby they were. Looks like the food here is much better. She’s only returned for a few days, and she’s gotten chubbier.
Rayna, who was sound asleep, suddenly frowned and murmured, “Don’t kick me. Be good and sleep.”
Hearing that, Curtis instinctively glanced at Happy.
It was sprawling on the blanket in a docile manner and staring at him innocently with its blue eyes.
When Curtis met Happy’s gaze, he could not help but recall the video of a cat sleeping on its owner and almost suffocating the latter. He instantly grabbed Happy by the scruff of its neck and brought it out
of the room.
Happy meowed and thrusted its tiny paws.
Curtis forced himself to harden his heart. “You’re sleeping in the cattery. I’m kicking you out of the house if you go upstairs again.”
The babies in Rayna’s belly kicked her over ten times when she slept that night, so much so that she even dreamed she was teaching them football. However, the children kept aiming the ball at her belly, and it made her suffer from the pain.
When she woke up, she looked slightly exhausted.
As she lifted her shirt and glanced at her bulging belly, she could not help but wonder why her babies were so active compared to other unborn babies. She almost broke down at the thought of it.
Are they having a fight in my belly?
The discomfort put her in a depressed mood early in the morning. After washing up, she went downstairs to find Curtis sitting cross-legged at the dining table. He was eating his breakfast while talking to someone on the phone through a pair of Bluetooth earphones.
With heavy footsteps, she made her way to the dining table, pulled out a chair a little roughly, and sat down.
When he caught a glimpse of her approaching from the corner of his eyes, Curtis ended the call. Seeing she had gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, he went into the kitchen to bring her breakfast.
To his dismay, Rayna eyed the oatmeal with disdain and muttered grumpily, “I don’t want that. I’d rather die of starvation!”
Curtis was dumbfounded.
They had already broken up, yet he still had to tolerate her temper and serve her as if he was a servant at his own house.
He asked patiently, “Then what do you want to eat?”
His tone was so gentle that it made Rayna realize she had gone overboard just now. Without a word, she lowered her head and consumed the oatmeal.
Seeing that, Curtis went into the kitchen and returned about ten minutes later with a plate of steaming hot spaghetti bolognese. There was even a fried egg on top of it. “It’s not much, but this is the only kind of pasta I know how to cook.”
The steam that rose from the pasta blurred her vision. She yearned for his love, but she could not help but wonder why he treated her so well and gave her anything she wanted if he had no feelings for her.
Will he make pasta for Stella when she comes here in the future?
Alas, Curtis was oblivious to the thoughts that were running through her mind as she stared at the pasta. In a rush to deal with some matters at the office, he quickly finished his food and removed the coat from the rack.
“I’ve given Gabriel a call, and he’ll be here in a while to send you back to your condominium,” he said, stretching out his arms to put on the coat, which revealed his straight posture, wide waist, and narrow hips. The view of his back was extremely pleasing to the eye. Before leaving, he glanced at Happy beside her leg. “Remember to take the cat away.”
Rayna pressed her lips into a thin line. “Do I pay Mr. Tylinski for the expenses?”
“There’s no need for that.”
With that, he pushed the door open and walked out before Rayna could even take a last look at him.
Rayna picked up the fork and ate the pasta he had prepared for her.
The meat was a little tough and salty. Still, she found it delicious.
When she finished the pasta, she felt warmer and refreshed. Only then did she remember what she had to do.
The meaning of Curtis’ words last night could not be clearer. The news was true, and it was impossible between her and Curtis. She could stop deceiving herself by thinking he still loved her.
He’s going to have a new girlfriend and a new life. I should stay away from him.
Rayna caressed her belly, smiling bitterly. “I wanted to tell him about you guys, but now it looks like I’ve got to work hard to bring all of you up.”
“What are you muttering about, Ms. Garland?”
Taken aback, Rayna instantly looked up and spotted Gabriel, who was changing his shoes by the door. He did not catch what she had just said.
In response, she answered, “Oh, it’s nothing. I was just saying that Mr. Faymon’s pasta was a little salty.”
“What?” Gabriel darted over and shifted his gaze from the messy kitchen to the plate of pasta in front of Rayna. “Oh my goodness! Are pigs flying now? I can’t believe Mr. Faymon cooked.”
Chapter 430
When he finished his sentence, Gabriel noticed something was off. He studied Rayna curiously and asked, “Did you sleep here last night, Ms. Garland?”
“Yes.”
Gabriel gasped, finally understanding why Curtis looked displeased with him last night. It’s because I almost ruined Mr. Faymon’s plan.
Gabriel scooted over and asked nosily, “So, are you and Mr. Faymon back together?”
Gabriel knew Curtis well enough. After all, he had been working for him for many years. He wouldn’t have gone to Yartran to help her last time or let her sleep here last night if he didn’t still have feelings for her. The only ones who have slept here were Ms. Garland and his pets. Hmph! I’ll never forget how he chased me out last year when I wanted to sleep on the couch after working here until midnight. Even his pets live a better life than me.
“We already broke up. We’ll never get back together,” Rayna said plainly.
Still remembering Curtis’ words from last night, she decided to cut ties with him and not hold any hope.
Her answer put Gabriel in a daze. “B-But you slept here last night…”
“Mr. Faymon was just being kind. He let me stay here because of the rain.”
Gabriel was even more stunned.
He could not believe her words after the way Curtis chased him away last night.
Rayna ignored him and went into the kitchen with the dishes. Knowing the cleaner would drop by later, she did not wash the dishes and only soaked them in the sink.
As she stepped out of the kitchen, she spotted two baskets of oranges in the corner of the hall. A dejected look flashed across her eyes.
After some time, Rayna said to Gabriel, “Please help me carry these baskets of oranges to the car. I’ll get my things packed and leave in a while.” Seeing Gabriel was not moving, Rayna called out, “Mr. Tylinski?”
“Huh? What do I need to carry?” asked Gabriel as he snapped back to his senses.
Rayna pointed to the corner, which made him glance in the direction of her finger. He almost cursed out loud when he saw the baskets.
Don’t tell me Mr. Faymon asked someone to deliver this last night. He treats her so well. Not only did he let her crash at his place, but he also made breakfast for her. Then again, why does Ms. Garland look so indifferent about it?
All kinds of deductions popped into his mind. However, he knew there was no point in asking Rayna all those questions. He rolled up his sleeves and swiftly carried the baskets of oranges to the car.
Rayna went to the cattery and found a square cage.
Just as she was about to place Happy in the cage, she realized it had disappeared. Even Lucky was missing.
“Happy? Happy?” Rayna shouted.
Right then, she heard a faint yet graceful meow. It came from behind the cabinet.
Rayna walked over and peered at the gap beside the cabinet. Sure enough, the chubby Happy was stuck there.
“What are you doing here?” Rayna said exasperatedly.
Thankfully, it was just a custom-made wooden cabinet used to store sundries, so it did not take long for her to move it.
Happy leaped out immediately and wagged its tail.
Rayna was about to push the cabinet back to its place when she spotted a red item there.
Unable to ignore it, she slipped her hand through the gap and took it out. It was a red cloth wrapped around something hard. The second she unwrapped it, a charm came into view. It had the design of the goddess of fertility surrounded by children carved into it.
Isn’t this… a fertility charm?
As she was wondering why the charm was placed in the gap beside the cabinet, she recalled overhearing Curtis asking Alfred what he was hiding behind the cabinet when he returned home one day. She had tried to take a peek after Alfred left, but Curtis stopped her.
So, this was what Old Mr. Faymon was hiding.
Glancing at her belly, Rayna could not help but chuckle. “Who would’ve guessed it’d work?”
Alas, she had broken up with Curtis. It was inappropriate for her to tell Alfred about the children.
“Ms. Garland, are you done packing?” Gabriel’s voice sounded close. He seemed to have entered the house.
Rayna had wanted to return the fertility charm to where it was, but she hesitated for a moment and hurriedly stuffed it into the cage along with Happy.
The idea of Stella visiting the house in the future and getting pregnant made Rayna panic.
Just then, Gabriel appeared beside her.
“Is there anything you need me to carry, Ms. Garland?”
Shaking her head, Rayna said, “I don’t have anything here. I just have to take my cat. By the way, I don’t see Lucky anywhere. I called out its name, but there was no response. I wonder where it went.”
As soon as she finished her sentence, Lucky came dashing down the stairs with a scarf in its mouth while wagging its tail furiously.
At first, Rayna was taken by surprise, thinking Stella had popped by the house that morning and left something behind. However, after careful observation, Rayna realized it was the dark blue scarf she used to wear in the past.
A conflicted look was written all over her face as she accepted the scarf from Lucky.
It wagged its tail and nuzzled its head against her leg.
Gabriel chuckled. “Lucky is as smart as its father. It noticed you left something behind, so it purposely brought it to you.”
“Indeed.” Rayna stuffed the scarf into her pocket and patted Lucky’s head. “I’m leaving now.”
Still, Lucky continued nuzzling against her leg and wagging its tail.
“All right, stop wagging your tail.” Gabriel waved Lucky away and ushered Rayna out of the house.
Soon, Gabriel sent her to her condominium and even helped her to carry the two baskets of oranges into the house.
After that, he took out a document and handed it to her. “Mr. Faymon asked me to give this to you when I’m here.”
Rayna took the document and flipped it open. It was the agreement for the collaboration between Faymon Group and Glory Corporation. What surprised her the most was that the price requested by Faymon Group was two times lower than the market price. On top of that, they did not want any dividends.
She pursed her lips tightly, not knowing what to say.
He wants to cut ties with me, but he still takes care of me as though worried I’d get bullied.
Regardless, Faymon Group’s employees were the best in the industry. She did not bother being melodramatic and accepted the offer. “Please thank Mr. Faymon for me. Do you know where Wyatt is? Can you please look him up for me?”
She had wanted to ask Curtis about it, but they were on bad terms with each other, so she dismissed the notion.
Gabriel said, “Mr. Lopez is in the office. Lopez Group is quite busy these days. In fact, I’m going there later. If you’re in a hurry to meet him, you can come with me.”
Rayna was speechless. “Geez, I wouldn’t have sent you such a long message if I had known. I could’ve just asked you to bring me along to Lopez Group.”
“Huh? When did you send me that text?”
“Last night. Have you become a muddlehead from all the work?” asked Rayna. She even showed him the chat history on WhatsApp.
Realization dawned on Gabriel the moment he saw the profile picture. Mr. Faymon took this number from me long ago.
Even so, he did not reveal the truth. “Oh, right, I was too busy last night that this slipped my mind. Anyway, let’s leave now, or it’ll be hard to meet Mr. Lopez once he leaves for a business meeting.”
Rayna was rendered speechless.
Thanks to Gabriel, Rayna managed to arrive at the CEO’s office of Lopez Group with no restrictions.
Upon entering the office, Gabriel displayed several documents on the table. “Mr. Lopez, Mr. Faymon instructed me to pass these to you. Ms. Garland is here, too. She needs to speak to you.”
Rayna saw Wyatt look up and scrutinize her. He was exuding a gloomy aura, unlike his languid and nonchalant self from the past.
She instantly felt her heart lurch with dread.
Is he still the same person I know from the past?
Wyatt seemed to be annoyed by her presence. He spat impatiently, “What do you want?”