Ch. 441..450

Chapter 441

Rayna felt an incoming headache as she asked, “This is serious. Did Faymon Group’s PR team not do anything?”

“I’m not sure,” Ella replied, not sounding optimistic at all. “The news of Kelly taking drugs is all over the internet. It was posted at dawn, so the netizens should’ve taken screenshots of it. Kelly has recently become very popular, and other celebrities, including those at Excellent Entertainment Company, seem to be taking advantage of the situation by fanning the flames of the controversy. They are upset at how she hyped herself up previously.”

“What is her manager doing? Why is nothing done to stop her?” Rayna cursed under her breath. Suddenly recalling something, she asked, “Ella, has the news about her signing an endorsement deal with Glory been released?”

“No.”

Rayna heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh, that’s good to know. We’ll ask them to compensate for our losses based on the contract, then.”

“Ms. Garland, there is something more important that needs to be addressed immediately.” Ella glanced at her carefully. “Newfirm Media just informed me that the script is finished and the director has a thirteen-day break, with filming scheduled to take place in Summerbank tomorrow. However, their timeline is now disrupted because of Kelly’s scandal.”

“No worries. Let the director and actor know that the shooting will be pushed back two days. Use those two days to get to universities or other film sets and locate a female lead who can sign the contract straight away. Once you’ve found someone, tell the film crew to commence shooting immediately.”

Ella spread her hands helplessly. “After reading the news this morning, I called Newfirm Media to tell them to delay filming, but they said it wasn’t possible. Wilson is apparently busy and has to attend a film festival overseas thirteen days later.”

Comprehension dawned on Rayna, and she sneered. “They want money, huh?”

“That’s right,” Ella said, surprised that Rayna had figured out the truth so quickly. “Newfirm Media is willing to postpone filming, but they want to renegotiate the contract. They will set the price according to the market.”

“I can’t believe they came up with such a fancy excuse just to get more money!” Rayna felt disgusted. “I picked him because I discovered he was good at angles from his graduation project. How dare he test my patience?”

Ella thought carefully and proposed, “We should stop collaborating with them since they didn’t bother holding back. I’ll send you some recent young directors’ graduate projects to look at while I go to universities to look for a new female lead.”

Rayna nodded. “That will do.”

“Should I get the script back?” Ella asked. “The scriptwriter works in Newfirm Media, but we’ve paid for the script. We’re no longer working with them, so it may not be a good idea to leave the script with them. What if something bad happens?”

Rayna thought it over and reassured Ella, “It’s all right. We’ve already signed a contract with the scriptwriter, so if anything happens, they will be held responsible. Don’t rush to end the contract with Newfirm Media. For now, let’s focus on finding a suitable female lead.”

If Rayna couldn’t find someone as talented as Wilson and had to go back to Newfirm Media after terminating the contract, they would likely raise the price. It would be wise not to make any hasty

decisions.

“Okay, got it.” Ella quickly left to carry out Rayna’s instructions.

Rayna also got to work, first handling the pressing tasks and then moving on to reviewing the work and information of the young directors that Ella had sent her earlier.

She watched several directors’ works but didn’t see anything that she liked.

As she was working, she noticed the two lunch boxes on her table and suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to call Carl. Since she was busy today, she sent a text message to Gabriel to ask him to come to Glory.

Of course, Curtis was the only one who could read the WhatsApp text.

When Curtis saw her text, he assumed she was flustered after she learned about Kelly’s scandal.

He summoned Gabriel. “Bring the files of Excellent Entertainment Company’s A and B-list celebrities to Glory and check if Rayna is interested in working with any of them.”

“Okay. I’ll head there later.” Gabriel nodded. He then muttered under his breath in confusion, “This is odd. It’s common to see this kind of news, but Kelly’s negative publicity can’t be quashed.”

Curtis explained, “It means she’s not well-liked in her industry, and she’s pretentious. Many people target her and they have connections on various websites, so it’s normal that she’s still trending.”

Gabriel sighed. “Luckily, Excellent Entertainment Company operates independently, so the negative publicity doesn’t affect Faymon Group. Glory took the hit, though. It was hard enough for them to sign the contract with Kelly, but then this happened.”

Curtis’ gaze darkened as though Gabriel’s words had given him a hint. “I heard that the CEO of Glory’s branch company is of mixed heritage. Has the name been announced?”

“Not yet.” Gabriel was caught off guard by the sudden change in topic, but he quickly understood what he meant. “Mr. Faymon, are you saying that—”

“I didn’t mean anything. You can go to Glory now.”

Gabriel was certain that his employer had figured something out, judging from his icy expression, but he could only leave the office quietly.

After obtaining the files on the A and B-list celebrities from Excellent Entertainment Company, Gabriel quickly made his way to Glory.

Both Faymon Group and Glory were located in the financial district and were relatively close to each other, so it only took Gabriel a few minutes on foot to reach Glory. He entered Glory and told the receptionist who he was. After getting in touch with Rayna, the receptionist guided him upstairs.

The receptionist brought him to Rayna’s office. “Ms. Garland, Mr. Tylinski from Faymon Group is here.”

Rayna looked up from her computer. “Okay. You can leave now.”

“It looks like Kelly’s scandal gave you a lot of extra work,” Gabriel said as he looked at Rayna and handed her the files he brought with him. “I have brought you the files on the A and B-list female celebrities from Excellent Entertainment Company. Take a look and see if you like any of them.”

“I can’t believe you brought these here,” exclaimed Rayna. “I just sent you a text asking you to pick up some things. I didn’t ask you to give me these.”

Curtis had the WhatsApp number, so Gabriel had no idea what Rayna’s text was. He quickly explained, “I was afraid you’d be in a dilemma about picking a new spokesperson, so I brought their files here for you to review.”

“I have a tight budget. Even if you provide me information about the A-list female celebrities, I can’t afford to sign them.” Rayna shook her head and placed the files aside. “What happened to Kelly?”

Gabriel shrugged. “She was caught taking drugs. She’ll have to spend some time in rehab.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.”

Confused, Gabriel asked, “Then what do you want to know, Ms. Garland?”

“Mr. Faymon favors her, right? He gave her movie roles and international endorsement deals if I’m not mistaken,” Rayna said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Faymon Group’s PR team is one of the best in the industry. It’s been a few hours since Kelly’s scandal broke out, but why has no one suppressed the news?”

“Oh, so that was what you want to know.” Gabriel finally understood what she wanted to know. Puzzled, he asked, “But how did you find out about the resources Mr. Faymon gave her?”

I made sure no one found out about that, didn’t I?

Rayna explained, “Oh, people talk everywhere. It’s easy to find out about that. But you haven’t answered my question yet. Kelly is in trouble, but why hasn’t Mr. Faymon used Faymon Group’s PR team to cover up the matter?”

Gabriel was preoccupied with figuring out who leaked the information. Upon hearing Rayna’s question, he quickly responded, “Excellent Entertainment Company operates independently, so even if one of their celebrities gets into trouble, it won’t affect Faymon Group. Furthermore, Kelly is known for being

arrogant and flamboyant, which led her to have many enemies who want to take her down. She was caught taking drugs. If Faymon Group’s PR team helps her without caution, the company will be dragged into her scandal.”

 

Chapter 442

“Flamboyant?” Rayna snorted. “I think Mr. Faymon quite likes her.”

Gabriel could sense the jealousy in her voice, and he knew that she must have misunderstood something. His expression was unreadable as he explained, “Ms. Garland, you’re wrong. Mr. Faymon isn’t interested in her. Glory borrowed manpower from Faymon Group and signed a contract, right? Kelly is considered part of Faymon Group. We don’t want to pass up an opportunity to earn money, so of course we will look after Glory.” He paused before speaking in a measured, slow tone. “I’m sure you know why Mr. Faymon did that.”

Rayna wasn’t a fool. She quickly understood the underlying meaning of Gabriel’s words and stiffened in shock.

She had assumed Curtis’ taste had changed, which was why he became fond of Kelly and surreptitiously gave her those resources. However, it turned out she was wrong, as he had done everything for her.

How could I be such a fool? It’s impossible to get a popular rookie celebrity to shoot a video for a mere pay of three million. Someone must’ve done something behind my back.

Rayna relaxed and muttered, “So he has no other lovers?”

“Ms. Garland, what was that?” Gabriel inched over, as he didn’t hear Rayna clearly.

“Oh, nothing.” Rayna was suddenly in a good mood. She handed him the lunch boxes she had prepared and said, “Here you go. I cooked grilled pork and some soup. Bring them back…” She trailed off and changed her mind. “There’s a lot, so tell Mr. Faymon to share the food with Carl.”

Gabriel suddenly felt hungry. “Ms. Garland, did you prepare my share?”

“Yeah.”

Gabriel was about to break into a smile when he thought about the grilled pork he could get when Rayna continued, “It depends on whether Mr. Faymon is willing to share the food with you.”

Gabriel was bereft of words. Ha! It’s obvious Mr. Faymon will just roll his eyes at me.

Before leaving, Gabriel recalled something and asked tentatively, “Ms. Garland, the new CEO of Glory’s branch company is Jefferson Hamilton, right? Why isn’t he here yet?”

Rayna thought he had already found out about the matter and replied casually, “He’s busy and won’t be arriving in Norwal City until much later.”

I knew it!

Gabriel didn’t ask any more questions. He bade Rayna goodbye and left with the lunch boxes.

On his way back to Faymon Group, he couldn’t help but wonder why word got out when he had made sure to deal with it carefully. He went through all the possible suspects.

Besides Kelly and her manager, Mr. Faymon, Tilly, and I are the only ones in Faymon Group who know about this. Kelly isn’t foolish enough to keep clinging to Mr. Faymon after the sheer amount of resources she got. Tilly has worked as a secretary for years. Mr. Faymon trusts her, so she would not put her own future at risk.

Suddenly, Gabriel recalled that he had mentioned the matter to Stella briefly.

Could it be her who leaked the news?

They used to be classmates, so Gabriel dismissed that thought. There’s no need for Stella to do that. She has just returned to the country and doesn’t have a lot of connections here.

In the end, Gabriel did not visit Stella and instead delivered the lunch boxes to the CEO’s office.

“Ms. Garland wants me to deliver these to you.” He handed the food to Curtis. “She said you should share them with Carl. She also said…”

As he seemed hesitant to continue, Curtis opened the lunch boxes and asked, “What else did she say?”

Gabriel tried his best to stifle his laughter, but his shoulders were still trembling as he divulged, “Ms. Garland said that Carl is still growing, so you should give up cooking for him because you’re not very good at it. She suggested that you hire a nanny to cook for him at home instead. If Carl’s growth is impeded because of your cooking, she warned that Mr. Xavier will skin you alive when he comes back.” He couldn’t help but snicker.

Curtis glared at him coldly. “Is that funny?”

Gabriel tried to maintain a serious face, but he couldn’t hide the amusement in his voice as he replied, “No, Mr. Faymon. I think it’s best you focus on your primary job, which is earning money. Cooking isn’t for everyone.”

“Is there anything else?”

Gabriel noticed the grilled pork in the lunch box and nearly salivated. “Mr. Faymon, the grilled pork is very greasy. If you don’t want it, I’d be more than happy to take it off your hands.”

“Scram,” Curtis said curtly.

“Oh, Mr. Faymon, how could you be so petty to eat everything alone?” Gabriel sighed. “Before leaving, I asked Ms. Garland and confirmed that the CEO of Glory’s branch company is Jefferson Hamilton.”

I don’t know what Ms. Garland is thinking. She enjoys Mr. Faymon treating her well but still works for Jefferson. I can’t help but feel that she’s a b*tch.

“I know.” Curtis’ voice was calm, and he wasted no time in getting rid of Gabriel. “You can leave now.”

After Gabriel left his office, Curtis stared at the yummy grilled pork in the lunch box. He could imagine Rayna cooking in the kitchen.

A sigh escaped from his lips after a long silence. “She never disappoints me.”

Curtis was sure that Rayna had returned to the country suddenly for a specific purpose. Upon learning from Gabriel that Jefferson was in charge of Glory, he was convinced that Jefferson had a wager with Arnaud, and Rayna only entered Glory in order to assist Jefferson in winning the bet.

She didn’t want Arnaud to win, as she wanted to avenge Kristie.

He understood every step she took and was naturally aware of her plan.

She wanted to be independent, so he stood back and gave her the space she needed. But he didn’t forget to keep an eye on her and provide her with everything she lacked. He watched as she learned and grew more capable as time passed. That was what he loved about her—her determination and temper.

Despite that, he couldn’t help but wish she would sometimes stop and pay attention to him.

Have I not yielded enough in our relationship?

Rayna’s previous concerns proved to be true.

She spent the rest of her day watching over thirty young directors’ graduation works. They were too ordinary. There were a few outstanding works, but they weren’t what she wanted.

The following day, she went to work as usual. Ella presented her with the potential female lead candidates.

Of the forty candidates, nearly half were inexperienced newbies from universities across the country who were willing to accept whatever terms Glory proposed. The remaining thirteen were slightly popular celebrities in the entertainment industry, who would require more detailed negotiations over wages.

Rayna regarded the photos for a long time before picking one that caught her eye begrudgingly.

Alas, the young woman she picked was a celebrity under Newfirm Media. Through the phone, she asked for ten million at once. Rayna got so furious that she ended the call straight away.

The male celebrity, although on the same level as the female celebrity, humbly accepted two million from Glory and cooperated with them. On the other hand, the female celebrity took advantage of her attractive appearance to demand for more money.

Rayna wanted to work with Excellent Entertainment Company, but she was too shy to ask for more help from Curtis as he had already done so much for her in secret. Moreover, she didn’t agree to take her pick when Gabriel had come over earlier. It would be rude to ask for Curtis’ help now.

Feeling frustrated, Rayna called Ella to ask her to retrieve a file from the planning department.

However, no one picked up the call.

Rayna went out and noticed Ella wasn’t at her desk. She was currently free, so she decided to head to the planning department personally.

Soon, Rayna arrived at the floor where the planning department was located. She was walking along the corridor when she heard laughter from the office ahead of her. Hearing her name, she slowed down

as her gaze flickered.

The planning department employees were unaware of her arrival and continued gossiping among themselves cheerfully.

One female employee revealed, “I saw Mr. Tylinski from Faymon Group coming to our office yesterday. He went straight to Ms. Garland’s office. A few minutes later, he emerged with two lunch boxes and left in a haste.”

Chapter 443

Curiously, someone asked, “So it was Ms. Garland who prepared that for him?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Did you really have to ask?” The female staff rolled her eyes at her coworker. “Rayna had a history of being flirtatious back in Faymon Group, and I heard she was involved with Mr. Faymon too. Do you think Mr. Faymon will really fall for a woman like her? I bet she’s turning to target his assistant, Mr. Tylinski, after failing to get Mr. Faymon’s attention. Mind you, Mr. Tylinski is Mr. Faymon’s confidant, and he ranks highly in Faymon Group.”

“She’s such a minx,” someone chimed in. “Say, do you guys think she’s targeting Kelly because Kelly got involved with Mr. Faymon?”

“Of course!”

“I heard that Ms. Garland wants Kelly to be the new spokesperson of our company’s new product and offered her three million. Is she that naïve to think that she could get a celebrity like Kelly with a measly three million to shoot a three-minute promotional video? Does she think celebrities don’t have bills to pay?”

“I think Ms. Garland’s being too much. If she’s that stingy, why doesn’t she just do it herself?”

“Well, though Ms. Garland’s a scheming woman, I think she’s really quite pretty, and I have to admit that she’s well-endowed.”

They gossiped in the office without restraint and laughed boisterously that they didn’t even notice when Rayna walked in.

She even had to knock on the glass door to attract their attention.

The gossip died down instantly, and they wished the ground could swallow them whole. Rayna’s lips curled into a half-smile when she saw the ashen look on their faces. “I’m sorry for disturbing your fun time.”

Awkward silence hung in the air.

Rayna disregarded the awkward atmosphere and mentioned the names of a few documents that she was looking for. “Who’s holding these documents?”

“M-Ms. Garland, they’re with m-me,” a woman in a checkered dress stammered. She immediately retrieved the documents and passed them over to Rayna with shaky hands.

“Thanks,” uttered Rayna in a gentle tone. She took the documents but did not leave right away. She remained impassive and looked at the woman who was keeping her head low. “I heard you calling me a scheming woman, that I was the one who plotted against the celebrity, Kelly. Oh, there’s also something about me being well-endowed… Is that right?”

“I-I’m sorry, Ms. Garland.” The woman lowered her head even more. “We were just joking.”

“So you think you can crack jokes about your boss?” Rayna’s voice was cold.

The woman didn’t even dare to let out a breath.

Rayna lifted her head and looked around the office. Those who lowered their heads or darted their eyes elsewhere were the ones who were happily gossiping about her behind her back.

“You should be working during working hours. If you’re looking to chill, then gossip in the washroom at your own time,” Rayna chided. “How dare you guys mock your own boss at the office!” She flipped the woman’s lanyard over to take a closer look. Her red lips curled into a sneer. “What a coincidence. You

were the one who talked smack about me in the elevator last time. This time, you’re the one again to crack jokes about me in the office. Why? Do you really enjoy gossiping that much?”

“No, Ms. Garland,” the woman said hastily. “I was too naïve and should have known better. I hope you can forgive me.”

Rayna chuckled. “You say you’re naïve, and yet you managed to get into Glory and become the team leader for the planning department. Do you think HR and your team manager are incompetent people who didn’t know any better?”

“I didn’t mean that…” She did not expect Rayna to question her like that and did not know what to say.

Rayna ignored her and glared at the gossipmongers. Then, she called out the names of the staff who badmouthed her in the elevator the other day and said, “Since you cannot refrain yourselves from gossiping, I might as well make good use of your verbal skills and transfer the lot of you to customer service for a year or two.”

“Ms. Garland, we’re sorry. Please, forgive us.” The gossipmongers started to panic.

Not only did they have to work long hours, but they would be paid peanuts at the customer service department. It was not a good department to be in at all.

If they were to transfer to customer service for a year and come back to the planning department after that, they would be left far behind.

Rayna crossed her arms in front of her chest. She wore a calm look on her face, but her demeanor was intimidating. “Either you resign from Glory on your own and receive no compensation, or transfer to customer service for fourteen months. The company is not going to fire you and compensate you for being gossipmongers.” Rayna was unfazed by the aghast looks on their faces. “So, which is it going to be?”

Upon deliberation, a few of them chose the second option.

If they resigned from Glory without any apparent reason, it would be difficult for them to apply for similar roles in the industry. Should Rayna choose to spread the news of their misconduct to the other smaller companies, they would be done for.

Rayna grunted in acknowledgment and said, “You can now pack your things and hand over your tasks. I’m going to call your manager to inform him of this. You can proceed to work in customer service in the afternoon.”

Then she turned around and left.

The others in the office heaved a huge sigh of relief. It was as if the devil had just left.

However, before they could relax, Rayna suddenly turned around and gave them a good fright.

She scanned the room and said, “As for the others, don’t think you’ve been spared. If you really cannot refrain from gossiping about your boss, I’d suggest that you take it somewhere where no one can hear you. Oh, and do it in your own time as well. Everyone in the planning department is not going to get a single cent of the quarterly and year-end bonus this year, including your manager. Feel free to resign if you think it’s unfair. Take your skills elsewhere and land yourself a better job. I won’t stop you.”

She left for good after she was done.

No one spoke a word for a long time even after Rayna left. They exchanged dejected looks with each other, fear apparent in their eyes.

It was indeed foolish of them to trifle with the woman who previously worked for Faymon Group.

After this incident, no one in Glory dared to disrespect and joke about her anymore.

Ella finally came running to her office after she was back in her office. “I’m sorry, Ms. Garland. I went out to deal with something and didn’t manage to tell you in time.”

“It’s all right.” Rayna didn’t mind at all. “Have you talked to the actress from Newfirm Media?”

Ella’s face sank. “I’ve talked to her, but she insists on getting at least ten million, and she’s not open to slashing even ten thousand. She told you to look for another actress if you disagree.”

Rayna didn’t get upset over it. She merely said, “I read the script. It’s exactly what I’m looking for. With the addition of a competent director and producer, the lead actor and actress will surely rise to prominence. Is she afraid that she won’t get paid many times over after that?”

“I think the same as well, Ms. Garland,” Ella replied. “However, the fact is that nowadays actors are only looking to earn big money. Besides, Glory doesn’t have anything to show for these two years, and it’s understandable that many actors are not willing to take the risk.”

Rayna let out a sigh and took over the file of information on other actresses.

Ella waited aside. She eyed Rayna, and an idea popped into her head. “Ms. Garland, I don’t think you need to look further. You’re quite suited for the role.”

“Are you kidding me?” Rayna lifted her head to look at her in surprise. “I don’t know anything about acting.”

“It’s just a three-minute short video. You just need to do what the director says,” Ella replied, then took a mirror and brought it before Rayna. With a serious look on her face, she continued, “Ms. Garland, I’m serious. You came up with the storyline. It’s best that you become the female lead. Look at your features. They’re perfect for any kind of makeup look.”

Rayna waved her hands to dismiss her. “Nope. I’m not cut out for that.”

“You have to try. I know you’ve been looking at many works of some young directors, and I also know that you don’t fancy those. You still favor Wilson, right? But you also know Newfirm Media’s stance on the matter. Everything else has been arranged, and we’re just short of a female lead now. If you’re willing to take up the role, not only will we save three million, but we can also head to Summerbank tomorrow. Plus, we won’t have to look for a new director.”

 

Chapter 444

Rayna used the mirror Ella passed to her to study her features. She thought her facial features were not bad, but people with faces like hers were a dime a dozen in the entertainment industry.

She uttered in resignation, “I have so many things to do. How can I just do that? Let me take a look again.”

Moreover, she was not interested in becoming an actress.

Ella glanced at her watch and sighed. “Ms. Garland, it’s almost afternoon. You’ve already gone through the details of these celebrities, but you’ve picked none of them. It’ll be too late for me to look for other celebrities. Ms. Garland, you have to think this through properly. If you’re not going to step in, we’ll have to find another female lead and director after tonight. Also, it’s not a guarantee that we’ll find them. I’m sure we’ll have to pay them an even higher price.”

Rayna pursed her lips.

She knew that her assistant was right. Among the directors, she had picked Wilson. She might not find someone like him and within her budget.

After a few minutes of contemplation, Rayna steeled herself and said, “Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Ms. Garland, I’m glad you’ve come to this understanding,” Ella said in relief. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on the company, and I’ll call you if anything urgent pops up. I swear I won’t let you down.”

Rayna smiled. “I’m glad to have a dedicated assistant like you. I’ll give you a raise later on.”

“Why, thank you, then, Ms. Garland.”

“It’s what you deserve. Book the ticket and inform Wilson and the actor to head to Summerbank on time tomorrow.”

“Got it. I’ll work on that right away.”

After settling the most urgent matter, Rayna continued dealing with the rest of the documents. She wanted to clear off the most time-sensitive issues.

Right as she took a break and drank a few sips of water, her phone rang.

Seeing that it was from Linda, Rayna put it on speakers and asked, “Mom, what’s the matter?”

“I thought you’ve forgotten about me.”

Rayna nearly snorted at that. “Why would I? I’m just a little busy right now.”

Linda sighed, her heart aching for her daughter. “You silently went abroad to work before this, and after a few months, you’re finally back, but you’re still working. Belle, don’t just keep working all the time. You need to rest.”

“I know.” Linda’s concern warmed Rayna’s heart.

When she saw that she was almost done settling everything, she decided to visit her mother, whom she had not seen for a while.

“Mom, are you at home or at the shop? I’ll come to you in a bit.”

“I’m still at the shop.”

A few minutes later, after settling the rest of her matters, Rayna informed Ella about her departure before packing and leaving.

When she reached the shop, she noticed in surprise that the shop was rather packed with customers. Linda and the woman she hired were occupied.

Rayna had never thought that her mother’s business would go so well.

Seeing that she could not handle all of her customers by herself, Rayna greeted Linda before helping her out.

Half an hour later, the shop finally became quiet.

Linda filled a glass of water and finally gave Rayna a good look. She could barely recognize her daughter, for she froze for quite a while. “I thought you’d be losing sleep and eating lesser overseas, but Belle, you seem to have gained a lot of weight.”

Rayna said in amusement, “Even if I didn’t have a good appetite overseas, it’s been a while since I came back. I’ve been eating a lot lately, so I’ve gained weight.”

“You’re giving up on your diet?” Linda wondered out loud. “You were terrified of getting fat in the past, and you only ate half of a regular-sized meal.”

Rayna did not want to tell her mother about her pregnancy yet. She was afraid that Linda would accidentally spill the secret to others. “I don’t want to go on a diet anymore. I look good even when I’m fat.”

Linda glanced at her a few more times. “Belle, the wedding dress is made based on your previous weight of forty-five kilograms. It’s best if you don’t eat that much, or else you’re going to be facing some troubles during your wedding.”

Linda’s words reminded Rayna of certain things, and Rayna’s gaze dimmed.

She had pleaded with her mother to tailor a wedding dress for her, thinking of having a traditional wedding when she marry Curtis.

Linda thought she had hurt Rayna, seeing that Rayna was silent. Hastily, she said, “It was just a passing remark. You can eat as much as you like. When you get married, I’ll make another dress for you.”

Rayna came back to her senses and gave her mother a small smile. “It’s fine, Mom. I don’t even know when I’m going to get married.”

Realization struck Linda, and she said, “Did you really break up with him?”

“Yeah…”

Linda took some time to digest, but once she did, she ruffled Rayna’s hair and said, “We can’t force love. Forget it. It’s fine if you can’t find your other half in the future. I’ll provide for you.”

Tears sprang to Rayna’s eyes at that, but she tried her best not to let the tears fall. Jokingly, she said, “Okay. I won’t marry in the future, then.”

“You silly girl.” Linda rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying this in case you really can’t find someone. How can you keep clinging to me and not look for someone at all?”

Rayna was speechless to hear that.

The other woman walked over with a mop. “Ms. Linda, you guys go sit outside. I’d like to mop the floor while there aren’t many customers around.”

Linda led Rayna outside and brought along two stools.

After sitting down, Linda began bombarding Rayna with questions. She first asked about the reason behind Rayna’s business trip and why it took so long. Then, she told Rayna about how Roxanne would be filming after Christmas and about Cillian accompanying her.

Finally, Linda asked tentatively, “Belle, have you been in contact with your little brother lately?”

“What’s wrong?”

“He hasn’t come back after Christmas,” Linda said with a sigh. “He wouldn’t pick up my calls either. Say, do you think he broke up with Kristie?”

Rayna took a sip of her coffee as a glint flashed past her eyes. “Mom, you’re thinking too much.”

Linda sighed again. “I can’t help it. Kristie’s pretty, and she’s Mr. Faymon’s kin. I’m sure she has a whole group of rich young men trying to court her. I’m afraid she’ll ditch James.”

“They’re doing well. It’s just that James is busy with his school, and Kristie’s busy with her filming,” Rayna reassured her, forcing the pain in her chest away as she forced a smile. “Once Kristie’s free, I’ll invite her here for a meal.”

“Are they really all right?”

“They are. Didn’t you see how sweet they were with each other previously? Don’t overthink this.”

It was only then Linda relaxed and asked, “Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll prepare dinner for you.”

Rayna was indeed a little hungry, so she said, “I’d like to have some sweet soup.”

“That’ll take quite a while to make.”

Rayna only blinked at her mother in response.

While the mother and daughter were chatting in front of the shop, someone suddenly called out Linda’s name.

Hearing the familiar voice, Rayna turned to see a woman in a light purple dress walking toward them. Even though the woman was close to fifty, she barely had any wrinkles.

“Xandra, what brought you here?” Linda asked as she quickly stood up.

Xandra answered, “Didn’t we agree to go for a facial treatment session? I had nothing to do, so I came to look for you earlier.”

“I was so busy today I nearly forgot about this,” Linda mumbled. “I can’t go, however. Belle’s back.”

Rayna had already stood up when Linda rose to her feet.

I thought she had a different name and had taken on her husband’s family name. Has she gotten a divorce from Kenneth?

Only when the two older women were done chatting did Rayna greet Xandra, “Hello.”

Xandra did not expect Rayna to be the one chatting with Linda. When she saw Rayna, she froze for a while before saying tearfully, “Did you just come back to the country? You look prettier and prettier every time I see you.”

Rayna smiled. “Yeah.”

Curtis’ mother’s the best. She didn’t even mention my weight gain. She’s completely unlike my mom, who hurt me with her words. I’ve only grown fatter because of the babies in my stomach!

 

Chapter 445

From Linda’s conversation with Xandra, Rayna realized that the two had been friends for a while. They would always go out for afternoon tea and beauty treatments together. In fact, Linda learned many of her good habits from Xandra.

Since Xandra had learned embroidery, she decided to help Linda with embroidering Rayna’s wedding dress. With similar hobbies, Xandra and Linda quickly became close friends.

Rayna had mixed feelings when she listened to the two chatting away. Xandra is helping Mom embroider my wedding dress, thinking that I’m going to marry Curtis, but he and I are no longer together. I wonder how she’ll feel when I wear it to marry another man.

When Linda saw that they had a guest, she decided to greet them herself since the other woman was busy with the chores, leaving Xandra alone with Rayna.

Xandra took Linda’s seat and hesitated for a while before finally asking, “I heard that you and Curtis broke up. Is that… true?”

“We broke up before Christmas,” replied Rayna with a nod.

“I thought you two were doing fine. Was Curtis not good to you?” asked Xandra somewhat anxiously.

Rayna tried her best to force a smile. “That’s not it. We broke up peacefully because we weren’t right for each other. Don’t blame him. If anything, I should be the one to take the blame.” My insistence on going my own way led to the ruin of our relationship. I tried my best to save it, but there wasn’t much I could do since Curtis wouldn’t have me.

Xandra sighed sadly after listening to Rayna. “Ms. Garland, I’m sure you know I’ve never been at Curtis’ side since he was young, but he grew up just fine. Like his father, he’s capable and dependable.

I like you too, so I hope he can build a lovely family of his own.”

“Don’t worry. Curtis is an exceptional man. I’m sure he won’t have any problem getting a girlfriend.” Rayna then decided to change the topic because she did not feel good talking about Curtis. “Did you divorce Mr. Verlice?”

Xandra’s face immediately darkened. “No. I returned to Jetroina a month ago to tell him about my past and requested nothing but a divorce. However, he did not agree to it. He even threatened me with my daughter. I’m grateful that he saved me. However, whenever I think of how he could’ve restored my memory but chose to keep me by his side to marry him and give birth to our baby, I’d hate him for it. If he doesn’t agree to the divorce, I’ll just move to Norwal City. There’s no way I’d accept our daughter.”

Rayna was relieved when she heard Xandra say that. Naomi, who’s Jefferson’s step-sister since they share the same mother but have different fathers, stayed with Arnaud. There’d be trouble if Xandra decided to side with Naomi. Luckily, that’s not the case.

Rayna scrutinized Xandra’s face. Even though Xandra had had plastic surgery because of her disfigurement, her soft eyes and graceful demeanor remained attractive and unaffected by her age.

Rayna supposed Boniel would still be captivated by Xandra if he saw the woman.

When Rayna remembered how lifeless Jefferson seemed the day she went to Hallsbay in the rain, her heart broke. “I know you hate Boniel because he was responsible for ruining your life. However, that’s all on Boniel. Jefferson is innocent. You shouldn’t take your anger out on him.”

“He’s innocent?” Xandra chuckled bitterly. “What did I do to deserve this? If I hadn’t been pregnant with him, I could’ve escaped that place.”

A glint flashed across Rayna’s eyes as she spoke in a lowered voice. “If he had a choice, he wouldn’t want to be born into this world had he known that you didn’t want him. Besides, you’ve already

punished him.”

After pausing for a while, she continued, “I didn’t go overseas for so long because of work; I was looking for a cure for him. He’s unwell and has only a few months left to live.”

Xandra’s expression remained unchanged as she responded somewhat indifferently, “Curtis is the only son I have.”

“I know.” Rayna reached out to hold Xandra’s hands. “I’m not asking you to forgive him; I just hope you can hate him less. If you meet him someday, don’t hurt him with your words.”

With the laboratory destroyed and the medicines gone, Rayna was unsure how long Jefferson could last. She knew the man longed for his mother and hoped Xandra would treat him better.

“Why do you keep defending him? Do you have feelings for him?” asked Xandra while staring expectantly at Rayna.

“Yes, I used to.” Smiling bitterly, Rayna did not try to hide the truth. “If nothing else, I have terrible luck. What are the odds that my ex-boyfriend would turn out to be my ex-fiancé’s brother? It’s even more unlikely than winning the lottery.”

“You two used to be together?” Xandra was stunned.

Rayna nodded. “Yeah. He helped me a lot. I wouldn’t be where I am now without him, so I just want to do whatever I can to repay him.”

Xandra took a while before she regained her senses. “Did you break up with Curtis because of him?”

“No. Curtis and I just weren’t right for each other,” replied Rayna amusedly. “If I really did get back together with Jefferson, I wouldn’t have returned here. It wouldn’t be a good idea to let Mr. Faymon see us, would it?”

Seeing how Rayna was not trying to hide anything, Xandra was convinced that she had nothing to do with Jefferson. She nodded understandingly. “I’ll stop hating him for your sake, but he’s got to stop appearing before me. I’m worried I’ll scold him again when I recall the past.”

“Thank you,” uttered Rayna before finally smiling.

Right then, she received a call from Ella. She excused herself and went aside to take it. “What is it?”

“Where are you, Ms. Garland?” asked Ella tremblingly. “Mr. Faymon is at the office right now. Please hurry back.”

“Huh?” After checking the time and realizing that it was already past five o’clock, Rayna could not help wondering what was going on. “Why is he at the office at this hour? Don’t tell me that Faymon Group has acquired Glory Corporation.”

“No, that’s not it. Mr. Faymon said that since Faymon Group has partnered up with Glory and will be receiving half of the profit from the product sales, he wants to see the progress of the new product announcement.”

“As if!” Rayna got so upset that she could curse at the man. She had only decided to add the condition of the fifty-fifty split on the contract Gabriel handed to her because she did not want to be taken advantage of. However, little did she expect the team Faymon Group sent over to be completely useless. How dare that man act as though he’s actually an equal partner? Why would he inspect us at this hour? Does he have nothing else better to do?

“Mr. Fayman said he’d wait for you and that the meeting would start when you get back,” stated the assistant helplessly.

Only after a while did Rayna manage to swallow her curses for Curtis. She responded through gritted teeth, “Okay. I’ll be back later.”

That man ruined my plan for the day! Rayna was about to inform Linda after cursing inwardly when her babies suddenly kicked her from inside and almost caused her to lose her balance.

Rayna’s heart was racing as she held on to the door frame for support with one hand and placed the other on her belly.

After regaining her balance, she patted her belly softly and rebuked, “So what if I scolded him? Are you guys trying to avenge him by kicking me? Now behave yourselves!”

Stella, who took the elevator up, just so happened to hear Rayna’s words.

With her eyes narrowed, she saw Rayna’s lips moving as if the woman was scolding someone. Her pupils immediately shrank when she lowered her gaze and noticed the comfortable and loose clothes Rayna wore. Is she… pregnant?

 

Chapter 446

Stella stared at Rayna, still visibly shocked.

She saw Rayna speak to a woman in the shop. Rayna then kissed the woman on the cheek and left the shop while saying, “Mom, you go back and make the sweet soup first. I’ll go over to your house a little later to have it.”

Stella watched as Rayna approached the elevator. She spun around and hid behind a nearby advertising column.

Very stealthily, Stella peeked out from behind.

She noticed Rayna was wearing a pair of light brown flats and walking in a very careful manner. When Rayna got into the elevator, she even placed her hand on the handrail.

Stella’s gaze soon turned serious as she began to suspect something.

It’s not a working day, and Rayna is dressed casually. She’s wearing flats, walking very carefully… She must be pregnant!

Is it Curtis’s child?

If the child truly belonged to Curtis, Stella wondered why Curtis seemed to be as calm as ever when he went about his day-to-day affairs. She also learned from Gabriel that Curtis rarely interacted with Rayna.

Is there some kind of misunderstanding between them? Did Rayna not inform Curtis about her pregnancy?

A woman’s mind was naturally quite delicate.

After mulling over this for a while, she arrived at the conclusion that something did happen between Curtis and Rayna.

As such, Rayna did not tell Curtis she was pregnant.

“I’m glad that the misunderstanding occurred. Otherwise, I can’t act,” muttered Stella after letting out a sigh of relief.

If Curtis knew about the child, he would definitely try to patch things up with Rayna.

A while later, Stella raised her head and glanced at the shop.

Gabriel was quite busy today. When he found out that Stella had to drop off some documents, he asked her to help deliver something.

If not for the chance encounter today, Stella would not have known that the owner of the shop was Rayna’s mother.

As Stella lugged the item with her into the store, she saw a woman dressed in purple come into the shop and say something to Linda. They both seemed to be well acquainted.

This made Stella arch a brow.

She remembered that when Gabriel returned to Faymon Group, he had received a call and then ran to a parked car to speak to the person inside. It seemed to be the same woman from before.

When Stella tried to enquire about the woman’s identity, Gabriel merely told her she was a client of Faymon Group.

Would a client of Faymon Group be so well acquainted with Rayna’s mother?

Just as Stella thought about this, she had already reached the entrance to the shop.

Quickly, she flashed her most polite smile and approached Linda. “May I know if you are Mrs. Garland?”

Linda glanced at her curiously and replied, “Yes. Do you need something?”

“I’m Stella Zink, and I work at Faymon Group,” Stella introduced herself and handed over the parcel in her hands. “Mr. Tylinski is busy today. He asked me to deliver this to you.”

“I already told him that this was unnecessary, but he insisted on having this delivered. Thank you for your trouble,” said Linda with a sigh. “You must be tired. Wait here while I get you something to drink.”

Stella had not planned on leaving so soon. She smiled and replied, “I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all.”

Linda waved her hand at Stella and quickly brought her a cup of warm water.

Stella thanked her but did not drink any.

She looked around and then at the side dishes on the shelves. “I shop at Obelisk Mall quite often and have heard good things about your side dishes and house-brewed wine. I’ve been meaning to purchase some for myself, but the shop is always too crowded when I’m around.”

Linda replied, “I have set aside some for my daughter, but she won’t be joining me for dinner tonight. I’ll go get it for you.”

“No, no, no. I can’t possibly accept it!” said Stella hurriedly.

However, Linda had already packed up the side dishes and handed them over to Stella. “It’s no big deal. After all, you’ve worked hard to deliver the item to me.”

Upon realizing that she could not refuse, Stella accepted the gift after thanking Linda. She then said, “You’re amazing, Mrs. Garland! The fact that you’re able to secure such a good location for your shop at Obelisk Mall and have such a brisk business is no small feat.”

“I’m nowhere near as capable. It was my daughter who arranged everything for me.”

Upon deliberation, Stella asked, “Mrs. Garland, is your daughter named Rayna by any chance? Did she work at Faymon Group as well?”

Linda looked at Stella with a surprised expression on her face. “Why yes, she is. You know my daughter?”

“What a coincidence!” replied Stella with a smile. “The previous manager for my position was none other than Ms. Garland. You see, Mr. Tylinski and I used to be classmates. He’s well-acquainted with Ms. Garland, and that’s how I got to know her as well.”

“That is a coincidence indeed. It’s such a shame that you’ve only just arrived. She had to rush off to the office,” Linda said.

Stella took a sip of water. In her gentlest voice, she said, “It’s okay. Ms. Garland’s current place of work is also in the financial district. I can always ask her out for a meal if she’s available since she’s not too far away. I heard that Ms. Garland’s company is releasing a new product. She must be busy with the launch right now.”

“That’s right. My daughter works so hard.” The very mention of this made Linda’s heart ache. “She went abroad for a few months for something, and she’s been running around like mad since she came home. She doesn’t even have the time to come home for dinner!”

“Is she really that busy?” Stella frowned. “Does Mr. Hamilton not care about his girlfriend?”

Despite her mumbling, Linda managed to catch the word “Mr. Hamilton.”

“You mean to say that my Belle is dating this Mr. Hamilton person?”

Stella pretended to look as if she had said something wrong and smiled apologetically at Linda. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Garland. This isn’t news to our circle. I figured that Ms. Garland would’ve told you by now.”

“Who is Mr. Hamilton?” asked Linda again.

“He’s the new CEO of the company Ms. Garland is working at right now. He’s of mixed ethnicity.” Stella glanced at Linda. “I think they got together when she was abroad, but she never made the news public.”

Linda’s expression changed drastically, and she could not help but look at Xandra.

Of course, Linda had no say in who Rayna chose to date.

However, given that Rayna’s future mother-in-law was present, Linda found the situation quite embarrassing.

Stella assumed that Linda was embarrassed by the outsiders hearing about her family’s personal affairs.

Her eyes flickered as she feigned a casual tone. “I also heard some gossip from others about how Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Faymon share a mother, but I’m not sure of what Ms. Garland makes of this.”

“Huh?” Linda’s eyes looked as though they were about to pop out from their sockets.

Rayna had said nothing about Jefferson and Curtis’ relationship. Coincidentally, Xandra also avoided discussing that part of her past and chose to remain silent.

Linda was completely blindsided by this information since she was not privy to it at all. She found this absolutely shocking to hear.

She wanted to fish out her phone and call Rayna to ask her for clarification.

A few seconds later, she remembered that Curtis’ mother was right there. There was no need for her to make the call.

Linda glanced at Xandra. “Xandra, do… you have another son?”

What?

When Stella noticed Linda asking Xandra this after taking her words into consideration, Stella smiled very gently.

“No,” said Xandra coldly.

This immediately shook Stella out of her stupor. “I’m sorry,” said Stella apologetically. “I didn’t know that —”

“There’s no need to be so cunning at such a young age,” replied Xandra curtly, interrupting her. “Don’t pretend to address Mrs. Garland so respectfully and spit on her hospitality by saying such awful things.”

“I’ve never had such thoughts,” replied Stella humbly. “I’ve definitely said something I shouldn’t have.”

Chapter 447

“If you were really friends with Rayna, you wouldn’t have vilified her in front of her mother and made it sound as though she’s a malicious, two-timing person. She broke up with Curtis before she left the country. Whether or not she has a new boyfriend, that’s something she’s free to do and is no one else’s business,” Xandra said with a sneer.

Stella bit her lip. “That’s just what I heard from others. I deeply respect Ms. Garland.”

Despite her reply, Xandra did not buy it. “If that were true, you wouldn’t have believed what others said. I’m over twenty years older than you, and I can tell what you’re thinking. I turned a blind eye because it’s not easy to be working at your age. If I choose to be petty, you can forget about attaining wealth or status anywhere else you go, let alone at Faymon Group.”

She spoke calmly but firmly. Stella was so intimidated that she could only bow her head without daring to utter a single word.

After a long pause, Xandra finally glanced at the younger woman. “All right, you should leave after finishing your drink. We’re about to close soon anyway.”

Stella turned to Linda and gave a slight bow. “I’ll be leaving, then.”

Linda’s expression remained cold as she ignored Stella.

I didn’t notice it before until Xandra pointed it out. I’ve only now realized how devious Stella is. She claims to be Belle’s friend yet speaks ill of her!

After Stella left, Linda took Xandra’s hand and said, “Thank you for standing up for Belle. I don’t mix with others much, so I had no idea how awful the youngsters are nowadays.”

“Don’t mention it. Belle is an amazing child. It can’t be helped if she and Curtis don’t get along. I hope you won’t cease to be my friend just because we don’t get to be in-laws,” Xandra replied with a smile.

Her response immediately put Linda at ease. “What are you talking about? I’m the one who worried you’d think I wasn’t worthy of being your friend.”

“Not at all. I couldn’t be happier to be friends with you.”

“In that case, why don’t you come to my house later and have a meal? When the sweet soup is ready, you can take some back for Mr. Faymon.”

Xandra nodded while beaming. “Okay. By the way, you don’t have to keep addressing him as Mr. Faymon. Just call him by his name.”

Meanwhile, Stella’s cheeks were still burning even after she left Obelisk Mall.

After learning that Linda was Rayna’s mother, Stella had deliberately said all those things to embarrass her.

However, she had never imagined that the woman next to Linda would be Curtis’ mother and would end up giving her an earful.

Naturally, outsiders wouldn’t know anything about Curtis’ relationship with Jefferson. The mastermind behind this plan was the one who told me about it, and the same person arranged for me to return to Norwal City.

A chill ran down Stella’s spine and her brows furrowed as she recalled Xandra’s contemptuous gaze and words.

“How dare she talk to me like that? Who on earth is that woman?”

Although she knew about the relationship between Curtis and Jefferson, she knew nothing about their biological mothers.

She hailed a taxi at the side of the road, got into the car, then made a phone call.

The international call went through almost immediately.

“What is it?” asked a muffled female voice. The person spoke fluent Chanaean.

Stella knew the other party had done something to change the sound of their voice. That was the case in almost every call, so she took no notice.

“I met Curtis Faymon’s mother today. Send me her details,” she replied.

The person on the other end of the line gave a bark of laughter. “You haven’t completed what I asked you to do, yet you’re already in a hurry to make your way to the Faymon residence?”

“It seems that you’ve overestimated me,” Stella responded. She took a pack of cigarettes from her bag, lit one of them, and rolled down the car window. “Beauty and coy behavior don’t work on him.”

“Why do you want information on his mother, then?” the other party asked.

Stella blew a puff of smoke out the window, seemingly mocking the person for being slow on the uptake. “Even the thirsty crow in the fable knew how to put stones into the pitcher so it could drink the water. Since I can’t make my move through him, I’ve got to think of another way.”

“You’d do well not to forget how you got here. Had I not destroyed your information in advance, do you think Curtis would’ve let you off the hook if he found out?”

The memory of the past made Stella’s eyes dim.

A moment later, however, her gaze softened again, and she spoke with much more restraint. “At any rate, you’re my backers. Since you’ve already paid, I’ll do a good job. I’ll let you know if anything comes up here.”

“I’ll email you the information you want later.”

Stella murmured an acknowledgment while stretching a hand out of the car window and flicking the ash from her cigarette. “Oh, I’ve something to tell you.”

When the driver saw what she was doing, he wanted to stop her.

Through the rearview mirror, he saw Stella sitting with her legs crossed. Her skirt had ridden up, exposing her fair thighs a little. She also had a cigarette between her lips and exuded an imposing aura.

Too preoccupied with sneaking a few more peeks at her, he nearly rammed into the car in front.

He quickly continued driving as though nothing had happened and no longer dared to tell her off.

Stella looked up and glanced at the driver, then spoke into the phone in a low voice. “I bumped into Rayna today. She was very careful with her movements. It seems that she’s pregnant.”

“What?” The person on the other end of the line was so shocked that they practically shouted. “Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? Rayna’s pregnant?”

Thinking back to the moment she saw Rayna and her attire, Stella answered, “There’s no mistake. I read the information about her daily life, so I know she likes dressing up. Even when she goes to work, she always looks her best. How could someone who likes making an impression with her appearance suddenly change to a laid-back style after working at another company? She doesn’t have a noticeable

bump yet, so she’s probably still in the early stages of her pregnancy.” Seeing that the other party was silent for a long time, she asked, “Are you so surprised that she’s pregnant?”

“Got it. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

The other person ended the call immediately after saying that as though they had some urgent matter to attend to.

Stella stared at her phone.

When I came to Norwal City, this person only gave me vague details and said Rayna and Curtis had dated in the past. I thought this person couldn’t care less about Rayna, but when I mentioned that she was pregnant, that person was so shocked that they didn’t say anything for a long time. Why would they be so surprised by her pregnancy?

Over in Yartran, Naomi had just gotten off the phone with Stella. After hearing the news, she changed her clothes immediately and went out.

It took her much effort to finally locate Arnaud at a club where he was in business discussions. Disguising herself as a waitress, she approached him discreetly.

When he recognized that it was her, his gaze clouded over.

He quickly excused himself, and Naomi followed him.

One after another, the pair walked into a private room.

Arnaud turned to look at her with a hard expression. “Do you have any idea how many people are watching you? Why did you still come here?”

“I just received word that Rayna is pregnant. She’s not showing yet, so it probably happened not too long ago,” she responded, looking solemn.

His expression finally shifted. “Didn’t Curtis attend that party the other night too?”

“That’s still too soon. You wouldn’t be able to detect it without a detailed examination. If it’s possible to detect the pregnancy through a urine test, it must be a month already.”

His gaze darkened, and his tone became harsher as he said, “It isn’t Curtis’? His body is in such terrible condition that he can barely live another year, so how is it that his reproductive system is still functioning?”

She shook her head. “I’m not too sure either. I—”

Suddenly, Arnaud kicked over the glass coffee table, using so much force that it flew through the air. Broken glass scattered across the floor. Terrified, Naomi fell silent.

 

Chapter 448

Naomi had been with Arnaud for years, and she had rarely seen him in such an unhinged state.

Arnaud panted heavily while pacing the room. He spat viciously, “Doesn’t she like Curtis? Why is she suddenly seeing Jefferson and pregnant to boot?” His fury exploded, and he kicked several bar stools over. “Why is he so lucky? He never has to work hard for anything in his life! Father always gives the best to him and never asks if I want it! I worked so hard to get everything I have today, yet he simply picks up a wife and a child! And as if fighting with me wasn’t enough, even his kid has to join in! F*ck him!”

He continued smashing things around the room like an unrestrained beast.

He even punched an LED screen, ignoring the blood trickling down his fist.

“Cyrus, that’s enough! Stop it!” Naomi rushed forward and hugged him tightly from behind. “Please stop hurting yourself. It breaks my heart to see you like this. All of this is rightfully yours. I’ll help you get everything back. I’ll never let him inherit the Terblanc family.”

Perhaps her comforting words got through to Arnaud, for he finally calmed down.

He muttered gloomily, “Jefferson probably has no idea that Rayna is pregnant, or he would’ve rushed down to Norwal City to be with her. You’ve got to think of some way to trap Jefferson in Jetroina.”

Rayna attended to his wounds and replied, “I know exactly what’s on your mind. Focus on your work and leave the rest to me. I won’t let you down.”

Once she removed her hands from his skin, Arnaud caressed her cheek and murmured, “Thank you. Sorry for troubling you.”

She shook her head adamantly and pressed her cheek deeper into his palm. “I love you, and I’ll do anything for you. If you don’t have enough money, I can take over my dad’s company and get you more resources, Cyrus. Just say the word.”

Arnaud narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and said, “I don’t need it yet. Curtis pulled some strings and restricted my entry to Jetroina. Your father’s company can help me gather information instead.”

“Sure. Just let me know how I can help.”

The two of them moved to the couch, where Arnaud pulled Naomi onto his lap.

He stroked her hair and asked, “Is there any progress on Aoba Project?”

“No. There are too many wealthy businessmen in Chanaea. It’s impossible to investigate all of them, especially when you throw those from Horbah and Terrandya into the mix. But it’s fine if we can’t find an investor. I managed to get your men inside,” explained Naomi.

“That’s a good girl.” Arnaud kissed her as a reward.

That drew a sweet smile from Naomi. Still, her joy was short-lived. Worry tinged her features as she uttered, “Jefferson has plenty of informants. He knows about Aoba Project too.”

Arnaud seemed unperturbed by this revelation. “Well, all he can do is wait and see. He can’t do any better than me if I can’t find the person. The only capable people he has are Ringo and Rayna.”

“I knew I should’ve upped the dosage of that drug.” Naomi pursed her lips in displeasure. “If he dies, the Terblanc family will be yours. We wouldn’t even be in this situation.”

Arnaud lay on the couch and said, “If he dies under mysterious circumstances, Father will surely suspect my involvement. Plus, the real threat is the baby in Rayna’s belly.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure the plan goes off without a hitch.” After her reassuring promise, Naomi pounced on him and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing and cuddling him. “Cyrus, spend the night with me, hmm?”

Arnaud grinned wickedly and moved his hand up her back. “I’m a busy man, but if you can convince me to stay, I won’t leave.”

Meanwhile, Rayna sprained her ankle after tripping during her shower last night.

Despite using a cold spray on the injured ankle, she still spent the better half of the night tossing and turning in pain.

Once her alarm clock rang, she packed her bags and hurried to the airport. She was, at best, half- awake as she entered the VIP waiting area.

Rayna had a flight attendant show her to a couch where she could rest.

She only managed to catch a few winks when she felt someone patting her shoulder.

“It’s time to board the plane, Rayna.” A rich baritone sounded beside her ear.

“Wait,” Rayna mumbled while swatting the hand away. “Let me sleep a bit more.”

Instead, the person replied insistently, “Wake up. You can sleep once you’re on the plane.”

“Ugh, don’t disturb me.” Rayna felt around for a blanket and tossed it over her head.

The flight attendant who had shown Rayna to the couch stared at the distinguished man.

She had noticed his failure to wake Rayna up and grew anxious on his behalf. “Your friend seems to be very tired. Should we change the flight schedule?”

“That won’t be necessary,” replied Curtis as he unbuttoned his suit coat. He bent over and tried to lift her.

She felt heavier than usual.

Curtis found himself bending more and taking more time to scoop her into his arms.

Her chubbier face peeked out from underneath the blanket. Curtis wondered, Has she been eating to her heart’s content? She has gained quite a bit of weight.

Rayna appeared to find the position uncomfortable and fidgeted around.

Her hands naturally wound around Curtis’ neck.

Her defenseless state had Curtis sighing in exasperation. He grumbled, “She has no sense of danger once she’s asleep. Someone could probably sell her off, and she wouldn’t know anything.”

Rayna slept for a long time and eventually woke up when she heard noises around her. She opened her eyes groggily and realized she was no longer in the VIP waiting room.

It took her a while to realize she was in the first-class cabin of a plane.

She was instantly confused.

The last thing she remembered was something tapping her shoulder and asking her to get on a plane. Did I just follow the flight attendant onto the plane?

“Are you awake?”

That sounds like Curtis’ voice.

Rayna turned around and saw him lying in the seat beside hers.

Curtis was so tall that there was not enough room for his legs on the couch-style seat. Only about half his body was splayed across the couch.

When she recognized him, she was shocked. “W-Why are you here? Are you going on a business trip?”

He shot her a sidelong glance and said, “This flight is heading to Summerbank.”

“You’re going to Summerbank for a business trip?”

Curtis’ expression shifted slightly as he wondered why Rayna became so slow after she returned from overseas.

He asked, “Have you forgotten about last night’s meeting?”

“What does a meeting at Faymon Group have to do with me?” Rayna was still befuddled.

Her gaze landed on several desserts on a small table. She suddenly felt hungry and grabbed a few cake rolls off the plate.

Curtis glowered at her.

Her words came out muffled as she stuffed her mouth with cake rolls. “I’m a bit hungry. You can ask the flight attendant to get you more. Stop looking at me like that. I’m not a thief.”

“Rayna, why are you heading to Summerbank?”

Rayna answered swiftly, “To shoot a short film for Glory Corporation’s new product, of course! They couldn’t get anyone else, so I had to go…”

She suddenly trailed off as bits and pieces of her sleep-addled memory returned to her.

Last night, she had hurried to Glory Corporation for a meeting. Curtis had come along and listened to her update on the new product.

She explained that the budget was too small to find a suitable female lead for the short film. Although the best she could do was hire an up-and-coming male actor and fill the female role herself, she believed the film would be a success.

Rayna was confident in both the script and the director. They had also invested heavily in the costumes, makeup, and set designs.

Alas, Curtis disagreed with her proposal, claiming she did not respect Faymon Group and their collaboration. He even brought up the male actor’s old scandals. If netizens dug up the actor’s scandalous past just as the new product was launched, the promotional campaign would immediately go down the drain.

Rayna had been exhausted from preparing the short film proposal and annoyed that she had to fill the role of the female lead because the actress they approached had demanded an unreasonably high remuneration.

Curtis’ criticism set her off, and her temper flared.

She argued with him in front of everyone in the conference room. At the end of their heated exchange, she gave Curtis an ultimatum—he could complain less or play the male lead himself.

After a protracted moment of silence, he said, “Sure. I’ll do it.”

 

Chapter 449

Darn it!

Upon recalling what happened the previous afternoon, Rayna forgot about her swiss roll and looked at the man in shock.

I’m going to be filming the short film with Curtis?

“M-Mr. Faymon, maybe you should reconsider this.” Rayna was gripped with unease at the thought of how they were going to be spending several days together.

It felt as if she was deliberately trying to approach Curtis and could not live a life without him.

Rayna added, “You’ll have to show your face in the video. Aren’t you someone who doesn’t like appearing in public?”

“That’s right.”

At that, Rayna relaxed. Right as she was thinking of asking Ella to contact the actor to hurry over, Curtis’ nonchalant voice traveled into her ears. “I’ll just get the editors to remove my parts after the filming.”

Rayna was speechless at that.

After devouring the rest of the swiss rolls, she mumbled, “The actor is not bad, honestly. I don’t know why you insist on holding him onto his old scandal…”

“You’re just too naïve,” Curtis said as he opened a finance magazine. “Glory has a bet with Daystar. If Daystar notices that you look like you’re winning, they’ll surely do something.”

A beat later, he continued, “All right, once we get down from the plane, call the actor to come over. I’m going to be dealing with some matters. You always have to lose something to learn your lesson, Rayna.”

Curtis’ words were like bullets from a machine gun, hurting Rayna.

Gloomily, Rayna said, “That was in the past. I didn’t know much because I just entered the industry. Haven’t I grown much since then?”

“Haven’t you been in the industry for a while now?” Curtis gave her a side-eye. “Moreover, you’ve been in Faymon Group before. Even after you change to a new environment, your method of thinking hasn’t changed. Is this the growth you speak of?”

Rayna pursed her lips in silence.

“I’d be too embarrassed to tell others that I trained you.”

Rayna shot him a glare.

Then, a few seconds later, she suddenly smiled and said, “Well, people say eighty percent of a student’s failure is attributed to the failure of the educator, while the remaining twenty percent is because of the student’s own efforts. You’re impressive, Mr. Faymon, but you couldn’t train me properly. Yet, here you are, saying that you’re embarrassed by me. I’d say you’re the failure, Mr. Faymon.”

Curtis stared at her grimly and remarked, “It looks like only your sharp tongue has had some growth.”

“It’s all thanks to the training from one of my jobs in the past,” Rayna replied, nodding in acceptance. “Just admit that you’re a bad teacher, Mr. Faymon. If I had a teacher like Mr. Tylinski, I would’ve soared to great heights a long time ago.”

“You really can’t stop mentioning Gabriel, can you?” Curtis uttered, his expression darkening.

Rayna hummed jovially before answering, “Mr. Tylinski graduated from Salinsburgh University. He’s handsome and smart. My, if it wasn’t for the other person in his heart, I would’ve courted him.”

Curtis narrowed his eyes. “Do you like courting men that much, Ms. Garland?”

“Why not if I like him?” Rayna rolled her eyes at him. “Someone has to be the aggressive one. If he’s shy, I’ll be the one to court, then.”

“Why, are you really interested in Gabriel?”

Rayna shrugged. “He’s a nice man. Anyone who knows better would like him.”

Her response manifested a ball of frustration in Curtis’ chest.

He put on his earplugs and lowered his head to return his focus to his magazine, ignoring her.

He was afraid that he would end up assigning Gabriel to Norham upon getting off the plane if he were to hear another mention of his name from Rayna.

When Curtis stopped talking, Rayna did not initiate the conversation again. Instead, she asked for some snacks from the air stewardess who walked past her.

Not long after, Rayna’s table was filled with snacks.

As she lay on the couch, she leisurely ate and watched the news on the television.

Once in a while, when Curtis took a sip of his water, he would glance at the woman from the corner of his eyes. When he saw her snacking non-stop and noticed the slight bump of her stomach under the blanket, he pressed his lips together.

He realized that the woman had been glutinous ever since she returned to the country.

Isn’t she afraid of overeating?

Meanwhile, as Rayna had drunk two glasses of juice, she felt the urge to use the lavatory in no time.

After pulling away the blanket on her, she planted her feet on the ground, only to hiss in pain when the ache from her ankle traveled up her leg.

Curtis whipped his head toward her immediately. At the sight of her furrowed brows, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I twisted my ankle when I was showering yesterday.”

The floor had been wet and slippery. When she nearly fell, she was terrified for her babies and quickly grabbed the corner of the sink.

She ended up twisting her ankle.

Curtis did not expect that from her, and he promptly stood up. “Let me take you there.”

“No, it’s fine. I can still walk.” Rayna waved her hand dismissively. After a few tentative steps, she realized it was not hurting anymore, so she started making her way to the restroom.

Curtis sat back in his seat, but his eyes were still fixed on her.

When he saw Rayna, who was walking fine up to a second ago, abruptly stumble, his heart lurched.

Fortunately, she had grabbed one of the seats in time.

However, when Rayna started walking again, she was tiptoeing on her left foot, seemingly in great pain.

Unable to bear watching her anymore, Curtis strode over and lifted her into his arms. “Not only did your appetite grow after coming back to the country, but you’ve also lost some of your intellect. You couldn’t even walk on flat ground.”

In her panic, Rayna wrapped her arms around the man’s neck, but when she heard his words, she felt extremely aggrieved. She yelled, “So what if I have a big appetite? It’s not as if you’re paying for my food! Don’t worry. We’ve already broken up. I won’t take your money even if I lose my mind!”

Not wanting to waste his breath on her, Curtis put her down once they reached the restroom.

After opening the restroom door, Curtis looked at her and said, “It’s fine if you can’t lock the door. No one’s going to come this way.”

Knowing that he was mocking her, Rayna shot him a glare.

Right then, a woman’s scream came out of the restroom.

Rayna snapped her head upward. When she saw the naked back of a woman, a hand covered her eyes.

Curtis grimly closed the restroom door.

A while later, Rayna said, “See? I’m not the only one who can’t lock the door.”

Curtis did not know how to respond to that.

Several minutes later, the door to the restroom finally opened again.

A man and a woman came out from the narrow space.

The man looked collected as if he had not done something shocking, but the woman was clearly flustered. After apologizing to Rayna and Curtis, she quickly towed the man away.

Curtis asked the air stewardess to clean up the restroom.

He covered Rayna’s eyes the entire time, so she could see nothing. Yet, she dared not make a sound. Only when she heard him summoning the air stewardess did she say, “They’re gone now, so move your hand away.”

When she could finally see again, she relaxed and peeked at the man beside her.

She had no idea how some people just could not hold themselves back to the point they would use the restroom for that although it was only a two-hour flight. Nevertheless, Curtis had protected her from witnessing an unwanted sight.

Right then, the air stewardess came back out of the restroom and said, “Miss, you can use the restroom now.”

Rayna nodded. “Thank you.”

When she was just done washing her hands, she looked down at her stomach and was taken aback by the sight.

Is the baby bump that obvious now? I was lying down and eating just now, and Curtis was right beside me. Did he notice anything?

Still, when Rayna recalled the normal expression on Curtis’ face while he was looking at her, she guessed that he knew nothing. She let out a sigh of relief and opened the restroom door after tidying herself up.

 

Chapter 450

She walked out to see Curtis leaning against the wall with his legs slightly bent. He looked dashing.

Hearing her footsteps, he looked up and met her gaze.

Rayna’s heart raced as she stepped out of the restroom. She instinctively wanted to put her hand on her belly but was afraid that he would notice something was off. Instead, she grabbed the handle of the restroom door and walked out slowly.

Curtis straightened his back and came to her. “Let me carry you.”

“Oh, no need,” Rayna replied hastily. She was afraid he would realize something if he were to carry her.

Holding his arm, she said, “Just help me back, Mr. Faymon. Thank you.”

Curtis’ eyes turned dark, but he said nothing and allowed her to use him as a cane as they walked back to their seats.

It was mealtime. The flight attendant was asking the first-class passengers what they would like to eat. Some passengers had already received their meals and started eating. The cabin was an enclosed space, so the smell of food was wafting in the air.

Rayna and Curtis were walking along the aisle when the smell of stinky fish suddenly attacked their nostrils.

She took a whiff and felt her stomach churning.

Realizing she was about to puke, Rayna covered her lips hastily and pushed Curtis away to run to the restroom.

Alas, she wasn’t quick enough.

As a result, she bent down and puked her guts out.

The passenger in the window seat saw that and scowled disapprovingly. “That’s gross! Show some respect and go vomit in the restroom, not the aisle. This is so rude!”

Curtis shot the passenger a sharp glare. “She’s unwell and couldn’t help it.”

At first, the passenger was taken aback by Curtis’ stern expression, but he soon recalled that they were both in the first-class cabin and assumed they had similar social standing. Determined not to back down, he kept complaining, “If she’s sick, take some medicine and go to bed!”

“Yes.” Another passenger in the back stuck his head out. “The plane isn’t hers. She’s a passenger, but so are we! This is disgusting.”

“Anyone can be a first-class passenger now, huh? How gross.”

“Why didn’t she take the high-speed train?”

Curtis’ eyes blazed with fury when he saw Rayna leaning against the wall and her hands trembling. His gaze shifted from her to the other passengers, and he pinned them with a withering stare.

Both men trembled in fear and recoiled silently.

Curtis patted Rayna’s back and asked, “Do you still feel unwell?”

Rayna shook her head. “I…”

She attempted to speak but could not find the right words.

The hurtful words of the passengers stung her deeply, sending her into a state of overwhelming sorrow. Her shoulders trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Curtis held her shoulders and guided her back to her seat. He then summoned the flight attendant to clean the mess.

The flight attendant nodded and asked Rayna gently if she needed any medication.

Rayna sank back into her seat and gratefully accepted the hot water from Curtis.

“It was my fault for eating too much. The air circulation in the enclosed cabin isn’t that good, too.” Rayna was still sniffling. “I wanted to go to the restroom but couldn’t help it…”

“It’s fine. Anyone can have accidents,” Curtis consoled her as he patted her head gently. “It wasn’t your fault. Besides, you’ve done your best.”

Tears sprung to Rayna’s eyes when she saw how he sided with her.

She had only eaten a while ago as she was extremely hungry and didn’t want her babies to go hungry either. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect to puke in the airplane.

Curtis was afraid she would feel unwell on an empty stomach, so he got some pasta from the flight attendant.

However, Rayna dared not eat any and only sipped on the hot water. “We’ll arrive soon. I’ll just eat at the hotel later. There are a few other first-class passengers on board. I’d rather not have them judge me any further.”

Curtis nodded. “All right.”

Rayna watched the news for a while and felt sleepy. Soon, she fell asleep in her seat.

Curtis pulled out the earplugs and stuffed them in her ears before he walked away.

The head stewardess was about to make the landing announcement to remind the passengers to put their tables up when she noticed a handsome man emerging from the first-class cabin. “Sir, is there anything I can help you with?”

When he came nearer, the head stewardess belatedly recognized him and stammered, “M-Mr. Faymon.”

“Tell the captain to turn back to Norwal City Airport.”

Huh?

She froze in shock. Hesitantly, she reminded him, “Mr. Faymon, the plane is about to land soon.”

“My ex-fiancée isn’t feeling well.”

The head stewardess was confused. Mr. Faymon had a fiancée?

She was in a daze when Curtis got his phone to show her something. “Fly the plane back using the same route.”

He stood there, his presence intimidating and imposing.

The head stewardess glanced at the document and said, “Mr. Faymon, we apologize for the inconvenience.”

She then went to inform the captain about Curtis’ order.

A few minutes later, the passengers noticed the plane was about to land at Summerbank International Airport but suddenly made a U-turn and flew away. Shocked, they wondered what was going on when

an announcement was made, claiming that the runway at the airport was not operational. Hence, they couldn’t land and had to fly back to Norwal City.

The passengers expressed their disapproval. “The plane was going to land, but the runway wasn’t operational? What the heck?”

“What the hell is going on?”

The head stewardess was exasperated to be the target of their curses, especially since their boss was on the plane and had ordered them to fly back to Norwal City in order to tend to his ex-fiancée who wasn’t feeling well. They had no choice but to comply.

Ah, he can do anything he wants for love, as he is filthy rich. How lovely!

Soon, the plane arrived in Norwal City.

The passengers alighted the plane, disgruntled, vowing never to fly with the same airline again.

The head stewardess told them they would each get two thousand in compensation. When they arrived in Summerbank on their next flight, they would be sent to their destination for free. Hearing that, the passengers stopped complaining.

However, the two passengers from the first-class cabin didn’t get any compensation.

They went to the head stewardess to demand an explanation.

“I’m sorry,” she said, offering them an apologetic smile. “Our boss has blacklisted you both, so you won’t be able to fly with us. However, you are free to choose other airlines.”

Both passengers’ faces contorted in anger. One asked, “Who is your boss? He’s so hot-tempered!”

“Mr. Curtis Faymon of Faymon Group.” As they had nothing else to say, she continued, “My boss wants me to relay his message to you. Not everyone who can afford first-class seats is well-mannered. It can be seen through one’s actions.”

The passengers had no words to refute.

When Rayna woke up, she noticed she wasn’t in the first-class seat.

Am I lying on a bed?

She looked around and noticed that she seemed to be in a place that resembled her bedroom. This only added to her confusion.

Am I dreaming?

She assumed they had landed in Summerbank International Airport, and if she hadn’t woken up, Curtis would most likely have carried her off the plane himself. Looking up, she saw Curtis lifting the curtain and approaching her.

“Didn’t I dream of you a while ago?” Rayna’s eyes widened when she saw him. “Why do you keep appearing in my dreams?”

A flash of amusement appeared in Curtis’ eyes when he heard her words.

“You’re not dreaming. You’re awake.” Curtis came over to her and pulled up the shade. “This is not your home. You’re on the plane.”

Rayna whipped her head around to see the clouds outside the window. She gaped incredulously at the sight.

“Oh? Can first-class cabins change their design?” She turned to look at him, confused. “Spending two thousand for this privilege is worth it.”

Curtis let out a low chuckle. “Ms. Garland, that’s not it. There was something wrong with the plane we boarded earlier, so it flew back to Norwal City when you were asleep.”

“We are on a different plane? D-Did you carry me off the plane to board this one?”

“The next available flight to Summerbank is five in the evening. You’re on my private plane.”

Rayna’s initial amazement quickly changed to envy.

He’s indeed a big shot. When there are no available flights, he can ride on his own private plane. I envy him!