Ch. 671..680

Chapter 671

“Okay. We'll go over at once," Milo replied before casting a look at Curtis and Robin. “Please excuse us."

Seeing that Milo was leaving, Simone followed suit. Before doing so, she again stressed that it was imperative that Curtis give the medicine to Rayna and remember to collect more when it was close to running out.

Curtis gave his word that he would do so. When they had both left, he went over to the hospital bed and bent down to scoop Rayna up in his aims. “Go and drive the car over, Robin. We'll go to Jayfort first. Also, notify Han ey to go straight to Jayfort," he instructed Robin as he walked out of the ward.

Robin gave an answer in acknowledgment and walked in front of them to pave the way for them.

A black Maybach slowly drove away from the entrance of the hospital. Across the road was a white car with a man in the driver's seat. He watched as the black Maybach left before taking out a cigarette from liis pocket. Just as he was about to light it, liis gaze fell on the spot between liis thumb and index finger of liis right hand. After putting the cigarette back into the box. he started the car and drove forward unhurriedly.

During the drive to Jayfort, Rayna. who initially had her eyes closed, slowly opened her eyes. The first tiling she did was to direct her gaze to the person beside her. Upon confirming that it was Curtis, she lifted her hand slowly to touch liis cheek. Alas, a sharp stinging pain assailed her hand when she did so. Just as her hand was about to fall, he grabbed her wrist and looked down at her. “You're awake. Are you still in great pain?"

“It's still bearable," she replied in a hoarse voice. Honks drifted into her ears, upon which she asked, “Where are we going?”

“Jayfort." Grasping her hand, Curtis kissed her on the forehead and promised. “I'll never leave you behind anymore. It'll never happen again.”

This time, it's already a miracle that I found her in a day. If the previous incident were to repeat itself, and she was taken abroad, what would become of me if I really couldn't find her forever? I don't even dare to think of that possibility.

“Oh yes, how's the matter with the elderly traditional medical practitioner?” All of a sudden. Rayna recalled that then trip there was meant to locate the elderly traditional medical practitioner.

Curtis did not keep her in the dark anymore, answering honestly, “He's dead. One of the men who took you away from the hotel that day was liis brother. As for the identity of the other young man, I've already ordered someone to look into it.”

Only after she heard his response did realization gradually dawn upon her. “I see. No wronder. then. I didn't suspect anything when the man claimed to be the elderly traditional medicine practitioner himself. but I later found him to be overly aggressive and wras very much puzzled about it.”

“How so?” Curtis inquired.

“As far as I remember, that elderly traditional medicine practitioner was exceedingly gentle in nature. Besides, he talks really slowly. If you're impatient, you'll even get an anxiety attack speaking to him.” At that point, a smile quirked her lips. “By the way, do you know' who's the person that saved me when we left the beach?”

At her question, Curtis arched a brow, responding in a low’ and unhurried voice, “No.”

On the heels of that, he added. “You're not wrell yet, so don't think about all this. Rest well. Right now’, the most important tiling is to recuperate." Verily, he did not want her to spend the last vestiges of her energy deciphering those people's tine identities.

“You're right," Rayna affirmed with a nod and nestled in liis embrace. When the car drove onto a small street, the shouts of haw’kers and the sounds of locals washing their clothes by the river could be heard fiom outside the car window; “I've ahvays heard that the pace at Jayfort is very sedate. From the look of tilings now, it's true.”

“Do you like this place?" Curtis stretched out a hand to stroke her hah which was a touch messy.

“Yeah," the woman confessed, bobbing her head. She was fond of a classic scenic town with waterways like Jayfort, for it gave people a sense of comfort in their loneliness.

“If you like it, we'll buy a house here. In the future, we can come here often with the kids." Curtis had his lips beside her ear, sounding incredibly indulgent.

“Sure." A faint smile appeared on Rayna's pale face. Then, she lamented softly, “It feels like we've never spent such a long time together in the past."

That casual comment of hers promptly turned liis expression solemn. “That won't happen again. I'll spend more time with you and the kids in the future."

Indeed, the amount of time they spent together daily throughout the course of their relationship could not even begin to compare with that of the recent tivo months.

Suddenly. Rayna murmured, “I'm sorry. Because of me, you can't live your life peacefully. Previously. I even dragged you into the internal strife between Jefferson and Terblanc Group when you were already swramped with the matters of Faymon Group. The dust had just settled, and Faymon Group is facing another impending crisis, yet you've got to bustle around for my sake. I'm sorry, Curtis.”

“Why are you apologizing, silly? It had never been you dragging me down but the other wray around." That time around, the incidents befalling Rayna came too sudden and bizarre. It was definitely

premeditated, or Curtis would not still be in the dark about the mastermind's intention even after two months had passed.

His instincts screamed that it was a plot orchestrated by the mastermind. The ultimate goal was undoubtedly Faymon Group and him instead of Rayna. Perhaps she was but a pawn in the whole scheme.

After Faymon Group encountered a crisis in the real estate project in Yartran. its share prices had been dropping even till then. Despite the occasional rises, they were never on par with the decline.

At the same time, the progress of Glory's newdy developed product had also been hampered. Just a little over a wreek ago. some consumers lodged reports of Glory's cosmetic products causing damage to the skin. Worse still, some claimed that Glory's perfumes contained a minute amount of refined poppy that would make clients addicted after inhaling them.

Curtis did not mention any of that to Rayna. On top of that, he even instructed Ella to keep silent, forbidding the latter fi om saying a w’ord to her.

In liis eyes, company matters paled in comparison to Rayna's affairs.

At present, Faymon Group was controlled by Alfred behind the scenes, so he was not worried. As for Glory, he entrusted it to Jasmine, letting her handle tilings secretly. The current focus was on dealing with the investigation by Market Regulation Bureau.

In truth, he was confident in solving the few problems Glory was facing. Having been in the business field for so many years, he had witnessed numerous tactics used in sabotaging others. The only thing he needed to do right then was to ferret out the person making trouble for Glory on the sly.

Curtis took his phone out of his pocket and flipped to the photos taken by the bodyguards he sent to the seaside mansion. As soon as he sawr the great pile of laboratory equipment in the living room, liis first thought was that the culprit wranted to experiment on Rayna. Precisely speaking, they were targeting the parasite within her.

While that was merely his conjecture, he was totally convinced that it could be nothing else but the truth.

He scrolled through the photos on his phone. The moment his gaze landed on a tiny bit of plant in a shattered glass vessel, liis eyes glinted coldly.

Only when he lowered his eyes did he put awray the chilliness in them. He studied the woman in liis anus, then directed liis gaze on the emerald bracelet on her wrist. A flash of something dark flittered across liis eyes.

 

 

 

Chapter 672

Curtis distractedly brushed his fingers across the emerald bracelet that had a unique cool feeling to the touch. He remained lost in his thoughts for a long time until Rayna voiced. “The person who gave me this emerald bracelet was with the person who impersonated the elderly traditional medicine practitioner.”

The instant Curtis heard her statement, he was reminded of the man in the surveillance footage who looked just like Chandler.

“Rayna. do you still remember the man who came to see you at the Faymon residence back then and introduced himself as Chandler?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Rayna nodded in response before she felt that the man's words seemed to have an underlying meaning. Hence, she asked directly, “You've also discerned it? That man wasn't Chandler, right?”

“No, he wasn't,” Curtis admitted. Subsequently, he revealed. “He was among those who took you away from the hospital.”

That stunned Rayna for a moment before she reached out a hand and stroked the emerald bracelet at her wrist, muttering. “How strange, then. He conspired with that man impersonating the elderly traditional medicine practitioner and took me away, but he didn't do anything to hurt me.” That aside, he even gave me this emerald bracelet.

At that thought, she belatedly told Curtis what the man said to her when he gave her the emerald bracelet. “Oh yes, he also knew about the parasite within me. He said that this emerald bracelet can keep it calm in my body, preventing it from running wild.”

That revelation gradually opened Curtis' mind to the implication behind it.

Since the man knows about parasites and has the emerald bracelet, both point to the fact that he's from the Burke family.

Furthermore, he's a carbon copy of Chandler. If they're unrelated by blood, it isn't quite possible for them to have the same facial features.

“Mmh, we'll trust him this once.” Curtis' voice was mild, and a glimmer of something unfathomable flashed across liis eyes. In the driver's seat at the front. Robin looked at him through the rearview mirror, and their gazes met. The assistant then inclined his head in acknowledgment.

Meanwhile, Chandler, who was making liis way back to Noiwal City from another city in a minivan, wanted to alight from the vehicle when he passed by Glory in hopes of trying his luck to bump into Rayna.

Nora wanted to stop him. Unexpectedly, when Chandler opened the car door to get out of the vehicle, a motorcycle zipped past him. The motorcyclist whipped out a Sumanthovean army knife and swung it at liis face.

“Watch out, Chandler!” In the minivan, Nora yanked Chandler back into the vehicle. The blade of the Sumanthovean army knife slashed the crook of his arm, and blood immediately gushed out of the bright red gash.

“You're injured!” At the sight of the relatively deep cut on the man's arm, Nora shot out her hand to stem the constant bleeding. “Head to the hospital, quick!” she ordered the driver anxiously.

“Nora, Nora, I'm fine.” At the sight of the sheer anxiety etched across her features and her red-rimmed eyes, Chandler's heart clenched. He reached out to comfort the young woman, saying, “Everything's all right. It's just a graze.”

However, Nora was in such a panic that she roared. “I told you not to get out of the vehicle, but you simply wouldn't listen! Do you know that just a week ago, the same thing happened to a celebrity who was on the rise? Wlien he alighted from the car, a motorcyclist swiped a blade across liis throat, and he died on the spot.”

As she spoke, she started sobbing. “Recently, scandals about Glory's products have been popping up successively. It goes without saying that it must have been the doing of Ms. Garland's competitor. And you're a celebrity under Happy Entertainment... Tell me, when are you going to wise up?”

“Nora... I merely wanted to go and check on Ms. Garland. As you said. Glory has been facing a public relations crisis recently. She must be swamped with work.” There, he glanced over liis shoulder in Glory's direction and added. “I haven't seen her in a while these days.”

Glimpsing the love in his eyes when he spoke of Rayna. Nora frowned slightly. “Get tliis straight. Chandler. She's the owner of Happy Entertainment, the mistress of Faymon Group, Mrs. Faymon, and Curtis' woman.”

She softly reminded Chandler of that fact, also warning him not to cross the line, much less risk liis career.

“Yeah. I know.” Truth be told, he understood that all too well. Regretfully, some tilings could not be controlled even after one had seen reason.

Wlien the minivan arrived at the entrance of the hospital, Nora helped Chandler out of the vehicle. As soon as they did so, a reporter with a camera snapped a picture of them. Seeing that, she stepped fonvard to snatch the camera away, but the man ran off. She wranted to give chase, yet she was w’orried about Chandler.

“Never mind, Nora. Let him go,” Chandler urged. Then, they wrent into the hospital side by side.

The doctor stitched liis w'ound. Throughout it all, Nora listened carefully to the doctor's instructions at the side. After jotting everything down, she left the hospital with Chandler and returned to the minivan.

Perceiving liis restless expression, Nora cautioned, “Go home first. If you were to meet Ms. Garland now’, she'd definitely tear into you upon seeing you in such a condition!”

“All right.” Chandler glanced at his bandaged aim. a pucker appearing between liis brows.

He was not afraid that Rayna w’ould lecture him. Instead, he feared that she would wrorry.

The attack today is really perplexing. I w’onder wdio was behind the incident. And what was the perpetrator's motive? Was it truly to injure me as a warning, or as Nora deduced, to use me to deal a blow’ to Rayna's career? I've got to mull tliis over at length.

“Postpone my engagements for the next two days. If Ms. Garland were to ask about it, say that it wras my decision and I wranted to rest for two days,” Chandler ordered.

“Will do.” Nora could still tell what took precedence. Although making money was important, it could never compare with one's life.

In a cafe near the hospital, a man wearing a baseball cap and mask walked in with a backpack. Wlien the reporter wrho sat by the window’ spotted him, he lifted his hand and beckoned him over.

Sliding a vacuum bag containing a Sumanthovean army knife to the man who had taken a seat across from him, the reporter arched a brow; “Here's the item you requested. I initially wanted to cut liis hair but accidentally injured him.”

As the man stared at the bloody Sumanthovean army knife before him, liis lips quirked upward. “It doesn't matter.”

“Say, the two of you look exactly the same. Why is it that one is a popular celebrity while the other is a muscleman?” Sipping at his coffee, the reporter eyed the man across from him provocatively.

They've got the exact same facial features, but their appearances are as different as night and day. One is a pretty boy. whereas the other seems to be from the special forces. Their auras are entirely different.

The man reached out a hand and snagged the bag on the table before stuffing it into his backpack. Thereafter, he took out a stack of envelopes and handed them to the reporter. “Here's your reward.”

The reporter stretched out a hand to take it, his gaze falling on the bruise at the crook of the man's arm. He narrowed his eyes a fraction. “Why, were you beaten by your own boss?”

“Curiosity kills the cat. Don't ask questions you shouldn't be asking.” Shouldering liis backpack, the man had a drink of the water on the table that had long since been ordered before leaving.

The reporter leaned against his chair and scowled at the man. who was leaving without a backward glance. “Tsk! I'm to foot the bill again! How stingy!”

 

 

Chapter 673

“No. 38 Wisteria Road should be here."’ Robin walked in front of Curtis and Rayna and matched the residence's unit with the number on a paper in his hand. He pointed at a wooden brick house in front of him and said to Curtis. “This is the place. Mr. Faymon.”

“Go and knock on the door/’ The second Curtis finished his sentence, Rayna reminded Robin. “Robin, check if there's a doorbell. While we were walking just now, I noticed the deliverymen rang the doorbell of the houses in the neighborhood."

Upon hearing that. Robin stood in front of the door and glanced around the door frame to locate the doorbell but to no avail. “Mrs. Faymon. I don't find any doorbell here!"

“No doorbell?" Rayna froze for a moment. She then deduced. “I believe the wooden brick houses here in Jayfort should have the standard design as approved by the government.”

After studying the door closely, Curtis held Rayna's hand, walked to the wall on his left, and pressed a button installed on a flower pot. The doorbell rang.

“You're a genius, Mr. Faymon." Upon noticing what Curtis did. Robin scratched his head with his hand. “Why didn't I think of that.”

“The residents here are all involved in the pharmaceutical business, particularly herbal medicines. So using plants to hide their doorbell is a common trick they used," Curtis explained.

Right after the explanation, a smell of herbs from the house wafted through Robin's nose. It smelled like the usual herbal medicine but was mildly herbaceous.

After pressing the doorbell three times, someone in the house finally came to open the door. The young girl, who answered the door, wore a traditional costume and had her hair bunned up. Looking confused,

she looked at the three people standing outside. “How can I help you?"

“We are looking for Cassidy," Robin replied.

“Cassidy is not here today. Come again another day." When the young girl was about to close the door. Robin went up to stop her. “Hey. kid. Any idea when will she be back?"

“I'm not sure. She might be back in a day or a couple of months," the girl answered and pouted helplessly. “I can't believe she took Jaune along and left me alone in this house. It's as if she was not worried that some bad guys would barge in and kidnap me!"

“What? A couple of months?" Robin's heart sank when he heard Cassidy might only return a few months later. He turned around and looked at the grim-faced Curtis and Rayna. who, on the contrary, looked calm. “Mr. Faymon, Mrs. Faymon. would you like to go back first? I'll come and collect the medicine from Cassidy on your behalf."

“It's okay. Let's stay here for a few more days since we're already here." Curtis placed liis hand on Rayna's waist and pulled her to his side, trying to assure her everything would be fine. “Let's wait for another day. If she still hasn't returned. I'll get someone to find her and bring her back."

Rayna hummed in response. She was disappointed but did not show her emotion because she did not want Curtis to worry and cause him unnecessary anxiousness. “Let's find a place and rest. I'm a little tired." She was not lying when she said she was tiled. In fact, she felt energy had drained out of her right after leaving the mansion by the sea. Even the short walk from the car to the house here seemed to take forever.

Rayna wondered if the blood parasite would suck her blood. What a disgusting name.

Once again, the young girl closed the door. After glancing at the wooden structure, Curtis wrapped his hand around Rayna's waist, turned around, and left. As usual, Robin led the way ahead of them.

“Shayma, are they gone?" A woman in a figure-hugging gown walked over while carrying a puppy when she noticed the door was shut.

“Yeah. They left." The little girl turned around to look at the woman standing on the stairways in the courtyard. “Cassidy, why didn't you want to meet since you knew they were coming? You even made me lie to those people.”

“People will not believe in tilings they could easily get then hands on." The woman casually glanced at the door before turning around and returning to the living hall. After putting the puppy down, she poured herself a cup of coffee, took a sip, and sighed. “You know; Simone is only good at giving me trouble.”

“That's because you're too capable, Cassidy." Shayma walked into the living room and climbed up a chan to get herself a cup. Cassidy then poured her a cup of coffee. “Did you notice anything just now?”

The little girl hummed in response. “There were two guys and a woman, and I think the woman is visually impaired." After taking a sip of the coffee, she spewed it out. “Cassidy, why is tliis coffee so bitter?"

“Oh, I forgot to tell you it's just black coffee without sugar," Cassidy smirked as she watched Shayma get down from the chair, dash to the fountain in the backyard, and gargle her mouth with water several times.

“Since you sneaked out of the house to have a barbecue with our next-door neighbor. Eugene, you should drink something bitter to stimulate the gastric acid secretion. Otherwise, you might suffer from constipation again, kiddo." Cassidy sneered while sitting in the living room.

“Come on, Cassidy. Can you not do tliis to me?" After gargling her mouth more than ten times, Shayma stood in the couityard and complained, “How could you vent your frustration on me? Eugene invited you to the barbecue, but you refused to go!"

“You guys didn't tell me it was a barbecue!" Cassidy picked up her cup. walked to the couityard. and looked at the red-faced Shayma for a few seconds. She continued, “Make it clear next time if you don't want to get it from me again."

Cassidy turned around and returned to the house, leaving Shayma fuming in the couityard.

In the meantime, a man was talking to a doctor outside a lab in a hospital. “When can I get the results?”

“In a week," the doctor answered.

Upon hearing that, the man shook the doctor's hand. “Do not give anyone the report. I'll come and collect the report myself."

“We w’on't give it to anyone. Only you're allowed to collect the report, so don't worry." The middle-aged doctor patted the man's shoulder and watched him enter the elevator. Once the elevator went down, the doctor turned around and bumped into an elderly man who had just limped out of the office. “Show me the thing he gave you."

“Here you go. Mi; Zeller." The doctor entered a room and handed him a zip-lock bag that contained a blood-stained Sumanthovean army knife.

After passing the bag to his female assistant, Andrew’ reminded the doctor, “You know what to do. right?"

“Yes, I do." The doctor inclined liis head in acknowledgment.

Andrew's assistant then gave him a yellow7 envelope. “Here is a gift from Mi; Zeller." She continued warning the doctor icily, “Tliis is between us. Got it? I'm sure you're aware of the consequences if anyone else found out about tliis, Dr. Heckler."

“Yes, yes. Got it." The middle-aged doctor accepted the yellow’ envelope and bowred before Andrew; He dared not even look the man in the eyes.

“Let's go. Jean." Andrew said to liis assistant. He walked with a crutch and headed in the elevator's direction while Jean followed right behind.

 

 

Chapter 674

When the duo stepped into the elevator, the man spoke slowly. “Jean, did you know about Jensen's matter long ago?”

“He mentioned it to me once,” Jean respectfully answered the man beside her. Her hand that was gripping the bag subconsciously tightened.

“It's all right. You two are usually close to each other, anyway. It's not a problem for you to know about it,” said the middle-aged man gently. No emotions could be identified on liis calm face. “You may get back to work once we're out of the hospital. You don't need to follow me.”

“All right,” answered Jean.

When the elevator finally arrived on the first floor. Jean exited it first while the man went straight to the parking lot on the first floor. Just like that, they went their separate ways.

Standing in the lobby. Jean was about to head out when she caught sight of a figure in the comer of the lobby. She instantly froze on the spot. By the time she came to her senses and ran out to chase after that person, the latter was already gone.

“Jensen! Jensen!” Jean yelled in the open-air parking lot. However, no one responded to her voice. After standing in the parking lot for some time, she suddenly thought of something and turned around to glance at the twenty-third floor. “So. you knew about it long ago,” she murmured.

In the meantime, a white sedan sped down the road outside the hospital. The man in the car wore a cap and a mask. Occupying the passenger seat beside him was a bag with a broken zip. A transparent bag could be seen jutting out of it. and it contained a Sumanthovean army knife that was stained with blood.

“Scar, I need you to find me a DNA testing agency. Don't let anyone know about this.” The man spoke into liis Bluetooth earphones.

In a modified container car, a bespectacled man was holding a cup of instant pasta in one hand and a pair of welding clamps in the other to weld a chip. “Jensen, why are you looking for a DNA testing agency all of a sudden?”

“Don't ask so many questions. Just look for the most reliable agency that can keep secrets,” said Jensen as he turned the steering wheel, making the car drive around the altar in the square before taking another road.

“Okay. Leave it to me,” Scar promised. Before hanging up. he asked. “Hey, remember the surveillance camera you asked me to repair last time? I'm almost done with it. When will you be free to collect it?”

“Next Tuesday.” With that. Jensen hung up before Scar could say anything else.

Realizing Jensen had hung up, Scar glared at liis phone and cussed before carrying on with liis work.

Meanwhile, when Rayna and Curtis returned to the hotel, Curtis carried her into the bathroom to help her wash up and change into a set of clean clothes. Only then did he place her on the bed.

“Get a good night's rest. I'll be in the room.” Curtis pulled the covers over her and bent over to kiss her forehead.

At that, Rayna lay down obediently. Curtis sat by the bed and waited for her to fall asleep before getting up to enter the bathroom.

He pulled out liis phone and made a call in the bathroom. “Look into Hamish Galopin's information at Granatano again.”

“All right,” responded a woman on the other end of the call. A man's voice sounded as well. “You'll need us to look into Jensen Morag and Chandler Vardy, too, right?”

“Yes. look into them,” said Curtis coldly. With liis back facing the sink, he continued. “Look into Milo Galopin. Simone Miles, and Cassidy Gilroy, too. And that elderly traditional medicine practitioner who used to live in Shvomliid Mountain. Find out what he looks like. I want all of this information.”

“Curtis, it's going to take some time to look into so many people. Should we contact Dario and liis men? It'll speed things up.” said the woman. At the same time, the sound of her typing away on a keyboard could be heard.

“Sure. Go ahead and arrange it. The faster I get the results, the better.” Curtis hung up after saying that, turning around to face the mirror above the sink. The man in the min or looked grim and had traces of exhaustion in liis gaze. There was even dark stubble visible on his chin.

Matilda Qualls and Stan, who were on the other side of the ocean, continued with their work on hand when their call with Curtis ended. After working for some time, Stan asked, “Are Rayna's eyes really incurable?”

“No idea. It's too early to come to a conclusion now’.” Matilda shut her laptop and tucked it under her arm. She then got up from her chair and walked over to Stan, only to find liis laptop's interface covered in codes.

“I'm heading upstairs first. Dario will handle things at Hawen. I'll call him later,” Matilda informed briefly. Hearing that, Stan grunted a response and watched her head upstairs.

After stretching himself, Stan rose from liis chair and approached a table by the side to pour himself some water. With the glass of water in his hand, he walked to the floor-to-ceiling window' and gazed at the sw'imming pool outside the mansion as well as the mountain highways surrounding it. Sighing

gently, he lamented to himself, “It's been five years. I can't believe I've stayed here for so long. I w’onder how7 that person is doing now.”

Meanwhile, Sheena and Jovan stopped contacting each other after their encounter during the family banquet at the presidential palace.

That day. Sheena was holding a watering can while watering her carefully cultivated plants on the balcony when her mother crept up behind her. “Sheena, did you and Jovan get into a fight?”

Wanda Schiff s voice gave Sheena such a fl ight that she lost her grip on the watering can. It fell to the ground, drenching her shoes and the hem of her skill.

“Mother, how7 many times did I tell you not to creep up on me like that?” Sheena eyed her wret dress and shoes, frowning. “They're all wret now.”

“This is our own house. There's no one else apart from a few of us here. Why are you ahvays so surprised?” Though Wanda knew7 it was her actions that gave Sheena a fright, she thought it was unnecessary for the latter to react so dramatically. She might feel bad for wetting Sheena's clothes and shoes, but she was mostly displeased by Sheena's impatient tone earlier.

“Go in and get changed. We can just let the housekeeper clean this up,” said Wanda, reaching out to pull her daughter into the house. At the same time, she summoned the housekeeper in the house to clean up the balcony.

Sitting in the living room was Frank Powell, wdio was reading the newspaper on the couch. Noting Wanda's dark expression as she descended the stairs, he adjusted his glasses and asked, “What's wrong? Why do you look so gloomy? Did you get into an argument with Sheena again?”

Wanda adjusted her shawl while making her wray to him. “Did you meet the crown prince during your visits to the presidential palace these days?”

“No. Mi; Eastbridge was the one w'ho invited me to the presidential palace, not the crown prince,” said Frank, flipping the page on his newspaper and reading the next page.

What Wanda disliked the most wras Frank's indifference to every matter in the house. Hence, she snatched the paper from him, chiding, “All you do is read the newspaper and w'atch the news every day. Political affairs are all you care about. Can’t you make some effort to give your family some attention?”

Wanda looked furious, but her eyes were red. As she spoke, her voice even sounded choked up.

 

 

Chapter 675

When Frank heard Ills wife's complaints, he folded the newspaper and removed liis glasses to look at the woman dressed in a gown. “Sheena's not a child anymore. She knows what she's doing. Besides. I didn't force her into the marriage. She was the one who agreed to it first. Wanda, you should let young people deal with their own matters.”

“Deal with their own matters? How is Sheena going to deal with it? That boy's a crown prince. This marriage was agreed upon by both parties in the first place. Besides. I didn't put a stop to the marriage because I thought there was something going on between them. Remember what you told me back then? You said the crown prince seems to be sincere about Sheena and that he was not faking liis feelings.” Wanda repeated everything Frank told her in the past. She then stepped forward and snatched the folded papers that were still in Frank's hands. “I'm warning you. Frank. I don't care how ambitious you men are in your career, but if you sacrifice my dear Sheena for it. I'll make you pay.” With that, she tossed the newspaper back to him.

A crease appeared on Frank's forehead as he stared at the newspapers Wanda had crumpled. As he put on his glasses to continue reading the papers, he thought he should at least show some concern. On second thought, he wax ed his hand and gestured for his butler. Waldo, to come over.

“Yes. Old Powell? Is there anything I can do for you?” asked Waldo after arriving before Frank.

“Find out the crown prince's situation,” said Frank. He looked up and shot Waldo a look before waving his hand. "Don't tell anyone about this.”

“Of course.” Waldo nodded and left quietly.

Sitting on the couch. Frank threw liis crumpled newspaper into the trash can and strolled toward the backyard door.

Meanwhile. Rayna could not fall asleep even after lying on the hotel bed for some time. After tossing and turning around, she sat up. leaned against the headboard, and spaced out.

Curtis, who returned from the balcony after his smoking session, saw Rayna sitting by the headboard. Her pajamas were so big that they looked loose-fitting on her. so much so that her left shoulder strap had slipped oft' to reveal her thin shoulder.

He walked to the edge of the bed and adjusted her clothes. "Why aren't you sleeping?”

Rayna held his wrist and said. “I slept too much on the way here. I can't fall asleep now.”

Pausing briefly, she asked. “Were you smoking?” She caught a faint smell of tobacco the moment Curtis entered the room.

Softly, he answered. “Yep. I was thinking about some things. The smell will be gone once I take a shower later." He knew Rayna did not like the smell of tobacco, so he rarely smoked under normal circumstances.

Suddenly. Rayna stretched her hand out and pouted. "Give me a hug.”

Seeing that. Curtis' lips curled into a smile as he sat on the bed and hugged her. “Are you not afraid of the smell anymore?”

Rayna rested her head on liis shoulders. “It's not too strong." she said, shaking her head.

Curtis smoked a cigar earlier: the smell of smoke was faint. On top of that, he had been staying on the balcony for some time, so most of the smell was practically gone. A person who usually smoked would

not detect it, but people who did not smoke or were more sensitive toward the smell would notice it. Rayna was one of the latter.

After a moment of silence. Rayna finally said. “I was just thinking, will my life be affected if the parasite stays in my body?”

Truth was. she was more worried about the parasite controlling her body, like how it was portrayed in novels and movies.

Curtis' aims that were around her stiffened, and he lowered his gaze to study her. "Why the sudden question?”

“That's what it's like in movies and novels. The minds of those who got infested by parasites will become controlled by it. Say. do you think the stories in movies are fake? Or are they based on true stories?” As she was saying that, a confused yet cheeky look was written all over her face.

“There, you said it yourself. It's just a movie. It's just acting. You can't take them seriously.” Curtis tightened his ann around her waist. The moment his palm touched her waist, he froze slightly before gently resting it on her waist, secretly inhaling sharply at the same time.

Rayna noticed the man's actions, but she said nothing. At first, she thought he was going to say something. In the end. he mentioned nothing about it.

“Do you remember what happened at the mansion back then?” Curtis had not forgotten what Simone said at the hospital. According to the latter, serendipity grass could agitate the blood parasite in Rayna's body and make it go wild.

While Curtis thought about that, an unfathomable gaze filled his dark, mysterious eyes.

Curtis had already noticed the emerald bracelet on Rayna's hand when they were in the hospital. However, he did not get the chance to examine it properly. Now that they were in the hotel, he carefully examined the emerald with the help of the lights in the room.

“It's a piece of high-quality emerald." uttered Curtis out of nowhere, leaving Rayna amused.

She pounded his chest gently and chuckled. “As expected from someone who's been doing business for many years. You can tell what's valuable and what's not at just one glance.”

Thanks to her cute gesture, the gloominess within Curtis dissipated instantly. He began teasing. "Oh. my darling, you have no idea how valuable you are. I can't believe the person who kidnapped you actually gave you a precious emerald bracelet. Do you think he'll regret it terribly if he knew I was going to bring you back so soon?”

“Nonsense.” Rayna chided, attempting to push him away.

Noticing Rayna's displeasure. Curtis hurriedly pulled her into his embrace, coaxing. “All right, all right. I was just joking. I suppose that young man isn't a bad person by nature."

“Yep. I think so. too.” Rayna nodded while cuddling up to him. She then murmured, “That man's scent smells familiar.”

The sparkle in Curtis' eyes turned into an icy glint when he heard that.

Though Rayna could not see it. she could sense the change in Curtis' emotions. Hence, she reached out to pinch liis cheeks, saying. “Don't get me wrong. I just felt that I've heard that man’s voice before. And when he put on the emerald bracelet on my wrist, I caught his scent. He smelled like... herbs, but. at the same time, not really like herbs.”

Just as she was mumbling to herself and trying to gather her thoughts. Curtis' words gave her an idea. "That man looks just like Chandler.” he said.

Rayna immediately straightened herself and articulated each word calmly. "Yes. It was the same day Chandler came looking for me when I was taking a walk in the courtyard. I've been wondering why did Chandler's scent change. So. that's what the problem was.”

Pausing momentarily, she asked. "How did you know the person who kidnapped me was someone who looked like Chandler?”

"I checked the hospital's surveillance footage.” answered Curtis.

He subconsciously glanced at her. and his gaze dimmed when he saw her shirt, which had slipped all the way down to her elbow from her sudden actions.

However, the heater in the room was on. and the temperature was warm enough that Rayna did not feel cold when her shirt slipped down.

"Rayna. I'm going to take a shower." Just as Curtis wras about to get up from the bed. Rayna held liis hand. “Why are you taking another shower? Didn't you shower already?”

Indeed. Curtis had already taken a shower before taking a smoke on the balcony.

“I stink of smoke.” answered Curtis as he leaned over to kiss her forehead. However. Rayna did not loosen her grip on him even when he was about to leave. "Forget it. Stay here and talk to me.”

Rayna wras genuinely having trouble falling asleep. Coupled with the fact that she couldn't see a tiling, it only made her feel as if time wras passing by slower than ever. It had not been easy to get Curtis to talk to her for so long. Thus, she was reluctant to have the conversation cut off suddenly.

 

 

 

Chapter 676

Unable to convince her otherwise, Curtis had no choice but to pull away the covers and slide half of his body under them.

“I'm not talking about the parasite on your body because I don't want you to worry." Truth was. he feared she would overthink.

Leaning against his chest. Rayna responded in a gentle tone. “I know, and I don't blame you for it.’’ She did not sound the slightest bit mad. "What are you plaiming to do next?" she asked.

She knew Curtis would not sit back and do nothing now that things had progressed to such a stage.

Taking a deep breath. Curtis lowered his gaze to stare at her. "There are many things I'm still unsure of. so I'm going to do a thorough investigation first. The most urgent matter now is to cure your eyes."

That was also Curtis' reason for bringing Rayna to Shvomhid Mountain in the first place.

"Then why did you still choose to come to Jayfort first?” Curtis' answer confused her.

Curtis informed Rayna about his thoughts truthfully. "The doctor on Shvomhid Mountain says the people here can create a type of medicine that can calm the parasite in your body. So. I thought maybe the person can cure your eyes. too. Back then. Hamish recommended that I look for the old traditional medicine practitioner on Shvomhid Mountain for the medicines. Since they are both people who have knowledge about herbs. I figured Cassidy would know what to do. too. At least we can compare their skills."

"Great thinking, but maybe they excel in different fields?” Rayna voiced her doubts to remind Curtis about that possibility.

"It's possible, and I considered that before. Still, there's no harm in giving it a go." As Curtis held her wrist, his gaze fell on the emerald bracelet. Without realizing it. he began nibbing the bracelet back and forth with his fingers.

If Cassidy could suppress the consciousness of the blood parasite in Rayna's body and cure her eyes at the same time, then their trip to Jayfort would be worth it.

"True. We can only take tilings one step at a time for now." said Rayna. nuzzling against Curtis' warm chest. His chest was already half-exposed under his bathrobe because of his reclined posture. Therefore, the way Rayna gently nibbed her face against his chest made him inhale sharply.

"Rayna." Curtis called out hoarsely.

"Hmm?” Rayna did not notice the change in Curtis' voice. With her hand resting on his chest, she looked in the voice's direction and stared right at his face, even though she could see nothing with those sparkling eyes of hers. "What's wrong?”

"Nothing." Curtis reached out and grabbed her hand, which was caressing his chest. He then took a deep breath to recollect himself.

Hearing liis heavy breathing, Rayna smiled mischievously and exhaled a puff of warm air on liis chest.

At that. Curtis frowned and said hoarsely. "Rayna. don't seduce me.”

Curtis was concerned about her body. He knew the parasite in her body was activated by the serendipity grass and might make a move anytime soon.

Furthermore, he remembered every word Simone said in the hospital. She would die if the parasite entered her organs.

Of course. Curtis would be lying if he said he was not at all aroused by Rayna's repetitive seductions. However, he did not want to hurt her to satisfy his personal desires.

"I'm afraid I can't control myself and will make the parasite in your body scurry around. I don't want you to suffer because of this," Curtis coaxed her softly, for fear of Rayna getting the wrong idea.

"Okay." Rayna nodded disappointedly and caressed the emerald bracelet. "Looks like this bracelet isn't that usefill after all."

Noting she was about to remove it, Curtis reached out to stop her. "Rayna. don't throw a tantrum.”

Though the effects of the emerald bracelet were yet to be confirmed, it still had a certain restraining effect on the parasite in her body. Curtis chose to believe what Simone had said earlier.

"That man told me this bracelet can make the parasite go into a deep slumber when he gave it to me. And now. we discovered a stupid herb that can make that thing active. How convenient." lamented Rayna with a sigh, sounding incredibly dejected.

Curtis could not bear to see that look on Rayna's face. Hence, he leaned over and pinned her down. "Do you want it?”

Rayna nodded. "Yes.”

Naturally. Rayna desired that intimate moment, but she was. of course, not alone. Curtis desired it. too. He was merely holding back because of her condition.

Rayna's continuous seduction was already making it hard for him to control himself. Now that she had given her answer. Curtis could no longer keep himself in check. "Tell me if you feel any discomfort,

okay?"

Rayna reached out and wrapped her aims around his neck, nodding obediently. "Okay."

With that. Curtis bent over and kissed her forehead and eyebrows, slowly making his way downward. In the meantime, liis rough fingers tore her nightgown open, caressing every part of her body.

As the moon illumined the night, the breeze blew gently while the temperature in the room gradually rose with moans sounding occasionally.

Meanwhile. Jovan was about to leave liis office in Yartran after completing liis work affairs when he noticed the screen of liis phone on the desk lighting up. Hence, he walked over and picked it up to find an anonymous email notification displaying on the screen.

Curious. Jovan tapped on it. only to have his expression turn cold at the sight of the pictures attached to the email. Even the veins on liis hand that was holding the phone bulged.

"Ivan!" he yelled in the office.

Ivan, who was waiting outside Jovan's office, shuddered with fright when he heard Jovan shouting his name with fury. Nonetheless, he quickly returned to his senses and pushed the door open. "How may I help you. Mr. Jovan?”

"Did Jahan visit the presidential palace recently?" Jovan questioned seriously.

Ivan thought carefully before answering. "No. but Frank visited the presidential palace two days ago to discuss some matters with Mr. Isaac.”

"Frank?” With one hand on liis waist and another massaging his forehead. Jovan paced around the office while quickly thinking of a name. "Contact AU and tell her to find someone named Dario on the

list of people that have been entering and leaving Yartran in the past.”

"Dario? Did he work in the presidential palace before?" asked Ivan, for that name sounded unfamiliar to him.

"No. that person is a Chanaean.” Holding liis forehead. Jovan stood in front of the coffee table and pondered before adding. "Any reports from the people we sent to spy on Chanaea recently?"

"Nothing new. so far. The ones we sent out said the targets have been staying in Jayfort recently." Ivan reported.

Upon hearing the word "Jayfort." Jovan scowled even more. "Jayfort..."

After some time, he said to Ivan. "I remember there used to be a family that's skilled in using herbs in Jayfort."

"Yes. The family's ancestor. Fletcher Gilroy, was once your great-grandfather's personal medical officer. However. Fletcher passed away many years ago. The person currently managing the Gilroy family's medical business is his great-granddaughter. Her name is Cassidy Gilroy." explained Ivan in detail.

 

 

Chapter 677

“Cassidy Gilroy,” Jovan repeated, feeling as if the name rang a bell, yet he could not remember where he heard it.

“Should I have our men keep an eye on this Cassidy. Mr. Jovan?" asked Ivan as he stood at the side.

Waving his hand. Jovan replied. “No need.”

Having a gut feeling that Curtis must have found out about something since he brought Rayna to Jayfort. Jovan questioned. "Do you know why Curtis brought Rayna to Jayfort?”

“Before they left Nonval City, he said it's to treat Mis. Faymon's eye.” Ivan relayed the information he got from his subordinate.

“Also, they went to Shvomhid Mountain before going to Jayfort.”

“Shvomhid Mountain, huh.” Jovan narrowed his eyes as the comer of his lips curled lightly. Just as he was about to make a conunent about the dead traditional medicine practitioner, he thought of the Gilroy family at Jayfort.

“Did they go to Jay fort to meet that Cassidy?" queried Jovan, staring at Ivan.

“I don't think so. Our men are always watching. When they arrived at Jayfort, they asked a local for a direction of some sort, then they went to a hotel.”

Hearing that. Jovan massaged his temples. “Okay, have our men spy on Cassidy.”

“Yes.” Ivan responded before leaving the office.

Wlien the other man was no longer in sight. Jovan switched on his phone and stared at the message he received. A hint of jealousy then appeared in his eyes. “Curtis...”

Thud!

A loud sound echoed as he threw the phone to the wall, smashing it to pieces.

Meanwhile. Rayna was awakened by a rustling sound at three in the morning.

Opening her eyes, she saw a faint light and waved her hand in front of her face, creating blurry images.

Then, she looked at the sleeping person beside her who had his ami around her. With help from the moonlight penetrating through the thin curtain, she could see liis face as she reached out to trace his facial features with a bitter smile.

Eyes. nose. lips...

Even though she now could see. everything was still blurry. All she could make out was a vague silhouette as a whole.

The woman's touch awakened Curtis as he fluttered his eyes open, only to see Rayna's teary eyes. Sitting up. he turned on the bedside lamp. “Wliat's wrong?"

Rayna sat up as well, reaching out to hug the man. “I think I can see. Curtis." she uttered through sobs.

Upon hearing that. Curtis waved his hand in front of her face. “Wliat's this?”

“I can't see it clearly: all I see is a blurry image." the woman informed as she grabbed liis hand.

At her words. Curtis felt both joy and concern: joy because Rayna could more or less see now. and concern because he did not want this to be the limit of Rayna's recovery.

“We'll meet Cassidy later in the morning and ask her to perform a checkup on you." stated Curtis while hugging her. Seeing her tears, he added. “Don't cry. It's not good for your eyes.”

Rayna hummed as a reply before grabbing the tissue Curtis was offering her. While wiping the tears at the comer of her eyes, she voiced. “I really want to see the kids.”

“You will." Curtis consoled. “Even though you can't see too clearly just yet. it’s still a good start."

“Yeah." replied the woman. “I'm thirsty."

“I'll get you some water." Curtis took his pajama from the bedside table and wore it before lifting the quilt and going to the living room to pour some water for her.

Sitting on the bed. Rayna looked out the window. Although she could only see a white dot. she knew that was the moon.

Just then, she heard a rustling sound again, and she was trying to identify where the sound came from. It was not until the sound of something jumping onto the bed echoed that she saw a tiling with blue light approaching her.

“Curtis... Curtis...” She clenched the bedsheet out of fear, but she did not shout for she didn't want him to think she was afraid.

Hearing her. Curtis walked toward her in large strides with a glass of water in hand. Wlien he arrived at the doorstep, he noticed the black thing sitting in front of her and instantly understood the situation. “Don't be scared. Rayna.”

With that said, he tiptoed toward the end of the bed to grab the unknown thing before it could react. However, as he approached the bed. he noticed that thing looked like a cat. except it was different from a cat because it did not have ears.

Albeit noticing the man. the creature did not make any noise nor hide away. Instead, it merely glanced at Curtis before its eyes landed on Rayna again.

It finally made some noise at Rayna while simultaneously waggling its furry tail from time to time.

Whenever Rayna moved her hand that held the bedsheet, it would min or her action while making some kind of warning chirp.

Fearing that it would hann Rayna. Curtis wanted to chase it off the bed. However, as soon as he stretched out a hand, it stood on its hindfeet and tried to reach the woman's wrist with its front paws.

Although Curtis' heart jumped to his throat, he was curious as to what it was tiying to do.

We're in a VIP suite in a high-rise building. How did this guy get up here, and how did it get in?

Rayna could only see blue dots, which were the creature's blue eyes. Despite her fear when she saw the blue dots closing in on her. she kept her composure because she did not want to scare the creature with her screams.

“Don't be scared. Rayna. It's just curious about the stuff on your wrist," Curtis informed while walking forward and placing the glass on the bedside table. Then, he grabbed her hand which had the emerald bracelet. “Don't be scared."

The creature's curious gaze switched from Curtis to his hand on the woman's wrist before it bared its fangs at the man. Even its hairs stood on end in response.

“I don't think it likes you touching my hand." Rayna guessed and pulled her hand away from Curtis.

Wlien she stretched her hand toward the creature, it made a different noise that Rayna and Curtis could recognize. A small smile then appeared on the woman's face. "Do you think it's interested in the

emerald or that thing?"

Contrary to Rayna. even though Curtis was smiling, a hint of coldness was present in liis eyes as he stared warily at the creature that came out of nowhere. “We don't know where it came from, and it looks wild. We should still be careful."

“It looks wild, huh." Rayna let out a chuckle when she noticed that Curtis was not too fond of the creature and was. in fact, repulsed by it.

“I don't think it's tiying to hann me." Rayna said as she pushed her hand closer to it. “Are you interested in my hand or that emerald or—"

Before Rayna could even finish her sentence, she felt the thing lick her wrist.

Seeing that. Curtis tided to stop it. “That's dirty! What if it's bacterial?”

“It's all right. Let it be. It already licked my hand, anyway." Rayna uttered. “I think it appearing right here is fate, and since it's fate, why should we push it away?"

After licking her hand for a few seconds, the creature purred and stepped on the quilt to be closer to Rayna before nibbing its head against the woman's neck.

 

 

 

Chapter 678

Rayna touched both sides of her neck but found nothing unusual. However, Furry, the creature, kept staring intently at her without even blinking once.

‘'Does it plan to keep staring at me like that?” Rayna reached out a hand, and Curtis took her hand while he shot the mysterious creature a look.

“I'll ask the staff to get us a new room.”

Nodding. Rayna agreed. "Yeah. I guess that's the only way.”

They dared not to mess with Furry, anyway. "Let's change rooms without telling the staff about it. Who knows, maybe it'll be gone in the morning.”

"Sure.” With that. Curtis went outside of the room and phoned Robin, instructing the latter to ask the receptionist for a change of rooms.

After that, he turned back around to enter the room, only to see Furry making a circle before curling itself and falling asleep on the quilt, much like a cat.

Feeling liis head ache. Curtis nibbed liis temples.

"Looks like it's made a nest on our bed.” Rayna felt Funy lying on her legs and tried caressing it to find it curling up like a fluffy ball.

"Yeah.” Curtis strode forward to take the glass of water from the nightstand for Rayna. "Here, have some water.”

Rayna fetched the glass and carefully took a sip. preventing herself from making big movements lest she disturbed Funy.

"It's on my legs,” Rayna commented as she gave Curtis the now-empty glass. "Why don't we... just stay in this room?”

"No,” Curtis refused. "We don't know where it came from. I'm not at ease to be in the same room with it.”

Curtis was worried that Funy was coming for the blood parasite in Rayna's body, and he recalled how Simone mentioned that the blood parasite should not be triggered, otherwise Rayna would be in danger any minute.

"But it's not banning us. It didn't even get hostile when I petted it earlier.” the woman reasoned.

"No. We don't even know what it is. How could I allow it to be in the same room as us?”

Upon hearing Curtis' finn tone. Rayna pouted helplessly. Even though she could not see Furry's specific appearance, she could still tell its general fonn with help from her imagination. "Does it look like a cat?”

"Cats have ears. This one doesn't." Curtis stood on the side of the bed. glancing at the creature that seemed to be fast asleep.

"Does it have a pair of blue eyes?” Rayna was extremely curious about Funy. When it stared at her earlier, she noticed the blue dots, even though her vision was bluny.

"Yeah, and we don't even know if it's because of a mutation.” Curtis responded flatly, not even tiying to conceal his dislike toward the creature.

As liis words fell. Rayna pinched the man's aim. but he did not react to it.

"I'm telling the truth." he added, occasionally keeping an eye on the sleeping creature.

Right at this moment, liis phone vibrated in liis hand. Staring at the screen, he noted that it was a call from Robin, and he walked to the side to take the call.

"Mr. Faynion. I asked the receptionist. He said there's a vacant room right beside yours. I booked it.” On the other side of the phone. Robin exited the elevator with a keycard in hand. "I'm outside your room now.”

"All right.” Ending the call. Curtis tinned around and walked to the bed. planning to pick Rayna up.

"Are we really changing rooms?” the woman questioned.

"Yes.” replied Curtis straightforwardly.

"Slow down. Let me pull my legs out first. Don't disturb it.” Rayna carefully moved her right leg. tiying her best not to wake Funy as she quietly tried to leave.

The whole process took around two minutes. Just when Curtis managed to pick Rayna up. the initially sleeping Funy suddenly opened its blue eyes, and it stared at the woman without even blinking.

As Rayna had her back toward Funy. she did not notice, but Curtis did.

Even so. he still left the room with the woman in his aims. Wlien Robin came in. he froze upon seeing the funy creature on the bed. "Block it! Don't let it follow us!” Curtis shouted.

Hearing that. Robin reacted just in time and immediately shut the door, locking Funy inside.

Wrapping her aims around the man's neck. Rayna whispered. "We still woke it.”

"Ignore it.” Still canying Rayna. Curtis approached the other room, and Robin stepped forward to open the door.

"Wouldn't it make noise?" Rayna asked, still wonied. "What if it wakes other people?”

"How loud can that tiny tiling go? Let it cry,” Curtis uttered, remembering the tiny sounds Funy had made earlier.

"Did you take its picture?” Rayna asked the man who was busying around in the room as she sat on the bed.

"Nope.” Curtis bent down to check under the bed. under the coffee table, around the cabinet, and in every comer of the room.

After making sure that there was no second one. only then did he lift the quilt and lay on the bed.

Placing her head on Curtis' shoulder. Rayna pinched his cheek. "Are you mad?”

"Yeah.” the man replied simply. "It's still early. We have more time to sleep.”

Nodding. Rayna was about to adjust into a lying position when she heard the voice from earlier.

Not only did she hear it. but Curtis as well.

"You're hearing that, aren't you?” Rayna asked, pushing Curtis lightly.

"I'll go and take a look.” Curtis lifted the quilt and got out of bed. However, even after checking the entire room, he found nothing, yet the sound was still there.

While sitting on the bed. Rayna paid full attention, tiying to identify where the voice came from. After that. she. too. lifted the quilt and got out of bed.

Upon seeing that. Curtis was about to stop her when he saw her fumbling toward the window.

He strode forward and pulled the curtain open to see the creature that was supposedly locked in the room next door now on top of the air-conditioning machine outside their new room.

"Is it outside?" Rayna queried.

"Yeah, but just ignore it. It'll leave on its own when it gets bored.”

With that said. Curtis pulled Rayna toward the bed. but the latter halted her steps. "But isn't it raining outside?”

She heard the sounds of the rain pelting against the window when she was near it just now.

"Rayna. the kids and I still need you.” Curtis responded.

His words made Rayna's heart ache. "I know.”

But that furry tiling didn't hurt me. and it's raining. I feel bad about locking it outside. No matter what, it's a life we're talking about here.

Funy was still outside the window. After seeing Rayna inside the room, it curled itself up and stared at her unblinkingly.

Just when they neared the bed. Rayna halted her steps again and begged. "It's all right. Let it inside. It didn't even do anything when it was with us in the previous room. All it did was lay on the bed. Besides, it's raining outside. It'll get wet.”

Curtis noticed Rayna's concerned expression as she stared at the funy creature outside the window. Even though he was still wonied. he did not want to see her unhappy.

"Okay. I'll let it in. You stay right there.” Curtis uttered before turning around and approaching the window to push it. Wlien the gap under the window was big enough for Funy. he stopped pushing it.

"Come in.”

 

 

Chapter 679

Furry lay by the half-opened window, staring at Rayna non-stop instead of entering the room.

Curtis was waiting for Furry to come in. but when he saw that the creature showed no intention of doing so. he decided to close the window. However, just as he was about to. Rayna asked. "Did it come in?*’

“No, it doesn't want to.*’ Upon seeing Rayna about to walk over. Curtis stepped forward to hold her. "The window's open, and it's outside.”

Hearing him, Rayna walked to the window and stuck her hand through the gap. fumbling around.

Curtis felt his heart leap to his throat at the sight. “What if it hurts you?*’ he asked in an attempt to stop her.

“It didn't before, so it won't now.” The woman shook her head. "But why is it following us?”

Curtis' eyes landed on the faint red dot under Rayna's emerald bracelet.

“Come in,” Rayna muttered while touching Furry. “It's raining outside. You'll get sick."’

At last, Furry made a noise and rose to its feet from its lying position. Then, it walked through the gap in the window to nib itself against Rayna's wrist.

“It really does feel like a cat,” Rayna commented as she used this opportunity to nib Funy's fur to get the feel of it. “Its for is a bit coarse. Should we bathe it?”

Wlien Curtis heard her. his eyes landed on Funy. and he raised his eyebrows upon noticing the somewhat glossy for.

“Is there a pet shop here?*’ Rayna asked as she stretched out her hands to cany Funy into her arms, caressing it from time to time.

With no hesitation, the man answered. “No."’

Even if there was. there's no way I'd bring that weird creature to the pet shop.

"Don't cany it.” he stated upon seeing Rayna canying Funy as if it were a cat or a dog. "What if it has parasites?”

"Parasites...*’ Rayna froze as she heard the words before a hint of a smile appeared on her lips. “What's there to be afraid of when I literally have one in my wrist?”

Seeing that she did not take it seriously. Curtis did not retort as he grabbed his phone and made a call to Robin.

“Check if there's any nearby pet shop here.”

After saying that, he ended the call and tinned around to see Rayna on the couch, still holding Funy in her arms. A huge part of her pajama was already wet. obviously from Funy's wet fur.

Advancing forward. Curtis tried to take Funy from Rayna's hands. However, as soon as he reached out. Funy's hair stood on end as it made warning sounds at the man.

"You can't just keep canying it. Rayna.** Curtis advised in a deep voice.

"But I think it's really clingy.*’ Despite what she said, she heeded Curtis' words as she placed Funy on the couch, only for it to step onto her thighs as soon as it landed on the couch.

“What are we going to do? It seems... we can't get rid of it.*’ Rayna helplessly looked in Curtis' direction. "Has Robin found a pet shot yet?”

Looking at his phone. Curtis saw no new notifications. Wlien he was about to call Robin, a knock sounded on then door.

Getting to his feet. Curtis went to open the door to see Robin and a young girl outside.

"There are no pet shops here. Mr. Faymon. I met this girl in the lobby just now. She said she specializes in bathing and treating small animals.*’ informed Robin, visibly troubled.

"Take her to the room next door.*’ Curtis instructed before shutting the door.

“Was that Robin?*’ Rayna queried upon hearing the sound of the door closing.

"Yeah, he found someone who can bathe that tiling. Let's take it next door.** Curtis reached out to take a coat and put it on himself before doing the same to Rayna.

"Okay.** Rayna replied while picking Funy up. With that, the two of them went to the room next door. The young girl was already waiting in the bathroom. Upon seeing Funy in Rayna's arms, she froze for a while before putting on a smile and stretching out her hands to take Funy.

"Be carefol. Don't hurt it.*’ Rayna slowly released Funy as the young girl took it by the back of its neck. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it.”

With that said, she closed the bathroom door.

Feeling the emptiness in her amis. Rayna felt somewhat uneasy. "Will it be okay?”

"Don't wony too much. She'll be better than us in this since her job is to deal with animals.*’ Curtis responded before pulling Rayna back into their room, leaving Robin watching by the bathroom door.

Upon reaching their room. Curtis led Rayna to the bathroom and washed her spotlessly.

Wlien they were done. Curtis skillfully helped blow diy Rayna's hair as they sat on the couch.

Meanwhile, in the next room, the bathroom door opened half an hour later, prompting Robin to open his eyes and look toward the door. His eyebrows raised when he spotted the young girl canying Funy. who had its head slumped. "What happened?”

Plastering a beautiful smile, the young girl around the age of eighteen or nineteen replied. “Nothing. I just bathed it. This one is bicolor, so it doesn't look like it did when you first saw it.”

She then handed Funy to Robin. "Here. You can pay me now.”

Robin looked at the young girl's oval-shaped face before liis eyes darted toward her open palm, which had a few scratch marks on it. “You're injured.”

“No big deal. It's normal. I always get scratches when I bathe cats and dogs.*’ The young girl pulled her sleeve down to cover the scratch marks before looking around the suite. “Is the handsome man from earlier your boss?*’

“Yes.” Robin answered with a nod. While canying Funy. he fished liis wallet out of liis pocket and pulled out five pieces of bank notes. Wlien his eyes landed on the young girl's injured hand, he pulled out a few more before handing it to her. "Here.”

Taking the money, the young girl was stunned when she was done counting it. "I don't need this much. Just one piece is enough.**

She then returned the extra cash to Robin, but the latter refused, "You're hurt. Treat the rest of it as medical fees.*’

After saying that. Robin turned around and left the room with Funy. leaving the young girl alone in the suite. In a daze, she was still staring at the money in her hand. "I only gave it a bath, though. This is a

lot of money.*’

As her words fell, a hint of a pleased smile tugged on her lips as she adjusted her clothes before stepping out of the room.

Wlien Robin arrived in Rayna and Curtis' room. Curtis was done blow-drying Rayna's hair and was putting the hairdryer away. Upon spotting the furry creature in Robin's aims. Curtis was confused for a while.

Aware that Curtis could not recognize the furry creature, which was initially all black. Robin stammered. “I-It's bicolor, and it has ears.”

Robin nibbed Funy's ears, which were drooping by both sides of its head. “Its head is small. Maybe its ears were stuck to its head earlier because it was too dirty. That's why we couldn't make out the ears.”

 

 

 

Chapter 680

“Really? Bring it over here so I can touch it.” Rayna, who was sitting on the couch, cracked a smile when she heard that.

Robin glanced at Curtis as he placed the seemingly sedated Furry in Rayna's hands. "The girl's hand was injured. It seemed this animal scratched her.”

"Injured? Is it a serious injury?” Rayna raised her head to look in the direction of Robin and Curtis.

"It's not serious. I gave her two thousand. It should be enough." As Robin spoke, he opened his wallet and showed Curtis that it was empty.

"It's all right. You can get a reimbursement from your boss.” Although Rayna couldn't see Robin's expression, she could guess how he looked from his aggrieved tone.

Rayna stroked Furry's fluffy fan-shaped ears before touching its nose and mouth, noticing that it was indeed tiny.

"What's wrong with it? Why is it sticking its tongue out?” Rayna felt the creature's tongue as she fumbled around and got worried.

Curtis cast Furry a glance before looking at Robin.

Robin explained with a sigh. "When the girl came out from the bathroom, I noticed a syringe on the ground. She must have sedated it. After all. this creature is wild, and it injured her. It should be fine since it's only anesthetics." He didn't want Rayna or Curtis to blame a young girl for tliis matter.

"Are you sure?” Rayna didn't quite believe it.

"Yes. I knew someone who used to run a veterinary clinic. I've seen him sedate cats undergoing sterilization. They were all sticking their tongues out like tliis after being injected with anesthetics. The girl is still young, and she seems to be around nineteen years old. She has already done an incredible job bathing this unknown creature.”

Robin defended the young girl and glanced at Curtis from time to time from the comer of his eye. "Mr. Faymon. if there isn't anything else, can I head back to sleep?”

There was still plenty of time before dawn. Robin was speechless because he had been woken up in the middle of the night to handle tliis matter.

Nonetheless, he didn't dare express his annoyance.

"Go ahead.” Curtis nodded in approval.

After Robin left. Rayna retorted petulantly. "As expected of your subordinate. He said the exact same thing as you!”

"What did he say?” Curtis grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the coffee table and drank from it. unperturbed by Rayna's observation.

"He just said it's a wild and unknown creature! That's also what you said!” Rayna placed Furry on the couch. She then fumbled around for a big towel that was on the couch's armrest to cover its body, for fear it would get cold.

"It has thick fur. You don't have to cover it." Curtis turned around and frowned when he saw Rayna carefully tucking Furry under a towel.

He was quite taken aback by the way Rayna was treating this wild animal as if it were a child.

"There's no ftir on its stomach. It might catch a cold right after a shower.” Rayna remembered that there was not much ftir on the creature's stomach when she was touching it just now.

After tucking Furry in. Rayna prepared to go back to bed. However. Curtis grabbed her hand the moment she stood up and brought her to the bathroom. "Wash your hands before you sleep.”

Riegel washed her hands cooperatively and didn't say a word until the two returned to bed. Only then did she ask tentatively. "Shall we check what breed it is?”

"Do you want to keep it? Wliat if it's a species that can't be kept as a pet?” Curtis had already seen through Rayna's intention.

"There's no need to consider this possibility yet. Let's check what breed it is first. It's fate that we met it,” Rayna replied as she nuzzled Curtis' cheek.

"It's too early to jump to conclusions.” Curtis, on the other hand, felt that their encounter with Furry was strange. Something is amiss. Also, the windows of the neighboring room should be closed. How did it escape? How did it even enter the room in the first place? All these questions are left unsolved.

However, he could tell Rayna took a liking to Furry, so he didn't want to spoil her mood. After all. she smiled more that day compared to any other day recently. Apart from her mood, she was also obviously in better shape.

Curtis' gaze landed on Funy. who was sleeping soundly on the couch, as he pondered. Although he wasn't sure where Furry came from, it appeared harmless to Rayna for the time being.

After experiencing a series of events in the first half of the night. Rayna was so tuckered out that she fell into a deep slumber and slept all the way until ten in the morning.

When she woke up. she realized Curtis wasn't in bed. However, the warmth on his side of the bed was still present. That indicated he had only gotten out of bed moments before she woke up.

She got up from bed and blinked, noticing that her vision had somewhat become clearer.

Raising her hand, she waved it in front of her eyes. At that moment, she was able to roughly make out what was once a blurry silhouette.

Curtis' voice could be heard outside the bedroom.

Curtis placed the food that Robin bought on the dining table one by one as he warned Funy, "No! No! No!”

Funy was standing at the edge of the dining table on its hind legs, its paws resting on the table. Its large blue eyes followed the food that Curtis was placing on the table as it licked its nose from time to time. Its behavior was akin to a mischievous puppy at the moment.

While Curtis took some pancakes out of the bag and placed them on the table. Funy jumped onto the table and lunged at the pancakes, tearing the packaging apart.

"No!” Curtis immediately tried to stop Funy when he saw this, but he was too late. Funy had tom the packaging apart and made a huge mess. It then quickly snagged one of the pancakes that had fallen on the table with its mouth and jumped behind the curtains to enjoy its meal.

Curtis placed the remaining pancakes back into the packaging before placing them on another table. Surprisingly, he didn't give Funy a scolding for stealing food.

Rayna walked toward him and glanced at the food on the table. "That is a lot of food."

That one sentence from Rayna made Curtis freeze in his tracks. He turned around to face the woman, who was standing behind him. and asked. "Wliat did you just say?”

"I said... there's too much food.” Rayna raised her head to look at Curtis.

"You can see?" Curtis waved his hand in front of Rayna's eyes. In response, the woman grabbed his hand without difficulty and nodded. "I can see. Although everything's still slightly blurry. I can see a much wider range than before."

Before tliis. she could only see one spot at close range, but now she can see most of the outline and the surrounding environment.

"I guess the hemorrhage in my brain from the previous car accident has slowly begun to heal." Rayna mulled it ox er and thought that was the only plausible explanation.

Having said that, she shot Funy a glance from the comer of her eyes. She had suspicions, but she kept them to herself.

Naturally. Curtis noticed Rayna's gaze on Funy. He then looked down at her waist and pushed the emerald bracelet away to get a clearer view.

There was still a red spot on her wrist, but it was smaller than before. If he didn't know better, he would think it was a small pimple on Rayna's wrist.

Rayna touched her wrist. "It's much smaller than before. It used to protrude slightly, but now not anymore.”