Chapter 73
Aggression In the hospital.
"Raegan, I me myself...
You''ve suffered so much looking after me," Raegan’''s grandmother said, her eyes filling with tears.
Her emotional vulnerability had increased over the years.
"Don''t worry, grandma.
You''ve always been there for me.
Now it’s my turn to look out for you," Raegan replied, her eyes moistening as well.
Brent was an asshole.
He rarely made time for family.
To ensure Raegan could attend school, Raegan''s grandmother had taken on various jobs, everything
from collecting trash to selling snacks.
As a result, leaving the hospital now seemed nearly impossible after the exhaustion of all these years.
"My only fear is that if something happens to me, there will be no one to care for you.
And you''re not married yet, so I won''t be able to rest in peace,” Raegan''s grandmother confessed.
Brushing away her tears, Raegan said, "Grandma, stop talking like that.
You''re going to live a long life.
Didn''t you tell me that we would go back to your house together one day?” A glimmer of hope lit up her
eyes.
"Could we really go back?” she whispered.
"Absolutely.
Even though Brent sold it, it''s still vacant.
I''ve rented it, and I n to buy it back as soon asT can afford to," Raegan assured her.
Raegan''s grandmother grasped Raegan''s hands joyfully and said, "Good, that''s wonderful.” She
hesitated before adding, "Raegan, I''m not sure I''ll live to see that day.
I dreamt of your fatherst night.
It felt like he was eager to see me in heaven.
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I suspect my time is running out." Tears escaped Raegan’''s eyes despite her efforts to hold them back.
Raegan''s grandmother handed her a red paper bag containing a padlock-shaped amulet.
"You used to have it when you were a child.
Keep it with you.
Let it bless you for the rest of your life.” Her words struck Raegan like a farewell, causing Raegan to
hug her grandmother tightly, sobbing uncontrobly.
"Grandma, I''ve actually been married for some time.
It''s aplicated situation, so I didn''t bring it up.” Her grandmother looked stunned.
"When did this happen?" Raeganid out the entire story, deliberately leaving out the contractual
nature of her marriage.
Concluding, Raegan said, "Anyway, he''s someone I''ve cared about for a long time.
He''lle to visit you after he gets back from his business trip.” Night had fallen by the time she left
the nursing house.
Raegan headed back to Serenity Vis.
Reflecting on her conversation with her grandmother, she texted Mitchel to ask if he had reached his
destination.
Raegan had verified his flight schedule before texting him.
After a long period of waiting, sleep finally imed her.
As dawn broke, her phone buzzed to life.
Still in a daze, Raegan heard Mitchel''s voice.
"Honey, did I disturb your sleep?” Mitchel''s voice sounded crisp and melodious over the phone.
Still sleepy, Raegan answered, "Are you finished with worke" "Sort of.
I''ve been swamped, so I just got around to calling you.” The sound of footsteps echoed from his end.
Casually, Raegan inquired, "Heading back to the hotel?” "Yes.
Care to join me?” Mitchel quipped.
For some reason, Raegan sensed that ever since they reconciled, their rtionship had taken a
romantic turn.
Previously, their intimacy had always been confined to the bedroom.
"So, you''ll be back soon, right?” Raegan rolled over as she spoke.
There was a brief pause before Mitchel replied, "Raegan, are you attempting to seduce me?" Hearing
that, Raegan was stunned.
"What?" "I wish I could teleport back and have sex with you right now." Raegan''s Jaw dropped at
Mitchel''s words.
She nced at her phone and realized they were on a video call.
She was wearing silk pajamas that ttered her figure impably.
She seemed voluptuous and enticing in the video call.
Meanwhile, Mitchel was in the process of unbuttoning his shirt, his voice was hoarse.
"Is it just me, or has your breast grown bigger recently?” Instantly, Raegan’s cheeks turned crimson
and she pulled the quilt up to her chin.
Unyielding, Mitchel continued, "I''ve suspected as much since we made out in the office.
Have all your gained weighte to your breast?" Recalling his passionate kiss that day, Raegan
found herself at a loss for words because of embarrassment.
Flustered and irritated, she yelled, "Mitchel!" "You should be calling me honey now," Mitchel insisted.
Realizing Raegan wouldn''tply over the phone, he added, "I''ll make sure you do when! return.
So you''re off the hook for now." Just as Raegan was about to share her day''s events, the hotel doorbell
interrupted them.
Mitchel moved to the door and spoke in a foreignnguage with someone outside.
His tone shifted, bing serious.
Raegan couldn''t make out what he was saying as he''d set his phone aside.
Soon after, he stated, "Alright, go get some rest.
I have to go." Mitchel hastily ended the video call.
Raegan was sober now.
She reyed the recent phone conversation in her mind.
She thought she heard something about a young woman looking for Mitchel.
Though unsure, a wave of unease washed over her.
After lying in bed for a while, her phone rang again.
It was Nicole, inviting her to lunch.
Upon entering the restaurant, Raegan was taken aback to see Nicole sporting a new hairstyle.
"Did you get a haircut?" "Do you not like it?” Nicole inquired, caressing her freshly-cut hair.
"It''s different, but stunning." While Nicole had always been gorgeous with her long hair, her new shorter
look gave her a more daring aura.
It lent her an air of toughness.
Sensing Nicole''s gloomy demeanor, Raegan probed, "Is something bothering you?" "Nothing much.
Someone once promised to marry me when my hair reached my waist.
Now that he''s gone, I just chopped it off," Nicole responded, her smile tinged with bitterness.
Aware of the man Nicole was alluding to, Raegan found herself at a loss for words and stayed silent.
"Has Mitchel been out of the country recently?" Nicole shifted topics unexpectedly.
Caught off guard, Raegan stammered, "Uh, how''d you find out?" Lately, Nicole had been preupied
with handling Jarrod and wasn''t aware that Raegan had reconciled with Mitchel.
"I saw it on Lauren''s posts.” Raegan felt her heart plummet.
Struggling to keep herposure, Raegan inquired, "Which tform?" Nicole pulled out her phone
and navigated to Lauren''s homepage, disying a selfie of Lauren in a light- colored beret, seemingly
in high spirits.
The caption read, "So touched someone came to pick me up at the airport.” She''d also tagged her
location abroad.
The post had been uploaded just half an hour after Mitchel had ended his video call with Raegan.
Additionally, Raegan noticed that Mitchel was the one carrying Lauren''s suitcase in the background.
Even though the photo only showed a side profile, she knew immediately it was him.
Comments from mutual friends praised them, dering them an ideal couple.
Lauren had responded with a smiley emoji.
To their shared circle of friends, Mitchel and Lauren seemed destined for each other.
Struggling to find her voice, Raegan felt as though her heart had been pierced, Observing Raegan''s
expression shift, Nicole believed that sometimes a sharp, immediate pain was preferable to prolonged
agony.
After a moment of silence, Nicole said, "Do you know what''s the hardest thing in the world, Raegan?
Lauren will always be Mitchel''s muse, his evesting sce.
Even if he shows concern for you now, the moment something happens to Lauren, you''ll have to
graciously step aside.
Because in his heart, you''ll always be second choice.” It was the same story with Jarrod and Jamie.
Despite Jamie''s tarnished reputation, Jarrod still expended effort and time to shield her.
And it all boiled down to one reason.
After their meal, the driver took Raegan home, while Nicole nned to head back alone.
Soon enough, she realized she''d left her purse behind.
Returning quickly to retrieve it, she also made a quick detour to the restroom.
That was when she spotted a familiar figure not far from her.
Jarrod and Jamie had also chosen this ce for a meal.
They looked like they had just arrived and were on their way to a chamber.
As they moved in her direction, Nicole lowered her gaze, her nerves getting the better of her.
She nearly collided with Jarrod.
"Be careful!" His refined voice filled her ears.
Jarrod steadied Nicole by the arm, his thumb caressing it briefly before letting her go.
Nicole''s heart pounded in her chest.
She couldn''t fathom why Jarrod would touch her so openly, especially in front of his fiancée.
Gathering herself, she managed to say, "Thank you.” With that, she headed into the restroom.
i Jamie nced at both Jarrod and Nicole, then remarked in a tone audible to Nicole, "You two enjoy
ying dangerous games, don''t you?" Frozen, Nicole''splexion drained of color.
Nicole looked rather refreshing with the short hair.
Jarrod''s eyes left Nicole, his voice still smooth but now icy.
"You understand how it is.
We men find a certain appeal in wild women." These words stung like a p to Nicole''s face.
With a radiant smile, Jamie said no more and ascended the stairs with Jarrod.
In the restroom, Nicole sshed her face with chilly water as tears escaped her eyes.
Nicole wasn''t downcast.
She just felt she''d disgraced the Lawrence family.
In fact, news that she had selflessly put herself on the line to save her family spread out.
Rumors had it that for the sake of the Lawrence family’s interests, she would go to any lengths.
Just then, the bathroom door swung open.
Grabbing her purse, Nicole prepared to exit after wiping her face.
She turned around and found herself staring at Jarrod.
Surprise left her momentarily speechless.
Jarrod''s intense gaze filled her with dread.
Her mind froze, and she wished she could flee on the spot.
In the next instant, Jarrod seized her wrist and secured the door with his other hand.
“What are you doing?” Nicole questioned, her voice tinged with fear.
Arching an eyebrow, Jarrod maneuvered her toward the sink.
Lifting her hands, he looked at her disdainfully.
"You deliberately collided with me.
You were asking for this, weren''t you?"