Chapter 168
I''m Your Saver Raegan shook her head dismissively.
"We''re not getting back together.
Last night, I felt ill, and he stayed to care for me." It seemed she was convincing herself more than
informing Henley.
Since the divorce, the thought of reuniting with Mitchel hadn''t crossed Raegan''s mind.
Mitchel was a closed chapter in her eyes.
Yet, his recent words unnerved her.
His casual greeting to Henley indicated a resolve to win her over, exuding an unsettling calmness.
The more Raegan pondered, the more irate she grew.
His love, she surmised, was not for her but for the physicalfort she provided.
Henley, on the other hand, experienced a surge of relief, a sensation he weed.
Shaking off his worries, he offered a suave, soothing smile.
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"What were you trying to say earlier?” Inhaling deeply, Raegan said apologetically, "Henley, we should
cease ourmunication.” Henley''s expression darkened.
He pinched her wrist subconsciously and demanded, "Why?" The sudden shift in Henley''s expression
surprised Raegan.
And he pinched her so hard that she felt pain.
"Henley, you''re hurting me...” It was not until then that Henley came to his senses, and he quickly let
go, his smile returning.
"My apologies, Raegan.
I lost myposure.” Raegan, recovering from her shock, dismissed the incident.
"It''s fine.” "This is the second time you want to end things with me.
Is Mr.
Dixon the reason?" Raegan didn''t object.
"I''m afraid it will affect your career, so we''d better keep a distance.” Henley''s smile was tinged with
sadness.
"My career''s already affected.
What now?” Confused, Raegan pressed, "What do you mean?” "I''ve been dismissed.
used of manipting transactions, I''m barred from investment banking." Despite Henley''s
nonchnt tone, the news stunned Raegan.
Years of effort gone, Henley’s career dashed because of her.
It was a lot for anyone to bear.
No wonder Mitchel''s greeting was so calm earlier.
He couldn''t have been unaware of it, and perhaps, even yed a role in it.
At a loss for words, Raegan’s concern was evident.
"Henley, I''m sorry.” "It’s nothing,” he replied, the smile never leaving his face.
"I may return to Swynborough.
My family''s business is there, beyond others’ reach.” Henley''s feigned serenity masked emotions
Raegan couldn''t decipher.
She felt a deep sorrow and repeated her apology.
Henley''s smile softened.
"Don''t me yourself.
Think of it as me going back to im my inheritance.
Does that ease your mind?” Raegan mused that Henley should have imed his inheritance earlier,
not under duress.
"Raegan, would you like to go with me?" Henley inquired suddenly.
"Me?" Raegan said, taken aback.
While her original intention was to further study in Swynborough, it felt unusual to travel alongside
Henley.
They were nothing more than friends and ssmates, after all.
"Why?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Henley harbored his own rationale.
His father''spany overseas was soon to be his responsibility, and he considered it opportune to
take Raegan with him before leaving this city.
In the realm of looks, Henley differed markedly from Mitchel.
Each had their distinct appeals, defying directparison.
Status-wise, Mitchel might not be a match for him abroad.
Winning over a woman should be within his grasp, he surmised.
Yet, a reluctant acknowledgment gnawed at him.
He found himself increasingly invested in Raegan, a realization that soured his mood.
To him, women held little value, a sentiment rooted in the disdain for his mother.
His mother had given birth to him, only to neglect and mistreat him as if he were a mere ything.
So, when shey dying from her excesses, he shed no tears, nor did he summon help.
Instead, he observed, impassive, as she struggled through her final moments.
Masking his inner turmoil, Henley offered a justification, "I sense you''re not content at home.” Despite
the allure of Henley’s proposition, Raegan remained steadfast in her refusal.
"I''m not ready to consider it," she asserted.
She harbored ambitions to venture abroad, yet was determined to rely on no one but herself.
With a serene smile, Henley reassured, "There''s still half a year left.
Should you wish to depart, you''ll have me Join you on the journey abroad.” Raegan, unconvinced of
the _ feasibility of apanying Henley abroad, rose to her feet.
"Henley, one moment," she said before retrieving the gifts Gerda had given her and presenting them to
him.
Henley declined, "No, Raegan.
Take them.
My mother gave them to you.
They''re yours." Raegan, insistent, refused to ept what she felt was not hers.
Once outside Raegan''s ce, the warmth drained from Henley''s expression, reced by an icy
veneer.
The memory of Raegan''s unhesitating rejection inflicted an unfamiliar ache within him.
It wasn''t supposed to be like this.
Could it be a genuine interest in her? Interrupted by a call, Henley responded indifferently, his attention
shifting back to Raegan''s window, "Let her know something and bite the bait," hemanded coldly.
At Triclinium Hospital of Ardlens.
Lauren found herself confined in a pitch-ck room.
Its airtight seal contained a stench reminiscent of decay, a grim reminder of death''s presence.
Mice skittered beneath her, asionally venturing onto her feet, prompting her to suppress her disgust
for fear of crushing their carcasses in a frantic effort to evade them.
This grim reality was her penance for yet another thwarted attempt to flee.
Upon her arrival at Triclinium, she protested her sanity vehemently, iming she''d beenmitted
against her will.
Initially, the staff inquired about her admittance, to which she eximed, "Mitchel, the CEO of the Dixon
Group, is to me!" Their demeanor shifted to solemnity upon her deration, convincing them of her
delusion, and subjected her to a rigorous regime, two hours of daily "re-education" via film, designed to
cement her supposed madness.
Over time, Lauren learned to y along with their treatment.
Yet, she clung to the idea of escape, consumed with the desire to confront Raegan, the woman she
med for her plight.
In her mind, had Raegan not interfered, she would have already been Mitchel''s wife.
One day, the heavy iron door groaned open, and a shadowy figure entered with an effortless grace.
The room, sealed from the outside world, obscured his features, allowing Lauren only the faintest
impression of his handsome silhouette.
Could it be Mitchel? Overwhelmed, she rushed to embrace the silhouette,
only to be repelled by a sharp kick from polished .
leather shoes.
Squeak! A small but shrill scream, coupled with the fluffy touch, made her roll on the ground like getting
an electric shock.
Oh! Oh no! To her horror, she realized she had crushed a mouse.
Bloodied and soiled, Lauren shrieked uncontrobly, scrambling forward in despair.
"Mitchel, I beg you, free me...
You owe me, Mitchel.
Ignoring me for her will be your downfall...
I will end Raegan, I swear it...” Her ravings painted the picture of someone truly unhinged.
"Idiot," a disdainful voice cut through the darkness.
Frozen, Lauren registered the unfamiliar, yet melodic voice.
It was not Mitchel’s.
Regaining a shred ofposure, she demanded, "You''re not Mitchel.
Who are you then?" "Me?" The man''s voice carried a hint of amusement.
"I''m here to save you.” Lauren, puzzled, echoed, "Save me? But why?” Instead of answering, the man
posed a question, “Are you aware that you''re pregnant?" "I''m...
Pregnant?" Lauren felt as if lightning had struck her.
The persistent illness she''d experienced recently now made sense.
She''d attributed it to inhaling peculiar odors, but the truth was, she was pregnant.
The child had to be Kyle’s, that bastard.
Furthermore, she had administered numerous drugs to feign illness, hoping to dupe Mitchel.
Even if she carried the pregnancy to term, the baby would be malformed.
She rejected the very notion of giving birth to this baby.
Dropping to her knees, she implored the young man before her, "Please, I need to terminate this
pregnancy.
I can''t bear to give birth to it." "Well..." The man scoffed dismissively.
"From this moment, you''re keeping the child.
Be it a beast or a freak, it might just restore your former glory.” Lauren''s tears crystallized on her
cheeks.
"Is it possible? Can you truly restore my old life?" "Yes." With that, he departed, the resounding ng of
the iron door sealing his exit.
A flicker of hope ignited within Lauren.
Abandoned by her family, she was her ownst resort.
Even if this lifeline wasced with venom, she was desperate to grasp it.
She harbored a fierce desire to confront Raegan, the root of her woes in her eyes.
It was all due to that bitch! "Damn that bitch to hell,” Lauren seethed.
Meanwhile, Raegan made her timely visit to the vi on Tuesday.
With Hector absent and only a maid in attendance, she learned of Bryce''s presence upstairs and
proceeded to knock on his door.
Receiving no response, she persisted, even attempting to call him.
No one dared to disturb Bryce''s slumber.
Roused in irritation, Bryce yanked open the door.
"What''s this all about?” Disheveled with tousled blue hair, Bryce had clearly just awoken.
Raegan offered a calm smile.
"You''re up.
Time for your ss.” Bryce rolled his eyes.
"What''s gotten into you?" Flopping back onto the bed, he dered, "Teach whomever you please.
I refuse to participate.” Undeterred, Raegan entered and began ying a pre- recorded reading.
She then settled beside it with a book, immersing herself in silent reading.
The record prevented Bryce from returning to sleep.
Annoyed, he sat up and bellowed, "Can''t you recite that farther away?” Ignoring him, Raegan
continued, prompting Bryce to lunge for her yer.
Raegan took the yer near her chest and wrapped her arms protectively over her chest, stating
evenly, "Try that again, and I''ll use you of harassment.” Bryce halted abruptly, recognizing the tactic
all too well.
Previously, he had used such an usation to rid himself of three tutors.
He had falsely imed to Hector that his teacher harassed him.
Rage red within Bryce, and he eximed, "Who do you think is harassing you? Have you seen your
own reflection? I''m far too attractive to bebeled as a creep.
Don''t try to pin this on me.
I''ll turn the tables and use you of harassment!” Raegan regarded him with a serene gaze.
"Isn''t it more sensible that you''re the harasser?" Bryce found himself at a loss for words, seething with
indignation.
What was the implication of that look she gave him? Surely his attractiveness wasn’t in question? He
considered himself the pinnacle of handsomeness.
Did her derisive gaze suggest otherwise? "Exin yourself.
Am I not attractive?" he demanded, his ego bruised.
His numerous admirers at school had never questioned his looks.
Raegan maintained herposure.
"Feel free to have your father scrutinize my background.
Rest assured, I''m not interested in a child." She hade prepared, knowing full well the fate of his
previous tutors.
Raegan was determined to not only defend herself but to anticipate Bryce''s maneuvers.
In essence, she was resolved to deny Bryce any opportunity to make her lose this job.
Bryce, infuriated, retorted, "Who are you calling a child? Do you dare to..." As Raegan turned away, her
indifferent expression seemed to echo, "Is it not you who is harassing me?" Bryce, dumbfounded, met
an opponent he couldn''t best for the first time.
"You!" he stuttered.
Finally, he managed to blurt out, "You''re shameless." Raegan gave him a brief look.
"Care to borate?” In other words, she was questioning who the shameless one truly was.
Bryce felt utterly outwitted.
How could she assert such moral high ground? He buried his face in his quilt, too humiliated to weep
openly, his anger sending him into a disheveled state.
From behind, Raegan watched him, a smile tugging at her lips, and inquired yfully, "Young man, are
you willing to cooperate with me?" “Who''s a young man?” Bryce surged to his feet, towering over
Raegan.
But recalling her previous threat, he hastily retreated.
Raegan''s smile broadened.
Perhaps there was a chance to teach Bryce after all.
She just joined the tutoringpany with no achievements to her name or other options.
Taking Bryce down became the most effective strategy to achieve something.
She proposed, "My previous offer still stands.
How about a bet?” Bryce, rolling his eyes, paused before responding, "Alright, but no regretster."
"Agreed." "Fine, then it''s set for next Friday.
Await my instructions,” Bryce effectively dered a challenge.
He chose next Friday strategically, knowing Hector would be overseas, leaving him unchecked.
His n was to give this overconfident tutor a stern lesson.
"Now, start with these assignments,” Raeganmanded, presenting a stack of work.
Bryce, staring at the assignments, felt slightly defeated.
However, the prospect of irritating her spurred him on, and he begrudgingly began the test.
Bryce quicklypleted one.
Raegan reviewed it and scoffed.
"Even a baby could do better.” Bryce''s confidence, once unshakable, began to crumble.
This woman! Exasperated, he grabbed the paper, determined to prove himself.
After reviewing another of Bryce''s tests, Raegan remarked with a slight smile, “Not bad.” Bryce,
pleased, prepared to boast.
But then, a realization hit him, souring his mood.
Why was he seeking Raegan''s approval? His frustration grew.
Once their study session ended, he casually requested, "Fetch me a book on literary history from the
study.” "I''m your tutor, not a servant.
My time here is up,” Raegan refused.
Bryce, increasingly agitated, pleaded, "Just hand it over.
I''ll tackle two more assignments tomorrow." "Really?" "I keep my promises.” "Alright then.” Raegan
acknowledged Bryce''’s intelligence but noted his weak foundation.
More practice was necessary.
Willing to amodate his eagerness to learn, she ascended to the second-floor study as Bryce
suggested.
Entering Bryce''s proimed study, Raegan didn’t overthink and pushed open the door.
The room was pitch dark.
Flicking on the light, she was greeted by a startling sight.
A man slumped behind the desk, disheveled, with a woman crouching beside him.