Chapter 288 Compensation


    Mitchel''s gaze lingered on Raegan''s receding figure.


    At that moment, a profound void seemed to stretch between them.


    The stark realization hit Mitchel that nothing in life was immutable. Despite their past intimacy, there loomed a future where they might be strangers.


    Right then, only the side profile of Raegan''s face remained visible to Mitchel, a countenance he had yearned for day and night, now gradually slipping away from him. Eventually, her figure vanished entirely from his view.


    Mitchel lowered his gaze, slipped his hand into the pocket of his trousers, and clenched his fist slightly. He silently vowed to himself that he would win her back, sooner orter. 2


    The next day, Raegan returned from the studio and found Janey joyfully engrossed in y with Anabe.


    Anabe wore a delighted expression, grinning from ear to ear. It was evident that she genuinely liked Janey.


    Janey rushed over with a doll in her arms as Raegan approached. "Mommy, look at this! These are the new dolls Anabe got for me. There are twelve in total."


    These new models of Barbie dolls wouldn''t hit the market for another six months, a testament to Anabe''s effort to please Janey.


    With Janey in her arms, Raegan greeted Anabe graciously, "That''s so kind of you, Anabe."


    Anabe stood up and handed Raegan an envelope with a bank card inside. She said gently, "Raegan, you look stunning. I could hardly recognize you.


    Anabe liked Janey more with each passing nce, recognizing that Raegan''s genes contributed to Janey''s exceptional appearance.


    Feeling slightly embarrassed, Raegan put Janey down and attempted to return the envelope. "You don''t have to do this, Anabe.


    Anabe insisted, pushing the envelope back toward Raegan. "Don''t be silly. This is just a gift for Janey. It''s not a big deal."


    "That''s very generous of you, Anabe. Both Janey and I are truly ttered."


    Janey chimed in sweetly, "I like the Barbie dolls very much, but I don''t need the money, Anabe. Moreover, I have a pot full of pocket money at home."


    As Raegan handed back the envelope, azy and impatient voice echoed from behind them. "Just take it. What''s the point of pushing it back and forth like that?"


    Turning around, Raegan saw Darryl, known for his slovenly appearance, lounging on the sofa, eyeing her arrogantly.


    In reality, Anabe, being of mixed race, had passed on her exceptional genes to Darryl. Unfortunately, coupled with his unruly behavior, it resulted in Darryling across as rather unpleasant. He hadn''t intended to provoke Raegan.


    However, Raegan disliked Darryl immensely. Raegan narrowed her eyes and decisively declined the envelope.


    "Shut up!" Darryl''s mother, Anabe, scolded him harshly,embarrassed by his disrespectful words.


    The formidable Foster family held a more prominent standing than the Cullen family, and Darryl''s tone implied condescension toward Raegan and Janey.


    Anabe shot an annoyed look at Darryl. If they weren''t in Raegan''s presence, Anabe might have considered giving this troublemaker a piece of her mind.


    Touching the tip of his nose, Darryl gazed at Raegan, sensing an air of deliberate haughtiness surrounding her.


    Sending the bank card was Darryl''s way of seeking Raegan''s forgiveness for his impoliteness from yesterday. However, Raegan didn''t ept it, leaving Darryl to wonder if she was still harboring anger toward him.


    Darryl''s willingness to make amends stemmed more from Raegan''s striking looks than genuine remorse.


    "Raegan, I''m here to apologize on Darryl''s behalf. Please don''t be angry with Darryl," Anabe pleaded. She heard that Raegan had left without having dinner the previous night, much to her regret.


    Since Anabe was an elder, Raegan didn''t make things difficult for her. She graciously replied, "It''s okay, Anabe.


    Just as Anabe was about to speak, Darryl interjected, "Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, let''s try to get along with each other."


    Raegan frowned, clearly perplexed by Darryl''s words. "I don''t think that''s necessary. We''re not cut from the same cloth," she retorted.


    "How dare you!" This marked the first time Darryl hadextended an olive branch to a woman, but Raegan bluntly rejected him.


    Anabe found herself irked by Darryl''s interference. Although the rumors portrayed Darryl as a yboy, as his mother, Anabe knew he had never brought a woman home or taken such an initiative in her presence. This time, however, Anabe sensed a difference. When Darryl returned home the previous night, he neither confirmed nor denied having any romantic interest in Raegan.


    "You think I''m not worthy of you? How dare you!" Upon reflection, Darryl hesitated with his words. Raegan could sense that he intended to remind her of her widowhood. O


    Adding fuel to the fire, Darryl had suggested that no other man. would be interested in Raegan as long as she had Janey with her.


    Truth be told, Raegan was fully capable of raising Janey on her own. Had it not been for Janey''s envy of children from intact families, Raegan wouldn''t have considered finding Janey a stepfather.


    The Cullen family and the Foster family had a long-standing rtionship. To avoid any strain on their rtionship, Raegan chose not to disclose the details of the previous night. Instead, she simply said that Darryl and she were not a good match. Now, there was no need for her to cover up for him. She believed him to be nothing more than a callous jerk.


    Raegan retrieved her phone and yed a recorded conversation for Anabe. As the content unfolded, Anabe''s expression darkened. She offered sincere apologies to Raegan and Janey before grabbing Darryl by the ear and dragging him out of the vi.


    Although Darryl had earned a yboy reputation, he dared not challenge his mother''s wrath. He endured Anabe''s scolding until they sat together in the car.


    This day marked a humiliating experience for Darryl, leaving him seething with resentment. Through gritted teeth, he vowed, "Just wait and see, Raegan Foster!"


    In the afternoon, Raegan reached out to Erick over the phone. "Hey Erick, are you free today? I need your help to pick up Elin from the airport."


    Surprised, Erick blurted out, "Why is she here?"


    Raegan replied, slightly irritated, "What''s the matter with you? She is here to visit Annis."


    Elin was Annis'' daughter, around the same age as Raegan. They used to y together when they were little. O


    Although they lost touch after Raegan went missing, fate brought them back together five years ago.


    Upon reuniting, Elin and Raegan instantly hit it off.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Raegan realized she hadn''t filled Erick in on the n and added, "Oh, by the way, I have decided to make Elin the design director of my studio. So, she will be staying here for a while. Janey loves her. Isn''t that fantastic?"


    Raegan expressed her excitement, but Erick remained unresponsive. After a prolonged silence, he tersely replied with a "yes."


    Raegan suddenly remembered something and said vigntly, "Keep an eye on Dayton, Erick. Just in case he bothers Elin again in Ardlens. After all, it was your idea to introduce Dayton to Elin. He not only cheated on her but also mistreated her. You remember when he nearly killed her, right?"


    "Don''t worry. I won''t let it happen again," Erick assured.


    "Good. I''m counting on you to deal with that jerk."


    As nned, Erick picked up the car key and headed to the airport.


    Upon reaching the airport, Erick saw a familiar slender figure from a distance.


    Elin was wearing beige trousers and a simple white and ck T-shirt,cking any noticeable ir.


    As Erick. walked toward her, memories of Elin''s once passionate and innocent nature, especially when she adorned herself in red dresses, shed through his mind.


    His eyes couldn''t help but narrow when he realized that ever since she got married to Dayton, she rarely wore dresses, even during the summer months.


    As Elin caught sight of Erick''s cold and elegantly handsome face, she was taken aback. Thest thing she expected was for Raegan to arrange for Erick to pick her up.


    Stubbing out his cigarette, Erick greeted, "d to see you, Elin.


    Nervously clutching her luggage, Elin responded, "Nice to see you too, Erick."


    The two exchanged greetings with stoic expressions. Following the brief interaction, Erick impatiently adjusted his tie before assisting Elin with her suitcase, stowing it in the trunk. Opening the passenger door, he gestured for her to take the seat.


    "I actually prefer sitting in the back seat," Elin said.


    With the passenger seat door open, Erick rested his hand on the door frame. He fixed his eyes on Elin, maintaining a stoic silence but wearing a somber expression.