The thought of Raymond''s words in the underground parking lot about having an affair echoed in Selena''s mind.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    She couldn''t shake the sensation that she was indeed engaged in a ndestine romance with her boss-the same boss who had orchestrated her husband''s transfer. But why would Raymond go to such lengths?


    Surely, Selena didn''t delude herself into thinking her allure was irresistible, sweeping Raymond off his feet on a whim.


    A man in his position had crossed paths with endless numerous women. Most crucially, everyone in New York knew Olivia was the only woman he acknowledged as his girlfriend. He had even braved Wall Street alone, abandoning everything there to defy an arranged marriage.


    Could such a man fancy her? The thought seemed ludicrous to Selena; overconfidence often led women to make fools of themselves.


    Due to a nagging knee wound and a light dizziness, Selena settled into her seat with painstaking slowness. With just the two of them and a snoring dog on the balcony filling the space, she turned on the TV to break the stifling silence. Of all things, it had to be a drama starring Austin.


    Raymond''s features twitched subtly in response.


    Selena bolted up. "I need a shower."


    The sweat of the afternoon clung to her, and she felt ufortably grimy. Using this excuse, she dashed to the bathroom.


    "Be careful with your wound," Raymond cautioned, passing her a pair of shorts he had brought from the hotel.


    ...


    After soaking in the bath, Selena''s knee seemed more swollen.


    Soon, she changed into a cozy home outfit.


    She found Raymond busy with emails on hisputer, though she had expected him to leave by now. Just how long was he nning to stay?


    She nced at her phone, and it was already 5:00 p.m.-dinner time.


    "Raymond, are you hungry?" Cooking wasn''t a frequent affair for Selena, who preferred the convenience of dining out. Still, with Raymond there, she wasn''t sure he''d fancy those diners.


    Noticing the redness and severe peeling on her knees, Raymond gave no immediate response. Selena was puzzled, wondering if he was considering a fifth attempt. But her knee throbbed in protest.


    Noticing her grimace, Raymond reached for a drawer. "Got any ointment?" he asked, only to fall silent upon discovering a marriage license tucked inside.


    Selena was seized by a sudden urgency. Ever since Raymond had gone abroad, Mr. Montague Sr. had somehow managed to secure their marriage license even without Raymond being physically present. There was no way Raymond could''ve obtained the license himself, so it remained in her possession.


    She hadn''t really thought about keeping the document safe. Thest time she had nced at it, she had tossed it carelessly into a drawer.


    Selena got up, snatched the marriage license, and darted off to her bedroom. She hid it in a secretive spot before heading back to the living room.


    Raymond remained immobile; stuck in the same position he had been in earlier. The realization that she was married struck even harder when he caught sight of her with the license.


    Alex had once suggested to him that Selena''sck of a wedding ring might mean she was deceiving people. After all, a gorgeous woman in the workce might avoid certainplications by presenting herself as married. But the flip side meant foregoing the perks of being single.


    Selena had always paved her way in the world of interior design on her own merit.


    Raymond slowly closed the drawer, his mind reying the frantic search for that wedding ringst week. A suffocating feeling tightened in his chest, amplified to the extreme as Austin''s drama yed out on the TV. When Selena reemerged, she asked, "I called in an order to the restaurant, but I''m not sure if the food will suit your taste."


    This was the first time she had splurged on an exorbitantly priced delivery because Raymond was there. She had never indulged this much for herself.


    His response was to pull her down onto hisp before she could finish speaking.


    Selena shoved him slightly. "My knee hurts."


    His kiss was frantic and disordered.


    "It''s alright. You can stand," he murmured against her lips.