Selena shook her head and quietly sat back in the car. As it started, she asked, "Ann, is your boyfriend Brody Gray?"


    Ann looked surprised; she didn''t remember mentioning his name to Selena. "Yes."


    "You''ve been with him for seven years?" Selena asked.


    Ann smiled sweetly. "Yes, I took leavest time to get engaged. We even bought a house without telling his parents. His family has a house, but his mom wanted me to live with them. I didn''t want that, so I convinced Brody to buy a new ce together, even if it''s small. We each put in a million dors for the down payment on a 1,300 square foot house."


    Ann had even borrowed five hundred thousand dors from friends. As she talked, a faint smile lingered on her face.


    The more Selena listened, the more her heart sank.


    Ann was only twenty-three, still young. How hard must she have worked to save up five hundred thousand dors at this age?


    And she even borrowed another five hundred thousand dors, showing how serious she was about being with Brody.


    She rubbed her temples and heard Ann ask, "Ms. Fair, are you feeling unwell?"


    Selena did feel unwell. If she didn''t apologize, Ann and Brody might break up. But if she did, Jessica would definitely torment her. Adding Emily to the mix, she''d be in serious trouble. Ann was driving seriously, unaware of Selena''s thoughts.


    Back at Ashbourne Manor, Selena saw a call from Greer and ignored it.


    After hanging up, she saw a call from Gilbert.


    She ignored that too, and then an unfamiliar number called. She sighed and answered.


    "I''m Emily''s mother," Sandra''s voice was cold. "Are you Penny?"


    Receiving calls from three big shots in a row, Selena felt annoyed.


    She hung up, grabbed her coat, and headed to the hotel where Raymond was staying.


    But Raymond wasn''t there. After waiting an hour, the lobby manager told her, "Mr. Montague has already checked out."


    Selena felt like she''d been hit over the head. She numbly walked downstairs.


    It was still snowing outside, and she shivered from the cold.


    Selena walked along the road for almost an hour, not knowing where she ended up.


    A car stopped in front of her, and it was Raymond, on his way to Manston Manor.


    Raymond had just been discharged from the hospital. Seeing her wandering outside without an umbre, he honked twice. "Get in the car." Selena saw him and felt a bit dazed.


    After getting in, Raymond tossed a nket at her. "Dry your hair."


    They drove to Manston Manor and stopped outside the courtyard.


    Though Selena had designed every nt and tree here, it was her first time stepping in since the project waspleted.


    "John said you designed this ce. Not bad. I canceled my hotel reservation and will stay here from now on."


    Raymond had already heard from the lobby manager that Penny was looking for him.


    Inside, he took out a pair of women''s shoes from the cab and ced them in front of Selena.


    "Put them on," he said.


    The floor heating was on, so it wasn''t cold.


    Seeing him squatting beside her, Selena quickly took off her shoes. "I can do it myself."


    She was curious why Raymond had women''s shoes that fit her so well.


    As she walked in, she noticed the security at Manston Manor was even tighter than at Ashbourne Manor. Without Raymond''s permission, not even a mosquito could get in. Selena looked at the slippers she was wearing and then at Raymond''s ck men''s slippers. Hers were white, clearly a couple''s set.


    In the living room, Raymond sat down casually and asked, "Why did youe to the hotel to find me?"


    Selena nced around the living room.


    Raymond had lost his memory but seemed satisfied with the ce; otherwise, he wouldn''t have moved in so quickly.


    All the materials used here were top-notch, with no strange smells at all.


    Selena suddenly remembered why she hade to find Raymond tonight.


    She was being pressured by those big shots and hade seeking his protection.


    She felt pathetic.


    Opening her mouth, Selena hesitated, considering herst bit of dignity.


    Raymond was about to light a cigarette but put it back when he saw her.


    "Tempted by my proposal?" he asked.


    Selena didn''t speak, so he pulled her over. "Or did someone bully you again, and you can''t handle it yourself? Have you learned your lesson this time and know toe to me?" "Sunshine Real Estate''s Gilbert and the Adams family," Selena said.


    Raymond, familiar with the circles, knew the status of these two families.


    He lifted Selena''s chin. "You really know how to cause trouble. Are you nning to offend all the prominent families in Silver Bay City?"