Lowering his head, Jepherson kissed Raeleigh on the shoulder and whispered in her ear. “Where do you think you’re going?”Raeleigh was pressed against the edge of the bathtub, not daring to move. She steadied herself, supporting the edge of the bathtub as she asked,“Can’t we get along?”


    “Aren’t we now?”


    Jepherson held her waist with one hand and fondled her with the other. He had the urge for another round.


    Even though he was weary!


    That said, so many years of missing her was enough to thrust him into the grip of obsession.


    Though unwilling,Raeleighwas still taken in. Once being tempted, it was difficult for them to get out of it.


    The erotic movements of their bodies reflected onto the water surface. As Raeleigh was forced to oblige, she faced away from Jepherson.


    Her heart, however,zed every now and then.


    …


    After the bath, Jepherson took Raeleigh out and dressed before leaving the room to look for Stuart.


    Stuart came out to find the two of them standing outside his room at three before dawn, wondering what was Jepherson up to.


    Stuart greeted, “Mr. Jepherson.”


    “Clean my room and book a new one for me.”


    Puzzled, Stuartwent to take a look at their room only to be thunderstruck.


    You call this a room?


    Stuart dealt with it without dy and booked another room. Only then did Raeleigh and Jepherson get to have a properrest.


    Exhausted, Raeleighid on the bed and fell right asleep after moving in to the new room.


    Jepherson sat aside and fixed his eyes on Raeleigh with his arms crossed. She was sleeping like a child; she had a worryingly pallid face that suggested he had indeed exhausted her.


    Jepherson asked, “Why is your health so poor?”


    Raeleigh lifted her hand to cover her face. She was genuinely worn out.


    With that, Jepherson unbuttoned his shirt, put on his pajamas, and got into bed. After lying down, he took her into his arms,and they finally had a good rest.


    Raeleigh was still sleeping even the next night while Jepherson got up to take a shower. He walked to Raeleigh’s side and stroked her face, intending to wake her up. Nheless, she was still in deep slumber. Jepherson no longer bothered her and worked while he had his meal.


    The initial n was to apany Stuart in checking out wedding outfits, but Raeleigh stayed in bed all day, soJepherson had the servants of the Richards family follow Stuart and left the matter to Stuart himself.


    Stuart, however,said he didn’t want to leave the hotel asnobody with the right mind would pick wedding dressesat night. Jepherson went through the document while expressing his stand of not intervening,letting Stuart call the shots.


    With a tight one-week schedule, Stuart would have to do it against the clock.


    With that in mind, Stuart brought Lucyoutto choose the wedding dress that evening and nned to take the wedding photos in the morning.


    Knowing that time was limited, the professional photography team framed a n right away. They made the arrangements for the night, outdoor, indoor locations, and other aspects in two days. As for the rest, they could be conducted domestically, ording to the team.


    Lucy rejected it at once because she felt that the cost was too high.


    On the contrary, Stuart approved the n, opining that he would not keep a tight rein on the expenditure.


    “We don’t need to throw such a mboyant wedding.” Lucy didn’t want to be prodigal with the budget for the wedding.


    “Marriage is an once-in-a-lifetime matter. We can earn the money back after we’ve spent them, but we won’t get another chance to marry each other again after this.”


    “Don’t you want to show it to our children when we’re old?”


    “Let them know that you married me splendidly.”


    Stuart was a man of a few but gentle words. Lucy deliberated on it and thought he was right.“Alright, we’ll go with this then.”


    They got busy with the wedding photos the next two days, and Stuart had not seen Raeleigh throughout that period. He thought she wouldn’t show up when they had to confirm the wedding outfits the following day, but to his surprise, Raeleigh came out of her room after changing her clothes.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Seeing Raeleigh, Stuart was somewhat surprised that she lookedmore vivacious.


    Lucy also remarked that Raeleigh had a different look.


    They went to pick the wedding dress. Lucy tried on quite a number of them, but they ended up getting the one Stuart took a liking to.


    After that, the four of them went on an excursion around the city, including all the scenic attractions.


    Sitting on the boat, Raeleigh leaned against the seat, allowing the wind to brush through herhair. Jepherson sat beside her as though he was waiting for something; no one could see what was hidden underneath the sunsses on his face.


    “What is their rtionship exactly?” Lucy asked Stuart when they were far away. To her, Jepherson and Raeleigh didn’t seem like husband and wife, nor did they look like lovers. Jephersonwould take Raeleigh with him wherever he went, while Raeleigh was visibly reluctant.


    It looked like he had the goods on her, so she couldn’t leave even if she wanted to.


    “Husband and wife.”


    Stuart never thought otherwise, just that the rtionship was somewhat intriguing.


    Coming back from the excursion, Raeleigh returned to her room and sat by the window, spacing out. Jepherson went to check on Raeleigh after he finished his work, asking, “Still feeling disinclined?”


    Raeleigh inquired, “When are you going to release Cynthia?”


    Jepherson cracked a smile. “If you won’t give in, I shall do the same.”


    Raeleigh fixed her eyes on Jepherson for a long time. She really had the urge to p him, but she knew it was useless. He wouldn’t change his mind even if she did so.


    She said, “It’s time for me to go back. Even if you won’t release Cynthia, I still have to go back. I can’t stay outside forever; I need to justify myself.”


    “Why? He doesn’t evene to you. Why did you need to justify yourself to him? Stay here. When hees, I will solve this problem.”


    “Why can’t you understand he’s not the cause of the problems between us. The crux of the matter is that we can’t be together. No matter how great Capital City is, it won’t take me in, nor do I belong there.”


    “Survival of the fittest. How can I survive when I can’t fit in?”


    “Can you protect me?”


    Jepherson gnashed his teeth. “Why not?”


    “We lost our child just like that, and then so many mishaps happenedter. Was Ste really just an ident?”


    “I know you through and through.”


    “You’re loyal yet ruthless. I don’t want to be with you. Even if he never appeared in my life, I’m not going to stay.”


    Hush silence filled the room.


    Jepherson shot daggers at Raeleigh as if he would not stop until his gaze had pierced through her.


    That night, the two of them fell silent as they hade to a deadlock.


    Raeleigh went shopping with Lucy the next morning after she had woken up.


    Lucy would have to buy some things since she was getting married. Moreover, she hade abroad, so she nned to get some souvenirs for her family. Plus, Stuart was more than happy to do so, just that he invited Raeleigh to join them.


    And just like that, the four of them went out together.


    After breakfast, Lucy got ready and came looking forRaeleigh, knocking on the door.


    Raeleigh was already ready. She wanted to buy wedding giftsfor Lucy and Stuart; they were getting married after all. Since Raeleigh was there to witness it, she thought she ought to get them something.