Chapter 65


    ra hadn’t seenn for several days. He was abroad on business, with Heidi by his side.


    Every day, Heidi would share photos in thepany group chat. In every picture, there was a


    glimpse ofn.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Soon, the rumor of Ms. ra dating the CEO crumbled into nothingness, reced by whispers of


    Mr. Hayes and his all–time sweetheart, Heidi, nearing their happy ending. Some even went as far


    as to ask Leonora directly, who neither confirmed nor denied anything.


    ra didn’t mind. She took it as juicy gossip, something tough off. Her story withn was long


    overdue for its finale.


    Her phone buzzed on the desk. It was Christy, her predecessor as chief secretary, calling. ra hit


    ‘ept‘ without hesitation. “Hi, Christy.”


    “ra, still at work? You need toe early. You can’t bete, love.”


    “I’m heading out now, see you in a bit.”


    Christy had beenn’s chief secretary before ra and had mentored her into the role. Ever since


    Christy married into the Hicks family, tying the knot with their heir, Roger, she’d been a stay–at–


    home wife.


    Today was the christening of her baby.


    The celebration was at the Hicks family mansion, and by the time ra arrived, the ce. was


    bustling.


    She handed her gift to Christy and hugged her with a smile. “Christy, congrattions on bing a


    mom.


    Christy, visibly thrilled, clutched ra’s hand. “Just you? Mr. Hayes didn’te?”


    “He’s on a business trip, and he should be back tomorrow.”


    “The CEO is out of town, and his chief secretary isn’t with him? Is there trouble in paradise?”


    Having served three years byn’s side, Christy knew the ins and outs of the business, as well as


    the intricacies of ra andn’s rtionship. But like any seasoned professional, she understood


    the art of knowing without spilling.


    “It’s not like that,” ra said with a casual smile, “I just have other matters to take care of.” ra


    walked over to the crib as she spoke and when she saw the baby, dressed in a tiny pink dress,


    sleeping soundly, her eyes misted over. ra lowered her gaze, not wanting to let Christy see her


    emotional reaction. She reached out to gently touch the baby’s tiny


    11:45


    hand and said with a smile, “How adorable.


    Christy teased her, “If you like, have one of your own. You’re at the perfect age. I’m a bit older, and


    recovery’s been tough.”


    ra felt a lump in her throat at thatment. She might never be a mother in her lifetime. Her


    gaze lingered on the baby’s sweet face, lost in thought.


    Christy seemed to sense something and patted ra’s shoulder with a chuckle, “But hey, you’re


    only 24. You’ve got plenty of time in your hands.”


    The two were chatting when Roger suddenly popped in, smiling. “Christy,n’s here. Let’s go say


    hi.”


    Christy looked surprised and then at ra. “Speak of the devil. Can you watch the baby for me? I’ll


    go down and take a look.”


    ra stood by the window, watching asn and Heidi walked in arm in arm, cozy and intimate.n


    had never brought a date to such a private event before. Heidi was the first.


    ra needed no exnation for his motives. Perhaps, as everyone spected, good news was on


    the horizon for them. The agreement between her andn might end sooner than expected. It was


    the day she had longed for.


    However, seeing them together, mingling with the guests, ra’s heart still ached. Especially when


    she saw the child, ra’s mind was flooded with the memory that she, too, once had a child. A child


    withn.


    If things had been different, that child would have been over two months old by now.