Chapter 53


    Chapter 53


    RAVEL


    PRESENT TIME


    Wearing a sleek ck tuxedo paired with a matching ck tie and a crisp white shirt, I exited my room,


    only to discover Annefortably seated in my living room. Suppressing any hint of annoyance


    provoked by her unexpected presence, I nonchntly picked up a ss of scotch that Raymond had


    kindly poured. “What brings you here, Anne?” I inquired, my irritation bubbling beneath the surface.


    She was already dressed and should be heading to the venue. Why was she in my


    suite?


    Rising gracefully from her seat, Anne approached me with measured steps. Her voice was calm yet


    resolute as she exined, “I’vee to offer words of encouragement to my son before his


    momentous day begins. Is that a cause for concern?”


    “I hardly require your well-intentioned words to enhance my evening,” I retorted, my tone edged with a


    hint of defiance. There was only one individual capable of truly brightening my night. “I suggest you


    take June along with you as you leave for the venue.”


    Her fleeting smile vanished into thin air. “And why should I take her with me? Isn’t she your woman?”


    Anne’s inquiry caught me off guard, causing my brow to arch in surprise.


    “You never acknowledged Hazel as my partner during the entire time I dated her and even after I


    married her. Yet, now you’re suddenly deeming June as ‘my woman’?” I responded with a mixture of


    incredulity and suspicion, my narrowed eyes fixed on her. “What’s the reason behind this sudden shift?”


    With a dismissive shrug, Anne replied in a curt tone, “Perhaps I’ve chosen to cease battling against


    your decisions. It might be time to allow you the freedom to pursue your desires.”


    I found her statement hard to swallow. As I returned the now-empty ss to the countertop, I refrained


    from raking my fingers through my hair so as not to dishevel its carefully gelled style. “If you’re not


    inclined to take June along with you, – that’s eptable,” I conceded, reminding myself that Matthew


    was more than capable of managing such tasks; it was, after


    all, one of the reasons for which he was getting paid.


    Closing the gap between us, Anne enveloped me in an embrace that I didn’t quite reciprocate. “You


    might find it hard to believe, but I love you son deeply. Truly, I do. I genuinely wish the best for you,”


    she expressed, her sincerity evident in her voice and demeanor.


    “Thank you,” I replied, extricating myself from the somewhat awkward hug. “It’s time for everyone to


    make their way. The red carpet is scheduled tomence in about forty minutes, and I need to be


    there to wee my guests.”


    “Of course,” Anne agreed, her smile extending warmly toward me. “And do remember to apany


    June/The perception is already that the two of you are a couple. Embracing that image would not only


    project the perfect couple but also enhance your public persona.”


    Not in the mood for a debate, I yielded to her wishes. “Alright, I’ll apany her,” I conceded, offering


    her the words she longed to hear. Her smile widened appreciatively. “See you at the venue, Anne.”


    Giving a nod, she exited my suite. I watched her until she waspletely out before shifting my


    attention to Raymond. “Reach out to Matthew and arrange for him to drive June to the venue,” I


    instructed, my voice firm. There was no reason for her to share a ride with me.


    “Understood, boss,” Raymond acknowledged, stepping away to make the necessary arrangements.


    Taking out my phone, I navigated to my favorites and dialed Hazel’s number. Knowing that having an


    open conversation in public would be challenging, I hoped to at least hear her voice now.


    The first two attempts went unanswered, but I wasn’t deterred. Opting for onest try, I put the call on


    speaker mode and reached for another drink. It was at that moment she finally picked up the call.


    “Hazel? Why haven’t you been answering my calls?” I questioned, my tone a mix of concern and


    frustration.


    Chapter 53


    “Because you have no reason to be calling her,” a familiar male voice responded, interrupting our


    conversation. “Why are you persistently trying to contact my woman and expecting her to answer your


    calls?”


    My jaw tightened at the sound of his voice. “Are you now screening her calls?” I retorted in a t tone, a


    hint of frustration underlying my words. “Quite the gant approach to treating ady.”


    “I’m merely safeguarding her from potential threats,” he replied curtly. “Frankly, I’m not concerned about


    whatever you might want to convey to her. I trust herpletely. However, if you truly need to speak to


    her, you can do so tonight at the exhibition hall, in the presence of everyone.” With that, he abruptly


    ended the call.


    Baffled and taken aback, I stared at my phone in disbelief, contemting why Hazel would grant him


    ess to her phone. Sna tching the device off the countertop, I opted to send a message instead.


    “Give me a call when you see this message. XX RAV.”


    “Sir,” Raymond’s voice called out, breaking my focus, “the car is ready.”


    Acknowledging his statement with a nod, I picked up my jacket from the arm of the sofa and made my


    way out of the suite. Throughout the ride to the venue, Raymond, sensing my less than optimal mood,


    wisely remained silent. It wasn’t until he brought the car to a stop by the stairs leading to the red carpet


    that he finally turned to me.


    Twisting his body to catch my expression, he tilted his head slightly. “Do you think you could manage a


    smile for the cameras?” he inquired cautiously. My re was my response. “What? It’lle across as


    rather odd if you arrive at your own event looking like you were dragged out of bed.”


    Ignoring his query, I asked pointedly, “Where’s June?”


    Raymond chuckled. “I’m pretty sure she’s lurking around, eagerly waiting for your appearance so she


    can join you on the red carpet for some photos.” I muttered a curse under my breath, prompting


    another chuckle from him. “Just try not to identally push her down the stairs while posing together;


    that ba stard might be keeping an eye out.”


    With a tense jaw, I shifted my gaze out the window, staring at the swarm of papara zzi poised to


    capture every moment. “Make sure Hazel stays away from the red carpet until I’ve finished with June.”


    “You needn’t worry, Ravel. I’ve already spoken to Tom, and he assured me that Hazel hasn’t left her


    house yet,” Raymond assured, though a hint of skepticism yed on his expression. “You do realize


    there’s a chance she might not show up, right?”


    She will. She promised me that she will, and also se went throughst minute details with me.


    “Raymond, just open the door if you’re not going to contribute anything meaningful.”


    My phone chimed with a notification, and I eagerly reached for it, assuming it was Hazel, only to


    discover yet another message from the ba stard that seemed to shadow my steps.


    Raymond’s lips curved into a smile, seemingly unaware of the message I had just received. “It’s good


    to see you maintaining your usual demeanor,” he remarked with a touch of amusement, opening the


    car door and stepping out. He moved around to my side and held the door open, prompting the


    cameras to start shing as I emerged.


    Climbing the stairs and striking a few poses for the eager photographers, I was already engaged in the


    photoshoot when, just as Raymond had anticipated, June made her entrance seemingly out of thin air. I


    looped my arm around her waist, our practiced chemistry evident as we posed for the shing


    cameras. Strangers, oblivious to theplexities of my life, showered us withpliments about how


    impable we looked together. Their words, though well-intentioned, only served to stoke my


    frustration.


    Amid the flurry of photography, Raymond’s voice unexpectedly echoed in my ear through the discreet


    mic. “Red alert, boss! It appears Tom’s information was false. Hazel’s car has just arrived. You need to


    disengage from the red carpet with June!”


    As if on instinct, my gaze shifted towards the entrance, my eyes scanning for the approaching vehicle. I


    didn’t have to search for long, as the car in question had just pulled over, making its presence known.


    Quilt gnawed at me, and I quickly released my grip from around June’s waist. A wave of unease swept


    over me, as if I could sense Hazel’s gaze piercing through the tinted ss of her car. Just as I was


    about to signal an end to the photo session, June


    Chapter 53


    surprised me by leaning in and nting a kiss on my lips.


    The crowd erupted in excitement, their cameras capturing the unexpected moment from every angle.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    As the shes continued, my mind was consumed by thoughts of how Hazel might be feeling if she


    were witnessing this spectacle or how she would react upon seeing the images sshed all over the


    inte the following morning.


    Despite my efforts to avoid it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was inevitably causing her pain. No


    matter how hard I tried,


    it seemed I always ended up hurting her.


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