Chapter 85


    Chapter 85


    ELENOR


    PRESENT TIME


    My family dynamics have be increasingly draining. It feels as though tranquility has be a


    raremodity within our household. I once admired the harmony that Ravel and Hazel shared, as it


    provided a glimmer of hope for familial peace. However, at this moment, their rtionship seems to be


    embroiled in more conflict than even my own struggles with my mother.


    Feeling the weight of it all, I reached for my jacket and made the decision to pay a visit to Raymond.


    We’ve been earnestly working on repairing our rtionship, and I’m hopeful that within his embrace, I


    might discover the sce and serenity I yearn for.


    I slid into my car, igniting the engine, and set course for Raymond’s apartment. His prolonged absence


    from work had been a conspicuous indicator of Ravel’s tumultuous emotional state. It seemed that


    Hazel’s silence in response to Ravel’s attempts atmunication had pushed him to vent his


    frustration on Raymond. The result? Raymond was left out in the cold, quite literally, as Ravel had


    locked him out of his apartment. Eventually, Raymond had grown weary of waiting for Ravel’s call and


    ceased showing up for work.


    As I parked in front of his apartment building, I turned off the engine and stepped out of the car,


    determined to check on him. My footsteps echoed through the hallway as I made my way to


    Raymond’s unit. Upon reaching his door, I rang the doorbell twice, but there was no response. Could


    he not be at home? Frowning, I retrieved my phone and dialed his number, only to be greeted by his


    voicemail.


    Persistent attempts to reach Raymond through my phone proved futile as it stubbornly continued to


    divert me to his voicemail. Frustration mounting, I reluctantly abandoned my efforts with the phone and


    resorted to repeatedly pressing the doorbell. Still, there was no response, and for a moment, I


    contemted walking away in resignation.


    However, just as I was about to retreat, the elevator doors slid open, revealing a weary and disheveled


    Raymond. His suit jacket hung haphazardly on his shoulder, a clear sign that something was amiss.


    My heart ski pped a beat as he halted upon spotting me, his tone carrying an unexpected edge as he


    inquired, “What are you doing here, Elenor?”


    A sudden uncertainty gripped me, making me wonder if I had unknowingly provoked his anger. I replied


    cautiously, “I came to visit my boyfriend, of course.” His scoff at my response furrowed my brows in


    confusion. “Is everything okay?”


    Raymond’s expression remained tense as he finally voiced his concern, “I called you earlier. Why didn’t


    you answer the call?”


    “I was in an important meeting, which is why I couldn’t answer your call,” I patiently reiterated, my voice


    laced with concern as I watched him keep his distance. His distant demeanor puzzled me, especially


    considering he hadn’t answered my call just moments ago.


    A telltale whiff of alcohol hung in the air as he sniffed and attempted to walk past me. My concern


    deepened, and I couldn’t help but ask, “Have you been drinking, Raymond?” My hand extended to


    grasp his, but he pulled away abruptly, a visible tension in his frame


    His response was more intense than I expected, filled with frustration and a raw sense of repulsion.


    “Leave me the f*** alone!” he yelled, his words stinging like an unexpected p. “All of you should


    leave me the f*** alone!”


    I couldn’t simply let this go. It was evident that something was deeply amiss. “What happened,


    Raymond?” I pressed, my determination unwavering as I sought to uncover the root of his distress,


    hoping to provide the support he needed.


    Raymond’s re was piercing as he spoke, his words sending a shockwave through me. “Your brother


    has not been answering my calls. If he eventually decides to answer yours, tell him that I quit!” I


    couldn’t conceal my astonishment at his deration.


    Digging his hand into his pocket, he extracted a crumpled sheet and dropped it at my feet. “Give this to


    him; that’s my resignation letter.” I attempted to reach for his hand, seeking some form of connection,


    but he forcefully shoved me away, Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    nearly causing me to lose my footing. His next words pierced my heart. “Get the f*** out of my house


    and never return again, Elenor.”


    Struggling to contain my emotions, I bit my trembling lips. “What are you talking about, Raymond?” I


    took another cautious step forward. “I understand you’re upset, but please don’t say things you don’t


    mean.”


    His anger red, and he hissed back vehemently, “I mean every da mn thing I say. You and your family


    disgust me.” With that final deration, he opened his door, walked inside, and mmed it shut,


    leaving me standing there, stunned and heartbroken.


    Stunned into immobility, I remained rooted in ce, staring at the closed door as tears streamed down


    my cheeks. Clutching the torn pieces of the resignation letter in my trembling hand, I could hardly


    comprehend the whirlwind of emotions that had just unfolded.


    Exiting the building, I entered the elevator with a heavy heart, the weight of the situation pressing down


    on me. Once inside my car, I immediately dialed Ravel’s number, desperate for any insight into what


    was happening with Raymond. My repeated calls, however, yielded nothing but unanswered silence.


    Frustration mounting, I discarded my phone onto the passenger seat and began to ponder the potential


    causes of Raymond’s drastic behavior. Despite my efforts to unravel the mystery, only one name


    echoed relentlessly in my mind: Anne. She was the one person who could wield such influence over


    him, causing him to act in such an extreme manner.


    Determined to seek answers, I steered my car towards Anne’s imposing manor. My sense of urgency


    was palpable, as I broke every traffic rule in my haste to reach her. The need to understand what had


    possibly transpired between Raymond and Anne had be an unrelenting obsession, driving me


    forward with relentless determination.


    Arriving at Anne’s house, I left my car running, my emotions a tempestuous whirlwind as I stormed into


    her residence. The determination to uncover the truth had taken hold of me, and I was prepared to


    bring the entire house down if necessary.


    My steps reverberated through the sp ac ious mansion as I pressed forward, the staff directing me to


    the library where Anne was supposedly located. As I approached the library door, I noticed it was


    slightly ajar, and curiosity overcame me. The familiar voice emanating from within, and the nature of the


    conversation, caused me to pause and discreetly eavesdrop.


    “I am quite impressed,” June’s voice sounded, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. “I had no idea that


    sabotaging Hazel’s business and pinning the me on Ravel would have such a profound impact on


    their rtionship.”


    My eyes widened further as the implications of their conversation sank in. June was the mastermind


    behind the sabotage of Hazel’s business, and Ravel had been entirely innocent. My heart ached at the


    injustice of it all.


    “I told you all I needed was just the number of her important client,” Anne dered in a smug tone.


    “How did you manage to get him to give you the number?”


    June’sughter filled the air, and I strained to hear every word. “He’s been in on this with me longer


    than you know,” she confessed. I could sense shuffling feet, suggesting a secretive exchange. “So


    what’s the next n?” she asked Anne.


    Anne’s response was equallyng. “I don’t have the next n yet; we’ll have to wait for this one to y


    out first.”


    June seemed content with that response. “If that’s the case, I have no reason to stay here. I should be


    on my way.”


    My heart racing with the shocking revtions I’d overheard, I quietly tiptoed back downstairs and


    headed toward my car. As I settled into the driver’s seat, I dialed Ravel’s number once more,


    desperately hoping he would answer, but he continued to ignore my calls.


    Determined to reach him, I drove toward his house while persistently trying to get in touch. My calls


    went unanswered, and my anxiety grew with each passing moment. I even


    attempted to contact Raymond, hoping for any response, but the silence on the other end of the line


    was deafening.


    The audacity of Anne and June’s actions weighed heavily on my mind. How could they manipte and


    harm Hazel, all for the affections of a man who clearly didn’t want her? The motivations behind their


    cruel actions were a mystery I couldn’tprehend.


    In that moment, I couldn’t care less about the consequences for Anne and June. Ravel discovering the


    truth would likely


    Chapter 85


    sever any ties he had with Anne, and I found myself indifferent to the fallout.


    My focus remained on reaching Ravel when, distracted by my phone, I hit a speed bump. The device


    slipped from my grasp, and I instinctively reached down to retrieve it. When I raised my head, I was


    met with blinding headlights, a terrifying realization dawning upon me in the split second before impact.


    The blinding brightness made it nearly impossible to maintain control of the car. In an instant, I


    transitioned from cruising down a smooth, paved road to a terrifying descent down a steep hill.


    My body jolted violently as the car tumbled downhill, colliding with the unforgiving terrain. Amidst the


    chaos and wreckage, my thoughts raced. Thest coherent idea that crossed my mind before


    everything faded to ck was the urgent need to convey the truth I had discovered today to Ravel and


    Hazel.


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