Reclaiming Her Heart

Ann caught sight of the caller ID. It was him.

"What is it?" the man holding her slurred into the phone. "You want me to come now? But I don't want to. You don't need to worry about me. Everyone at the gathering revolves around you anyway. It doesn't matter if I show up."

He pressed himself against Ann, smirking as she trembled.

"Besides," he continued, "I've found a pretty little thing on the road. Haven't had my fill yet. Can't bear to leave her."

After a few seconds of silence, the voice on the other end asked, "So whose mess am I cleaning up this time?"

The man's face contorted with rage as he tore at Ann's dress.

"Cleaning up my mess? I was born into this family-I'll do whatever the hell I want! Just because you don't indulge, don't lecture me on how to live. Don't think I don't know everyone's kissing your ass. If you didn't hold all the power, none of them would give you the time of day."

"Let me go!" Ann struggled violently, falling to the ground from his grasp.

"I suggest you behave," he snapped. "I'm not above getting rough with women. Don't please me tonight, and I might just end you. Understand?"

His threats carried clearly through the phone to the man in the tailored suit on the other end, whose brow furrowed. That voice sounded disturbingly like Ann's. But she should be safely waiting in the car.

"Come or don't. Your choice." He hung up.

Meanwhile, Ann clutched her dress tightly, face drained of color. The man crouched down and yanked her to her feet.

"You should be flattered I'm interested. Now hurry up-I'll give you three hundred thousand dollars when we're done."

The sum struck Ann like a knife. With sudden fury, she slapped him hard across the face and fled.

The man stood frozen, touching his cheek before spitting on the ground. "Fuck. All that and I get nothing but a slap in the face."

Ann's harrowing night finally found some relief when she realized he wasn't following her. The journey home proved mercifully uneventful, but once showered and in bed, she clutched her blanket and sobbed uncontrollably into her pillow.

Selena's eyes were still healing. Raymond had brought her homemade porridge after returning from work.

When she tried to take the spoon herself, he simply commanded, "Open your mouth." She complied, but couldn't shake the feeling that something was troubling him. Shouldn't he be pleased that she was recovering?

After she finished eating, Raymond retreated to the kitchen to clean the dishes.

Selena fumbled for her phone and sent him a voice message: [Raymond, are you hiding something from me? If I've done anything to upset you, please forgive me.]

She deliberately softened her tone, still feeling guilty about the knife incident.

Raymond wasn't looking at his phone. He stood in the kitchen, lost in thought, the hot water running continuously from the tap. He hadn't eaten breakfast-after feeding Selena, he'd lost his appetite completely.noveldrama

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Hearing water running for over ten minutes, Selena carefully made her way to the kitchen.

"Raymond? Did you forget to turn off the faucet?"

Startled back to reality, he quickly shut off the water. "No, just cleaning up."

As he tried to place the clean dishes in the sanitizer, his hand trembled, sending two pieces crashing to the floor.

Hearing the sharp sound of breaking dishes, Selena instinctively stepped forward.

"Stay back!" he warned. "There's broken glass. You'll cut yourself."

He quickly blocked her way and knelt to collect the fragments.

"If dishwashing is difficult for you, let someone else do it," she suggested with concern.

Raymond wasn't struggling with dishes he was struggling to control his emotions in her presence. Even if she couldn't see, she would certainly sense his unease.

"Selena, let me clean this up. I'll help you back to the sofa."

He guided her there, but as he turned to leave, her legs wrapped around his waist.

She faced his direction, fingers seeking out his tie, pulling him forcefully toward her. Raymond bent forward, their faces inches apart.

"Raymond, I want to make love," she whispered.

It was the first time she had been so forward-usually it was him initiating. He hardened instantly, but reminded himself that in two days, she would be gone.

He was anxious for Helen to investigate BK, to gather as much information as possible.

So far, they'd learned frustratingly little, which only added to his agitation.

While he hesitated, she leaned in to kiss his Adam's apple. He groaned softly. "Selena, stop. I need to clean up the broken glass."

She moved her lips to his. His eyes darkened as he cursed under his breath, lifting her firmly and carrying her to the dining table.

The table was immaculately clean and sterilized, but she felt self-conscious.

"Let's go to the bedroom," she whispered.

"Shy now?" he teased.

Selena shifted uncomfortably. Being unable to see heightened all her other senses.

"Don't worry," he murmured. "The staff won't dare look. Let me see you properly." The bright lights of the great room left nowhere to hide.