“Hey, bro.” Raymond heard the most annoying voice he last wished to hear right now. He crossed his legs on top of each other, his right-hand fingers tapping on his lap. “This better be urgent,” Raymond warned coldly.
Nicholas, who was in the countryside, shooting a movie by a river bank, shivered due to the cold air around him. As he stared at the flowing river, he remembered the trending news he had seen on the entertainment news a moment ago. He couldn’t help gritting his teeth at what that shameless bitch did.
Looking at the other side of the river, he could see Ashley, who was surrounded by many extras from the movie cast. If Ashley is the queen of the entertainment industry, then Nicholas is the emperor of the entertainment industry. With his green dyed hair, he looks devilishly handsome, sitting on the relaxing beach chair with his shirt unbuttoned, showcasing his solid chest and eight packs.
“Ray, I have two pieces of news for you.” Nicholas finally stated, his voice low. “Which one of them would you go for first? The good one, or the bad one?” He asked.
“Cut the crap Nick,” Raymond snapped, his patience wearing thin. “Just tell me what it is already.”
“Okay, I will say it then.” Nicholas shifted in his seat a little bit, making the cool breeze spread the wings of his green hair. “When did you meet Ashley? Didn’t you promise not to have anything to do with her?” Nicholas’ voice was filled with seriousness, the earlier teasing tone gone. “Why are you suddenly trending with her wrapped all over you online?”
Raymond felt his heart skip a beat at Nicholas’s news. This is bad news according to Nicholas. If what Nick said is true, and he doesn’t explain himself to Lina properly, their still not solid relationship would be affected.
“What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I go back to that sucker?” Raymond’s brow was furrowed, momentarily forgetting his encounter with Ashley at the hospital a few days ago.
As he was thinking of how authentic Nicholas’ news was, he heard the bathroom door pushed open as Lina came out. Her face was still a little pale, but it was better than earlier. She had also changed out of her stained hospital gown. She was now putting on a stunning knee-length off-the-shoulder purple gown.
Her brown hair was let loose as it cascaded down her shoulder, framing her face perfectly. She looks so breathtaking that Raymond forgets about his ongoing conversation with Nicholas. His breath hitched as his piercing blue ocean-like eyes took in all of her.
Her long slender legs look even more alluring with the high-heels she was putting on. Lina couldn’t help but smile at Raymond’s dumbfounded reaction. She loved the way he looked at her with so much admiration and adoration.
“Hey, Ray, are you with me?” Nicholas’ voice sounded through the phone. Raymond blinked twice before coughing slightly to cover his embarrassment. “I will talk to you later.” He didn’t wait for his response before he hung up.
“Who were you speaking with just now?” Lina asked curiously as she walked forward.
Raymond frowns at Lina’s question. How would he explain that he was on the trending news right now with his ex-girlfriend? Won’t she be annoyed?
Seeing his frown, Lina stopped moving forward. She bit the inside of her mouth nervously. Does his frown mean he doesn’t like her invading his privacy? Lina’s mind couldn’t help wandering.
Seeing her stiff reaction, Raymond knew his reaction had been taken the wrong way by her. Raymond uncrossed his legs before standing up and walking up to Lina, whose head was bowed slightly. She didn’t dare to raise her head. She could feel Raymond’s burning gaze on her.
Raymond’s footstep towards Lina was filled with vigor. Lina felt her heart in her throat as she counted his footsteps. Raymond stops a step before her. His index finger was placed on her chin as he lifted her head to face him. Her cheeks were a shade of red. She didn’t dare to look into Raymond’s blue piercing eyes.
“Look at me, Lina,” Raymond instructed, which Lina did after a few seconds. Her brown orbs were filled with fear of him reprimanding her earlier actions. Seeing the fear etched in her eyes, Raymond knew he fucked up.
“Listen to me babe, I didn’t mean you couldn’t ask me who I was on the phone with earlier. You have all the right to ask about that since you are my legally wedded wife. So, don’t feel bad or think I took your question the wrong way. As my wife, you can ask me anything, and I will gladly give you an answer.” Raymond’s words make Lina’s tensed shoulders relaxed slightly.
“Really? Lina asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She also doesn’t want her relationship with Raymond to be filled with misunderstandings. No matter what it is, she would love for them to talk about it and find a solution, or clear whatever doubt there was.
“Wifey,” Raymond responded, his hand placed on Lina’s exposed white shoulder, making her jolt at how cold Raymond’s palm was to her already cold shoulder. Lina’s cheeks were a shade of red after Raymond called her wifey.
After a few minutes of talking, Raymond led Lina to the two-seater sofa in the ward. The beeping of the hospital machines in the background, and the smell of disinfectant kept reminding Lina of how unpleasant she felt about staying in the hospital
As they sat down beside each other, Raymond’s arm still wrapped around her shoulders, Lina couldn’t help but feel how peaceful it was to be in his arms. She had never felt anything like this being with Daniel. As they both sat down in silence, “Lina played with her fingers nervously. Raymond couldn’t help noticing she wanted to say something.
“Wifey, is there anything you wanted to tell me?” Raymond asked as he took his left palm that was placed beside him to cover Lina’s intertwined fingers.
“Umm,” Lina stuttered. “I mean, about what you said earlier about making our relationship real, and not just based on the earlier contracts we signed, does the offer still stand?” Lina was very nervous as she said this. She still has a battle to fight.
After her long dream, she would make sure to bring whoever was involved in her mother’s death to justice, no matter who they were. To achieve this, she had to have a powerful person to help her with some things she wouldn’t be able to achieve on her own. And, who would be the best to be her backer if not her powerful husband, ‘Raymond’.
Raymond had been noticing the change in her since yesterday, but never in his wildest dream would he think his wife was thinking about his offer. As Lina waited nervously for Raymond’s response she couldn’t help feeling a mix of emotions. Her past still haunts and hurts her. The pain of losing her mother at a young age still lingered.
She doesn’t want to just use Raymond for her selfish reasons. She also wanted to genuinely be in a loving relationship with him just like a normal couple. Just because her previous relationship failed doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the right to be in a new one and be happy.
Lina turned her body slightly to face Raymond. He also raised his head to look into her eyes. Lina saw something that gave her hope in his blue orbs. She saw kindness, compassion, and a genuine desire to connect with her in them. She couldn’t afford to lose a man of caliber like Raymond.
Lina took a deep breath before opening her mouth. If it’s to convince Raymond, she would do that. “Raymond,” she called, her voice barely above a whisper. “I knew our marriage was a mistake and nothing but a contract from the beginning.”
Raymond’s ears hurt hearing that. How can she say that? Did she think if he wanted to marry randomly, he would choose her? Why can’t she see his love for her from the very beginning? But her later words calmed him down.
“For the past few days, I can see how you genuinely care for me. I had to admit that being with you made me feel safe Raymond.” She looked deep into his eyes, trying to see any changes in his expression, but none was given away by him. “And I was wondering if maybe we could try to make this work out for both of us. Not for the sake of the contract, but for us, for our happiness.
Listening to her words, Raymond felt like he was on cloud nine. If he was to be shot dead right now, he wouldn’t mind. What he wanted the most was about to be fulfilled. Why wouldn’t he be happy? Raymond’s eyes were shining with happiness.
Looking at Lina’s face, his expression softened as he looked at her with a newfound curiosity. The vulnerability in her eyes touches something deep within him.
His hand that was holding hers, held it more tightly as he tried to contain how happy he was.”Lina, I…I also want to try out our relationship, and be just like a normal couple in love, but…” Lina, who was starting to calm at his words, couldn’t help tensing up back at his but. She doesn’t want any buts among them.
As Raymond opened his mouth to continue his speech, Lina’s phone rang, the caller ID displaying Ria’s name.
The phone was placed on a coffee table in front of them. They could both see the caller ID. Raymond couldn’t help swallowing hard. He didn’t need to fuse to know that what Ria wanted to tell Lina was about the trending news of him and Ashley.
Just when he was trying to put his happiness in place, an unforeseen situation came knocking at his door, wanting to snatch his happiness away from him. He wouldn’t let it win without putting up a fight.