Raphael felt a rush of relief at her inquiry.
Sinking into the plush cushions of the sofa, he ran a hand through his hair, weariness evident in his demeanor.
âNot good.
The doctors say she will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
And her mother is still causing a scene at the hospital.
Elissaâ¦â
âYou want me to take the lead and speak on your behalf, right?â
In a voice laced with a touch of sarcasm, Elissa said, âRaphael, look at the mess you have made.
Sure, you signed that agreement with her, but we wouldnât be in this predicament if you had bothered to sort things out before our wedding.
However, you never gave it a second thought.
You kept her around until I found out about her existence.
For heavenâs sake, Raphael, what were you even thinking? Perhaps someday, when you are tired of our marriage, you will conveniently schedule a business trip and make a detour to see her.
And who knows, you might even whisk her back to the country without my knowledge.
Is that your plan?â
âThatâs enough, Elissa!â
Raphael exclaimed, his tone edged with anger.
Truth be told, such thoughts had never even crossed his mind.
Meanwhile, Elissaâs smile faintly lingered before she resumed speaking.
âSo, what makes you think Iâll speak for you in public, Raphael? Just because we are a couple now? However, that doesnât mean itâs my job to fix your mess.
â
After a momentâs pause, she continued, âOn the contrary, I think you brought this upon yourself, and that woman isnât blameless either.
â
There used to be mutual respect between them in the past.
However, since the incident at the hospital, their patience had worn thin, and they probably even harbored a mutual disgust towards each other.
If it werenât for the baby, they wouldnât have even considered marriage.
Thus, a heavy silence hung between them for a long time.
Raphael rose from his seat, preparing to leave.
Suddenly, Elissa interjected, âI can help you sort things out, but under one condition.
â
Raphael was stunned when he heard Elissaâs words.
Without meeting his gaze, she continued, âRaphael, I donât care how many illegitimate children you sire with other women or how many secret affairs you embark upon in the future.
But when it comes to the Pryor Technology, my child must be its sole heir.
To be more specific, he should possess a minimum of fifty-one percent of the companyâs shares.
â
A slight frown creased Raphaelâs forehead as he asked, âIsnât that a bit excessive?â
Elissa smiled softly and responded, âWell, if you find it too demanding, I wonât force you.
â
After saying that, she rose from her seat and was about to head downstairs for dinner.
However, Raphael stopped her.
Elissa attempted to wriggle free from his grasp, but his hold remained firm.
Reluctantly, she turned around to meet his gaze.
With a subtle exertion of force, Raphael drew her closer, enveloping her in his embrace.
He guided her until she leaned against him, his touch gentle against her cheek as he said softly, âElissa, you are not the same person I once knew.
â
Elissa lifted her gaze, a scornful curve tugging at her lips as she looked at him.
âRaphael, it seems you are even more ruthless than I gave you credit for.
â
âIs that so? If thatâs the case, why do you still have feelings for me?â