Chapter 517: Chapter 517

Here, Curtis let out a deep sigh. “But when I calmed down, I realized Theodore’s not wrong. The person he loved was knocked over by someone his biological mother employed. And now, Jasmine’s still unconscious in the hospital. It’s only right that he wanted to seek justice for his lover.

“That’s why I hurried over when I returned to the country and found out you had brought Selena to the hospital. I feared Mrs.

Xavier would do something to you, and that you’d end up in a worse state than Jasmine.”

“What are you going to do about Carl, then?” Rayna finally spoke. “How are you going to tell him about his parents and the fact that another woman’s pregnant with his father’s child?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. The doctor assigned to Selena is arranged by Jeremy. The child won’t be born into this world,” Curtis said.

A wave of relief washed over Rayna.

She had been constantly worried about that matter, but she could not find a solution for it.

However, a grim look returned to Rayna’s face almost instantly as she pushed Curtis away. “You’re done talking, right? Move aside, then. I want to go out.”

“Rayna, do you still not understand after everything I’ve said?” Curtis remained standing in front of the door, showing no signs of wanting to let her leave. “Don’t you know what’s in my mind?”

To his dismay, Rayna said calmly, “I don’t want to. All I know is that I’m getting married today, and my husband’s surname is Hamilton.”

Her words infuriated Curtis. He grabbed her hand and pinned her against the door. “Rayna, can’t you talk to me properly? Must you really make me angry?”

“I am calm, and I know what I’m saying.” Rayna turned her face away to avoid looking at him. “That’s your friend. It’s only right that you’re so worried. You don’t have to explain the situation to a stranger like me.”

“Rayna”—Curtis’ tone turned grim—“Look at me.”

After a moment of silence, he continued, “If you don’t, that means you’re feeling guilty.”

His words successfully elicited a reaction from Rayna. She turned around and met his eyes. “Why should I feel guilty?”

Curtis’ eyes bored into hers. “Look in my eyes and tell me you really love Jefferson. Tell me you married him out of love, not out of revenge on me.”

His sharp gaze made her heart clench and her eyelashes quiver.

Suppressing the emotions surging in her heart, she gritted her teeth and said fiercely, “Yes. I love him. That’s why I’m marrying —”

Before she could even finish, Curtis cupped her face and sealed her lips with a fervent kiss, stopping her from saying things that would anger him.

No matter how hard Rayna pounded his chest, Curtis did not budge. It was not until she was panting from the kiss that he let go of her lips and stared fixedly at her. “Have you calmed down now?”

“Y-You...” Rayna was so furious that she breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling as she took breaths that were filled with his scent.

Curtis rubbed a finger on her face. “Rayna, you can’t fool anyone with your gaze. I’ve known you for a long time. I know what kinds of faces you make when you lie.”

Rayna pursed her lips, looking stubborn and calm. “So what? What’s that supposed to mean? We’re not related. I have the freedom to choose whoever I want to marry. Even if I don’t love him now, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t give myself a chance.

Let’s just leave things this way, Curtis. This will benefit both of us.” Rayna let go of his arm while keeping a rein on her emotions.

“We can still be friends, and our companies can still collaborate with each other.”

Curtis was exasperated. “You’re carrying my child, yet you’re saying you want to only be friends with me. Rayna, I didn’t groom you just to be friends with you.”

Rayna yelled, “Then what do you want from me? I will gladly return all my skills to you if that’s possible. No. It’ll be better if I never met you in the first place.”

I never would’ve gone to the bar if I had known it would change my life forever.

“Rayna...”

Rayna dodged his hand and inched backward until her back was plastered tightly against the door. “I will think of the past every night when I sleep. I can’t forget it no matter what I do. It’s so suffocating. I’m begging you, Curtis. Please just leave things the way it is.” Rayna hung her head as hot tears fell onto the carpet. “Yes. I admit I loved you. But even if I still have a special place for you in my heart, that doesn’t mean anything. You hated me over Kristie’s matter. Then you told my brother about Arnaud’s whereabouts and let him travel to Yartran alone, which killed him. Aren’t you done taking revenge on me?”

Curtis knitted his brows. “How did you know about it?”

Rayna inhaled sharply to calm herself down. “It’s pointless asking all that now. My brother has already paid you with his life. We don’t owe you anything now.”

“Rayna, listen to me.” Curtis grabbed her shoulder with force to make her look at him. “I admit it. I sent James to Yartran, but that’s because he has great marksmanship, which makes it easy for him to kill Arnaud. But I’m not that cruel, and James didn’t die. He—”

“Enough!” Rayna interrupted. Finally, she broke down. “I’ve already received his ashes. If he’s not dead, then where is he? Tell me!”

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Curtis’ expression finally relaxed, and he pulled Rayna aside. “He’s here.”

He went to open the door.

Standing by the door was a tall man who was in his fifties. There was also a long and fearsome scar on his neck.

It was none other than the man who had been taking care of Kristie—Samson.

Curtis invited him in and said in exhaustion, “Your sister thought you were dead and almost hit me.”

“What are you talking about?” Rayna glanced at the middle-aged man and then at Curtis. “Curtis, I’m not mad to the point that my eyesight’s affected. I know what my brother looks like!”

Suddenly, the middle-aged man reached up to his neck and tore the horrific scar from his skin.

It turned out there was a tiny voice changer hidden underneath it.

After he removed the voice changer, he said, “Rayna, it’s really me. I’m not dead.”

“J-James?” Rayna recognized her brother’s voice. However, she was at a loss when she stared at his face. “Is it really you? But —”

James explained, “When I went to Yartran for the second time, Mr. Faymon told me to fake my death in order to make Arnaud drop his guard. I purposely discarded the emerald pendant on the road. Mr. Faymon found someone who resembled me in terms of size, changed his facial features, and made him die on my behalf. After that, I followed Mr. Faymon’s men and went to Mr.

York’s. Mr. York gave me a pill, which made me look like this.” James touched his face, which felt rather rough. “I couldn’t get used to it in the beginning, but I managed to calm down. I’m fine as long as I don’t look into the mirror.”

Seeing it was really her brother, Rayna threw herself at him and hugged him tightly. “You gave me such a fright! Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you were dead! I was on the verge of breaking down...” she cried out.

Curtis could not bring himself to see them hugging so tightly. He stepped forward and pulled Rayna away. “Dorothy’s father is terribly influential in Jetroina. It’s almost impossible to get rid of him once he works with Arnaud. That’s why I sent James over. I told him not to tell you about it in case it might make you worry. Besides, it’s more convincing if fewer people knew about it.”

“Oh, so now you’re talking about it, huh?” Rayna pounded Curtis’ chest with tears streaming down her cheeks. “Do you have any idea how smart Arnaud is? What if your plan fails?”