Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Chapter 53

RAVEL

PRESENT TIME

Wearing a sleek black tuxedo paired with a matching black tie and a crisp white shirt, I exited my room, only to discover Anne comfortably seated in my living room. Suppressing any hint of annoyance provoked by her unexpected presence, I nonchalantly picked up a glass of scotch that Raymond had kindly poured. “What brings you here, Anne?” I inquired, my irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

She was already dressed and should be heading to the venue. Why was she in my

suite?

Rising gracefully from her seat, Anne approached me with measured steps. Her voice was calm yet resolute as she explained, “I’ve come to offer words of encouragement to my son before his momentous day begins. Is that a cause for concern?”

“I hardly require your well-intentioned words to enhance my evening,” I retorted, my tone edged with a hint of defiance. There was only one individual capable of truly brightening my night. “I suggest you take June along with you as you leave for the venue.”

Her fleeting smile vanished into thin air. “And why should I take her with me? Isn’t she your woman?”

Anne’s inquiry caught me off guard, causing my brow to arch in surprise.

“You never acknowledged Hazel as my partner during the entire time I dated her and even after I married her. Yet, now you’re suddenly deeming June as ‘my woman’?” I responded with a mixture of incredulity and suspicion, my narrowed eyes fixed on her. “What’s the reason behind this sudden shift?”

With a dismissive shrug, Anne replied in a curt tone, “Perhaps I’ve chosen to cease battling against your decisions. It might be time to allow you the freedom to pursue your desires.”

I found her statement hard to swallow. As I returned the now-empty glass to the countertop, I refrained from raking my fingers through my hair so as not to dishevel its carefully gelled style. “If you’re not inclined to take June along with you, – that’s acceptable,” I conceded, reminding myself that Matthew was more than capable of managing such tasks; it was, after

all, one of the reasons for which he was getting paid.

Closing the gap between us, Anne enveloped me in an embrace that I didn’t quite reciprocate. “You might find it hard to believe, but I love you son deeply. Truly, I do. I genuinely wish the best for you,”

she expressed, her sincerity evident in her voice and demeanor.

“Thank you,” I replied, extricating myself from the somewhat awkward hug. “It’s time for everyone to make their way. The red carpet is scheduled to commence in about forty minutes, and I need to be there to welcome my guests.”

“Of course,” Anne agreed, her smile extending warmly toward me. “And do remember to accompany June/The perception is already that the two of you are a couple. Embracing that image would not only project the perfect couple but also enhance your public persona.”

Not in the mood for a debate, I yielded to her wishes. “Alright, I’ll accompany her,” I conceded, offering her the words she longed to hear. Her smile widened appreciatively. “See you at the venue, Anne.”

Giving a nod, she exited my suite. I watched her until she was completely out before shifting my attention to Raymond. “Reach out to Matthew and arrange for him to drive June to the venue,” I instructed, my voice firm. There was no reason for her to share a ride with me.

“Understood, boss,” Raymond acknowledged, stepping away to make the necessary arrangements.

Taking out my phone, I navigated to my favorites and dialed Hazel’s number. Knowing that having an open conversation in public would be challenging, I hoped to at least hear her voice now.

The first two attempts went unanswered, but I wasn’t deterred. Opting for one last try, I put the call on speaker mode and reached for another drink. It was at that moment she finally picked up the call.

“Hazel? Why haven’t you been answering my calls?” I questioned, my tone a mix of concern and frustration.

Chapter 53

“Because you have no reason to be calling her,” a familiar male voice responded, interrupting our conversation. “Why are you persistently trying to contact my woman and expecting her to answer your calls?”

My jaw tightened at the sound of his voice. “Are you now screening her calls?” I retorted in a flat tone, a hint of frustration underlying my words. “Quite the gallant approach to treating a lady.”

“I’m merely safeguarding her from potential threats,” he replied curtly. “Frankly, I’m not concerned about whatever you might want to convey to her. I trust her completely. However, if you truly need to speak to her, you can do so tonight at the exhibition hall, in the presence of everyone.” With that, he abruptly ended the call.

Baffled and taken aback, I stared at my phone in disbelief, contemplating why Hazel would grant him access to her phone. Sna tching the device off the countertop, I opted to send a message instead.

“Give me a call when you see this message. XX RAV.”

“Sir,” Raymond’s voice called out, breaking my focus, “the car is ready.”

Acknowledging his statement with a nod, I picked up my jacket from the arm of the sofa and made my way out of the suite. Throughout the ride to the venue, Raymond, sensing my less than optimal mood, wisely remained silent. It wasn’t until he brought the car to a stop by the stairs leading to the red carpet that he finally turned to me.

Twisting his body to catch my expression, he tilted his head slightly. “Do you think you could manage a smile for the cameras?” he inquired cautiously. My glare was my response. “What? It’ll come across as rather odd if you arrive at your own event looking like you were dragged out of bed.”

Ignoring his query, I asked pointedly, “Where’s June?”

Raymond chuckled. “I’m pretty sure she’s lurking around, eagerly waiting for your appearance so she can join you on the red carpet for some photos.” I muttered a curse under my breath, prompting another chuckle from him. “Just try not to accidentally push her down the stairs while posing together;

that ba stard might be keeping an eye out.”

With a tense jaw, I shifted my gaze out the window, staring at the swarm of papara zzi poised to capture every moment. “Make sure Hazel stays away from the red carpet until I’ve finished with June.”

“You needn’t worry, Ravel. I’ve already spoken to Tom, and he assured me that Hazel hasn’t left her house yet,” Raymond assured, though a hint of skepticism played on his expression. “You do realize there’s a chance she might not show up, right?”

She will. She promised me that she will, and also se went through last minute details with me.

“Raymond, just open the door if you’re not going to contribute anything meaningful.”

My phone chimed with a notification, and I eagerly reached for it, assuming it was Hazel, only to discover yet another message from the ba stard that seemed to shadow my steps.

Raymond’s lips curved into a smile, seemingly unaware of the message I had just received. “It’s good to see you maintaining your usual demeanor,” he remarked with a touch of amusement, opening the car door and stepping out. He moved around to my side and held the door open, prompting the cameras to start flashing as I emerged.

Climbing the stairs and striking a few poses for the eager photographers, I was already engaged in the photoshoot when, just as Raymond had anticipated, June made her entrance seemingly out of thin air. I looped my arm around her waist, our practiced chemistry evident as we posed for the flashing cameras. Strangers, oblivious to the complexities of my life, showered us with compliments about how impeccable we looked together. Their words, though well-intentioned, only served to stoke my frustration.

Amid the flurry of photography, Raymond’s voice unexpectedly echoed in my ear through the discreet mic. “Red alert, boss! It appears Tom’s information was false. Hazel’s car has just arrived. You need to disengage from the red carpet with June!”

As if on instinct, my gaze shifted towards the entrance, my eyes scanning for the approaching vehicle. I didn’t have to search for long, as the car in question had just pulled over, making its presence known.

Quilt gnawed at me, and I quickly released my grip from around June’s waist. A wave of unease swept over me, as if I could sense Hazel’s gaze piercing through the tinted glass of her car. Just as I was about to signal an end to the photo session, June

Chapter 53

surprised me by leaning in and planting a kiss on my lips.

The crowd erupted in excitement, their cameras capturing the unexpected moment from every angle.

As the flashes continued, my mind was consumed by thoughts of how Hazel might be feeling if she were witnessing this spectacle or how she would react upon seeing the images splashed all over the internet the following morning.

Despite my efforts to avoid it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was inevitably causing her pain. No matter how hard I tried,

it seemed I always ended up hurting her.

Ħ

0