The more she spoke, the harder she sobbed. “Did you know how devastated I was when I thought James was dead? I didn't even know how to tell my mom about it. You're too much, Curtis!”
“You're right. You're right,” Curtis admitted. “Stop crying. It's not good to keep crying when you're pregnant. Besides, I know the limit to things. I won't do it if I'm not confident about it.”
Rayna swatted his hand away. “You'll only make me worry by not telling me such a major matter!”
Curtis sighed and asked helplessly, “Do you think I don't know what your character is like? You're emotional and impulsive, and you never gave me a chance to talk to you properly. You were constantly mad at me.”
He then asked, “Rayna, did you think I knew about your pregnancy back in Summerbank? Was that why you thought I got someone to add those herbs to the duck stew and gave it to you to make you have a miscarriage?”
Rayna did not want to recall the incidents from the past. “It's pointless talking about that now.”
“It's not. Just tell me. Is that what you thought? Did you think I didn't want the baby?” Curtis stared at her sternly.
The atmosphere turned tense in an instant.
James could not help but pipe up, “Uh... Since you two have something to discuss, I shall take my leave first.”
“No!” Rayna hastily grabbed him. “It took so long for me to find out you're still alive. Don't leave. We'll go home together. You've been missing for so long that Mom's been asking where you've been.”
Curtis forcefully pulled her away. “He will, but let's settle this between us first.”
He shot James a look.
James nodded and said to Rayna before leaving, “Rayna, Mr. Faymon treats me really well. Don't blame him for what happened.”
After James left, Curtis locked the door from the inside in case Rayna escaped without him realizing it.
“Rayna, answer the question I asked just now.”
“We have nothing to talk about. Move over, Curtis.” Rayna scowled.
Just as Curtis was about to say something, he noticed Rayna was leaning on one side and frowning as if she was feeling uncomfortable. Recalling the moment he hugged her earlier, he realized she was wearing high heels.
Perhaps her feet ache from standing too long in heels.
He leaned over, picked her up, and went straight to the study before placing her on a chair.
Rayna wriggled. “What are you doing?”
“Move again and I'll fix you on the chair with duct tape.” Shooting her a glare, Curtis lifted the hem of her skirt and placed her legs on his thighs.
As he removed the high heels, he heard her inhale sharply. Clearly, she was hurting a lot. He could not help but chide, “Why force it if it doesn't fit? Are you going to learn the lesson only when your legs are paralyzed?”
“It's none of your business! I'm going to wear it even if it doesn't fit!” With her soles locked in his hands, Rayna felt a rush of heat flow through her legs. She tried her best to pull her legs out of his grasp. “Let go of me, Curtis.”
Those heels must've rubbed against her soles really badly. Seeing the pink skin on her legs, especially her toes, which were incredibly red, he gently massaged them while feeling utterly worried.
Unable to retract her legs, Rayna could only glower at him and sulk.
Although Curtis was not a professional, her legs hurt less after the massage.
When he saw Rayna was no longer frowning, he asked seriously, “If you don't answer my question, I'll keep asking until you do, and only then will I release you.”
Seeing how persistent he was, Rayna finally admitted, “Fine! Yes, that's exactly what I thought. After returning to Norwal City, I asked around and found that such herbs are usually excluded from duck stews unless the guest asks for it.”
“So, I was right.” Curtis could only let out a helpless sigh upon realizing his suspicion was right.
However, the more he thought about it, the more he thought something was amiss. Why did she treat me so coldly during the time she rushed back to Norwal City when something happened to Vivi? And why was she so agitated at the hospital that day?
Thinking back to the time when she had a shoot at Summerbank, he realized it was his actions and how he had given her all that food that made her misunderstand everything. No wonder she suspects I knew of her pregnancy and that I was the one behind the duck stew incident. I never knew the misunderstanding between us was so severe.
Curtis then said, “You don't believe it when I said you're a presumptuous woman who overthinks. I wouldn't have known about your pregnancy if Vivi hadn't told me. When I found out Vivi had a miscarriage, I sent someone to look into it. There was nothing. All I knew was that those herbs were more expensive, including the duck stew. I just wanted to order a more high-quality duck stew. I never considered it so much. Why would I ask someone to send such a thing over if I knew you were pregnant?”
Rayna did not respond. She merely pursed her lips and eyed him suspiciously.
Curtis knew she still did not trust him. “When you rushed back to Norwal City, I only thought it was because you had a lot to do at your company. That's why I didn't think much about it. Then Cillian called me. When I heard about what happened to Jasmine, I couldn't go to you. I went to Xyperia instead for fear that things would become more chaotic there.”
Rayna could not hold back her words anymore. She questioned him, “Really? It wasn't your doing? Didn't you suspect anything when you saw my bulging belly on the plane to Summerbank?”
“No. I just thought you had much to eat and that your stomach was bloated.”
Still unwilling to believe him, Rayna commented, “You're smart. Surely you already knew I was pregnant, and you didn't want me to keep the baby. Otherwise, why didn't you explain it to me when it happened? Why now?”
Curtis' head hurt, for it was too mentally taxing to talk to her. “I'm smart, but I'm not a gynecologist. I would be elated if I knew you were pregnant. Why would I want you to abort them? Back then, many things were also happening in Xyperia apart from yours. Besides, I only realized something was off after analyzing the situation. That's why I went to the hospital to look for you the moment I came back from Xyperia, wanting to bring you to get an examination before talking about it. But what did you do? You told me the child wasn't mine. Tell me. How was I supposed to stay calm after hearing that?”
Rayna was taken aback after hearing the truth from him.
As it turned out, not only Curtis did not know about her pregnancy, but he also had no intention of harming the child. Instead, she was the one who had completely misunderstood the situation the entire time.
Even so, knowing all that was pointless.
It was too late.
Rayna pursed her lips and said calmly, “I misunderstood you, but the truth is not important anymore. Since we've broken up, I'll take care of the child.”
She pushed him away and walked off barefooted.
Immediately, Curtis blocked her path, looking gloomy and exasperated. “Where are you trying to go in such a state?”
“To get married. My husband's still waiting for me at the church.” Rayna walked around him.
Curtis blocked her off again. “Oh, I dare you to. The second you get out there, I'll get someone to publish news about you bearing my child. I'd like to see how you're going to work after that.”
“You—” Rayna glared at him. “You're really shameless!”
“I know you too well, Rayna. I need to be reasonably shameless when it comes to dealing with you.”
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