Agnes' Awakening: From Zero to His Whole World novel Chapter 282

"Raymond's wife is standing right here. This is Agnes Sinclair."

Carmen tilted her head and finally noticed Agnes, who had been blocked by the two tall men.

"Oh, wow. Hi. I'm Carmen."

Agnes barely got a word out before Carmen pulled her into an enthusiastic hug that cut her off.

"I've heard Raymond got married, but I've been overseas this whole time. Today's my first chance to meet you.

"And wow, you're gorgeous. You're way out of Raymond's league."

Raymond's face darkened. "You little..."

Carmen quickly pulled Agnes away from him and wrapped an arm around her like they were already best friends.

She completely ignored the two men behind her.

"Come on, Mrs. Newton. Let's go inside and have some coffee. I love meeting pretty women.

"Your skin is amazing. What skincare products do you use?

"You ever thought about endorsing my beauty brand?

"I've got a few fashion lines too. You'd be perfect for them."

Carmen kept talking nonstop.

Watching the two women head inside, Raymond glanced at Frank.

"You two really are siblings."

Carmen was incredibly warm. She even exchanged contact info with Agnes and made plans to hang out.

It was obvious she genuinely liked her.

Agnes found her likable too. For someone from a powerful family, she had no airs at all.

She was beautiful, confident, and straightforward.

After leaving the hospital, Raymond drove Agnes back to the Newton Estate.

Agnes held it in the whole way, then finally said, "Your friends don't know we're divorced, do they?"

Raymond paused for a moment, his voice quieter. "They know."

"Then why do they still call me Mrs. Newton?"

A smile crept onto his lips. "Who knows? Maybe they're just used to it."

Agnes fell silent for a bit, then said gently, "Next time... it's probably better to make it clear.

"But... thank you for today."

Warmth spread through Raymond's chest, mixed with a quiet sense of relief.

She wasn't pushing him away like before, not like a wall of thorns.

If anything, her attitude toward him was slowly softening.

He smiled lightly. "What are you thanking me for?

"I should be thanking you for giving me a chance to introduce you to my friends."

He wanted to stay longer, but seeing the dark circles under her eyes, he held himself back.

After a while, he lifted the bottle and poured a circle of liquor onto the floor, smiling faintly.

"Here, Monica, have some too. Don't go into the light, alright?

"Be good... wait for me... Hahaha..."

His smile faded as his head dropped, and he started to sob.

"Is it cold where you are? Is it dark?

"Are you blaming me?

"You haven't come to see me even once in my dreams... You must be mad at me..."

Rebecca stood not far away, watching him coldly. She was starting to lose patience.

She had thought Duncan would grieve for a while, then turn that pain into fuel for revenge.

She expected him to rise up and use the Shaws' power to go after Agnes and Raymond.

But instead, he was getting worse, sinking deeper by the day.

She strode into the living room, grabbed the bottle from his hand, and snapped,

"This is how you plan to avenge Ms. Hale?

"Getting drunk every day and fighting them in your dreams?"

"Give it back!"

Duncan struggled to push himself up from the floor and reached for the bottle in her hand.