Shattered Vows: Call Me Auntie Now novel Chapter 37

Within minutes, Tara had boxed up every single luxury item in the room. Together, the two women carried the large storage bin toward the stairs.

It wasn't overly heavy, but its bulk made it awkward to maneuver.

Quinn had barely made it down two steps when a towering figure blocked her path.

"I'll take it."

Raymond didn't even wait for a response. With a casual reach of his long arm, he effortlessly lifted the massive bin right out of her hands.

Holding her own smaller box, Tara watched the broad expanse of his back as he descended the stairs, then playfully bumped her hip against Quinn with a wicked grin.

"Damn, Quinn, your bodyguard is prime real estate! I mean, seriously, he's a total god."

"You should just lock that down. He's way better to look at than Dante! Plus, my godson already loves him."

"Not only is his face flawless, but look at those muscles. He's huge. I guarantee you'd have the best sex of your life with him!"

As Tara's filter completely vanished, Quinn slapped a hand over her friend's mouth.

"Tara, stop spouting nonsense."

Noticing the bright red flush spreading across Quinn's ears, Tara peeled the hand away, her eyes crinkling in delight.

"Why are you blushing? Oh my god, you actually have a crush on him, don't you?"

Quinn refused to dignify that with a response and spun around to grab the remaining boxes.

There was no way they were trusting the movers with millions in jewelry, so Tara insisted on loading those specific bins into the trunk of Quinn's car.

Raymond stayed by her side, effortlessly hauling the heaviest loads.

As he bent over to hoist another crate, the tight fabric of his shirt pulled taut against his powerful back.

The flex of his forearms revealed thick, winding veins mapping out a display of raw, untamed masculinity.

A potent wave of pure male pheromones practically radiated off him.

Despite doing all the heavy lifting in the heat, leaving a faint sheen of sweat on his brow, there was nothing unpleasant about him. Instead, the air around him smelled of crisp, intoxicating cedar mixed with the clean, fresh scent of expensive soap.

It was a rugged, commanding fragrance that hit Quinn every time he moved.

Quinn was supposed to be organizing her design portfolios, but as she caught him out of the corner of her eye, she completely froze.

She found herself staring for a second too long, and her heart skipped an agonizingly loud beat.

He was just quietly doing manual labor, composed and restrained, yet every single motion he made dripped with suffocating sexual tension.

That intoxicating, clean scent completely invaded her senses, making the heat in her cheeks flare up all over again.

Terrified that Tara would catch her staring and mock her relentlessly, Quinn violently snapped her eyes away.

Just then, Leo waddled over, wearing a little dinosaur backpack and holding Lydia's hand.

"Mommy!"

Since he had spent time at Lunas Crest before, the toddler was completely unfazed by the move.

Raymond's lips pressed into a harsh line, his jaw ticking with cold precision.

His face was a mask of perfect apathy, completely unreadable.

Victor hesitated, taking a half-step closer to lower his voice.

"Sir, please don't forget the clause the old chairman left in his will. The moment you are legally married, you instantly inherit the controlling forty-five percent stake in Moretti Global Holdings."

Raymond's dark eyes flicked upward.

Moretti Global Holdings was the absolute crown jewel of the empire.

While there were many subsidiaries under the Moretti name, whoever held that forty-five percent held the throne. If Raymond secured it, he would crush Dante instantly and seize total control of the entire conglomerate.

Watching the dangerous shift in Raymond's expression, Victor pressed his advantage, his tone urgent.

"Sir, if you present a wife to the board, those old-school directors will immediately view you as a stable, responsible leader ready to carry the family legacy."

"The scales will tip in your favor overnight. And if you happen to produce an heir... your position would be utterly untouchable."

A heavy silence fell over the VIP room.

The glow of the crystal chandelier cast sharp, jagged shadows across Raymond's predatory features.

Marriage?

A child?