After scrolling for over a minute, she finally found the voice message sent by Ringo.

However, the email was too large to be previewed online.

It took Rayna several minutes to download the audio clip. After reducing the volume, she held the device beside her ear.

The audio clip began with only the sound of footsteps before various other noises joined the cacophony as if somebody was watching television.

Rayna sped the clip up.

After listening for a while, she put the playback speed back to normal when she detected the sound of somebody opening the door to enter the room.

“I bought you some strawberries and cherries, Kristie.” A low male voice sounded from the audio clip, followed by the sound of footsteps. “I’ll rinse them in the kitchen, then watch television with you. How does that sound?”

Kristie hummed her assent.

Having listened to the dialogue, Rayna assumed from Kristie’s state that it was during the interval when Curtis brought her back from Yartran.

Why did Ringo’s people plant a bug in Kristie’s place at that time?

She did not delve into it but instead pressed the phone against her ear and listened intently.

Curtis’ tone was gentle when he spoke to Kristie, but she merely responded with noncommittal grunts no matter what he said.

Rayna could sense how awful Curtis must have felt.

Feeling awful herself, she once again sped up the clip.

After a while, Rayna heard the sound of the doorbell, followed by Jeremy’s and Wyatt’s voices.

The group chatted a little while until Jeremy suddenly said, “Have James come over, Curtis. You saw how much Kristie wanted to see him when I showed her his photograph.”

“That’s unnecessary. I don’t need outsiders to be concerned about my sister.”

Silence befell the group.

“Ms. Garland called me, Curtis. She wants to help Jefferson, but she requires the signatures of the politicians who attended the party. It just so happens I’m on that list too.”

“We have long since severed ties,” Curtis said blandly. “There’s no need to consider my feelings.” A while later, Curtis asked Jeremy, “When is the party?”

“Two months from now.”

James of the time and

you send James, we may not be

Leave if there’s nothing else

audio clip ended at that point. Rayna’s eyes were wide with

inkling of Arnaud’s movements and how

out it was Curtis who told him all

phone vibrated at that

felt her head

a photograph of an emerald pendant

temple for James. She

believe he

of the emerald pendant, Rayna almost

brother into this

he thought

wall and fell limply onto the floor, startling the others who

Rayna on the floor, he leaped off his chair and

that she had fainted over, he calmly ordered Kristie, who

she saw the sun shining outside the window.

remembered fainting

find it despite her prolonged search. When she pulled open the door to exit the room, she ran into Jessica,

arm with a

for repairs.” Jessica helped her back to the bedroom. “The doctor

to rest!” Rayna flung her arm away to head outside. “I have many things to do, and I’m

James can’t be dead!

“Calm down, Nana. This isn’t

Baby?

feeling rose from

Nana?” Jessica scrambled to wipe

her and

ask anymore. She only patted her

Rayna had cried enough, Jessica pulled her to sit by the bed and poured her a glass

feel horrible at the thought of

Jessica sighed. “Mr. York is there for them, so don’t worry.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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