Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 514 What are you doing with your husband?

Upon terminating the call, he found himself transfixed by the mound of paperwork that lay before him, his gaze unable to settle on a single word. The mere thought of another man sharing her company that evening was a notion he found unbearable.

Retreating to the sanctuary of his hotel room, he lay sprawled across the bed, the lingering scent of her perfume still permeating the sheets. It was an aroma that seemed to envelop him, seeping into his very pores.

Raymond found sleep elusive. Rising from the bed, he donned his pajamas and positioned himself before the towering floor-to-ceiling window, a cigarette clutched between his fingers. The balcony door that was left ajar allowed a gentle breeze to drift in, lightly tousling his hair.

The cigarette, held delicately between his fingertips, seemed to carry her scent on the wind. Memories of her, frightened yet dependent, pinned against this very window, were maddeningly tantalizing. Raymond's gaze hardened, his light grip on the cigarette morphing into a fierce gnawing. It was as if only through this drastic action could he suppress the turbulent emotions welling within him.

Reaching for his phone, he fired off a message to Selena.

Raymond: [Are you asleep?]

Those acquainted with Raymond knew he was a man who shied away from social media, and coaxing him to 'like' a post was a feat in itself. His late-night conversations were few and far between, especially with a woman. Selena was the first. Receiving no response, Raymond sent another message.

are you

awakened by a nightmarish vision. This time, it wasn't Barbara who haunted her dreams, but a child cruelly ripped

can.

only viable in the earliest stages

depths to which her dignity could be trampled. It was a humiliation she

for Raymond, she was beginning to feel the sting of the pain he brought with

to respond. Instead, she rose to pour herself a glass of water, pushing down the discomfort that welled within her. She returned to her room but found sleep elusive. To occupy her mind, she began reviewing the progress of a project in Manhattan, later turning her attention to some documents from the Fair

met with silence, was

her work. After breakfast, she checked the surveillance cameras she had installed at her Rose Garden residence. Since that fateful night, they had functioned without issue, indicating that

message to the property management to inquire about a matter when her car was violently rear-ended. The impact sent her head crashing into

she spotted a tall man brandishing a baseball

"Crash!"

The car window shattered.

was yanked from her vehicle, her hand pinned beneath a heavy boot. Her eyes widened