NovelEnglish
Chapter 36 You Have Not Left
Looking intently into the man’s obsidian eyes, she froze and stammered, “J-Jefferson Hamilton?”
Is he wearing brown contact lenses?
“Ah! It seems that my disguise is a failure. Belle, I’m impressed. You still managed to recognize me.”
After a spin, Jefferson leaned closer to her and chuckled beside her ear. “It’s been a while since I last
danced with you.”
The moment Rayna recognized him, her whole body stiffened as she froze on the spot. However,
Jefferson was still able to effortlessly guide her to keep up with his pace.
When the waltz music was gradually replaced by sentimental music, the other couples embraced each
other and swayed lightly.
Jefferson took off the mask to reveal his stunning face. Leaning his head against Rayna’s neck, he could
smell her faint fragrance. It turned him on instantly, and he could barely refrain from wrapping his arms
around her.
Unable to retract her hand from his grasp, Rayna snarled, “Jefferson Hamilton, why on earth did you
come to Hawen?”
She had had enough of the man tailing her throughout the years.
Turning a deaf ear to her question, Jefferson stated solemnly, “Belle, Curtis Faymon is not a man of
virtue. He’s taking advantage of you.”
“What about you?” Unequivocally, she was fully aware that Curtis helped her numerous times only
because he needed her help as well. Moreover, she thought Curtis was a lot more decent than Jefferson.
The trauma that Jefferson elicited from her would continue to haunt her for a lifetime.
“You are my Belle, the most precious treasure in my life.” Jefferson kissed her hair and mumbled, “I’ll
never lie to you even if I lied to the whole world.”
It was nothing more than a light kiss, but it rendered Rayna’s entire body stiff.
“Belle, Curtis Faymon is aiming to gain a great benefit by providing you a small favor. Don’t you know
you’ll only place yourself in a precarious position by assisting him with the collaboration? You should stay
by my side instead. I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe collaboration again! I had no choice but to help Curtis with the collaboration after he set me up. And
now, Jefferson comes to me for the same purpose!
“Jefferson, you’re no different from him.” Rayna snickered as she looked into his eyes. “If I had a choice,
I would rather help him.”
Jefferson’s lips formed a smile. “Belle, don’t be silly. You know my temper, don’t you?”
No doubt, Rayna knew it too well. Otherwise, she would not have nightmares after sending him to jail
years ago. She even fled to her hometown, changed her name, and got married. Nonetheless, it never
occurred to her that he would still be able to track her down.
“Belle, don’t collaborate with a despicable man like him. You’ll be at a disadvantage. I’m the only one
who can protect you.” Jefferson stretched out his hand to tuck her hair behind her ear affectionately.
Rayna twitched her lips. “How are you going to protect me? By killing me?”
In an instant, complex emotions flitted across Jefferson’s eyes but disappeared almost immediately. He
continued to gaze at Rayna with sheer affection amid gentleness in his eyes.
“Belle, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Things could be far more complicated than what you
think.”
With that, he lowered his head and brushed his lips against Rayna’s cheek. The sensation sent a shiver
down her spine, and she struggled frantically to break free from his grasp but to no avail.
In the meantime, Curtis and Kristie were dancing somewhere in the center of the hall as well.
Only a few couples were dancing at the moment. As Curtis looked around, he caught sight of Rayna
engaged in a conversation with a man. He didn’t know what they were talking about, but their posture
looked quite intimate.
Initially, he merely smiled to himself, thinking some random man was hitting on Rayna after getting
attracted to her beauty. However, when the light flashed across her face, he realized something was
wrong. Why is she wearing such an odd expression? The man next to her looks familiar too. Wait… it’s
Jefferson Hamilton! I reckon he came to Hawen and tried to get close to Rayna for the sake of the
collaboration, too.
Within a few seconds, different thoughts flashed past Curtis’ mind. He gestured for one of the waiters to
come over before leaning over to whisper into the waiter’s ear.
The latter nodded before disappearing into the crowd.
Soon, the sentimental music was replaced by a lively one. All the other couples in the dance hall
changed their tempo accordingly at once and did swift spins with their partners. Meanwhile, Curtis
grabbed the opportunity to lead Kristie toward Jefferson and Rayna.
Seizing the moment of another spin, Curtis pushed the back of Kristie’s waist lightly with his palm,
sending her into Jefferson’s arms while pulling Rayna over to him.
Everything happened in less than three seconds. When Jefferson came to his senses, Kristie was
already in his arms. He turned to stare at Curtis grimly while Kristie almost blew a blood vessel.
How could Curt swap me for Rayna Garland? That’s too much!
“M-Mr. Faymon?” Rayna stared at Curtis in shock.
What just happened?
Curtis hummed a reply and discreetly led her away from the center of the hall. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect
you within this one month. After all, you’re my employee.”
“Thank you,” Rayna thanked him softly.
Curtis still had some matters to tend to, so he let go of Rayna’s hand as soon as they left the hall. He
didn’t expect that Kristie, who was following right behind them, to shove Rayna from the back out of fury.
Rayna stumbled and crashed into the table next to her. Consequently, the stack of wine glasses on the
table tumbled, and the champagne spilled all over Rayna’s dress.
Curtis had barely walked away before he was alerted by the noise and immediately turned around to
hold Rayna’s arm, supporting her.
After getting drenched in champagne, Rayna’s body-hugging gown became transparent, revealing her
fair skin beneath it. Curtis’ expression darkened as he swiftly took off his suit jacket to cover her with it.
“Kristie.” The moment he spotted Kristie in the crowd, he turned crimson with fury.
Kristie shrank away from him and pursed her rosy lips. “I couldn’t see clearly as it was too dark. I didn’t
do it on purpose. Anyway, that’s not a big deal. I can make it up to her by buying her a new gown.”
“Gabriel is waiting for you outside. Go back with him now. You’re grounded for three days.” There was
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmsheer frigidness in Curtis’ tone.
“Curt, I didn’t do it on purpose, I swear!”
“Six days.”
Kristie was so pissed off that she almost burst into tears. However, she dared not resist Curtis’ order. To
vent her anger, she bumped into Rayna’s shoulder on purpose when she stormed past the latter. It’s all
her fault!
Rayna felt a throbbing pain in her shoulder from the impact. Curtis took the initiative to apologize to her,
“Sorry about that. She’s spoiled. If nobody can send you home, please wait for me outside. I can give
you a lift after settling some matters.”
“It’s all right. I’ll call my sister now.” Rayna politely rejected his offer.
When she walked out of the venue with Curtis’ jacket still on her, she happened to see Kristie strike
Gabriel twice with her handbag before hopping into the backseat of the car. Rayna’s lips twitched at the
sight.
She’s not only spoiled. She’s spoiled rotten!
Rayna gave Roxanne another call. This time, the latter answered it very soon.
“Rayna, I’m sorry. I left earlier because something came up. You can seek help from the staff there.
They’ll assign someone to send you home.”
Hearing that, Rayna flipped out. “Roxanne Griffith! How could you leave me here after requesting my
help?”
“Rayna, there’s really something I need to tend to. Please don’t be mad. I’ll apologize to you in person
next time, okay? I’m busy, so I’ll be hanging up. Watch out for your safety, all right?”
Rayna stared at her phone and almost smashed it at the peak of fury.
D*mn it! Roxanne Griffith, how could you do this to your own sister?
Rayna had no choice but to try seeking help from the staff members in the manor. However, they were all
too busy to tend to her. She stood on the staircases and waited for ages before someone quietly
approached her.
“Ms. Garland, you haven’t left?”
Just as Jefferson was about to make his way toward Rayna, Curtis stepped out from the hall. Hence, the
former swiftly turned on his heels and hid behind a pillar.
“Oh, Mr. Faymon. Yeah, my sister left without me. I might need someone from the manor to send me
home.” Rayna could not help but feel awkward. After all, she had just turned him down earlier.
Curtis smiled. “Oh, that won’t be necessary. I can give you a lift on my way back.”
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