Reclaiming Her Heart

At six in the morning the next day, Selena was awakened by waves of pleasure—a familiar sensation she recognized instantly.

Her cheeks flushed as she reached to wrap her arms around Raymond's neck. He captured her lips in a kiss, securing her legs firmly around his waist.

Though heavy and solid, the bed still creaked under their passionate movements. Afraid of making noise, Selena either kissed him deeply or bit down on his muscular

arm.

"Selena," he called her name with satisfaction, drops of sweat falling onto her neck. Unable to speak his name in return, she simply held him tighter.

Concerned about her health-she had lost weight recently-Raymond was gentle, finishing after an hour. He carried her to the bathroom, bathed her, then tucked her back under the covers.

"Get some more sleep. I need to go," he said softly.

Selena grabbed his hand, tracing letters on his palm with her fingertip.

She was asking: "When will you leave this mansion?"

Raymond placed a kiss on her lips. "Not much longer. I want to discover Christopher's ultimate goal, and staying here makes my investigation easier."

She nodded, only to be kissed again until she melted into his touch.

"I'll come to you every night," he promised. "Don't be afraid, and please eat properly."noveldrama

Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded. Raymond left quickly, and the two guards outside yawned and snapped to attention, resuming their watch.

At seven o'clock, Christopher's alter personality awakened. He checked on Selena first, finding her seemingly asleep.

'How strange,' he thought. She had avoided the bed for days, knowing someone had died there, preferring the window sofa instead. Yet last night she'd slept in the bed.

The blanket covered her to the shoulders; her neck unblemished, her cheeks unusually rosy.

Raymond had deliberately left no marks, concerned Christopher's alter would notice and make things difficult for Selena.

He glanced at her briefly before withdrawing, oblivious to what had transpired in the

room.

After he left, Selena opened her eyes. She had recognized Christopher's alter's footsteps and pretended to be asleep when he entered. Now she touched her neck, feeling her cheeks burning at the memory of her morning with Raymond-a dangerously thrilling encounter right under Christopher's alter's nose.

Meanwhile, Mario went downstairs. The Bailey family had been calling constantly, demanding Raymond's whereabouts. His men had checked Manston Manor last night and confirmed Raymond wasn't there.

If he wasn't at the Montague Group, Manston Manor, or Ashbourne Manor-where could he be? It never occurred to Mario that Raymond was hiding right under his nose. At noon, Lawrence called. He had just landed in Vistalia and was frantically searching for Tessa, unable to reach Jason, who was reportedly praying at church and refusing all calls.

Having failed to locate Tessa and with Raymond not answering, Lawrence had no choice but to call Christopher's alter.

His voice was heated, his eyes bloodshot with anger. "Christopher, I must speak with Raymond. Name your price-I'll pay anything. I have to find Tessa."

If Orangutan King took Tessa, there would be no hope for her survival.

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Lawrence had planned to use the Smith family's influence to block Raymond's business in Vistalia, but the underground fighting arena was lawless territory where Raymond reigned supreme. The Smith family had no leverage there.

Christopher's alter was shocked to hear that Raymond had sent Tessa to the fighting arena as a wager. Raymond had clearly burned his bridges with the Smith family-was it revenge for what Tessa did to Selena's eyes?

"I'm looking for Raymond too," he replied. "Lately he's been invisible except for acquiring companies."

Growing more anxious, Lawrence demanded coldly, "Put Selena on the phone. I need to speak with her."

Christopher's alter brought the phone to Selena's room and placed it in her palm. Hearing Lawrence's voice, she instinctively recoiled.

"Selena, make Raymond meet me and tell me where Tessa is. I'll give you the antidote for your throat immediately," Lawrence said coldly.

Her face remained expressionless as she tossed the phone away.

Christopher's alter raised an eyebrow as he retrieved it from the floor, then chuckled. "Mr. Smith, you poisoned her into silence yourself. She can't see or speak-how exactly do you expect her to respond to you?"