Chapter 216
Your Wife With Another Man Raegan lowered her head.
With eyes glistening with tears, she spoke with a soft yet resolute voice.
"Even if Isay it ten times, my answer will remain the same.” Raegan and Mitchel had faced numerous trials and the disapproval of Mitchel's parents.
All these signs seemed to scream that Raegan's love for Mitchel was a lost cause.
"Then there's no need to say it again.” Mitchel lowered his head, cradled her face, and kissed away her tears with his lips.
"Don't say it again.
I can’t bear to hear your refusal." Raegan felt the urge to resist.
However, Mitchel held her so close that she felt he was trying to meld her into his very being.
"I know you don't mean it.
But please, don't reject me this soon.
Promise me you'll think it over, okay?” Mitchel's hands, which were clasping her, trembled slightly.
He was usually so proud, but he lowered his pride for the woman in front of him.
He felt diminished, humbled even, by his own actions.
A single word from Raegan could knock him down.
Once Mitchel was gone, Raegan opened the door and collapsed onto the ground.
The tears she had been holding back now cascaded freely.
Despite her constant reminders to herself not to succumb to temptation, being close to Mitchel stirred something deep within her.
Right now, she hated herself for her lack of resolve.
She was afraid of being shattered beyond repair after being deeply entangled with him and falling for him once again.
The following day, Raegan went to the hospital to bring soup for Nicole.
Before going out, she carefully applied light makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes.
Upon arriving at the hospital ward's door, Raegan inadvertently caught the doctor's words from inside.
"The decision of whether to keep or terminate the pregnancy lies solely with you.
I hope you consider it carefully." Raegan stood frozen in shock.
It was not until the doctor walked out that she entered.
At this moment, she met Nicole's gaze and asked in a voice tinged with disbelief, “Nicole...
Are you pregnant?” Nicole's expression wavered, and she asked in surprise, "You heard it?” Raegan nodded and took a seat.
"Whose child is it?” Nicole hesitated for a moment before saying a name.
"What?" Raegan exclaimed in utter shock.
"How could it be? How could you and Jarrod...” Nicole buried her face in her hands and, with tearful eyes, looked up at Raegan.
"Raegan, will you look down on me?” Nicole had kept this secret bottled up for so long, feeling no one to confide in or understand her.
She felt engulfed in darkness and burdened by a weight too heavy to bear alone.
Deep down, she wished she had never met Jarrod.
Raegan wrapped Nicole in a tight embrace, her nose tingling.
"I won't judge you.
| know you wouldn't intentionally destroy someone else’s relationship.” After being friends with Nicole for years, Raegan knew Nicole all too well.
Raegan was certain Nicole would never intentionally meddle in another's relationship, no matter how strong her feelings were toward that person.
There was only one explanation.
Jarrod had forced Nicole into this situation.
Nicole cried on Raegan's shoulder for a long time and recounted the events following Jarrod's return.
Nicole had always been the type to share joys but keep her sorrows to herself.
Even now, she omitted the worst of Jarrod's actions.
Yet, Raegan gritted her teeth in anger after hearing Nicole's revelation.
"Jarrod is such a bastard! How could he hurt two women Just like that?” Looking at Nicole, now so frail that her cheeks had hollowed, Raegan felt a deep sorrow.
"What are you gonna do now?” Raegan asked gently.
"If I say I want to keep the baby, would you think poorly of me?" Nicole replied with a sob.
At first, Nicole had considered having an abortion without a second thought.
However, after consulting with her doctor, she learned that the chances of survival from the stomach cancer surgery were a mere ten percent.
Her condition had worsened faster than typical cases.
In other words, there was a 90% likelihood that she wouldn't make it.
Given these odds, the surgery seemed almost inconsequential.
If she chose traditional treatment, perhaps she could hold on until the baby was viable for a cesarean section at seven and a half months.
Nicole hoped to give her parents lasting comfort and something of herself to hold onto.
She wanted this to help ease her parents’ sorrow and give them the strength to go on without her.
"No, the baby is innocent," Raegan reassured Nicole.
Nicole's pregnancy reminded Raegan of the baby she had lost, and a wave of sadness surged within her again.
After a moment of silence, Raegan asked, "Will you tell Jarrod about the baby?" Nicole shook her head.
"No, I can’t let him know." She feared that if Jarrod found out, he would insist on an abortion.
After leaving the ward, Raegan unexpectedly saw Mitchel in the corridor.
Jarrod was also admitted to this hospital, so it was likely that Mitchel had come to visit him.
Raegan's first reaction was to avoid him.
She couldn't explain why, but meeting Mitchel filled her with apprehension.
Maybe she was tired of saying those insincere words over and over again.
Later that afternoon, after her classes, Raegan met up with Henley.
They had agreed to have dinner together at a nice restaurant.
Just as they were about to enter, a greasy-faced man approached and patted Henley on the shoulder with a smirk.
“Well, isn't this Mr.
Brooks, fresh from Wall Street.” Henley's expression turned grim.
He lowered his head and whispered to Raegan, "He's my former colleague.
Let's go.
Just ignore him.” However, the man wouldn't let the two of them go.
Back when he and Henley were in investment banking, Henley had always outshone him.
And now, he would not let this chance to mock Henley slip away.
He blocked their path and jeered, "Having dinner with your girlfriend, huh?” Raegan was about to retort when she noticed the man's leering look turning toward her.
"Little beauty, did you know he was fired from his company for breaking the rules? Being fired by his former company means he's trash.
No investment bank in the country will hire him again.
You won't have a future with him.
You'd be better off with someone like me.” The man's words made Henley's usually calm demeanor turn cold.
At this moment, he protectively pulled Raegan behind him and addressed the man, "Aldo, watch your language and stop bothering my friend.” "How can you be so sure she prefers you? You don't even have a decent job,” Aldo retorted with a sneer.
He turned to Raegan and said, "Hey, beauty, come with me.
I'll treat you to a life of luxury, unlimited credit cards, anything you want.” Henley didn't even spare him a glance and pulled Raegan along.
"Don't mind him.
Let's go.” Despite Henley's outward calm, Raegan could feel the tension in his grasp.
She was aware of why he was fired, and it was unjust. This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.
Not only did he have to endure false accusations, but he now had to tolerate derogatory remarks from a scum like Aldo.
At the thought of this, she paused and addressed the man, "You're Aldo, right?” "Yes!" Aldo grinned from ear to ear.
"So, pretty lady, have you come to your senses? Come with me.” Raegan looked at his outstretched hand with apparent disgust and calmly retorted, "Having manners is a good thing.
Maybe bring some along next time you go out.” Aldo was momentarily stunned and then realized Raegan was insulting him.
The next second, his face reddened with anger.
"Who are you calling uncivilized?” Raegan rolled her eyes at him.
"Whoever keeps going on and on here, that's who.” Aldo pointed an accusing finger at Raegan and snapped, "You bit...
Who do you think you are to look down on me? I'm way better than this loser you're with.” He had intended to use more offensive language.
But since they were at a classy restaurant, he bit back the rest of his tirade and endured Raegan's insults.
"Aldo, you've got it all wrong.
It’s not that I look down on you.
I simply don't care about you at all." Raegan offered him a sardonic smile.
"And another piece of advice.
Ease up on the perfume.
It’s too much.
No amount of fragrance can mask the stench of being a scum.” Raegan's words, though politely phrased and free of curses, left Aldo seething and stomping his feet in anger.
Without waiting for his response, Raegan gracefully walked into the restaurant, giving no chance for Aldo to react.
Henley, on the other hand, remained where he was and watched Raegan's retreating figure, seemingly lost in thought.
Aldo tried to regain his composure and let out a chuckle.
"Well, well, I didn't expect that pretty lady to be so feisty.” Henley looked back and cast a cold, piercing look at Aldo.
The intensity of his gaze instantly silenced Aldo.
Once they were seated, Henley handed Raegan the translation materials and expressed his gratitude.
"Raegan, thank you for standing up for me back there.” "Henley, we're friends." Raegan brushed it off as no big deal.
She lifted the materials in her hand and added, "You've helped me too." Henley studied her with an intense, yet inexplicable gaze.
Having worn a mask for so long, taking care of others had become second nature to him.
This was the first time someone had jumped to his defense.
Moreover, she didn't even think it was anything special.
The nonchalance in the tone of her voice moved him.
At this moment, Henley had made up his mind.
The idea of having Raegan by his side did not seem so bad after all.
As someone who had dwelled in darkness for too long, the warmth Raegan exuded was irresistible for Henley, and it stirred a deep desire to grasp and maintain that warmth.
Henley casually picked up a dessert with a serving spoon and offered it to Raegan.
"I remember you mentioning plans to go to Swynborough to further your studies, but you had to postpone, right?" Raegan merely nodded in response.
"Well, we're heading to the same place.
I'll be working there next month.
Would you like to come with me? I'll give you a tour.” This was the second time Henley had mentioned going abroad, offering to keep Raegan company.
Raegan took a moment to consider and then responded, “If I decide to go abroad, I'd like to challenge myself and live on my own." Her words were a polite decline.
Although Henley was an excellent man, she preferred not to lean too heavily on him.
Henley just smiled and didn't say anything further.
At this time, from Luis’ vantage point on the second floor, he spotted Henley and Raegan below.
He quickly took out his phone, captured a few photos, and sent them to Mitchel.
He even mischievously added an emoji and typed a message, saying, "Your wife is with another man.” Despite seeing multiple "typing" indicators on WhatsApp, Mitchel sent no reply.
Sensible as he was, Luis sent over the location details.
A few moments later, he peered downstairs again.