Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Dear Sweetheart Chapter 23 Send Him To Jail “Belle, why don’t you say anything? Hmm?” Jefferson smiled as an inexplicable glint fleeted across his eyes. He reached out and tried to grab Rayna’s arm once again.

However, this time, he could not do as he pleased.

A strong arm rested on Rayna’s shoulder as Curtis appeared beside her like a knight in shining armor to rescue her. In an impassive tone, he asked, “She’s my friend. What’s the matter?”

Curtis spared her a glance through the corner of his eyes. He could feel the woman trembling in fear.

Is she afraid of this man?

“Ah, Mr. Faymon,” Jefferson said. He recognized Curtis and adjusted his glasses in a graceful manner. “Pleasure to meet you.

I’m Jefferson Hamilton.”

“The pleasure is mine,” Curtis replied. Since the man recognized him, Curtis shook his hand out of courtesy.

Jefferson looked at Rayna, who was staring blankly ahead, and said apologetically, “It’s been two or three years since I last saw Belle. I didn’t expect to bump into her here and wanted to greet her. It seems like I’ve startled her instead.”

Then, Jefferson asked how was Rayna related to Curtis.

Curtis knew that things must be complicated between the two. Just when he wanted to say something, Rayna clutched onto his sleeve tightly and looked at him in an almost pleading manner, and said in a shaky voice, “P-Please take me away...”

“I’m sorry. My friend is not feeling well.” At the thought that he needed Rayna’s help for the business negotiation and her fearful manner right then, Curtis took her right away.

Rayna felt as if her body had been drained of all energy. She was almost dragged away by Curtis. It was apparent that she was utterly terrified. Curtis saw that and carried her out of the revolving door of the hotel.

Jefferson stood grounded on the same spot in a genteel manner. There was still a hint of a smile on his face.

After two long years, he finally found her.

He was pleased to see the familiar fear, helplessness, and despair in her eyes. He enjoyed seeing her all weak and defenseless, so weak that she couldn’t even run away if she wanted to.

How interesting.

“Mr. Hamilton.” Jefferson’s female companion, who had been waiting for quite some time aside, approached him and circled her arms around Jefferson’s. At the sight of him still looking at the revolving door, she pouted her lips in displeasure.

In a jealous tone, she grumbled, “She’s just another pretty face. Why are you so hung up on her, Mr. Hamilton? Not only do I have a pretty face, but I also know how to make you happy in bed.”

“What did you say?” Jefferson turned around to glance at her and asked in a mild tone.

He appeared to have excellent conduct of himself. However, the fleeting viciousness in his eyes made the woman shudder as she instinctively retracted a few steps back. However, Jefferson reached out to forcefully pinch her chin.

She almost let out a scream.

“Who do you think you are? How dare you compare yourself to her?” Jefferson pressed down harder, almost crushing the woman’s chin. “Not only is she pretty, but she’s also a smart woman who is worth billions. You? You’re nothing but a dumb slut!”

The woman ran out of breath as her legs shook uncontrollably. “M-Mr. H-Hamilton...”

“Get the hell back to Spaunia. Do not show your face in front of me again,” Jefferson snapped as he pushed the woman away without sparing her another glance. He left the hotel, leaving the woman sprawled on the floor as she regretted her reckless remarks.

Oh, shit. I’m done for!

Meanwhile, Curtis carried Rayna to his car. However, she still appeared to be deep in shock—her shoulders were still trembling.

He rubbed between his brows as he thought of what happened earlier.

One look at the man and Curtis knew that the man was either loaded, noble, or both.

Why would Rayna know someone like that?

“Rayna, get yourself together.” Seeing that she was still in a daze, Curtis tapped her on her shoulders rather forcefully and said in a low voice, “We’re not at the hotel, and he’s not here. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

Rayna lifted her head and her eyes started to come into focus.

She noticed that she was in a car with only Curtis beside her. The suffocating feeling that overpowered her started to dissipate.

Rayna took over the water that Curtis handed her and lifted her head to gulp down two mouthfuls. She felt much better after that.

Meanwhile, Curtis sat beside her with crossed legs as he replied to important text messages on his phone.

“That was my... ex-boyfriend,” Rayna muttered after much hesitation. “I knew him when I studied abroad a few years ago. Of course, he’s already introduced himself to you.”

“Go on,” Curtis said. Though he appeared impassive, his tone implied that he was willing to listen to her.

Rayna bit down on her lower lip and continued, “We were really in love. Then, one day, he suddenly became a whole different person and tried to rape, and even kill me. I-I managed to run away and reported him to the police.”

She knew that Jefferson came from a wealthy family and that members of his family were close to the upper echelons of Yartran.

Rayna reckoned he could have freed himself if any of his family members tried to. Hence, she did not harbor much hope when she made the police report.

However, she did not expect that Jefferson would gladly accept the one-year imprisonment. When the police arrested him and walked past her, his tone was genteel as ever, telling her to wait for him.

Ever since Jefferson was jailed, Rayna was plagued by nightmares for one whole week. She was terrified that Jefferson might seek vengeance. Hence, she hurried back home and changed her name, and hastily accepted Julian’s pursuit, all in hopes to put this unbecoming past behind her.

She did not expect that Jefferson would find her here after three years.

When Jefferson called out her name, her body went still as a statue. Her breathing turned erratic as the ghost of her past came back haunting her. If not for Curtis helping her, she would have had a breakdown right then and there.

“Do you think he’s here to look for you?” Curtis asked as he looked at her. He knew that she had a sexual disorder from his investigation of her. Nonetheless, he did not know of the tragic incident that led to her disorder. Curtis felt a pang of sympathy for the woman before her then.

What a pitiful woman.

“His family’s business is mainly in Epea. As far as I know, they don’t have much business here in Aploth,” Curtis commented.

Rayna nodded in hesitation and said, “I don’t know why he’s here, but I don’t feel comfortable seeing him.”

“That Jefferson seems like a very controlling man,” Curtis analyzed. “You feel uncomfortable with his presence because you don’t know if he’ll just take you away.”

After a brief pause, Curtis’ lips curled into a smirk. “Ms. Garland, you’re just accompanying me on a business trip as a translator, and yet you’re asking me to help get rid of your ex-boyfriend. I don’t think I’ve struck a good deal here.”

“Well, I believe Uncle Curtis—I mean, Mr. Faymon, should know better.” Rayna instinctively blurted out and called him uncle. She stole a glance at him as her heart skipped a beat.

Curtis stroke his chin and did not scold her.

Rayna finally felt more at ease and said, “Mr. Faymon, I know that the business deal that you’re trying to bargain is no easy feat.

Otherwise, you wouldn’t have spared so much effort to lure me into this. I will help you seal the deal, but you have to ensure my safety for a month.”

“Just for a month?”

“Yes, just a month.” Before she could find the next safe place to go, she had to stay in Faymon Group. Hence, she did not wish to sour her relationship with Curtis. “We will go on separate ways after you’ve got your business deal. What say you, Mr.

Faymon?”

“You’re certain that Jefferson doesn’t dare to simply offend Faymon Group,” Curtis commented. He was intrigued, as the woman was smarter than he thought she was. “You could get a lot of things done in one month’s time.”

Rayna did not answer as she consented to his surmise.

Of course, he was right. Faymon Group was a renowned company worldwide, and they had multitudes of businesses across the world. Jefferson was a businessman himself. If he knew that she was working for Curtis, Jefferson would think twice before coming after her.

Nonetheless, it was a gamble, albeit one in which Rayna thought the odds were very much in her favor.

Curtis needed her help, and in exchange, she would leverage Faymon Group’s name to protect her for some time.

Curtis did not say a thing and continued to toy with his phone. Rayna reckoned that he was analyzing the pros and cons of striking a deal with her. She grew anxious seeing that and tightened her fists.

“I agree to your terms. But Ms. Garland, you owe me a favor,” Curtis said nonchalantly. “I thought we already had a deal when you accepted the keycard.”