Chapter 3

I was momentarily stunned, unable to speak.

Raymond pinned me down, his narrow eyes filled with desire. His hands, with their defined knuckles, roamed over my body, each touch sending electric shocks through me, making me gasp and tremble uncontrollably.

By the time I came to my senses, my clothes were in tatters, leaving me nearly naked, while he had only removed his jacket.

This was the entrance to a bar. Had Raymond lost his mind?

I bit down hard on his lip in a fit of rage.

Raymond winced and released me.

I glared at him, my desire quickly replaced by anger, my hand slowly sliding down.

"In such a hurry, Raymond? You and Emily are always together, and she can't satisfy you?"

"She's not like you."

He noticed the clarity returning to my eyes, now filled with mockery and coldness.

Without another word, he took me ruthlessly.

I couldn't react in time, and in that instant, it felt like my body was being torn in two.

The pain was so intense I nearly lost consciousness.

Emily was different from me?

I couldn't tell if the pain was physical or emotional. All I could do was cling to his back, wanting to tear apart and devour the man I loved and hated to the core.

How could he say such a thing?

Emily was a goddess, and I was just a legal prostitute?

"Let go of me... ugh!"

Raymond was always forceful and domineering in moments like this.

He impatiently flipped me over and covered my mouth.

Making love when you both liked each other was a pleasure, but when you disliked each other, it became a torture.

I didn't know how long it lasted before Raymond finally stopped. He buckled his belt and put on his clothes, looking as composed as ever, while I was left barely covered.

"Get yourself some morning-after pills."

Raymond lit a cigarette and turned to look at me.

"Caroline, don't try to sneak a baby. You know what I'll do."

I was in so much pain I couldn't move a finger. My face burned, and my eyes stung.

In this world, it seemed only Emily was worthy of bearing his child.

But why did he marry me back then?

Why did he act like he wanted me to have his child?

Raymond finished his cigarette and turned to see me still lying there helplessly. He tossed his jacket at me like a handout.

"Clean yourself up and go back, don't let Ethan see you like this."

Go back?

His words felt like a stab, and I used all my strength to sit up, hastily wrapping my dress and his jacket around me.

"I'm not going back! Raymond, that's your and Emily's home. If you don't agree to a divorce, I'll kill that illegitimate child."

"Anyway, my life is already ruined. We can suffer together."

"You wouldn't dare," his voice was low and sexy, filled with unwavering certainty. "Diana is still in the hospital."

Looking at Raymond sitting there, seemingly in control of everything, my hatred reached its peak.

He always seemed so cold and unyielding, as if no one could ever touch his softness or warmth.

At least, I wasn't that person.

His calm demeanor made me look like a raving lunatic.

I pounded on his shoulder with all my might.

"You think you know me well, huh? I'm telling you, yesterday, I wanted to kill Ethan, that bastard child."

"Raymond, I hate you. Yes, I'm shameless and delusional. If you hate me so much, why did you marry me? If you love Emily so much, why didn't you marry her? Do you think I wanted to fake a pregnancy? The doctor made a mistake. Was that my fault? I explained it to you. Why didn't you believe me?"

"I didn't have to marry you. You asked me to!"

I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to throw everything away.

"All these years, I've tried to be a good Mrs. Brown, desperately trying to please your family. What am I to you? A legal prostitute? You sleep with me when you're happy and ignore me when you're not. Raymond, why are you so cruel to me? I just liked you. Now I just want a divorce!"

I wiped my tears, sitting in the dark while Raymond looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"Have you finished?"

He got out of the car and quickly took the driver's seat.

"If you're not done, get out. If you are, let's go back."

Raymond's back was to me, his silhouette cold and unyielding.

That sobered me up completely.

So, everything I did was just me being unreasonable in his eyes.

I laughed, tears streaming down my face.

"Raymond, you're truly cruel."

I don't know if it was my imagination, but I saw Raymond's back stiffen for a moment.

I didn't bother to explore further. I forced myself to endure the pain and got out of the car, slamming the door shut.

Flora came out of the bar and found me sitting by the roadside, looking disheveled.

"Caroline, what happened to you?"

"Nothing, just a lonely, divorced woman looking for some fun."

"Flora, can I stay at your place for a while?"

Flora nodded and helped me into the car.

The physical exhaustion and emotional pain quickly put me to sleep.

In a daze, I seemed to hear Flora say, "Caroline, is that Raymond's car following us?"

When I woke up, it was already the next afternoon.

I felt the stickiness on my body and remembered what happened last night, freezing in place.

Damn!

I forgot to take the morning-after pill.

My face turned pale as I quickly ordered it on my phone.

I hoped I wouldn't be unlucky enough to get pregnant.

After taking the pill, I felt a bit more at ease.

Flora had already gone out. She was a travel blogger with a good family background, often going out for inspiration or planning with her team.

I looked at the divorce papers on the table and, after a long time, sent a message to Raymond's secretary, Byron.

[Byron, is Raymond at the office?]

Byron replied quickly.

[Mr. Brown is at the office.]

[Got it.]

Half an hour later, I was downstairs at Raymond's office. The receptionist saw me and wasn't surprised.

But today, for some reason, she stopped me from going into Raymond's office.

"Ms. Scott, our CEO has a guest."

"I just need to drop off some documents. It won't take long."

I thanked her for her concern and took the elevator up.

When I reached Raymond's office, I understood why the receptionist had warned me.

Emily was in the office, along with Ethan. They were having lunch. Raymond wasn't eating with them, but the way he looked at Emily was filled with a tenderness and nostalgia I had never seen before.

The sight deeply hurt me.

Emily saw me first and stood up awkwardly.

"Caroline, don't misunderstand. Ethan just wanted to see his dad, so I..."

"Is it Ethan who wanted to see Raymond, or you who wanted to be Mrs. Brown?"

I sarcastically retorted.

"Emily, did you learn nothing in the five years you were abroad? Your tactics are still so low."

I was tired of pretending to be obedient for five years. Since we were getting divorced, I didn't bother to keep up the act.

Emily's face fell. "Raymond, I..."

Raymond picked up the downcast Ethan and looked at me.

"Caroline, apologize to Emily."

"Why should I? Did they apologize to my mom when they destroyed my family? Raymond, you have no right to control me anymore." Although I had anticipated his reaction, it still hurt. I didn't want to show weakness and be laughed at by them anymore. "This is for you."

Raymond frowned and didn't take it.

"What is it?"

"Divorce papers. Sign them, and from now on, you can have as many women and illegitimate children as you want."