Dear Sweetheart

Chapter 525

Out of the blue, Rayna recalled the spaghetti bolognese Curtis had made back when she stayed at his place.

Although it was salty and tasted quite awful, I still finished the entire plate. Then, there’s today’s aglio olio. His cooking skills are dismal, and it doesn’t taste good, but I don’t disdain it. I still feel the same way about him, and my feelings for him seemingly never changed. But why…

Subsequently, the memory of her begging him on that rainy night flashed through her mind.

I went as far as going to my knees, but he remained wholly unmoved. He opened the door and allowed another woman into his house yet never spared me a single glance. How can I simply forgive and forget when he inflicted such pain upon me?

Sorrow seeped into her. As she recalled the past, her eyes stung as she ate, and she started crying without warning.

Tears streamed down her face like a faucet and fell onto the plate.

Curtis noticed that she was keeping her head lowered and saying nothing. A while later, her shoulders even started quivering. On the whole, something seemed amiss with her. His gaze darkened, and he grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look up.

Unexpectedly, he was greeted by the sight of her tear-stained face. Worse still, she was still crying.

Panic promptly seized him. He used his thumb to wipe her tears off. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Carl interjected frostily, “Stop asking the obvious, Mr. Curtis! It’s because your cooking tastes horrible. But then, the pasta is just a bit bland. Is Ms. Rayna crying because the grilled chicken is awful?”

Jerking his head over, Curtis shot him a glare.

However, he had no choice but to admit, with embarrassment coloring his features, “Indeed, my cooking isn’t that great. I thought it’d be fine so long as I followed the steps, but I never thought… I’d fail so spectacularly. If it’s horrible, just leave it. I’ll take you out for something else.”

Carl couldn’t resist raising his hand and saying softly, “I want to go as well, Mr. Curtis. I’d like to have deep-fried prawns.”

Alas, Curtis ignored him entirely. He thought that Rayna found the pasta unpalatable, so he would just take her out for some other food.

To his surprise, her tears suddenly ceased, and her aggrieved expression turned emotionless. She even brushed his hand away.

The change in her was so rapid that his hand remained suspended in mid-air, and he was a touch lost.

What’s happening here?

Ignoring the man beside her, Rayna continued eating.

After a little over ten minutes, she finally finished the aglio olio. Putting down the fork, she uttered placidly, “Thank you for cooking, Mr. Faymon. Leave the plates for Carl to wash.”

A frown marred Curtis’ countenance, and he hated her attitude that felt so distant all of a sudden.

“Rayna, there might still be some misunderstanding between us. We need to talk.”

Rayna flashed him a smile, but her gaze remained impassive. “There’s no other misunderstanding as you’ve explained everything necessary, Mr. Faymon. Thank you for the supper you made. I’ll see you out.”

Pushing back the chair, she got to her feet and headed to the door. Then she opened the door and stood there waiting.

At that turn of events, Carl was downright bewildered.

It’s true that the pasta Mr. Curtis made doesn’t taste good, but Ms. Rayna doesn’t have to kick him out, does she?

He whispered to Curtis, “Look how awful the pasta you made. Ms. Rayna is so livid that she’s kicking you out. Hurry up and apologize to her.”

However, Curtis knew that Rayna wasn’t acting thus because of his terrible cooking. She had shed tears earlier because she had recalled the past. That was why her attitude toward him turned indifferent.

When it comes to everything that happened in the past, it was indeed my negligence that brought about a chasmic misunderstanding between us both.

Without saying anything, he snagged his jacket when he walked past the living room.

Dipping his head and catching a glimpse of her detached expression that was deliberate to distance herself from him, he sighed inwardly. “Rest earlier with Carl. I’ll be leaving.”

“Okay. Goodbye, Mr. Faymon.” Rayna’s voice was flat, and she didn’t even bother looking at him.

The instant Curtis stepped out of the house, the door immediately slammed shut behind him.

It was as though he was thoroughly unwelcomed there.

In truth, he only left without saying anything because he knew that Rayna was stubborn, so tarrying there wouldn’t do him any good. He would be better off figuring out a way to mend the cracks in their relationship.

Anyhow, he didn’t go home but took the elevator to Kristie’s place.

James opened the door, looking like an elderly man in pajamas. He stared at Curtis intently.

“Things didn’t go well with Rayna?” Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

“Yeah. She booted me out.” Brushing past him, Curtis strolled into the house.

He casually plopped down on the couch in the living room and massaged his throbbing temples with his fingers.

Pouring him a glass of soda, James walked over and placed it on the coffee table before taking a seat across from him. “In that case, shouldn’t you go home? Or are you here to seek my help?”

“I’m here to visit and order takeout.”

James was rendered dumbfounded, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

“Can’t you do that at home if you want to have takeout, Mr. Faymon?”

“No. I’m too lazy to go home. I just want to eat here,” Curtis replied coldly while tapping open the food delivery application.

Things likely ended on a sour note between him and Rayna, so he’s frustrated. It isn’t surprising that he’s being so short-tempered.

For that reason, James didn’t bother taking offense at the man.

“I heard that the situation over at Xyperia is tricky. Do you need me to go over and lend a hand?” he asked.

By then, Curtis had already ordered a takeaway. Picking up the soda, he took a few sips. “Cillian is there, so it’s okay. He’d been working with you previously, so he would undoubtedly discern your identity if you were to go over.”

James nodded in agreement. Subsequently, he commented somberly, “I didn’t expect Mrs. Xavier to be so ruthless that she even set Mr. Xavier up.”

“No one could’ve expected it. As the saying goes, a tiger, though cruel, would not devour its cub.” Curtis leaned his head back against the couch, weary to the bone.

In the past few days, he had been snowed under because of that matter.

A while later, he took out his phone and pulled up a photo before sliding it over to James.

“There is something I need you to handle, but it’s exceedingly dangerous. If you don’t want to accept the task, I’ll get someone else to do it.”

James scrutinized the person in the photo. In no time, he committed the individual to memory.

Deleting the photo, James answered calmly, “You’ve sent everyone to Xyperia, so you won’t be able to find anyone more outstanding than me in Norwal City. I’ll go. Trust me, Mr. Faymon.”

At that, Curtis chuckled. “I’ve always trusted you a great deal, never having doubted you.” He then paused for a moment before asking, “Regarding the matter with Kristie… do you hate me?”

Turning, James cast a glance at the bedroom door that was tightly closed before shaking his head. “I was the one at fault in this matter. I failed to take good care of her. I’ve got to thank you for handling this matter decisively and not holding a grudge against me.”

Despite the magnanimous reply, Curtis heaved a deep sigh.

It’s impossible that he doesn’t hate me at all. At that time, I dared to shoot Rayna and even had the urge to kill him. But when I really got someone to hypnotize Kristie so that she’d forget everything that had to do with him, I got soft-hearted again after keeping guard beside her night by night, watching as she wept and begged someone not to leave in her dreams. That had realization dawning upon me that it was futile even if I’d erased all her memories. She might have been able to start afresh, but she wouldn’t again encounter someone she loved so much. Even if she were to get married, she wouldn’t be truly happy. That aside, it wasn’t entirely his fault either.

He relented and allowed James off the hook so they could be together. He was willing to give the latter another opportunity.

“Huh? Why are you not in bed yet, Mister?” Kristie walked out of the bedroom, rubbing her eyes.

She thought that James was staying up late before catching sight of Curtis beside the man. In a flash, her drowsiness vanished. She rushed into the living room like lightning and plopped down next to Curtis.

“Whoa! The scene whereby you barged into the church and called a halt to the wedding this morning was so cool, Curt! Was Rayna moved? And did she say anything?” Kristie gushed excitedly.

Finding her all too noisy, Curtis frowned. “This is none of your business.”

“Judging from your expression, Curt, your talk with Rayna must have ended badly. Look at your tone. If I were Rayna, I wouldn’t choose you either!” Kristie huffed with a snort, rolling her eyes at him.