Chapter 221 Accompanying You Through the Ups and Downs
"Yes." Margaret nodded.
Raymond furrowed his brow and continued to ask, "Did you throw away the plants in the corner too?"
"Yes," Margaret replied.
Raymond walked towards her. "Why?"
"The plants died, and the parrot was locked in a cage, not happy at all. It's better to let it go, let it soar in the sky," she answered calmly.
Raymond squinted, implying something. "How do you know it wasn't happy in the cage? I fed it well, and if it flew out, it might starve to death."
Margaret blinked, thinking, 'So that's how his mind works. How novel. Does he think that by tormenting me, I would be happy and grateful?'
Margaret wanted to retort, but she thought of Marlon, who had just woken up and still needed Raymond's help.
She couldn't cause more trouble, offending him wouldn't do her any good. Margaret sighed.
Even though it was early spring, the wind still carried a chill, as if it were filled with countless blades, harshly scraping her thin cheeks. Her fine long hair was blown onto her face by the wind.
Margaret reached out and used her fingertips to gently brush the strands of hair off her face and tuck them behind her ear.
"Let's go inside, don't catch a cold." Margaret pursed her lips, then turned and walked off the balcony.
Raymond's eyes showed a hint of surprise and delight. 'Is she just showing concern for me? Is she trying to please me?'
Even though her intentions were obvious, he still enjoyed it. Because Margaret was finally willing to put some effort into him.
The old Margaret was like that too, who would always throw tantrums to get his attention.
Once, not long after they started dating, she insisted on dragging him to go shopping with her.
At that time, he saw Margaret as the daughter of his enemy Marlon, and he intended to use her feelings to avenge his wrongfully dead parents.
So he never held her hand or hugged her in public; he would deliberately keep his distance from her.
In fact, he enjoyed being away from her because, deep down, he didn't accept Margaret as his girlfriend or future wife. He had a natural aversion and disdain for her.
But Margaret deliberately twisted her ankle in the most crowded place, squatted down, and acted coyly, asking him to carry her.
Because Margaret was very attractive, her antics drew the attention of passersby, who stopped and cheered.
Raymond could only walk over with a cold face and reach out to pull the squatting Margaret.
But she jumped onto his waist, making him carry her away. When he refused, she rubbed her nose against his and sweetly coaxed him.
At that moment, caught up in his emotions and under the envious eyes of the crowd, he carried her away.
Thinking of the past, a smile appeared on Raymond's face.
Margaret's recent concern for him was a good sign. Did it mean she was starting to see his good side?
Raymond took long strides, following Margaret off the balcony, and then closed the glass door.
Margaret turned to look at him and asked directly, "Where do you want to do it?"
"Do what?" He was a bit confused.
Margaret smirked, thinking Raymond was playing dumb, because there was nothing between them but a transactional relationship and sex.
Margaret's fingers landed on the belt of his gray bathrobe, trying to untie it. "I have to get up early to make breakfast for my dad tomorrow, so you need to hurry. I want to rest early."
Even though it was such an intimate and beautiful thing, coming from Margaret's mouth, it was devoid of warmth, purely businesslike.
Raymond suddenly grabbed her hand that was untying his bathrobe. "I didn't say I wanted to have sex with you."
Hearing that, she thought, 'Doesn't want to have sex with me? Then who does he want to have sex with? Sarah, perhaps.'
Raymond was a peculiar mix of both a philanderer and a devoted lover. He was extremely cruel to her but extremely devoted to Sarah.
People were indeed complex and two-faced. Even bad men could be devoted; it was just that the object of their devotion varies.
Margaret didn't like people beating around the bush, including Raymond. "Aren't you asking me to thank you?"
"That doesn't necessarily have to be in this way." Raymond disliked her attitude. In the past, when he was jealous, he wanted to possess her entirely. Now he wanted more—her body, her heart, he wanted it all.
The old Margaret was always willing, proactive, and joyful when they made love, which was nothing like now.
Raymond missed the old Margaret. He decided that if she didn't want to have sex with him in the future, he would never force her.
He wanted her to willingly give herself to him, because that would be the true sense of conquest. Raping a woman was actually quite meaningless.
In order to cultivate feelings with Margaret, to return to the past, and to make her look forward to the arrival of their child, Raymond smiled. "Come with me."
Then he turned and walked towards the spiral staircase.
Margaret was very tired, always having trouble sleeping. But for Marlon's sake, she forced herself to stay awake and followed him.
He took her to the third floor, which looked like a nursery.
There were baby formula, diapers, a baby stroller, and toys piled up, which were bought last time at the baby store by them
There were also many new items he had added, with clothes and supplies for both boys and girls.
"Help me set up the nursery, and consider it your way of thanking me," Raymond said, glancing at the items on the floor.
He could have asked Mary to do these things. But he didn't want anyone else to do it, and he wanted Margaret to bond with the baby, to not reject its birth so much.
Hearing this, Margaret's fingers curled at her sides. She squinted, laughing bitterly at him.
Only Raymond could hurt her like this. He knew she didn't have much time left, yet he kept reminding her.
The baby in her belly and the cancer cells were both crazily absorbing her nutrients. She was nothing but a nutrient reservoir for the cancer cells.
She really wanted to ask him, 'Raymond, do you find this fun? Does trampling on me make you happy?'
"I called Alvin. Tomorrow, we'll get a caregiver for Marlon. Nancy doesn't have to work so hard," Raymond said, adding more leverage.
Margaret pursed her lips, her fingers clenched tightly.
"Be good, have the baby, and you'll be free." Raymond used a delaying tactic. He didn't believe that once she had the baby, she would still be cruel enough to divorce him.
Hearing that, Margaret felt even more bitter inside. Having the baby would indeed set her free because she would die.
Seeing her unmoved, Raymond added more leverage. "I will keep my promises. I will help the Hughes family and always protect them. With me around, no one will dare touch them."
His words were so appealing and so familiar. When they first got married, he had promised her the same thing. He said, "Margaret, I will be your support, I will be good to you, to your parents, to repay their kindness."
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