Chapter 226 I'll Leave Once We're Done
Raymond shut his eyes, his fingers running through Margaret's long hair.
Her hair had this faint, delicate scent that was super refreshing. Raymond took a deep breath, savoring it.
He opened his eyes, his gaze landing on Margaret's skin, desire creeping in.
His kiss on her neck was like a cool, gentle spring rain, barely there, like a feather brushing her skin.
Margaret's body tensed up even more.
The doctor's words echoed in her mind. "Avoid sexual activity."
Yeah, the doc had said her body was super weak, and the baby inside her was draining her life.
'Is Raymond trying to speed up my death?' she wondered.
Before, she would've just accepted her fate calmly. But now that Marlon was awake, she didn't want to die so soon.
She wanted to spend this year with Marlon and Nancy, watch the fireworks, and make sure her parents had a peaceful old age.
Raymond's kiss was about to land on her cheek again, but Margaret instinctively dodged, so it ended up on the side of her face.
His big hand gripped her chin firmly, forcing her to look into his eyes.
His thick eyebrows furrowed, and he sounded annoyed. "Margaret, didn't you think about what would happen before you came?"
Margaret's body went stiff.
She should've thought about it; this was bound to happen. Her body was the only thing that attracted Raymond now.
"Alvin found the caregivers for your dad. He'll bring them to you later for you to choose." Raymond stroked Margaret's head.
His voice was low and soft, but it had this oppressive vibe.
Margaret exhaled, thinking since this was a transaction, she might as well bring up Marlon's discharge.
"I like it when you behave," he said again.
Margaret blinked, looking at her reflection in his eyes, feeling so small.
It seemed like she had no presence in Raymond's life.
A gentle breeze could erase all traces she left behind.
She thought she was obedient enough, watching him act against her will, listening to him against her will, and flattering him insincerely, just to keep the Hughes Family surviving through tough times.
Margaret used to despise women who relied on men to survive, but now she had become what she once hated the most.
Now she understood that life's low points had no bottom line; there were always unexpected events dragging her to hell.
She couldn't end it; she had to grit her teeth and keep going.
Margaret bit her lip, staring at Raymond. "Then you have to agree to let my dad be discharged."
"Discharged?" Raymond frowned, thinking, 'He just woke up, why discharge him now?'
Margaret thought he was unwilling and explained, "It's almost New Year's Eve. I want him to come home. He can go back to the hospital afterward. Raymond, my dad has never asked me for anything in all these years; this is the only time he's asked. I want to fulfill it. Please help me."
"Okay." Raymond softened at her gentle words. It wasn't a big deal anyway.
Raymond's big hand threaded through her hair, caressing her face, about to kiss her again.
But she spoke up at the worst possible moment, "Call Alvin now and have him handle it."
"Margaret, you don't trust me?" Raymond squinted, a laugh of anger escaping him.
Margaret replied, "I don't have a choice; people learn from their mistakes. You change your mind too easily. I have plenty of time; if you make the call, we can get started right away."
She was blatantly using her body to negotiate, making a deal with him.
Raymond thought about the last child she aborted. She had made a bunch of demands, even wanted to sign a contract and swear an oath before she was willing to give birth.
In the end, she got what she wanted, but the child was gone.
He had deliberately avoided thinking about those past events because he didn't want to remember.
But Margaret, not very smartly, brought it up.
Raymond's face darkened. "Who gave you the guts to talk to me like this?"
Margaret's chin hurt from his grip, but she could endure it.
She had been treated like this by him many times; at first, it made her sad and upset, but now she was used to it.
He made no move, nor did he seem inclined to make the call.
Margaret, enduring the pain, took out her phone from her pocket, lowered her eyes, and skillfully found Alvin's number, handing it to Raymond. "Use my phone to call."
"Margaret," Raymond gritted his teeth, clearly warning her.
She still took the initiative to connect the call.
The call connected quickly, and Alvin asked uneasily, "Mrs. Howard, what can I do for you?"
"Raymond wants to talk to you!" Margaret, seeing he was unwilling to take the call, put it on speaker.
Conditions should be negotiated from the start, which Margaret had learned from Raymond.
Raymond remained silent.
On the phone, Alvin asked puzzledly, "Mr. Howard, are you there?"
"Go handle Marlon's discharge procedures and personally bring him back to the Hughes Manor." Raymond finally relented.
Alvin was quite surprised. "Sorry?"
"Call Mary and a few housekeepers to clean the manor. Prepare to welcome Mr. Hughes home."
"Got it, Mr. Howard." Alvin hung up.
Margaret put her phone back in her pocket.
Raymond was fuming just looking at her; she was so arrogant even when asking for help. It was ridiculous that he thought she had come to yield.
"Your goal is achieved, aren't you leaving?" Raymond glared at Margaret.
Margaret's body trembled slightly, realizing this was a transaction, so she had to pay.
Margaret, in front of Raymond, took off her thick down jacket, revealing a fitted knit dress.
The dress outlined Margaret's graceful figure.
Though she was pregnant, it wasn't showing yet, not affecting her demeanor at all.
She took off the dress, revealing her underwear.
"What are you doing? I told you to leave, didn't you hear?" Raymond was angry seeing her like this.
He thought, 'Isn't she always so high and mighty? How has she fallen to this? Doesn't she care about her dignity? Her self-respect?'
Margaret said, "I'll leave after we're done. This is the condition we just agreed on; I can't go back on my word. Raymond, I don't want to owe you anything, especially not a favor."
She could owe anyone, but she didn't want to owe Raymond a favor.
She didn't want to be entangled with him.
If she only took benefits without giving anything in return, it would only make it harder to ask him for help next time, so she couldn't leave.
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