Chapter 398: I, Daniel, Will Stop at Nothing to Replace You
"Are you worried about me?"
"I had a nightmare. I dreamt you didn't want me anymore, and when I woke up, you were gone." Margaret clung tightly to his robe, burying her head in his chest.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Raymond noticed she was becoming more and more dependent on him. She saw him as her entire world, but he didn't mind at all. In fact, he enjoyed it.
He wiped her tears away, then scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to the bedroom. Raymond's face was tense; he was determined to hold on to this hard-won happiness.
"Margaret, the doctor will come to give you a shot in a few days."
"Raymond, will you be happy if I get the shot?" Margaret asked seriously as he tucked her into the soft bedding. She didn't like shots—they hurt. She didn't like taking medicine either—it was bitter.
Raymond was silent, which she took as a yes.
"Then I'll do as you say." She felt so insecure. As an orphan, meeting Raymond was already incredibly lucky.
He had done so much for her, and she had no way to repay him.
More importantly, Margaret wanted to cling tightly to her current happiness.
She didn't want to make him angry. She wanted to understand him, care for him, and be even better to him.
When she woke up, it was already the next morning.
Raymond was nowhere to be seen, but she found a sticky note he had left: "I went to The Hughes Group. I made breakfast; it's in the kitchen. Remember to eat when you get up. Come find me for lunch, and after lunch, we'll go try on wedding dresses."
He had made a loving breakfast. Margaret sat at the dining table, spooning it into her mouth, a happy smile stretching from ear to ear.
Trying on wedding dresses.
The thought of becoming Raymond's bride again filled her heart with happiness. She was so, so happy now.
It felt like she was floating in a dream.
She read his message over and over, each time making her smile wider.
She wanted to reply immediately, but she worried that if she seemed too eager, Raymond might think less of her and not cherish her.
So she set an alarm and waited a full ten minutes after finishing breakfast before replying with a simple "Okay."
Meanwhile, Raymond, dressed in a business suit, was riding the executive elevator to the CEO's office, his face expressionless.
Alvin was beside him.
When Raymond saw Margaret's message, his expression softened instantly. He chatted with her for a bit before the elevator doors opened.
Raymond walked out briskly, employees in the hallway greeting him respectfully, and clients trying to curry favor.
He ignored them all, heading straight to the CEO's office.
Alvin opened the door, and Raymond walked in.
The office door closed behind him.
Daniel, also in a business suit, was sitting in the CEO's chair. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and stood, a mocking smile on his face. "You finally came back. Anyone would think The Hughes Group was my company."
"Lunch together. Margaret will join us later," Raymond said coldly as he approached.
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "After covering for you for so many days and securing several billion-dollar deals, you think one meal is enough?"
Raymond glanced at Alvin, who handed him a folder.
Raymond took it and handed it to Daniel.
Daniel looked at him suspiciously.
"Open it. It's a gesture of goodwill."
Daniel took the folder, opened it, glanced at the contents, then looked up, smirking. "One percent of The Hughes Group's shares? Generous."
The Hughes Group's profits far exceeded those of The Taylor Group. One percent of the shares meant an eight-figure annual dividend.
Daniel closed the folder and tossed it on the desk.
"Not satisfied? We can negotiate."
"Raymond, do you think everyone is like you, obsessed with money?" Daniel's expression changed slightly.
Raymond replied, "That's not what I meant. I genuinely want to be friends with you."
It was sad, really. He was thirty years old and didn't have a single true friend. He thought Daniel was a decent person and wanted to be friends with him.
Many people had tried to befriend him before, but he had always dismissed them. He thought he didn't need friends; they were just a nuisance.
But Margaret's surgery had changed his perspective.
"Friends with your rival? That's a big heart," Daniel sneered.
Raymond looked at him. "You're a good person. I trust your character."
"Don't flatter me, Raymond. I don't want to be your friend. I'm helping you for Margaret's sake, not yours."
"I know."
"Then stop with the pretense. I don't need the shares, and I certainly don't need to be friends. Raymond, I hope you've learned your lesson this time. Trust her completely and treat her well. This is your last chance. If you hurt her again, I, Daniel, will stop at nothing to take your place."
Alvin wiped the sweat from his forehead. Daniel was relentless.
Daniel narrowed his eyes, raising an eyebrow in challenge. "Raymond, I'm not joking. One day, Margaret might just become my fiancée."
"You won't get the chance. Give up on that idea," Raymond scoffed.
Daniel smiled playfully. "I hope you mean it."
"Go back to The Taylor Group."
"Aren't you inviting me to lunch?"
"Lunch with a rival? Are you crazy, or am I?" Raymond's face darkened. His friendship with Daniel was contingent on Daniel having no designs on Margaret.
But now Daniel was still biding his time—
Daniel shot Raymond a cold look. "You're pathetic. I don't know what Margaret sees in you."
As he watched Daniel leave the CEO's office, Alvin said to Raymond, "Mr. Howard, there's a new development project. The Taylor Group is also bidding."
"Give the project to Daniel," Raymond said coldly. He didn't want to owe any favors. This project could earn The Taylor Group a lot of money and make Daniel look good in front of Cade.
Since Daniel didn't want shares or money, repaying the favor with a project seemed fitting.
As Daniel left the CEO's office, his casual demeanor vanished. He had been deliberately provoking Raymond. He knew Raymond well—he was highly suspicious.
The more Daniel showed interest in Margaret, the more Raymond would fight to treat her well.
He genuinely hoped that Margaret and Raymond could grow old together this time.
He didn't want to be friends because he wasn't kind enough to watch the girl he liked be happy with another man while pretending it didn't bother him. He feared he wouldn't be able to control his emotions and would be consumed by jealousy.
As Daniel waited for the elevator, he heard Raymond's secretary calling him.
He turned around to see the secretary, dressed in a black uniform, stockings, and high heels, running towards him with a box of wedding favors. "Mr. Taylor, a gift for you—"
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