Chapter 428 Just a Few Steps, as if Exhausting All His Energy
Raymond's face contorted with rage, like Alvin had hit a raw nerve. "Get out! All of you, get out!"
"Mr. Howard, please, calm down," Alvin said, his voice laced with concern as he watched Raymond's state worsen.
No one knew better than Alvin how much Margaret meant to Raymond. For her, he would have given up a part of himself, literally.
Raymond might have been a bit clueless when it came to women, but his love for Margaret was undeniable.
"I said get out! Are you all deaf? No one comes in here without my permission!" Raymond's anger only grew.
Alvin and Hubert exchanged glances before slowly getting up from the floor and leaving the morgue, closing the door behind them.
Hubert had taken the brunt of Raymond's fury, limping as he walked. Alvin glanced at him. "Mr. Howard's just upset. Don't take it to heart."
"Don't worry, Alvin. Without Mr. Howard's support, I wouldn't be where I am today. A few bruises are nothing. I'd give my life for him if I had to."
Alvin's expression softened. "Go take care of those wounds and get some rest."
"Sure thing, Alvin."
Hubert treated his injuries and drove back to his private villa.
Sarah was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the floor. Suddenly, Hubert grabbed her roughly from behind, making her scream. He slapped her hard across the face. "Shut up! Scream again, and see what happens."
"Hubert, you're back so soon? What happened to your face?" Sarah was dazed from the slap but didn't dare show her anger. She tried to be caring.
In the past, Hubert would have been pleased by her concern. But ever since she had tried to kill him, his feelings for her had changed.
Thinking about the beating he had just taken from Raymond, his anger flared. He pushed Sarah to the floor, lifted her skirt, and forced himself on her.
"Hubert, it hurts..."
"Keep talking, and it'll hurt more."
Hubert was relentless, venting his frustration. Raymond was nothing but an ungrateful man who had climbed to power through a woman. Hubert believed he was just unlucky compared to Raymond.
He didn't see himself as despicable; he believed in the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. To him, Raymond was a weakling who couldn't even protect his own woman.
Hubert was determined to take over The Hughes Group. Only under his leadership could it truly thrive.
Dominating Raymond's savior, Sarah, was a twisted pleasure for him.
Sarah's tears flowed freely, but she didn't dare cry out loud, fearing another slap. She vowed that once she became Raymond's wife, she would kill Hubert.
Hubert grabbed her chin roughly, his eyes cold and mocking. "If it weren't for you taking Margaret's place as Raymond's savior, do you think I'd keep you around? You'd have been dead the night you failed to kill me."
Sarah swallowed nervously.
"I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?"
"The good news."
"Margaret's dead. This time, for real."
"Really dead? But she was dead a few days ago too. Are you sure this time?"
"Yes, she's really dead."
"And the bad news?"
"I got rid of Margaret for you. But if you can't make Raymond fall for you within a month, you're useless to me."
"No problem. Trust me, with Margaret gone, everything will fall into place!"
Sarah's eyes filled with tears of joy. Margaret was finally dead. She felt like she was one step closer to entering The Hughes Villa.
Despite Hubert's torment, she had come to terms with it. To achieve great things, one must endure small hardships. She didn't mind the suffering.
Raymond would be hers, and so would The Hughes Family's wealth. She would wait patiently. Once she became Raymond's wife, she would eliminate Hubert. He knew too many of her secrets.
Dead men told no tales.
Hubert thought she was a pawn, but she was using him too.
Back at the hospital, in the morgue, the room grew darker after the door closed. The cold was palpable, with only a faint light illuminating the space.
Raymond took slow, hesitant steps toward Margaret. He couldn't move too quickly, fearing he couldn't handle the harsh reality.
"Mr. Howard, were there any signs before Margaret jumped that you might have missed?"
The question echoed in Raymond's mind. Reflecting on it now, he realized there had been many signs.
She had let go of her beloved parrot. She had accepted the soup he made for her, something she had never done before, and she had looked at him intently.
"Is there something on my face?"
"I want to remember what you look like."
At the time, her words had made him happy. He thought she was finally willing to make peace and live a good life with him.
But now he understood. She was saying goodbye.
She wanted to remember his face, not out of love, but because she was done. She was so hurt that she wanted to remember him to avoid him in the next life.
It was tragic. He had given a part of himself, carefully maintaining their relationship, hoping for a truce in his final months. He planned to return The Hughes Group to her, worried about her future after his death.
But while he planned for her happiness, she was planning her escape.
"Raymond, why don't you just die?"
"I can't wait. The only thing I'm interested in is your death."
Recalling what she had said, he thought, 'Foolish girl, you only needed to hold on for a few more months. Then you'd never have to see me again. I would disappear from this world completely. Why couldn't you wait?'
Raymond stumbled to the stretcher covered with a white sheet. Those few steps drained all his strength.
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