Chapter 576 The Whole Night, Just a Man and a Woman
Raymond walked Margaret back to the hospital room. The nurse was giving their baby a bath, and the little one was so adorable, behaving perfectly during the bath.
The baby's eyes darted around, and she put her tiny fingers in her soft little mouth, smiling at the nurse.
The nurse looked at Margaret with admiration. "Ms. Hughes, your baby is so well-behaved and easy to take care of. Unlike some kids who cry and fuss during bath time, making it really difficult."
Margaret gazed lovingly at her daughter, unable to resist crouching down to touch her tiny hand. Her daughter's hand was so small and soft, even her fingernails were delicate. She couldn't imagine that one day, their little girl would grow up.
Raymond, a doting father, picked up a toy from the bed and started playing with his daughter.
The baby was thrilled, laughing even more joyfully. Raymond laughed along with her.
Since Margaret and their daughter came into his life, Raymond felt a sense of attachment. He was no longer an orphan; he had found his safe harbor.
Suddenly, his phone rang. Raymond continued to play with the baby with one hand while pulling out his phone with the other.
The phone kept ringing, unanswered. Margaret looked up and saw him staring blankly at the phone.
She nudged his arm. "What are you spacing out for? Answer the phone."
"It's work-related. I'll take it outside." Raymond handed the toy to Margaret, his expression complicated as he quickly left the room.
Margaret felt a twinge of unease, playing with the baby while watching Raymond's hurried departure. What could be so urgent?
She had never seen him so flustered.
Raymond, worried that Margaret might follow, took the elevator to the hospital rooftop to take the call.
This call wasn't about work.
It was from overseas.
This call was rare.
The phone kept ringing as Raymond faced the scorching heat, answering it. It was the height of summer, and the sun was blazing.
The intense sunlight felt like an oven, almost melting him as he wore a black T-shirt.
"Who told you to call me? How many times have I told you? Don't contact me unless it's urgent! Are you tired of living?" Raymond's first reaction upon answering was to lower his voice and growl. He was no longer the calm and collected man he had been with Daniel.
A maid's embarrassed voice came through the phone, timidly speaking. "Mr. Howard, I'm not Ms. James. Please don't be angry. We wouldn't dare disturb you unless it was important. But something has happened."
His expression softened when he realized it wasn't Waverly, but upon hearing there was an issue, his brow furrowed again as he asked, "What happened?"
The maid hesitated. "Ms. James... she's gone missing."
"A living person, missing?" Raymond laughed in disbelief.
"Yes, we didn't expect it either. Recently, Ms. James has been very obedient, not causing any trouble. She ate on time every day and even brought us gifts, becoming very easy to get along with. The night before last, she threw a party at the villa to thank us for taking care of her. We didn't plan to drink, but she insisted on treating the maids and bodyguards to dinner. When we woke up, she was gone. She took all her documents with her. Mr. Howard, we suspect she might be coming back to find you," the maid speculated.
Waverly had disappeared and might be coming back.
For Raymond, this was a ticking time bomb. If Margaret found out, he couldn't imagine the consequences.
"You useless bunch. You can't even keep an eye on one person. Start looking for her now! If you can't find her, you're all fired." Raymond angrily hung up.
He quickly called Alvin. "Track Waverly's movements."
"Isn't she abroad?" Alvin sounded confused.
Raymond replied, "She might be on her way back or already here. Drop everything and find her."
"Yes, Mr. Howard."
"Margaret must not find out about this."
"Understood."
"Did you check the surveillance from that night?"
"Mr. Howard, the surveillance shows you were indeed at Silverwood, drunk, and Waverly helped you to a hotel room. After you both went in, you didn't come out until the next day."
Raymond's mind went blank. Waverly had helped him into the room and hadn't left. They had spent the entire night together, alone.
He had hoped it was a setup by Waverly.
But now, all hope was gone.
"Mr. Howard, do you really have no memory of that night? Did you touch her? There's no surveillance inside the room, only you and her know," Alvin couldn't help but ask.
Raymond silently hung up.
His phone slipped from his hand, crashing to the ground.
He only remembered discussing a project at Silverwood that night. They couldn't agree on the contract's profit, so the other party brought Waverly to dine with him.
Waverly resembled Sarah from many years ago, a poor student studying abroad. That night, it was chilly, and she wore a turtleneck. But she was considerate, knowing when to advance and retreat, even helping him block drinks. Perhaps because she looked like Sarah, he glanced at her a few more times, making her blush and shy.
He drank too much and woke up in a hotel room.
She was curled up at the head of the bed, sobbing.
He saw bite marks and hickeys on her neck and chest.
Waverly tearfully claimed she had kindly helped him to his room, but he had forced himself on her.
There were dried bloodstains on the sheets.
Raymond had sent her abroad, intending to investigate before taking action. But now, with the surveillance restored, she had indeed gone in and not come out.
He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one, and placed it between his lips.
But his hand, holding the vintage engraved lighter, trembled slightly.
After smoking several cigarettes, he punched the rooftop wall, his knuckles splitting open.
Blood slowly trickled down the wall.
He cursed himself for not bringing Alvin that night. He had ruined two people, Waverly and Margaret.
The smoke choked him, making him cough, his nose stinging with bitterness.
"Raymond, what are you doing here?" A worried, anxious woman's voice came from behind.
He hadn't had time to turn around and remove the cigarette from his mouth when he saw Margaret hurrying over. She immediately noticed his bleeding hand, grabbed it, and frowned. "How did this happen?"
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