His Precious Love

However, the email was too large to be previewed online.

It took Rayna several minutes to download the audio clip. After reducing the volume, she held the device beside her ear.

The audio clip began with only the sound of footsteps before various other noises joined the cacophony as if somebody was watching television.

Rayna sped the clip up.

After listening for a while, she put the playback speed back to normal when she detected the sound of somebody opening the door to enter the room.

“I bought you some strawberries and cherries, Kristie.” A low male voice sounded from the audio clip, followed by the sound of footsteps. “I’ll rinse them in the kitchen, then watch television with you. How does that sound?”

Kristie hummed her assent.

Having listened to the dialogue, Rayna assumed from Kristie’s state that it was during the interval when Curtis brought her back from Yartran.

Why did Ringo’s people plant a bug in Kristie’s place at that time?

She did not delve into it but instead pressed the phone against her ear and listened intently.

Curtis’ tone was gentle when he spoke to Kristie, but she merely responded with noncommittal grunts no matter what he said.

Rayna could sense how awful Curtis must have felt.

Feeling awful herself, she once again sped up the clip.

After a while, Rayna heard the sound of the doorbell, followed by Jeremy’s and Wyatt’s voices.

The group chatted a little while until Jeremy suddenly said, “Have James come over, Curtis. You saw how much Kristie wanted to see him when I showed her his photograph.”

“That’s unnecessary. I don’t need outsiders to be concerned about my sister.”

Silence befell the group.

“Ms. Garland called me, Curtis. She wants to help Jefferson, but she requires the signatures of the politicians who attended the party. It just so happens I’m on that list too.”

“We have long since severed ties,” Curtis said blandly. “There’s no need to consider my feelings.” A while later, Curtis asked Jeremy, “When is the party?”

“Two months from now.”

time and place,” the man said

turf, Curtis. If you send James, we may not be able

there’s nothing else

ended at that point. Rayna’s eyes were

Arnaud’s movements and how he had managed to ambush the latter from his vantage point atop the

Curtis who

vibrated at

her new WhatsApp message and felt her head splitting open when

of an emerald pendant smeared

temple for James. She would recognize

believe

the emerald pendant, Rayna almost collapsed

this and send him to exact vengeance on Arnaud

broke when he thought of

her hand supporting herself against the wall and fell limply onto the floor, startling the others who

around. When he saw Rayna on the floor, he leaped off his chair and ran

Kristie, who was passing by, “Aunt Kristie, hurry up and

sun shining outside the window. It looked as if it was already

fainting

prior night, Rayna scrambled to locate her phone but could not find it despite her prolonged search. When she pulled open the

arm with a

for repairs.” Jessica helped her back to the bedroom. “The doctor says you’ve been working too hard lately, Nana. You

her arm away to head outside. “I have many things to do, and I’m going over for

James can’t be dead!

forward to grab her. “Calm down, Nana. This isn’t good

Baby?

belly, and a horrible feeling rose from her chest. She blinked,

wrong, Nana?” Jessica scrambled to wipe her tears.

hugged her and cried

did not ask anymore. She only patted her

Rayna had cried enough, Jessica pulled her to sit by the

Rayna forced a smile. “I just feel

“Mr. York is there for them, so don’t worry. Take good care of the babies and