Raymond plopped down next to him, looking a bit beat, but still had thatmanding presence.


    "Christopher, you think I''m stupid? Just a bracelet, and you want me to give up all my shares in the Montague Group?"


    Christopher''s alter ego smirked. "It''s not just a bracelet. If you agree to sign, I''ll make sure Selena is with you,pletely and entirely."


    "Deal."


    Raymond didn''t even blink. He stood up right away.


    "On the day we sign the contract, I want to see her. When she''s there, I''ll sign. Christopher, don''t mess with me. If you do, I''ll lose it and bring down the whole Montague family."


    As he said this, he nced around the Montague Vi with a detached look, like he didn''t care about the ce at all.


    Christopher''s alter ego knew Raymond meant business.


    But so what? Once Raymond was no longer the president of the Montague Group, he wouldn''t have the family''s power backing him.


    Then, he could easily get rid of Raymond, right in front of Christopher''s eyes. That way, he could eliminate both of them and take control of the Montague family.


    Why not?


    "Alright, Raymond, wait for my message."


    The mastermind behind all this was willing to send the bracelet to him, clearly on his side.


    It was the mastermind who wanted Raymond to lose everything.


    Christopher''s alter ego didn''t know who the mastermind was yet, but he understood their motive.


    The enemy of his enemy was his friend.


    Even if Selena wasn''t in his hands right now, as long as he spread the word that Raymond was willing to give up his shares in the Montague Group, the mastermind would be willing to send Selena back temporarily.


    As Raymond left the Montague Vi, he saw Donovaning in.


    Donovan''s eyes flickered with emotion when he saw Raymond. He wanted to say something, but as they passed each other, Raymond didn''t even acknowledge him. This made Donovan''s heart, which had wanted to mend their rtionship, turn cold again.


    Raymond was indeed a wolf that couldn''t be tamed.


    Christopher, on the other hand, was always obedient and gentle with the family.


    Back in the car, Raymond heard Paul say, "Don''t you think there''s something fishy about all this?"


    Raymond stared out the window, looking like a lifeless shell.


    But if you looked closely, his eyes were sharp.


    Paul frowned. "Lawrence has been aggressively intercepting the Montague Group''s businesstely. The media is starting to report on it. If they weren''t afraid of your retaliation, the news about your feud with Lawrence would be all over the ce by now."


    Right now, it was just rumors, but it seemed like Vistalia was also making moves. "Raymond, are you really going to give up the Montague Group?" Raymond''s gaze returned, his eyes now icy cold.


    "I just want to know if she''s still alive."


    Paul''s heart ached for a moment.


    Three factions had been searching for Selena, but no one knew if she was still alive.


    So when Christopher spread the news, Raymond didn''t care what he had to lose. He just wanted to see a living Selena.


    Even if it meant losing everything in Silver Bay City.


    He was willing. He would do it dly.


    He had been tormented by the bloodstains on the steps, imagining the pain Selena must have felt.


    Raymond wished he could have taken all that pain himself.


    He wanted to keep her safe in his heart, but he kept losing her.


    He had never been so desperate to hold onto something in his life.


    The whole world seemed to want him to lose the only thing he wanted to keep.


    Why couldn''t he be the favored one?


    The car was silent.


    Paul fell silent too. What was love, really? He didn''t understand.


    Was it worth losing everything for a woman, causing such a storm in their circle?


    He wouldn''t be as foolish as Raymond.


    He always kept sex and love separate.


    "If you give up the Montague Group presidency, those you''ve crossed wille after you with a vengeance."


    Since Raymond took over the Montague Group, the stock price had soared, but it was built on the downfall of otherpanies. They resented him but were too afraid of his power to act.


    Once he was no longer the Montague Group president, those hidden enemies woulde out to tear him apart.


    Raymond leaned back, his eyes calm as stars.


    "I''ve done a lot of wrong to Selena. I haven''t had the chance to make it right. If I had known how important she was... if I had known..."


    But life didn''t have ifs.