I could see the shock on his face like he'd seen a ghost. The tension was palpable, but I couldn't understand why he had told me he was an orphan when his mother was clearly alive. The woman had a sad look on her face, and when she tried to touch Raymond, he pushed her hands away and stormed off. Her bodyguard tried to stop him, but she signaled for him to let Raymond go. He looked furious.
I didn't want to make things awkward, so I brushed it off and focused on the conversation with her. Everything went smoothly with the investment, and I decided not to bring up Raymond since she seemed both intimidating and sorrowful. As she was leaving, she asked, "What is my son to you?"
"He's my fiancé, and the father of my unborn child," I replied.
She smiled and left without another word. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. She had such a cold, quiet presence, it felt like I had just met a mob boss. That evening, Raymond didn't come home, so I went to the hospital to see what was keeping him there. I found him at a restaurant near the hospital.
I called his name, but the glass between us muffled my voice. I tried to get closer but saw another person sitting across from him, Nicolas. I moved closer to try and eavesdrop, but the glass made it impossible. I waited nearby, hoping to gauge Raymond's reaction when he saw me.
When they finally came out, Nicolas left without a word. "Don't you have anything to tell me?" I asked, but Raymond just shook his head. "No."
I offered to take him home, but his expression changed, it was clear he wasn't comfortable. Once we got home, he pretended to take a phone call and went to sit by the pool, laughing with no real joy behind it.
I went out a little while later, pretending to stare at the pool. I brought him some fruit to serve as an excuse to talk. As I approached him, he grabbed his phone, about to pretend he was on a call.
"Honey, you don't have to do that. I can see through your act. I want us to talk. But first, I owe you an apology for not telling you about Nicolas sooner. I'm ready to answer any questions you have about him, and don't trust a word he says, he's a liar."
"I don't trust him either, so it doesn't matter. I was just disappointed you didn't tell me first. I knew he had an ulterior motive, why else would he come to me with all this information about you?"
"Thank you for trusting me. I'm sorry. Can I hug you now?"
He smiled, and I tried to ask him about his mom, but he jokingly said, "Don't ruin the mood, Jasmine."
The next day at the office, Charles told me Raymond's mother was at the hospital. I asked him to escort her to my office. This time, she came alone and dressed more casually, she seemed less intimidating. She asked me a few questions about Raymond, and I answered them honestly. She left while I was on a phone call.
I summoned Raymond to my office and insisted he tell me more about his mother or he wouldn't leave.
"She treated me like garbage after my dad died. I had to leave home at a young age to make a living, and she never even tried to find me. Why should I call her my mother?"
He left angrily after saying that, and I regretted pushing him to open up.
I went to see his mom at her residence, hoping to get some answers. The place was guarded, with men patrolling like she was expecting some kind of attack. After waiting a while, she came out, and I got the answers I needed.
"Honey, I'm sorry for pushing you yesterday, but I know you'll probably hate me soon."
"Why did you bring her here? Please, tell her to leave or I will."
"Raymond, listen to her for our child's sake, and mine. She's a good person. Just hear her out and decide for yourself."
I stepped outside to give them privacy, and the room was silent for hours. When I finally went in to check, I found them both kneeling, crying as they faced each other. Their emotions overwhelmed me, and I started crying too. Later, I prepared dinner for her, welcoming her as my future mother-in-law.
Wanting to get to know her better, I suggested we spend some time together and go to the spa. I had thought she was scary, but she was actually very nice, and her smile was charming even at her age. We had a great time with massage, facials, manicures, and pedicures. During the ultimate spa bath, she paused when she saw a mark on my shoulder.
"Where did you get this scar?" she asked. I laughed and said, "My mom told me I was born with it."
She kept asking questions, but then she said she wasn't feeling well, so we left for the villa. I went to my room, leaving her with Raymond.
"Raymond, you can't marry her," she said.
"Who, Mom?"
"You can't marry Jasmine. She's your sister."