Reclaiming Her Heart
Chapter 713 Showing Weakness Was More Effective Than the Sweetest Words

The next morning, while Selena was still catching some Z's, Raymond yanked her up.

"Let's go snag some gifts," Raymond said.

Selena, totally wiped from last night's shenanigans, was dead tired. She slumped into the car, practically melting into his shoulder to catch some more sleep. Raymond shifted her to a comfier spot, juggling his docs with one hand and keeping her head from bobbing with the other.

When they rolled up to the mall, the doors were locked tight. John, their driver, finally clued in. "Mr. Montague, the mall doesn't open till nine."

It was only seven, and the place was still shut.

John had never hit the mall early and forgot to give them a heads-up. Oops.

Raymond and Selena weren't morning shoppers either, so they were clueless.

Hearing John, Selena cracked her eyes open and chuckled. "Mr. Montague, should we head back first?"

Two hours till the mall opened.

Raymond just kept his eyes on his docs. "We'll wait."

Selena saw a flicker of impatience in him, like a kid who couldn't wait to get his hands on a new toy.

She couldn't help but sneakily grab his hand.

He was still holding a pen, all suited up, but her sudden move made him freeze. Then he dropped the pen and held her hand without a second thought. "What's up?" Raymond asked, eyeing her small hand in his. She wasn't usually this forward.

Last night, Selena had been pretty passive, letting him do his thing. In a sleepy haze, she thought she felt a scar on his back. No clue if it was old or new. Selena opened her mouth to ask, but Raymond's phone buzzed. Seeing the caller ID, he frowned. Selena saw it too; it was Catherine.

She swallowed her words, remembering how Catherine had trashed her at this very mall a week ago.

"Mom." Raymond had barely said when Catherine started yapping, "Come over for dinner tonight. Your dad's coming back, and I need you to talk him out of divorcing me. Raymond, have you been digging into Christopher's case? I miss him so much this time of year."

Raymond's eyes turned icy. John had filled him in on all these family dramas. The caller was his mom, and his brother had been gone for a while.

"I'm not coming for dinner," Raymond shot back.

Catherine lost it. "It's Christmas today, and you're not coming? How will the Montague family see me if I can't even keep my own son or husband? Raymond, how can you be so heartless! Do you want me to be the laughingstock? Your dad wants to divorce me, and you say nothing. Do you even see me as your mother?"

Raymond's eyes got colder, but inside, he felt a pang.

He pressed his lips together, staying silent, his vibe getting frostier.

Catherine didn't get it and threw out a nasty suggestion. "By the way, I met that Selena last week. Find a chance to sleep with her again, get her pregnant, and then ditch her. I want Barbara to never rest in peace."

Raymond had no clue who Selena was because when the drama went down, he was already divorced, so John hadn't mentioned his ex.

So he was a bit puzzled, 'Who the heck is Selena?'

But he didn't bother asking Catherine, figuring she was just venting.

"Raymond, did you hear me? I want you to get her pregnant and then make her get an abortion. She seems to care about you; she's really cheap."

"Mom, anything else?"

His tone was cold, clearly not buying it.

Catherine sensed it and started to break down again.

"You must come back tonight! If you don't, your dad won't eat with me! Raymond, I'm begging you, I really don't want to divorce your dad. He's everything to me." Raymond gripped the phone tight, lowering his eyes. "We'll see."

After hanging up, he closed his eyes and leaned back slowly.

Selena didn't catch what was said, but knowing Catherine's nasty streak, it probably wasn't good.

A minute later, Raymond suddenly leaned into her, resting his head on her shoulder, his voice rough. "Tired."

For a woman, a man showing vulnerability was more powerful than the sweetest words.