Private Matters

Before she could finish, Leif’s hand was already on the door handle beside her. Hearing her, he looked up and asked, “Don’t have to what?”

Then he pushed the door open.

Raina nearly spat out her soul. Seriously? No one thought to mention that Leif lived right next door?

She had been overthinking, thinking he was accompanying her back to her room, but he was just going home on the way!

Luckily, she hadn’t finished her sentence just now!

She fought the urge to cover her face and forced out a dry laugh, suddenly feeling guilty. “It’s nothing, hahaha… It’s late, I’m going to rest now. Sorry to bother you, goodnight!”

She quickly shut the door behind her with a bang, leaned against it, and slapped her palm against her cheek. Her heart pounded wildly.

After a while, Raina calmed down, let go of her hand, and exhaled deeply. Then she walked over and sat down on the sofa nearby.

Ding—

Her phone rang.

Distracted, Raina picked it up without checking the caller ID. Before she could say anything, a dark voice came through:

“Raina, haven’t you always wanted to find that missing bastard? Now, get your ass back here right now. If I’m in a good mood, I might even tell you where he is!”

Bastard...

That word hit Raina like a thunderclap right on her crown.

She straightened up on the sofa, her spine almost rigid, fingers clutching the phone tightly. Veins bulged on her forehead. Her face instantly seemed to freeze over with an invisible chill, and her voice was ice-cold: “I’ll say it again—he is not a bastard!!!”

“Don’t even know who his father is. What else could he be if not a bastard? Raina, don’t get cocky in front of me! I’ll give you one hour. If you’re not here by then, you’ll never see that bastard again!”

Fenris hung up.

Raina clenched the phone so hard her veins popped. At that moment, she felt like she was wrapped in a thousand-year-old ice, a bloodthirsty demon returned from the depths of hell, with no trace of humanity left.

Back then, after she gave birth to that child, she didn’t even get to see him once. Fenris took the child away immediately, and no matter how much she asked, Fenris refused to say where the child was.

Why now, of all times, was Fenris willing to talk?

No matter what, as long as there was even the slightest chance to find that child, she would never give up!

Even if it was a trap, she had to go.

Raina quickly steadied her emotions and immediately went out.

A few seconds later, she knocked on Leif’s door.

He opened it and looked at her pale face.

“Miss Carrington, you don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”

Raina barely noticed her own complexion but didn’t have time to care. “I’m fine. Just some private matters I need to handle. Can I borrow your car?”

Leif said, “You’re welcome to do whatever you need here. No need to ask. But…”

Raina thought he might back out, furrowed her brow, and asked, “But what?”

Leif said, “You’re not in the best condition. It’s not safe for you to drive. I’ll take you.”

Raina’s heart suddenly gave a jolt, as if something rooted deep inside was breaking through the surface. That subtle, swelling sensation in her chest surged again.

She had intended to refuse, but the word “No need” just wouldn’t come out.

After a long moment, she lowered her eyes and said calmly, “Alright, thank you.”

Hearing her say “thank you,” Leif’s expression seemed to stiffen ever so slightly—almost imperceptibly. Raina, lost in her own thoughts, didn’t notice the change on his face.

Leif said, “Wait here, I’ll go get a coat.”

Raina nodded, “Okay.”

He turned and went inside to fetch the coat. Raina was already eager to leave, but in the next second, a thin black trench coat was draped over her shoulders.

It turned out that Leif hadn’t gone inside to get something for himself, but for Raina.

Her spine stiffened abruptly; a flicker of surprise crossed her face as her gaze unfocused, lingering on Leif.

“It’s chilly at night, wear this,” he said.

His expression and voice were as calm as ever, but if Rael had been there, he would have surely shouted out loud—‘Our boss is really acting strange!’

After all, this was the same man who couldn’t even take care of his own sick son properly, messing things up and never thinking about adding or removing clothes for his child according to the weather—like a clueless, old father.

Maybe it was truly cold tonight, but with that coat on her shoulders, Raina actually felt less cold and didn’t want to take it off.

Her brows lowered, and her voice was a little hoarse, “Mhm.”

Seeing no sign of refusal, Leif’s face visibly brightened a bit, “Let’s go.”

Raina was still a bit confused but replied vaguely and followed Leif toward the garage.

Once inside the car, she leaned back in her seat, taking a while to recover. The car had already left Wexford Lane.

Looking ahead at the road, she quietly said, “Please take me to…”

She gave an address—Carrington family’s mansion. She hadn’t returned since going abroad five years ago.

Leif glanced at her and suddenly asked, “Is there anything you need my help with?”

Raina looked up in surprise, “What?”

“If you need anything, just say so,” he said.

Then, as if realizing he might have been too blunt, he added, “Consider it a thank you. Didn’t you say you’d be willing to help look after the little one?”

Raina said, “It’s just a small matter. I can handle it myself. But if I do need help, I’ll ask. I hope you won’t find me bothersome.”

The first half was a genuine refusal.

The latter half, if said by anyone else, Leif might have thought it was just polite small talk—but hearing it from Raina, he believed it was true.

“Alright,” Leif said.

After a silence, Raina, looking at the increasingly familiar road, rested her head on her hand and suddenly asked, “Mr.Vexley, why don’t you ask me why I’m going there?”

Leif kept his eyes on the road, replying, “You said it’s a private matter. Since it’s private, you probably don’t want to tell others. Besides, everyone has their own things to deal with. If you don’t want to say, why should I pry?”

Indeed, in this crowded world, everyone has their own affairs and their own path to walk. There’s barely time to care about what others think or do.

Raina said no more. The car fell silent again.

Nearly twenty minutes later, the car arrived at the destination.

Raina unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door. Behind her, Leif said, “I’ll wait outside.”

“Okay,” she replied.

His hands still on the steering wheel, he said, “I’m right outside. If you need me, just call.”

Raina twisted her hand on the door handle, then nodded, “Mhm, I’ll go in first.”

She got out and walked straight into the Carrington mansion.

***