Luke was stunned.He shuddered at the thought.
‘I like Wendy? Hell! How could I possibly dare to like her? Firstly, she is not my type.Secondly, I cherish
my Heo Shit! Bruce is still in the US because he likes Wendy.He himself doesn't know when he will
return.’
"Luke, you too were seduced by that tramp, right?" Josie asked.
"Don't call her a tramp.That's very harsh! Mom, take my advice and do not call her a tramp in front of
Ryan.Or else, he will turn his back on you."
"How dare he! He wouldn't dare turn his back on his own mother!" Josie yelled.
Luke chuckled.
He held Josie's hand and tried his level best to 3] persuade her, "Mom, you're getting old.Don't you
think it's time for you to have more grandchildren? Why are you worried about these silly things? Isn't it
# worrisome? As long as you accept Wendy, you will not only get a daughter-in-law but a grandson
too.In the future, when Ryan comes to meet you along with his i family, won't it be a beautiful scene?
Like a pretty postcard."
Josie's expression changed.
She rudely dislodged her hand from his.
"Shut up! I will never accept Wendy as my daughter-in-law!"
Luke laughed out loud.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Do you really think she wants to be your daughter-in- law?"
Luke shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
"Mom, let me be the first to tell you something.From the time Ryan first met Wendy, she has been
refusing him.It's my brother who has tried his best to pursue her."
"She is just playing hard to get!"
Luke exclaimed in exasperation, "Oh my God! Ryan proposed to her the very first time he met her! You
know, a proper marriage proposal! Do you seriously think a woman will play hard to get if the man has
already proposed to her?"
Josie didn't know how to respond to that.
However, she got all the more furious.
‘Wendy! She is definitely a calculative tramp! She even got Ryan to propose her the moment he saw
her!’
"Mom—"
"Enough!"
Josie thought of something, and her expression changed.
She looked at Luke and said, "Let me put it this way.As long as I'm alive, Wendy will not be able to
marry into our family!"The rain began to intensify.The off-road vehicle sped silently and smoothly in the
heavy downpour.The trees on either side of the road were a blur.The windscreen wipers whipped back
and forth to keep the glass clear of the rain.The beams from the headlight tried to pierce through the
deluge.Yet, the road was not clearly visible.Compared to the storm outside, the atmosphere inside the
car was silent and depressing.Wendy nervously stared straight ahead while Ryan sat quietly beside
her, pursing his lip.
The driver drove the car as fast as he could.
In no time, the car reached the outskirts of the suburbs.
Immediately, they were surrounded by mountains.
After turning left and right several times, the car finally drove straight on a concrete road up a mountain.
It was pitch dark outside.
The beams of the headlights were shining brightly, cutting through the rain and darkness.
Wendy was so nervous that her body was rigid.
After quite some time, Ryan finally spoke.
"Ray will be fine." Wendy did not say anything.
"My mother is not a cruel person." Wendy continued to remain silent.
"She won't hurt Ray, even if you don't abide by her conditions."
That was when Wendy clutched her fists and said in a cold voice, "She kidnapped Ray? It is a fact,
right?"
"I don't mean to defend her.She was definitely at fault here."
Wendy wanted to laugh.
‘It was her fault! Could such a simple explanation make up for what I have suffered today?’
From the time she knew her son was missing, Wendy had been worried sick.
‘Ray is only three years old, but he has been kidnapped.I don't know what the kidnappers would do to
him.He is just a little boy.How scared he must be?’ Wendy didn't want to think about it.
Now she only hoped to find Raymond as soon as possible and let him know that he was safe.
"Wendy..."
"Ryan, I'm exhausted right now and I'm in no mood to talk."
Ryan's dark eyes deepened.He stopped talking.He did not want to stress Wendy more than she
already was.
Wendy straightened her back and looked straight ahead.
She was aware that her rude attitude would hurt Ryan's feelings.
But she didn't care.
She couldn't handle herself to talk to him calmly.
Wendy admitted to herself that she was venting her anger on Ryan.
Although Ryan had no hand in kidnapping Raymond, it had something to do with him.
In simple words, Ryan was the cause of Raymond's kidnapping.
All of a sudden, the car screeched to a halt.
Wendy almost hit the back of the driver's seat.
Ryan pitched forward too.
He quickly sat back and asked the driver, "What happened?"
"I'm sorry, sir.A child suddenly appeared in front of the car."
‘A child?’ Wendy looked ahead through the windscreen.
There was a child caught in the headlights.
When she saw who the child was, she trembled.
"Ray!"
On the road, in the blinding lights, a little boy was standing in the middle of the road, in the pouring rain.
He was wet and covered in mud.
The headlights were so bright that he turned his body and covered his eyes with his little hands.
Although Wendy wasn't able to see his face, she recognized him at one glance.
It was Raymond! It was her son! Wendy hurried to open the car door in a crazy rush.
As soon as she got out of the car, she got drenched.
She rushed to Raymond regardless of the cold rain soaking her clothes."Ray!"
Wendy held his face.
Ray! Ray..."
"Mom? Is that you?"
The raindrops were huge and were blinding him.
Raymond was unable to open his eyes.
The voice sounded familiar, and he wondered whether his ears were playing tricks on him.
Hence, his voice filled with uncertainty.
"Yes, darling.It's me.I'm so sorry.I'm so sorry, sweetheart.I'm late!"
Looking at the bedraggled child, Wendy couldn't help but cry.
She sobbed as she said, "I'm sorry.It's all my fault.I didn’t take good care of you.I didn't protect you
well."
As Wendy hugged Raymond tightly, she felt the heat from his little body.
Ray was burning up! Wendy was shocked.
"Ray!"
"Mommy..."
"I'm right here, sweetheart."
"It hurts!"
"Where does it hurt, sweetie?"
"My whole body...It hurts."
Before Wendy could do anything, the little boy fell in her arms.
"Ray! Ray!"
Ray had passed out.
All of a sudden, an umbrella was above them.
"Get in the car!"
Ryan said as his eyes darkened.
‘Yes! Get in the car! Go to the hospital! Wendy picked up Raymond, but her legs had become so weak
that she stumbled and almost threw him out.She was startled.Fortunately, Ryan was quick enough and
immediately steadied her.
He pursed his lips, and without saying a word, he tried to take Raymond from Wendy's arms.
"Nol"
Wendy tightly held onto Ray, refusing to let go.She felt that he would disappear again if she let him go.
"You might drop him."
"No"
Wendy stood straight, adjusted Raymond in her arms, and strode to the car.
Behind her, Ryan's face darkened.
He only paused for a second, and then, he hurried to catch up with her.
By the time they entered the car, all three were soaking wet.
The driver gave them a dry towel.
"There is only one towel in the car," he said apologetically.
Without hesitating, Ryan handed the towel to Wendy.
"I don't need it!"
"I understand you're upset, but be rational! Ray has a fever.Remove his wet clothes and wrap him in
this dry towel.It will keep him warm."
‘Yes! Ray needs it.’ Without a second’s hesitation, Wendy started to take off Ray's clothing.
But as she did so, she was shocked.There were wounds all over his body.
His arms…
His legs...
There were so many abrasions.His feet were the worst.He had only one shoe left, and there was only a
muddy sock on his right foot.There were faint bloodstains mixed with the mud.
Blood! Wendy's face turned pale.
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