Mr. Raymond's obsession with love

The atmosphere of the afternoon at the Craig family mansion, Raymond was standing facing the large window while staring at the garden.

Raymond turned toward the entrance to his study when he saw the man who had just arrived.

"Daddy," Raymond greeted coldly.

"Raymond," Marco replied, his voice heavy. "We need to talk."

Raymond pointed to the leather sofa. "Sit down."

Marco didn't move. "Let's cut to the chase. This is about the heir."

Raymond sighed. Again. "Daddy, we've already discussed this."

"And there's been no progress!" Marco raised his hand, frustrated. "You've been married to Raquel for three years. There are no signs of pregnancy. Your grandfather keeps asking."

"Dad, you know I've had all the tests," Raymond said, his voice hardening. A small lie slipped in there, one he believed to be the truth. The doctor said it was difficult. Almost impossible.

"It seems like this isn't something I can force."

Marco stepped closer, his eyes sharp. "Don't lie to me, Raymond. I know you can do it. You're just not serious. Or, worse, Raquel is the problem."

Raymond clenched his fists. "Raquel is fine." He defended her, more to himself than to Marco.

"Fine?" Marco snorted. "Then why are there no children? David is eyeing your position. He's your stepbrother, but he won't hesitate to take your rights if you keep procrastinating. He's already started gathering support on the board. If you don't have any children, the Craig lineage ends with you!"

"Dad, you think I don't know that?" Raymond replied, his anger rising. "I'm the CEO. I have everything. I've tried. What else do you want me to do? Kidnap a baby?"

Marco stared at Raymond sharply. "Of course not. But you have to find a solution, Raymond. Quickly. Before it's too late."

"Your grandfather has even started suggesting crazy ideas. You know how important the bloodline is to Simon."

Raymond fell silent, remembering that he had asked Joel, his assistant, to investigate Raquel.

Marco pressed him again. "I don't know what you and your wife are doing. But this can't wait any longer. Craig Corporation needs certainty."

Raymond closed his eyes, thinking about his father's words. An idea began to form, cold and ruthless. If one way didn't work, he would find another. He had to have an heir, no matter what. His pride and position were at stake.

"I'll take care of it, Father, calm down," Raymond said softly, his voice now sounding calmer, but with a terrifying determination behind it. "I'll have an heir soon."

Marco looked at him for a moment, then nodded, satisfied with that answer. "Good. Don't disappoint me, Raymond." He turned and left the room.

Raymond just stood there, staring at the closed door. His mind was already formulating a plan.

Outside the door, Raquel stood frozen. Her right hand trembled as she held the doorknob, which was not yet completely closed. She had just arrived from a social event and accidentally overheard the entire conversation. Her face turned pale at Marco's threats and pressure about the heir. She felt a cold fear run through her bones. Raymond must never know her secret. Never. She ran away, her steps quick and silent, the deep expression of fear slowly mixing with a sly glint in her eyes.

Raquel stepped back hastily, away from the teak door that still vibrated with Raymond's baritone voice. Her heart was pounding, beating painfully in her chest. Marco Craig's words echoed like a death knell in her ears.

The heir.

The line of succession.

She had to leave. Right now.

With quiet steps, Raquel half-ran to her room on the right wing of the mansion. Once inside, she immediately locked the door and leaned her back against it, trying to get as much oxygen as possible. Her eyes darted around the luxurious room that had been her golden cage for the past three years.

"No, I can't," she whispered hoarsely. "Raymond can't know."

Raquel pulled a small suitcase from under the bed. Her hands trembled as she grabbed a few pieces of clothing, expensive jewelry from her jewelry box, and her passport. She didn't need much, just enough to make her disappear.

For a moment, she paused in front of the dressing table. There, in the bottom drawer hidden behind a pile of silk scarves, she felt for a flat object. A strip of birth control pills with only a few pills left. She stared at it with a look of hatred and victory. For three years, this little thing had protected her from the burden of motherhood and kept Raymond in limbo.

Raquel immediately grabbed her handbag. She went out through the balcony door that led directly to the emergency staircase to the back garden. She knew the guards would be changing shifts in ten minutes. That was her only chance.

Three hours later.

Joel knocked on the door and entered Raymond's room. He nodded respectfully.

"Mr. Raymond, I'm back with a report," Joel said, handing Raymond a tablet containing information.

"Mrs. Craig just left her room and hasn't returned yet, sir. But there's something else you need to know." Joel handed him a digital tablet with slightly trembling hands. "I conducted a thorough investigation as you instructed this morning."

Raymond snatched the tablet. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the series of photos on the screen. Raquel in an apartment. Raquel hugging another man. And that man was no stranger.

"David?" Ray hissed angrily.

"That's not all, sir. Look at the audio recording in the next folder."

Raymond pressed play. Raquel's voice was clear, crisp, and full of the venom she had been hiding behind her sweet smile.

"As long as I take this, he'll never get anything from me. But that's not the problem, David. Raymond sounded different earlier."

"I don't want him to find out that we've been lying to him."

Raymond's face turned bright red as he held back his emotions.

"Raquel, did she take birth control pills?" Raymond asked softly, but his tone was deadly. "For three years, she made me believe that I was the one with the problem? She faked my lab results?"

"Raquel and David have been working together to deceive me all this time, what the hell is going on?!"

"The real medical report is on the last page, sir. You are healthy. It was Mrs. Raquel who sabotaged everything so that you would have no heir, allowing Mr. David to take your position on the board."

"Mrs. Raquel always bribed the officials who provided your health reports," Joel stated.

Raymond threw the tablet onto the table, causing a loud thud. His whole body trembled with rage. How stupid he had been. For three years he had lived with a snake who had been plotting his downfall every night in their own bed.

"Do as I say, Joel! Get a lawyer. I want the divorce papers finalized before dawn."

"Sir, are you sure?"

"Don't ask questions, do it now!" Raymond snapped.

"Yes, sir," Joel nodded briefly.

Raymond took out his cell phone and checked the CCTV in his room, going back a few hours earlier. He saw Raquel leaving in a hurry with a suitcase.

"Damn, you poisonous snake!" Raymond muttered.

Raymond then called Raquel, but she didn't answer after several rings.

Meanwhile, Raquel, who was making out with David in the bedroom, stared at her phone in surprise.

"Just answer Raymond's call first, honey. I don't want him to get suspicious," whispered David, looking at Raquel.

Raquel nodded and immediately answered the call.

Raymond, what's wrong? It's late at night and my head—"

"Shut up, I know you're not in your room," Raymond interrupted coldly. He sent a photo to Raquel's cell phone, a strip of birth control pills that Joel had found in Raquel's hidden drawer on the table. "Do you want to explain that photo, or do you want me to play the recording of your conversation with David at the apartment this afternoon?"

"I'm sure you're still with him right now, aren't you?!" Raymond exclaimed.

Raquel's face turned from pale to white as a sheet. She looked at David beside her, her hand covering her mouth.

"Raymond, I... I can explain. David forced me! He threatened me!"

Raymond laughed, a dry laugh devoid of humor. "Threatening you? In this recording, you sound like you're really enjoying the plan to drain my assets and give them to my useless stepbrother."

"I did it because you never loved me!" Raquel suddenly shouted, shifting from fear to aggression. "You only wanted a child! You only wanted a baby-making machine to satisfy your ego and your father's!"

Raymond yelled on the other end of the phone. "Maybe you're right. I do need an heir. But I don't need a traitor in my house."

"I've already taken care of the divorce papers, you just have to sign them, understand?!"

"You can't just divorce me like that! I have a right to half your fortune!" snapped Raquel.

"You don't have a right to a single penny, Raquel," Raymond replied in a low, terrifying voice. "Breach of prenuptial agreement due to adultery and medical sabotage. My lawyer will make sure you leave here with only the clothes on your back."

"Raymond! No! You can't do this to me!" Raquel screamed.

"Nonsense, just wait there, Joel will be right with you to deliver the divorce papers you have to sign!"

Several days passed in tense silence at the Craig mansion. Raymond spent his time working nonstop, cutting off all of David's access to the company and ensuring that the divorce went smoothly.

Joel entered Raymond's office one afternoon, carrying a stack of new profiles. "Everything's taken care of, sir.

Mrs. Raquel has signed the papers and left town."

Raymond didn't look away from the window. "Good. Now, about the plan we discussed earlier..."