Chapter 66

The cold London night air blew through the gaps in the old buildings around the Southbank area, carrying the distinct scent of the River Thames. After an intimate dinner at The Shard, Raymond Craig and Clara walked slowly toward their Maybach, which was parked a few blocks away. Raymond wrapped his arm around Clara’s shoulders, pulling his wife closer to shield her from the biting cold.

Behind them, maintaining a constant but vigilant distance, Joel walked quietly. As Raymond’s confidant and personal assistant, Joel’s eyes never stopped scanning the surroundings. His instincts were always sharp, especially after the gallery incident that had nearly cost Mrs. Craig her life.

"Are you cold, darling?" Raymond asked softly, his voice nearly drowned out by the rustling wind.

Clara shook her head slightly, resting her head on her husband’s broad chest. "A little. But the view tonight is too beautiful to miss by staying inside the car. Thank you for tonight, Ray."

"Anything for you, Clara. Always," Raymond replied with a brief kiss on his wife’s temple.

Just as the atmosphere felt so peaceful, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from a narrow alley on the left side of the street. Joel, who was a few meters behind Raymond, turned instantly. His danger sensors flared.

Suddenly, a young girl with long, disheveled hair ran out of the darkness. She looked panicked, her breathing ragged, and her face was deathly pale under the dim streetlights. Due to her uncontrollable speed, the girl lost her balance and collided hard with Joel’s sturdy frame.

Thud!

Caught off guard, Joel stumbled back a step. His hard shoulder collided with the girl’s small body. Joel frowned, a flicker of annoyance rising as his focus was suddenly disrupted.

"Hey, Miss! Watch where you're going!" Joel reprimanded in his firm, slightly curt baritone. He straightened his suit, which had been skewed by the collision.

However, his scolding stopped instantly when he saw the girl fall to the asphalt. Instead of getting up and apologizing, the girl crouched down, trembling violently. She grabbed the hem of Joel’s wool coat with white-knuckled fingers.

"Help me... Sir, please..." the girl whimpered. Her voice was raspy, filled with genuine fear. "There are bad men... they’re chasing me..."

Joel froze. Under the dim mercury vapor light, he could see the girl’s face clearly. She possessed a natural beauty Joel had never seen before—round, watery eyes, a small nose reddened by the cold, and an aura of innocence that, for some reason, made Joel’s heart pulse strangely.

"Who is chasing you?" Joel asked, his voice suddenly softening despite remaining alert.

Before the girl could answer, three burly men emerged from the alley. The pungent smell of alcohol hit their noses, a sign that they were drunken thugs who had just left a nearby pub.

"Hey, Sweetheart! Why the rush? We were just looking to have some fun with you!" one of the thugs shouted with a raspy, disgusting laugh. He walked unsteadily, but his eyes stared wildly at the girl hiding behind Joel’s legs.

"Help me, Sir... they want to do indecent things to me," the girl whispered again, pressing herself closer to Joel, seeking protection behind the figure who seemed like a solid pillar to her.

Joel stared at the three thugs with the cold gaze he usually reserved for intimidating Raymond’s business rivals. He stepped forward, placing himself entirely in front of the girl like a shield.

"Leave. Before you regret this night," Joel said briefly. There was no threat in his tone, only a lethal fact.

The lead thug laughed dismissively, looking Joel up and down. "Wow, look at this wannabe hero. Hey, buddy, hand over the girl if you still want to see the sun tomorrow."

Joel didn't waste time arguing. As the thug reached for his shoulder, Joel moved with surprising speed. He caught the man’s wrist, twisted it until a painful crack was heard, and delivered a straight kick to the opponent’s solar plexus.

Thud!

The man collapsed instantly, groaning in pain while clutching his stomach. The other two thugs, seeing their friend go down, charged forward together, fueled by alcohol-induced rage.

Joel parried the first punch with his left arm, then unleashed a right hook that landed squarely on the second opponent’s jaw. Without stopping, he pivoted and delivered a leg sweep that sent the third thug crashing hard onto the asphalt.

The fight ended in less than sixty seconds. The three thugs were now groaning on the ground, realizing they had chosen the wrong opponent. Joel stood tall, his breathing unchanged, while his hands straightened his slightly disheveled shirt collar.

"Now, get out of here before I call the police and ensure you spend the winter behind bars," Joel ordered coldly.

The three thugs scrambled to their feet and fled into the darkness of the night as fast as they could, leaving silence on the street.

From a distance, Raymond and Clara, who had been watching the incident from near the limousine, exchanged glances. Raymond crossed his arms over his chest, a faint smile appearing on his thin lips.

"It seems Joel has found his match," Raymond murmured quietly. There was a playful glint in his eyes, which were usually as cold as steel.

Clara giggled, leaning against Raymond while still watching Joel, who was now helping the girl stand up with very gentle movements—something rarely done by the rigid Joel.

"Yes, of course. Just look at the way Joel is looking at that girl. I’ve never seen him look at anyone like that, Ray. He looks like he’s just seen a miracle," Clara replied with a tone full of emotion and joy.

Joel helped the girl stand, then hesitantly took off his wool coat and draped it over the shoulders of the still-shivering girl. "You’re safe now. What’s your name?"

"E-Elena," the girl answered softly. She looked at Joel with a gaze full of admiration and gratitude. "Thank you, Sir... I don’t know what would have happened if you weren't here."

Joel cleared his throat, trying to hide the flush that suddenly appeared on his face. "Just doing my job. Come, I’ll take you somewhere safer."

Raymond signaled to Joel with a nod, allowing his assistant to take care of Elena first. That night, amidst the cold of London, a new seed began to grow, promising a bright beginning for the man who had lived his life only in the shadows of the Craig family.

The next day, the atmosphere in the private lobby of The Savoy was very lively. Mrs. Miller, Clara’s grandmother, had finally arrived from America with all her legendary elegance. As soon as the elevator doors opened, the old woman spread her arms wide.

"My dearest granddaughter!" Mrs. Miller exclaimed as Clara ran to hug her.

"Grandma! I’m so happy you’re here," Clara whispered, happy tears welling in the corners of her eyes.

Mrs. Miller then turned to Raymond, patting her grandson-in-law’s shoulder with appreciation. "Thank you for taking care of her, Raymond. I heard everything. You truly are a real Craig."

"It is my honor, Mrs. Miller," Raymond replied with sincere politeness.

For the next week, London and the European mainland witnessed the happiness of the extended family. With unlimited resources, they rented a special luxury train to take them around the continent. From the grandeur of the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the romantic canals of Venice, Alexander’s laughter and baby Elara’s cute cries became the most beautiful background music for their journey.

Mrs. Miller truly spoiled her great-grandchildren. In Paris, she bought Alexander an entire collection of antique handmade wooden toys, while for Norah, she prepared a set of baby jewelry specially designed by the best craftsmen at Place Vendôme.

"Grandma, you’re spoiling them too much," Clara protested gently as they enjoyed afternoon tea on the terrace of a luxury villa on Lake Como, Italy.

Mrs. Miller just laughed while sipping her tea. "Clara, at my age, what else can I do but see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren happy? The past has given enough wounds; now is the time for healing."

Michael, Clara’s father, sat on the other side of the table, looking much healthier and calmer. "Grandma is right, Clara. Seeing you all like this... it feels like a weight of tons has been lifted from my shoulders."

Raymond approached; he had just finished playing ball with Alexander on the villa’s vast lawn. He sat beside Clara, holding his wife’s hand under the table.

Their last night in Europe was celebrated with a grand dinner on the villa’s lawn, facing the lake that reflected the moonlight. The long table was filled with the best Italian dishes, vintage red wine, and arrangements of fresh flowers whose fragrance was carried by the evening breeze.

Raymond sat at the head of the table, looking at the faces before him one by one. On his right, Clara was laughing at one of Mrs. Miller’s witty stories. On his left, Michael was patiently helping Alexander cut his steak. At the end of the table, Joel seemed busy talking on the phone—Raymond knew his assistant was contacting Elena, who had returned to her home on the outskirts of London but remained in intense communication with Joel.

Raymond felt a warmth overflowing in his chest. This feeling was far more satisfying than winning a billion-dollar tender or seeing his company’s stock charts soar. He remembered the first day he trapped Clara in that cold contract. At the time, he only wanted an heir. He never expected that in the process, he would find his soulmate.

"Ray? Why are you daydreaming?" Clara asked softly, noticing her husband’s emotional gaze.

Raymond smiled, reaching for Clara’s hand and kissing the back of it with devotion in front of everyone. "I was just thinking about how lucky I am. I started all of this with a selfish plan, but fate gave me more than I deserved."

Clara looked into Raymond’s gray eyes, finding such pure love there. "Fate didn't just give you an heir, Ray. Fate gave you a family. And family is where love never ends."

"I love you, Clara. Always," Raymond whispered.

"I love you too, Ray."

The dinner atmosphere became the pinnacle of their long journey. Under the magnificent, star-studded European sky, the Craig family was finally truly whole. There were no more shadows of betrayal or grudges that could ruin their happiness. They ate together, shared stories, and celebrated a life that had just begun anew in the most beautiful way.

The candlelight on the table danced in the gentle breeze, illuminating Alexander’s chocolate-smeared smile and the peace on Elara’s face as she slept in her crib nearby. Fate truly works in unexpected ways, turning a cold contract into an eternal ballad of love. And for Raymond Craig, this was not the end of his story, but the dawn of a bright future filled with true love alongside Clara and their children.