Chapter 70

Time moved quickly, bringing the change of seasons that slowly melted the remnants of snow on the streets of New York. For the Craig Corporation, these past two months had been a period of extremely aggressive expansion. Raymond Craig was once again trapped in the rhythm of his demanding work, splitting his time between board meetings, cross-country flights, and intensive sessions with foreign investors eager to pour capital into his latest global projects.

However, one thing was different on the top floor of the Craig Corporation skyscraper. The desk in front of Raymond’s office was no longer occupied by Jenifer. The senior secretary, who had served for ten years, had officially begun her new life in London with her husband. In her place, Madeline, a calm and professional young graduate from Boston, had taken over all those responsibilities.

At first, Raymond thought this transition would be difficult. He was a man very set in his work habits. Yet, Madeline proved to have remarkable capacity. She was able to handle every instruction with dexterity, remembering small details about how Raymond liked his coffee and organizing important documents without needing to be told twice. Her quiet, reserved nature made Raymond feel at ease. After ensuring the woman’s background was completely clean through Evan’s investigation, Raymond slowly began to get used to Madeline’s presence as his new right hand.

Tonight, the large wall clock in the hallway of the Craig family mansion pointed to ten. The atmosphere inside the house was very quiet. A warm dinner had ended an hour ago. Alexander was already fast asleep in his room after insisting on showing his father his new constellation drawings. Meanwhile, baby Elara was also fast asleep in her crib after drinking warm milk from Clara.

Inside the spacious master bedroom, the dim yellow glow of the bedside lamp provided a warm and intimate impression. Clara stood before the open walk-in closet, busy sorting through her husband’s shirts and suits. Early tomorrow morning, Raymond had to leave for Germany to attend a summit of European business leaders. This visit was crucial, as Raymond was also scheduled to receive a prestigious award for the Craig Corporation’s contributions to international logistics investment.

Clara picked up a dark blue silk shirt, folded it neatly, and placed it into the large black suitcase lying open on the bed. She had refused the servants' help with this. For Clara, preparing her husband’s travel gear was a small gesture of care she wanted to perform with her own hands.

Raymond stepped into the room after his shower. He wore only dark gray pajama pants, his black hair still slightly damp, with a small towel draped over his shoulder. His sturdy, athletic frame caught the dim light as he walked toward the bed.

Raymond watched his wife from behind. A faint smile appeared on his stern face, which was usually cold while at the office. He stepped closer, wrapped his muscular arms around Clara’s waist from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder. The fragrant scent of Clara’s body, mixed with lavender essential oil, instantly evaporated all the fatigue that had weighed on his shoulders throughout the day.

"You don't have to do all this yourself, honey. The staff could have prepared it for me," Raymond whispered in his low, raspy baritone.

Clara smiled softly, tilting her head to the side and letting Raymond kiss her neck affectionately. "I want to do it, Ray. That way, I can make sure you don't forget your favorite tie or your vitamins. Besides, it’s enjoyable."

Raymond tightened his embrace, breathing in the scent of Clara’s hair deeply. "I’m going to miss you so much in Germany. I really want to take you with me, but this trip will be exhausting because of the packed meeting schedule."

"I know, Ray. My main duty now is to look after the children here and ensure your shop is running well," Clara replied, patting Raymond’s hand as it rested on her stomach. She turned within her husband’s embrace, looking into Raymond’s gray eyes, which now radiated pure warmth. "By the way, who are you traveling with tomorrow?"

Raymond slowly released his hold and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the half-full suitcase. "As usual. The security team led by Nick will escort the trip from the airport. Joel and Evan are coming, of course. Then there’s the CFO for the presentation of the figures, and... Madeline."

Hearing the last name mentioned, the movement of Clara’s hands as she reached for a pair of expensive cotton socks suddenly stopped. Her slender eyebrows knit together, and an expression of surprise graced her beautiful face. She turned fully to face Raymond.

"Madeline?" Clara asked, her tone sounding unfamiliar and filled with curiosity. "Who is Madeline? As far as I know, your personal secretary is named Jenifer. Since when is there a Madeline in your office?"

Raymond paused for a moment. He saw the furrow in Clara’s brow, and that was when realization hit him. He let out a long sigh, tapping his own forehead with a look of clear guilt. He had just realized that in the midst of his overwhelming busyness over the last two months, he had completely forgotten to tell Clara about the change in his personal secretary.

"Ah, forgive me, honey," Raymond said, his voice sounding deeply apologetic. He took Clara’s hand, leading his wife to sit beside him on the soft mattress. "I was truly foolish to forget to tell you something this important."

Clara didn't answer immediately. She looked at her husband with her clear, round eyes, waiting for further explanation. There was a slight flash of protectiveness in her gaze—something very natural for a wife when hearing the name of a strange woman who would be accompanying her husband on an overseas trip.

"Jenifer resigned two months ago, right when we just returned from London," Raymond began his explanation, his fingers gently stroking the back of Clara’s hand to provide comfort. "She married an art curator, and her husband got a very significant position in London. They decided to settle there. That’s why she had to leave."

"And... Madeline?" Clara asked softly.

"Madeline is her replacement. She is a top graduate from Boston University and has excellent work experience at a law firm," Raymond answered honestly. "She passed all the strict selections conducted by Jenifer before she left. And you know me, Clara. I would never let a new person into my inner circle without a background check."

Clara nodded slowly, beginning to recall how strict the security procedures were that her husband always implemented.

"I had Evan investigate Madeline’s entire background thoroughly," Raymond continued, ensuring he didn't hide a single detail. "Evan checked her financial records, family history, circle of friends for the last ten years, and even her academic records. The results were completely clean. She has no connection whatsoever to the Vane family, David’s group, or anyone from our past. She is purely a professional working to build a career in New York."

Hearing Raymond’s very transparent and detailed explanation, the tension in Clara’s shoulders slowly eased. The furrow in her brow was replaced by a faint, slightly teasing smile.

"So, she’s very efficient?" Clara asked in a spoiled tone, narrowing her eyes at Raymond. "Is she prettier than Jenifer?"

Raymond chuckled, his warm laughter filling the quiet room. He pulled Clara into his arms again, this time playfully. He cupped Clara’s face with both hands, forcing his wife to look directly into his eyes, which were filled with deep love.

"She is very professional at work, that’s all. But if you’re asking about beauty..." Raymond brought his face closer, their noses touching. "There isn't a single woman in this world who can match the beauty of my innocent wife. Your beauty is the only thing capable of bringing a Raymond Craig to his knees, helpless."

Clara’s cheeks turned pink at her husband’s flattery. She hit Raymond’s broad chest lightly, feeling both amused and greatly relieved. "You always know how to make me stop asking, Ray."

"I’m just telling the truth, honey," Raymond whispered before leaning down and kissing Clara’s lips very gently. The kiss wasn't filled with explosive passion, but rather with gratitude and a deep commitment to maintaining the trust between them.

Clara returned the kiss lovingly, wrapping her arms around her husband’s sturdy neck. In her heart, the curiosity about Madeline had completely evaporated, replaced by the sense of security that Raymond always provided whenever he touched her. She knew her husband was no longer the cold, secretive Raymond from the early days of their contract. The man before her now was a husband who held honesty above all else to maintain the integrity of their small family.

After their lips parted, Clara went back to organizing the last shirt into Raymond’s suitcase, then closed the large bag with a firm, steady pull of the zipper.

"Everything is ready, Ray. Your clothes, your travel documents that Joel gave me this afternoon, and all your personal necessities are inside," Clara said, smiling with satisfaction as she looked at the suitcase now standing neatly in the corner of the room.

"Thank you, honey. I don't know what I would do without you by my side," Raymond rose from the bed, pulled back the thick blanket, and patted the side of the bed next to him, signaling for Clara to rest. "Now, come here. Let me hold you before I have to leave tomorrow morning."

Clara turned off the main bedroom light, leaving only the small bedside lamp glowing dimly in the corner. She slipped into Raymond’s warm embrace, resting her head on her husband’s broad chest, listening to his steady heartbeat like the most soothing melody to her.

Under the cover of the cold New York night, in the warm embrace of the man she loved dearly, Clara closed her eyes with a sense of complete peace. The storms of the past had truly passed, leaving the foundation of their love standing very firmly, unshakable by anything in the future.