Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Raymond never imagined that before he could move into the Rivera household, Harper would become their little darling instead.

At this moment, Raymond and Andrew had already gone through two rounds of drinking. Both were somewhat intoxicated.

Andrew's cheeks were flushed red.

Raymond, however, showed little change.

"Andrew, stay away from Sophie."

In front of him, Raymond had always been this direct.

He and Andrew had grown up together. They understood each other well.

Andrew knew him just as thoroughly. He held his wine glass, leaning back in his chair. "Raymond, you're really something!"

"What gives you the right to say that to me? Are you Ms. Rivera's boyfriend? Her pursuer? Or something else?" Andrew's eyes were full of probing intent.

Raymond could see right through him. His voice turned cold. "Don't forget—your family business has been in quite a bit of trouble lately."

He set down his wine glass with a sinister smile. "What? Is Mr. Garcia threatening me?"

Raymond's attitude remained unchanged. "I can use my personal assets to help the Anderson family get through this crisis. Three years. After three years, you can repay me. Interest-free."

Andrew's eyes were covered with a layer of cold shadow, his gaze dark, concealing a careless madness. "What a generous offer. You really are devoted to Ms. Rivera. But..."

He suddenly stood up, pressing his body over the table, leaning toward Raymond with a sinister smile at the corner of his mouth. "Don't forget—you've got a grandmother who doesn't like you. Do you really think she'll approve of you pursuing Sophie?"

Raymond, who had been sitting upright in his chair, casually set down his wine glass.

He looked up to meet Andrew's gaze, his eyes cold and detached, mixed with a hint of frost. "That's none of your concern."

Usually when they drank together, no matter how unhinged Andrew became, Raymond would indulge him, even enable him.

Just like many years ago in school, when Andrew smashed a teacher's car, then the teacher's office, and even the entire classroom.

Raymond hadn't stopped him. He'd simply pulled out a massive sum of money and bought the entire school.

He let Andrew smash to his heart's content, then used a fortune to completely renovate the campus.

Later, after graduation, they each went into different fields.

Raymond inherited the family fortune and joined the family company.

Andrew escaped his family legacy, got into medical school, and became a surgeon.

Later still, when family members of a patient deliberately caused trouble at the hospital to smear Andrew's reputation, Andrew appeared gentle and understanding on the surface, but privately beat the troublemakers to a pulp.

Raymond was the one who bailed Andrew out at the police station.

Andrew knew all this clearly.

When the Garcia family schemed against Raymond, Andrew was the first to stand up and protect him.

When Raymond was nearly killed by the Garcia family, Andrew had risked his life to save him.

Their friendship was one forged through life-and-death situations.

But even the deepest friendship has its breaking point.

Andrew had always fought "madness with madness."

Raymond was calm at all times.

They were destined to be from different worlds.

He looked at Raymond with a smile. "What should I do? I really like her. I want to pursue her. Back off, will you?"

Raymond's eyes turned cold and deep, a single glance carrying undeniable authority. "Let go, or we're done. Choose."

Andrew was too reckless. Anyone he fixated on never ended well.

With others, Raymond could turn a blind eye, even allow Andrew to continue his madness.

But there were two people in this world he wouldn't allow Andrew to go near.

One was Harper.

The other was Sophie.

Andrew understood Raymond's meaning perfectly.

He suddenly laughed, sitting back down in his seat. He removed the ring from his finger and played with it for a moment.

"Raymond, you look so scary when you're angry. I'm so frightened."

Raymond said nothing, continuing to stare at Andrew with overwhelming pressure.

Andrew slipped the ring back on. "Alright, Raymond, I was just teasing you. Don't take it so seriously. Rest assured, I won't go after your woman."

"But you'd better deal with your grandmother quickly. Otherwise, your wish won't be so easy to fulfill."

Raymond called over a server and handed him a card to settle the bill.

After the server returned the card, he walked away.

At that moment, Raymond stood up. "Don't worry about me. Mind your own damn business!"

As Raymond walked past, Andrew remained seated.

He smiled, watching Raymond. "Business? What business? Which business are you talking about?"

Raymond ignored him and left directly.

Watching Raymond leave, Andrew smashed all the wine bottles in front of him to pieces.

The server was stunned, not daring to approach, and called the restaurant owner over.

The owner had already received compensation from Raymond in advance for any damages.

The owner didn't intervene, quietly telling the server, "Let him smash. Someone's already paid for it."

Andrew smashed while watching through the floor-to-ceiling window as Raymond's figure disappeared into the distance.

A twisted, manic smile curved his lips. "Not allowed to pursue her? I'll pursue her anyway. Raymond, you've already lost!"

After he'd smashed to his satisfaction, Andrew left as well.

The restaurant owner even smiled and saw him off.

On the way out, Andrew called his assistant. "Order me a bouquet of flowers. Not white chrysanthemums. If you dare order white chrysanthemums again, I'll break your leg!"

Last time, his flowers hadn't been delivered because his idiot assistant had ordered him a bouquet of chrysanthemums—white ones, no less.

On the other end of the phone, the assistant trembled. "Yes, Mr. Anderson. I definitely won't make a mistake this time."

His boss's threat to break legs wasn't just talk!

Sophie received a bouquet of red roses while she was at home with Harper, investigating Harper's so-called friends.

Since it was late, she'd invited Harper to stay for dinner and spend the night.

Harper had happily agreed.

Henry was currently in front of the computer, using his professional skills to dig into the background information of Harper's friends.

When Harper saw the express-delivered roses, she was extremely curious. "Sophie, who sent them? Is it Raymond?"

Sophie picked up the card and looked at the two lines written on it.

Before she could speak, Harper snatched the card from her hand.

When Harper saw the name on the card, she froze.