Dear Sweetheart novel

“Oh! She scored again.”

Suddenly, Curtis spoke with a dark look in his eyes. “Gabriel, since he loves champagne so much, bring three bottles

and pour them down his throat.”

“Understood.” Immediately, Gabriel set off to get the champagnes.

Jeremy was rendered speechless. “Where did you find an assistant like him? He’s still so obedient to you even

though you keep exploiting him! Is he going to get rid of my body if you wish to kill me?”

Curtis sneered soundlessly. “If you don’t shut up now, he might actually buy a coffin for you later.”

Choked with fury, Jeremy rolled his eyes. When he looked at the other private room again, he realized something

was amiss. “It’s her turn to play, but why is she covering her collarbone instead of moving?”

Curtis followed his gaze. Indeed, Rayna was standing still.

Because her body was tilted, he could see she had one hand on her collarbone and was biting her lip slightly with a

troubled look on her face.

Upon taking a closer look, he realized she was doing that because the silk ribbon supporting the weight of her gown

had snapped.

“Her gown must be torn,” Jeremy commented, having understood Rayna’s predicament as well. “Considering that

the gown hugs her body, I reckon it’d drop to the ground if she let go,” he added with a smirk.

He then clucked his tongue. “I’m sure those men in that room would want to see the beautiful body underneath

that gown.”

By then, the people in the room across from theirs had caught on too, and they seemed to be making things

difficult for Rayna. Jeremy glanced at Curtis, only to see that the latter had an indifferent look on his face. It

appeared that he was unaffected by the happenings.

Hah! There’s no way Curtis isn’t affected by what he’s seeing! If he didn’t care about this woman, he wouldn’t have

put his work aside to come here.

“The beauty is surrounded by a group of beasts. How pitiful. Since I’m free, I’ll help you save her,” Jeremy said as

he placed his glass on the billiards table and rose to his feet.

Right when he was about to leave, Gabriel returned with the three bottles of champagne.

That rendered Jeremy speechless again. “You actually went to grab those? Your boss was only kidding!”

Gabriel said seriously, “Mr. Faymon never jokes around. Mr. York, are you going to chug the bottles on your own? If

you find that too hard, I can help pour them down your throat.”

Jeremy could not come up with a reply.

Moments later, he patted Gabriel on the shoulder. “Why don’t you enjoy these bottles of champagne? I’m going to

save the damsel in distress.”

“You’re staying here to finish the champagnes.” Curtis was not planning on sparing Jeremy any dignity.

With a grim expression, he took off the brooch from his suit and summoned the attendant, who had been behaving

like an invisible person the whole time.

“Take this to the opposite room and give it to the woman in the black gown,” he said as he passed the brooch to the

attendant.

“Yes, sir.”

Having sensed the threat in Curtis’ tone, Jeremy tried to flee. “Mr. Faymon, our female lead is trapped in a wolf’s

den. An attendant can’t be of any help. It’s better for me to go over.”

Before he could move, Gabriel blocked his way.

“Mr. York, you should enjoy your champagne. Or would you rather I help you with it?” He brought a bottle of

champagne up to Jeremy’s face.

“No thanks! I don’t need it!” Jeremy forced a smile over gritted teeth and glared at Gabriel. “I’ve never met an

assistant as annoying as you!”

“You flatter me, Mr. York.”

Jeremy was at a loss for words again.

Rayna thought Arnaud prepared that gown to test if she dared to wear it. Never did she expect him to tamper with

it.

As the silk ribbon had broken on its own, she dared not move at all, standing still in the same spot.

The gown was nicely fitting, but it was not tight. The innermost layer was made of smooth silk fabric. Without the

ribbon’s support, the entire gown would drop to the ground.

Rayna took a deep breath and said to Marcus, “I have to go to the restroom for a while.”

“Oh, come on. The match’s almost over. Just hold it in for a little longer, Ms. Garland. Here. It’s your turn,” he

replied as his lustful eyes roamed her body.

The other men in the room responded with an equal amount of enthusiasm.

They were staring at her like a group of ravenous wolves as if they knew something was wrong with her gown.

It was not Rayna’s first time encountering that kind of situation, so she could handle it composedly. But I’m close to

winning. It’s really a shame if I give up now. Still, it’s better to give up now than to let them see me naked.

“I’m sorry—”

Rayna pursed her lips and was about to say something else when the door was pushed open.

The attendant who entered looked around the room. Upon spotting Rayna, he walked toward her and handed the

brooch to her. “A gentleman asked me to give you this.”

“Thank you.”

Great. This brooch can hold the gown together. It’s just what I need right now. Perhaps Jefferson knew something

was wrong with my gown and asked someone to send it over.

Thoughts ran through her mind as she quickly fastened the brooch on the ribbon. Wait. I don’t recall Jefferson

wearing a brooch today. Did he borrow it from someone?

Once she was done, she smiled at Marcus. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“It’s fine.” Despite his disappointment, Marcus still faked civility, saying, “Ms. Garland, you should’ve told us that

something was wrong with your gown. No man could bear to see a gorgeous woman in distress.”

Rayna let out a soft chuckle. “I’m easily embarrassed, so I can’t bring myself to trouble other people.”

At that, he gritted his teeth in secret. D*mn! This woman is silver-tongued. How dare she insinuate that I’m petty!

A few minutes later, the white ball was the only ball left on the table.

After counting the scores, the attendant announced the results, “Mr. Marcus scored a hundred and thirty-three

points while Ms. Garland scored a hundred and forty-seven points.”

Although Marcus’ face turned grim, he continued smiling and complimented, “Ms. Garland, not only are you

beautiful and intelligent, but you’re also great at snooker. I admit my defeat.”

Rayna flashed him a faint smile as she passed the cue stick to the attendant. “My mentor is a world champion. If he

wishes to play, there’s no one who can win against him.”

Marcus was curious. “Which world champion taught you to play?”

She evaded the question. “Mr. Marcus, I won. You have to give me two minutes.”

“Fine.”

The two of them walked out of the private room and went to a quiet corner before Rayna talked to him about that

matter. “We’re friends, and I sincerely wish to negotiate with you. I know Mr. Cyrus has a lot of supporters, and

you’re one of them. But you must’ve heard Mr. Boniel adores his younger son even more. Otherwise, he wouldn’t

have arranged for a test like this when Jefferson wished to regain his status as the heir. “

A hint of lust flashed across Marcus’ eyes as he stared at the collected, eloquent young woman in front of him.

“Since you’ve proven your sincerity, Ms. Garland, I suppose I can discuss things with your further.”

Then, he got closer to her and continued, “I want fifty percent of the Terblanc family’s shares, or you can be mine

for one night. What do you say?”

Rayna stood with her back ramrod straight and eyed him with a fake smile. “I hear that you and your wife have an

agreement that if one of you has scandals reported on the news, either party will have to give up all their assets

after the divorce. The market value of your company is worth tens of billions, right? That’s quite a lot. Besides, your

wife is here today. Aren’t you afraid that she’ll find out?”

Marcus’ lips quirked. “Isn’t there a saying about giving everything up for a beauty? If I can spend a night with you, I

can give up everything I have.”

“If that’s the case, I guess we have nothing to talk about anymore,” she said. Then, she glanced at the time on her

phone and continued, “Two minutes’ up. Well then, I won’t bother you anymore, Mr. Marcus.”

Refusing to give up, Marcus called out to her, “Wait! I know I’m the last signature you need on that document. Are

you really willing to let your boyfriend lose such a good opportunity?”