Chapter 145 - A Box Of Strawberries

Liam turned silent and focus on Victoria again. Maybe he could just go and see Harry himself. Asking him why this thing suddenly happen to him? Such a piece of devastating news for him.

Looking at both of them, Victoria then starts again. "This project requires me to stay at the sites for at least a year to be constantly in the meeting with other major investors such as L corp, M tech and Franklin lab. So, truthfully speaking, I need either one of you to be at my side and help me conducting the company when I was away."

Raymond scrunches his eyebrow. "Father is now the vice president, why would you need someone to placed you when you're not around?"

Sighing, Victoria helplessly said. "To be honest, I don't think your father is able to be a good president. And that's why I didn't choose him to be my next heir, I preferably either you two to take over Wayne's throne. It's also not because I didn't trust my other grandchildren, but Henry and Harry are too soft. They can't lead a giant company. Different from you, Raymond. You have dictator behavior, everyone in your company respects you and you were my finest candidate, but your condition right now, won't allow you to replace my seat yet." She softly gazes at Raymond who looks like he was spacing out before she turns to Liam.

"And you Liam, I acknowledge all of your hard work and achievement. You were able to prove everyone even without name and wealth to back you, but you still able to build your own empire. That's your biggest point I see in you. So, what do you both say? What's your future plan?"

Raymond sighing and put down his glass on the table. "I'm sorry, grandma. But, I refuse to return to New York. I think I want to settle down here with Luna. That's my future plan. For my company, I think I can handle my work from here. That's not a big deal. And I don't really care about the throne, you can just give it to someone else."

Victoria and Liam were dumbstruck by his word. "B-but, Raymond..I really think you should reconsider to returning home-"

"This is my home now." He casually replies.

"Grandma, I think... it's better if you consider Henry and Harry too. Or maybe Timmy? I have my own company that I should take care of and-"

"Not you too, Liam.." Victoria almost giving up. Now with both of the men refuse the throne, she left with no candidate at all.

Raymond averts his eyes. Not wanting to see his grandma start to cry. Even though he might be cold toward her, he still her bloodline and can easily turn soft on her.

Liam didn't dare to let the old woman cry as Raymond and he immediately calms her down. "Calm down, grandma. I think you'll find a good candidate later. For now, how about you focus on the 'Hawkeye' project, hm?"

Victoria sniffles a bit and said, "Hurry up Raymond and give me great-grandchildren so I can name him as my next heir. And you too, Liam..when are you planning on marrying Sabrina?"

Both of the men dumbfounded with the sudden urge from their grandma.

Snorting, Raymond said. "The more reason I don't want to give you great-grandchildren. You'll only polish him to be your doll."

While Liam scratching his head a little. "Well I..still not have a chance to meet with Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez yet."

Victoria's eyes turn wider. "Wait! What? Sabrina is a daughter of the infamous ex MMA fighter?"

Liam nodded his head with a grin on his face. "Uh..yeah. You know her father?"

Victoria chuckles and says, "Your grandfather likes him. He used to sponsor Mr. Rodriguez back at his young age to go around the world. He says to me that that man had a talent and he'll become famous in no time. He was right."

Liam could only smile at Victoria's explanation. In fact, he still a bit shook to meet them. An ex MMA fighter? Whoa..who knows maybe he will be thrown out from the house if they don't like him?

Victoria then averts her eyes to the nonchalant guy on the right side. "And you, young man..I would never treat my great-grandchildren to such accusation you've said."

He rolled his eyes. "You have Sky. Henry's son. He'll be your valuable heir in the future." He gives out another name which he learns from Luna who said that Henry has a son named Sky.

Victoria's eyes suddenly lit up. "You know what? You right..so, let's hope I'm not gonna die in another twenty years." She laughs to which Liam awkwardly laughs too.

Raymond like always. Looking at them like a stone. Not caring at all about the serious matter Victoria said to him.

Wipes her tears at the corner of her eyes, Victoria said again. "But, really, I was really hoping that you two will consider my offer. I'll be not available in a year, so I hope, Raymond..take care of Luna. I already make a draft of a recommendation letter to the University that she wants to go, I think you also able to adjust your surroundings when she's not around, right?"

Raymond gulped. 'University? She was going to leave me here?'

"And Liam...I really like her. Try your best to not let what happened to Harry happen to you too. You'll make a good family with her. You have my blessing. Please, consider my offer too." She said with a sad tone to which both of them turned silent.

…

The next two day,

Sarah finally got out of the room after holing up inside for two days. She gives a reason for having a 'PMS cramp' to Ramona so that she'll not worry about her.

It was early in the morning when Luna, Sabrina, and Victoria going on shopping at the market downtown guarded by Mr. Carson and two other bodyguards of Victoria. They're looking for a fresh ingredient to cook and baked some cookies later.

While Ramona went on a morning run at the hills back at Raymond's mansion along with Liam. Sarah was left alone at the mansion as she woke up late and went passing by the terrace garden which attracts her eyes each time she passes by it.

"Darling?" Raymond's voice sounded from across the hallway and flinched Sarah a bit.

She looks at the hallway and saw Raymond anxiously walk while his finger keeps playing at the hem of his baggy t-shirt. "D-darling?" He said again and makes Sarah frowned.

"Raymond?" She asked.

Jolt his body, he stops his pace and looks at the unfamiliar woman in front of him with scared.

"Who-who are you?"

Sarah suddenly remembers when Ramona said that Raymond has three characters, he already saw and meet with two except for this child's sides. She smiles beautifully.

"Hi, I'm Sarah. Your ex-girlfriend. You must be…uh….the 'day' Raymond, right?" She already thinks for two days and she thinks to get back with Raymond is a good way now. She'll find any opportunity to get close to him again.

"Erm…I-I don't know you," Raymond said and take a step backward.

"It's okay. I'm not a bad person. See, I have a box of strawberries. Wanna eat with me? We can have a chat until your darling comes home." She shows him a box of strawberries she took from inside the fridge before.

Raymond's eyes darted on the shiny strawberries and he then starts drooling a little.

"Come here.."