Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 518 Raymond, Her Sole Anchor For three days, Selena had been confined within the sterile walls of the hospital, nursing her injured hand with painstaking care. She barely dared to move it, fearing that even the slightest motion might impede her recovery. Shelley had remained steadfastly by her side throughout this ordeal. It was evident that Selena's sole preoccupation was the healing of her hand, her focus so singular that even the mention of Raymond failed to elicit the faintest flicker in her eyes.

On the third day, the doctor finally deemed Selena fit to leave, though he cautioned her to continue taking care of her hand. During her hospital stay, Selena had received several messages from Raymond, to which she had not responded. Now, Raymond had ceased sending them.

Shortly after her discharge, Selena received an invitation from a previous collaborator, the owner of a villa she had once decorated. The invitation was for a wine-tasting event to be held that evening.

The gathering was small and private, hosted within the very house she had once adorned with her artistic touch. The host was none other than Henry from the Vanguard Group, a familiar face from her Harvard University days.

Prior to their university years, Henry had been the one to introduce her to Caterlington, who respectfully referred to him as "Uncle." Selena had always maintained a cordial relationship with him.

"Mr. Spencer, my hand is injured; I might not be able to paint," she had informed him.

"You don't need to paint, just cand have a look at the house you designed," he had reassured her.

Feeling it would be impolite to decline, Selena agreed to attend.

The wine tasting was a far cry from a formal dinner gala. The guests were dressed casually, and wine racks were scattered throughout the yard, filling the garden with the intoxicating aroma of wine.

Upon her arrival, Selena immediately spotted Henry, a key researcher at the Vanguard Group, a company renowned for its wide range of electronics, from happliances like air conditioners and refrigerators to washing machines. They had secured nearly a third of the domestic market.

Selena had previously furnished several houses, including her recent Manhattan property, with Vanguard Group products. Henry had always ensured she received the best prices. After exchanging pleasantries with Henry, he introduced her to a new fruit wine before being whisked away by other partners.

Despite the casual attire, the guests were all distinguished individuals. Selena kept her injured hand by her side, moving as little as possible and refraining from drinking. She merely lifted her glass to her nose, cautiously inhaling the wine's aroma.

Out of the corner of her eye, Selena spotted Olivia. Upon seeing Selena, Olivia subtly raised an eyebrow, a slight curl playing at her lips. Raymond was in her company, engaged in conversation with several partners. One of them was an older man, around fifty, discussing Mr. Butler's last appearance in New York. The conversation treaded lightly around the topic, given that it involved Camila Montague of the esteemed Montague family.

"Where did that painting by Mr. Butler end up?" one of them queried.

"There's talk Mr. Butler has a protégé in New York," another chimed in.

Upon hearing these words, Raymond's gaze subtly drifted towards Selena, who was standing unobtrusively in a corner, delicately savoring the aroma of her wine.

Henry, the proud owner of several vineyards, was known for hosting wine-tasting events such as this one. Selena had been the creative mind behind the design of his villa, with a special emphasis on the wine cellar, a feature that had left Henry profoundly pleased.

At that moment, a cluster of guests stood together, each cradling a glass of wine, engrossed in a discussion about Mr. Butler's artwork. Olivia, who had narrowly missed becoming Mr. Butler's protégé, found herself irresistibly drawn into the conversation.

"Mr. Butler's paintings are undeniably popular, but isn't his protégé a family member? I've never heard otherwise," she ventured.

As the words left her lips, the expressions of those around her shifted uncomfortably. It was then that Olivia remembered her own connection to that painting. She recalled Mr. Butler's remark about how fortunate it was that he hadn't chosen her as his protégé, citing her ulterior motives.

A wave of unease washed over her, and she forced a smile onto her face. It was likely that Mr. Butler's comments about her were now making the rounds among their social circles.

Feeling a sense of disquiet, Olivia instinctively gravitated towards Raymond, as though seeking his support. Raymond, however, had never shown any interest in such matters and was likely oblivious to the origins of the incident. His only knowledge was that Mr. Butler had been present at the scene.

As the host, Henry immediately approached the small gathering, greeting them warmly.

Overhearing their conversation, he chuckled lightly, "It's partly because Selena is so unassuming that few people are aware of her connection with Mr. Butler. When she designed my villa, I had no idea she was Mr. Butler's protégé." With that, Henry gestured for Selena to join them. "Selena, would you chere for a moment?"

Among those standing beside Henry were two organizers of a major art exhibition. They had been searching high and low for information about Mr. Butler's protégé, but to no avail. Now, with the revelation that Mr. Butler's protégé was in their midst, they craned their necks in anticipation. Upon hearing this, a myriad of emotions washed over Olivia's face - disbelief, anger, and embarrassment. Mr. Butler's protégé, Selena? How could that be? By this time, Selena had made her way over, and all eyes turned to her.

Henry gently patted her shoulder and introduced her, "This is the master artist's protégé, Selena. These two gentlemen here are the organizers of major domestic art exhibitions."