CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 183

At that moment Raymond leaned against the wall in the warehouse, conflicted. He’d always wanted to groom her into someone tough, someone who could survive in this world that had nearly broken them both. He’d warned her countless times that softness was a luxury they couldn’t afford. But now that she was finally showing the steel he’d tried to instill in her, he found himself reluctant to step back.

At that moment his phone phone buzzed again and it was, Valentina that was calling again.

"Ray," her voice was stronger than it had been in the hospital room. "Where are you?"

He exhaled slowly.

"Somewhere thinking about Maria?"

At that moment he paused.

"And About you too." The admission came out rougher than he intended. "About whether I should let you handle this."

At that moment Silence stretched between them, filled only by the soft sound of her breathing.

"You’ve always told me I need to be tougher," she finally said.

"That I need to learn to protect myself. How can I do that if you fight all my battles?"

Raymond closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"This isn’t just any battle, Val. Maria is dangerous. She’s connected."

"I know exactly what she is." The edge in Valentina’s voice was new—sharper, harder. "Better than you do."

He found himself smiling despite everything. This was the fighter he’d been trying to cultivate, but something wasn’t right.

"All right," he said, decision made. "You get your shot with Maria. Prove what you’re all about."

"Thank you, Ray."

"But understand this," he continued, voice dropping to that quiet, deadly tone that few people ever heard twice. "If this goes sideways—if she comes at you again—I’m stepping in. And when I do, Maria and anyone who stands with her will pay severely. There won’t be pieces left to find."

He could almost hear Valentina’s nod through the phone. "I understand."

"Good." Raymond pushed himself off the car. "I’m ending this call. I’m coming to the hospital now or perhaps see you at home."

He disconnected, pocketing his phone as he strode toward the warehouse entrance. She wanted to handle Maria herself, fine. But he’d be damned if he’d let her do it alone.

Raymond stood there, his body casting a long, cold shadow over the broken man who had dared to touch what belonged to him. His breathing was steady, but his eyes—those eyes burned with a silent fury that could set the whole world on fire.

But deep down, past all the anger and violence, something else stirred in him.

If she’s going to survive in this world... if she’s going to stand by my side... she needs to be stronger. Tougher.

He couldn’t always be the one shielding her from the darkness. She needed to learn to face it head-on.

He needed her to be more than just brave—he needed her to be unstoppable.

At that moment, without softening his voice, Raymond spoke, his tone low, hard, but clear.

"No problem," he said, his eyes never leaving the trembling figure of the man before him.

"I’ll give you a chance, Valentina," he said sharply, almost like a teacher giving one final warning to a stubborn student. "Show me what you’re made of. Show me you can handle this world."

His hand tightened into a fist at his side.

"And if you can’t..." his voice dropped into a deadly whisper, "then I’ll take over. And when I do, Maria... and anyone else who even thinks about hurting you, will pay. Severely."

There was no hesitation in his words as he said to himself. No bluff.

He meant every syllable, Satisfied, Raymond reached for his phone.

He dialed swiftly, his expression cold and unreadable as the line connected.

"Prepare the car," he said sharply into the receiver. " My wife would soon be discharged, head to the hospital now."

He paused for a breath, his gaze darkening even more.

"Since Valentina doesn’t want me to deal with Maria myself..."

He ended the call without waiting for a response.

Still Raymond stood in the silence of the ruined warehouse, his phone still in his hand, the faint hum of the disconnected line buzzing in his ear.

He slowly lowered the device, his fingers curling tightly around it.

More anger simmered just beneath his skin, a fire he barely kept contained. His jaw tightened, veins standing out along his arms as he clenched his fists harder. His chest rose and fell with slow, heavy breaths, each one heavier than the last.

He wanted—no, he needed—to deal with Maria himself.

She had crossed a line this time. A line she should never have dared to even approach.

And in Raymond’s world, crossing that line meant there was no forgiveness, no second chances.

He wanted to be the one to make her pay.

He wanted her to look into his eyes and realize the cost of her betrayal.

But now... Valentina had asked him to stay back.

She wanted to handle it her way.

He didn’t fully understand it—not yet—why she would choose to fight her own battle when he could have ended it in a single blow.

Part of him, deep down, wrestled with the decision.

But as he stood there, surrounded by the broken, lifeless bodies of the men who had dared touch her, Raymond slowly allowed his anger to cool into something sharper, more controlled.

If Valentina really wants to survive this world, he thought grimly, she has to fight for herself.

He couldn’t always shield her with his fists and fury.

She needed to become stronger—sound, fierce, unshakable.

Emotionally. Mentally. In every way.

If he truly wanted to protect her in the long run, he needed her to protect herself too.

He needed her to never let anyone bring her down again—not Maria, not anyone.

At that moment Raymond’s eyes darkened with renewed purpose as he turned away from the bloodstained wall, his footsteps slow but steady as he headed toward the exit.

He would still be there, watching from the shadows, ready to tear apart anyone who dared cross her again.

But this battle—this one—he would let her fight, for now.