HUSH

HUSH. Episode 21

The private lounge of the Raymond Estate carried an air of quiet authority. Every piece of furniture, every painting, every polished surface reflected generations of wealth and power.

At the center sat the head of the Raymond family, his expression unreadable as he sipped his tea.

Beside him was his wife, the Raymond matriarch. Unlike her composed husband, her lips remained pressed into a thin line, making no effort to hide her displeasure.

Across from them sat the Ashford family head and his wife. Warm smiles adorned their faces, though ambition gleamed unmistakably in the old man’s eyes.

“I’ve watched Sharon grow into a remarkable young lady,” the Ashford patriarch said pleasantly. “Elegant, educated, and graceful. She would make an excellent partner for Damian.”

The Raymond patriarch set down his teacup with deliberate calm.

“Sharon certainly possesses admirable qualities.”

The Ashford matriarch smiled proudly.

“Our granddaughter has always admired Damian. The children have known each other for years. I believe they complement each other well.”

Silence lingered.

The Raymond matriarch finally spoke, her tone polite but noticeably colder.

“Admiration alone doesn’t build a marriage.”

The room stiffened.

She folded her hands neatly on her lap.

“My grandson has never expressed the slightest interest in settling down. Arranging his engagement without his approval is hardly something I support.”

The Ashford patriarch chuckled softly.

“Young people often don’t know what’s best for them. Feelings can grow after marriage.”

The Raymond matriarch looked directly into his eyes.

“Perhaps in some families.”

Her words landed like a stone.

“But not in mine.”

An awkward silence followed.

The Raymond patriarch calmly intervened before the atmosphere became unpleasant.

“My wife simply wishes for Damian’s happiness.”

“And so do we,” the Ashford patriarch replied quickly.

Inwardly, however, his thoughts wandered elsewhere.

If Sharon becomes the future Mrs. Raymond…

The Ashford family will no longer remain beneath the Raymonds.

We’ll gain influence… opportunities… and perhaps even access to the power Damian commands beyond the business world.

No one truly understood how Damian had transformed the Raymond family into an untouchable empire. The business world respected him. Even powerful figures feared crossing him.

Whatever secrets he held…

The Ashford family wanted to stand beside them, not beneath them.

The Ashford matriarch gently smiled.

“We’re not asking for an immediate wedding. Just an engagement. Let the two spend more time together.”

The Raymond matriarch’s gaze hardened.

“That assumes my grandson intends to return anytime soon.”

“He has been away for months,” she continued. “No one knows where he is except himself. He answers only when he wishes. Even his grandfather cannot summon him.”

The Raymond patriarch let out a faint, helpless chuckle.

“That much is true.”

The Ashford patriarch laughed politely.

“Still, once he returns, perhaps we can arrange a formal dinner.”

“We’ll see,” the Raymond patriarch answered.

Only three simple words.

Neither acceptance.

Nor rejection.

The Raymond matriarch remained silent, but her heart had already reached a decision.

Damian is far too exceptional to become someone’s stepping stone.

If he is ever to marry… it will be because he chose the woman himself—not because another family sees him as an opportunity.

The Harmony Town bus station buzzed with its usual morning rhythm.

Vendors called out to passing travelers, buses rumbled in and out of the terminal, and the scent of fresh pastries drifted through the cool breeze.

Among the crowd, one man effortlessly became the center of attention.

Damian.

Gone were his tailored designer suits and polished leather shoes.

Instead, he wore a plain black T-shirt beneath a light denim jacket, dark jeans, and a pair of clean white sneakers. His outfit was simple—something any ordinary traveler could wear.

Yet nothing about him felt ordinary.

His tall frame, sharp features, and composed demeanor drew eyes wherever he walked.

A group of young women standing near a snack stall couldn’t help stealing glances.

“He’s so handsome…”

“Is he a model?”

“I’ve never seen him around Harmony Town.”

Even a few men found themselves staring, quietly admiring the confidence he carried so naturally.

Damian ignored every curious gaze as though he hadn’t noticed a single one.

His attention was fixed on only one person.

Outside the station stood Rebecca beside the elderly woman.

Rebecca’s appearance remained perfectly disguised.

The silky blonde wig framed her face naturally, while the subtle makeup altered her features just enough to make her unrecognizable from the famous actress whose disappearance had become national news. A pair of sunglasses rested atop her head, completing the casual look.

She was helping the old lady rearrange two shopping bags while occasionally glancing toward the station entrance.

The moment Damian spotted her, the sternness on his face melted into a gentle smile.

A genuine one.

One reserved for very few people.

Rebecca looked up at the familiar figure approaching.

“There you are,” she said, smiling softly.

“You’ve been waiting long?” Damian asked as he reached them.

The elderly woman answered before Rebecca could.

“Only a few minutes.”

She eyed Damian from head to toe before letting out an amused laugh.

“I must say… even dressed like this, you still attract too much attention.”

Damian raised an eyebrow.

“Do I?”

The old lady gestured subtly toward the station.

Several people were still pretending not to stare.

One little boy even tugged at his mother’s sleeve and whispered while pointing at Damian.

A pair of college girls quickly looked away the instant Damian’s gaze shifted in their direction, their embarrassed giggles giving them away.

Rebecca noticed it too.

She folded her arms with a teasing smile.

“Looks like you can’t blend in even if you try.”

Damian glanced at himself.

“I thought I dressed normally.”

“You did,” Rebecca replied, trying not to laugh.

“That’s the problem.”

“It’s not the clothes.”

“It’s the person wearing them.”

The old lady nodded in agreement.

“Some people simply have a presence that can’t be hidden.”

Damian let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head.

“I suppose there’s nothing I can do about that.”

Rebecca adjusted one of the shopping bags on her shoulder before turning toward the road.

“Come on. We still have plenty to buy before heading home.”

Without another word, Damian naturally reached over and took the heavier bags from both Rebecca and the elderly woman.

“You don’t have to—” Rebecca began.

“I know,” Damian interrupted with an easy smile. “But I’m carrying them anyway.”

The old lady exchanged a knowing glance with Rebecca, the corners of her lips curling upward.

Neither of them argued.

Together, the three left the busy bus station, unaware that more than one pair of curious eyes continued to follow them until they disappeared into the lively streets of Harmony Town.

The grand living room of the Ashford family estate radiated elegance.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, illuminating expensive artwork and antique furniture collected over generations. Though undeniably luxurious, it still lacked the overwhelming prestige and scale of the Raymond Estate.

The atmosphere was far less pleasant than the décor suggested.

The Ashford patriarch sat at the head of the room, thoughtfully swirling a glass of tea.

His wife paced nearby, her face clouded with irritation.

“I still can’t believe the way that woman spoke to us,” the Ashford matriarch scoffed. “As if we were beneath her.”

She stopped pacing and folded her arms.

“The Raymond matriarch didn’t even try to hide her disdain.”

The old man sighed.

“Calm yourself.”

“How can I?” she snapped. “We visited them with sincerity, yet she made it sound as though our Sharon wasn’t worthy of her grandson.”

On a nearby sofa, Sharon sat quietly with perfect posture, a cup of untouched tea resting in her hands.

She neither interrupted nor voiced an opinion.

She simply listened.

The Ashford patriarch looked at his granddaughter.

“Don’t let your grandmother’s emotions trouble you.”

He leaned back in his chair.

“The Raymond patriarch never rejected the proposal.”

“He also never accepted it,” his wife retorted.

“He left the door open,” the old man replied calmly. “That’s enough for now.”

His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“Damian Raymond isn’t an ordinary man.”

“The business world praises him.”

“His rivals fear him.”

“And despite his young age, he commands influence that even older businessmen envy.”

He paused.

“If Sharon becomes his wife…”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“Our families will be bound together.”

“The Ashford name will stand beside the Raymonds.”

His wife finally smiled.

“Exactly.”

“That’s why we can’t give up so easily.”

She turned toward Sharon.

“You’ve met Damian before.”

Sharon nodded once.

“A few times.”

“And?”

The young woman lowered her eyes briefly before answering.

“He’s… difficult to read.”

“He barely speaks.”

“He doesn’t seem interested in impressing anyone.”

Her grandmother chuckled.

“Powerful men are often like that.”

The Ashford patriarch nodded in agreement.

“Which is precisely why he’s worth pursuing.”

Sharon remained silent.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the teacup.

She remembered the few brief encounters she’d had with Damian.

He had always been polite.

Respectful.

But distant.

There had never been warmth in his eyes.

Nor curiosity.

It was as though everyone around him existed at arm’s length.

The Ashford matriarch noticed her thoughtful expression and smiled reassuringly.

“Affection can grow with time.”

“Once he returns, we’ll create more opportunities for the two of you to meet.”

The Ashford patriarch added confidently, “A man as devoted to his family as Damian will at least consider his grandfather’s wishes. If we remain patient, this engagement is still possible.”

Sharon offered only a faint nod.

“Yes, Grandfather.”

But deep inside, she wasn’t as certain.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, Damian never struck her as a man who could be persuaded into a marriage he didn’t want.

He seemed like someone who would quietly walk away from expectations rather than surrender to them.