Raegan's heart skipped a beat. She almost blurted it out when Nicole's words rang in her mind. She had promised Nicole to keep Austin's existence from Mitchel.

Raegan pursed her lips and replied, "Yes. Just some colleagues you are not familiar with."

Mitchel fell silence.

Thinking it was the poor signal, Raegan asked, "Mitchel, are you still there?"

"Yes." After the brief response, Mitchel didn't say anything more.

Raegan felt something amiss.

Unbeknownst to Raegan, Mitchel was sitting in the car and looking up at the dazzling neon lights of the hotel. He asked in a deep voice, Do you want me to go there to accompany you?"

Raegan got nervous and hastily said, "No, it's okay. I'm going back tomorrow, anyway."

Her reply was simple, but Mitchel felt like he was slapped by an invisible hand.

Hearing Raegan's reply, Mitchel went silent.

Raegan was puzzled by Mitchel's unusual silence tonight. Right when she was about to inquire further, she heard a soft cough. It sounded like Austin was the one coughing.

Startled, Raegan quickly covered the mouthpiece and whispered softly, “I'm going to bed. Let's talk tomorrow."

With that, Raegan ended the call.

"Beep..."

Mitchel let out a self-mocking smile. The busy tone, playing a mocking melody, seemingly laughed at him. His turmoil inside went beyond words.

Mitchel regretted wrapping up the meeting earlier than scheduled all because he was in a hurry to get back to Ardlens. He felt he shouldn't frantically search for Raegan after failing to reach her by phone. He regretted rushing to Ashfield upon discovering her location.

Just a short while ago, Mitchel was reassuring himself. He told himself repeatedly that Raegan and Stefan were probably just sorting out some issue, which was why they ended up at the hotel together.

When Mitchel saw Stefan enter with a bag of medicine, his first thought was whether Raegan was sick.

Mitchel had a strong urge to barge in, yet he decided to stay put in the car, waiting on Raegan's call. He was doing everything in his power to avoid doing anything Raegan might loathe.

Just before Raegan called, Mitchel was reminding himself, “As long as she says she's with Stefan, I have to trust her. I can't let myself get irrationally jealous and upset her.”