CHAPTER 110

Her finger hesitated over the dial button, but she had no other option. She pressed it.

The line barely rang twice before he picked up.

"Valentina?" His voice was clear, firm—but there was a hint of surprise.

"Valentina?" His voice was steady but sharp. "What's going on? Are you tired? Where are you? Can't you drive?"

At that moment Valentina exhaled slowly, already exhausted.

"Slow down, Raymond. You're too anxious for a human being."

His silence stretched for a second. He could tell—just from the way she spoke—that something wasn't right.

Immediately his voice dropped lower.

"Is everything the matter?"

There it was. That rare concern laced into his usually unbothered tone.

Valentina swallowed, gripping the phone tightly. She hesitated, but there was no point in hiding it.

"I'm stuck," she admitted.