Chapter 14 : Sleepless Nights & Unexpected Getaways

Chapter 14: Sleepless Nights & Unexpected Getaways

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A Restless Night

Raven tossed and turned in her bed, but sleep refused to come. The silence of the night should have been peaceful, yet her mind was too active, filled with thoughts she couldn't push away. Every time she closed her eyes, new worries crept in—plans for work, unfinished tasks, even silly memories from years ago that decided to resurface now.

She sighed loudly, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling. She had tried everything—changing positions, pulling the blanket over her head, even counting sheep—but nothing worked.

Annoyed, she sat up and ran a hand through her long black hair, which was already messy from all the tossing. The soft glow of the city lights peeked through her curtains, casting faint shadows on the walls.

With nothing better to do, she grabbed her laptop from the nightstand and opened it. The bright screen made her eyes squint for a moment, but she quickly adjusted.

If I can't sleep, I might as well be productive, she thought.

She checked her emails first, answering a few that had piled up. Then, she reviewed some reports and adjusted some schedules. Work always had a way of calming her down, making her feel like she was in control.

Hours passed, and before she knew it, the clock read 3 AM.

She blinked at the screen, feeling her vision blur slightly. Her body was exhausted, but her mind still felt somewhat awake. With a deep sigh, she stretched her arms, shut down her laptop, and finally collapsed onto her pillow.

This time, sleep came instantly.

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A Wild Morning & A Stunning Look

The sound of her alarm clock ripped through the peaceful silence, making Raven groan loudly.

She blindly reached for her phone and turned it off. For a moment, she debated going back to sleep, but she knew she had things to do. With great effort, she forced herself to sit up, though her body protested.

Yawning, she dragged herself to the bathroom, her feet feeling like lead. She switched on the light and looked at her reflection.

She froze.

Her hair was a complete mess—wild, tangled, and sticking out in every direction. Her eyes had dark circles under them, proof of her sleepless night.

She poked at her hair and let out a deep sigh. "I look like I fought a war in my sleep."

She placed her hands on the sink and took a deep breath.

"Listen, Raven," she said to herself. "You are a Castillo. You are strong, beautiful, and in control. You run a powerful business, handle impossible situations, and still manage to look stunning while doing it, married a dangerous mafia king while being one of the greatest assassin ever. A little bad hair day is nothing. You will fix this, step out of this room looking like a queen, and handle today like a boss. Got it?"

"Okay, Raven. You're strong. You're a queen. You can fix this."

It took her twenty minutes to fix the mess on her head. She brushed, tamed, and finally secured her hair into a sleek ponytail, using a few black hairpins and a black velvet scrunchie.

After freshening up, she stared at her reflection again.

"I need a makeover," she muttered.

She had been so busy lately that she hadn't had time to pamper herself. Maybe this weekend, she'd go to a luxury salon, get her nails done, and maybe even get a new hair color.

Feeling slightly more awake, she turned to her closet.

After a few moments of careful selection, she picked out an outfit. She went for an anime-inspired yet classy look—a stylish pleated skirt, a long white shirt, and a mini cropped sweater that gave an edgy touch. To complete it, she added her rose necklace adorned with diamonds and pink diamond stud earrings.

She admired herself in the mirror and smirked.

"I look hot today."

The finishing touch was her perfume—Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540. As she sprayed the luxurious scent on her neck and wrists, the fragrance of amber, saffron, and jasmine filled the air.

Now fully satisfied, she headed downstairs.

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Breakfast & An Unexpected Announcement

As soon as she reached the dining room, she spotted Maria, the housekeeper, setting the table.

"Good morning, Maria," Raven greeted warmly.

Maria gave her a small smile. "Good morning, tesoro. Sit, eat."

Raven sat down, grabbing some toast and a cup of coffee. The warmth of the drink helped wake her up a little more.

She was about to take a bite when Kai entered the room.

He casually took a seat beside her, his presence impossible to ignore. He looked like he had just stepped out of a magazine—his dark hair slightly messy in a stylish way, his crisp black shirt fitting perfectly.

Raven glanced at him, waiting for him to speak. But instead of talking, he took his time pouring himself a cup of coffee, as if he had all the time in the world.

Finally, he turned to her. "I need to tell you something."

She raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Clear your schedule for two weeks," Kai said, his tone calm but firm. "We're going on a honeymoon."

Raven froze mid-bite.

Slowly, she placed her toast back on the plate and turned to him. "Excuse me?"

Kai leaned back slightly, watching her reaction with amusement. "Our parents arranged it. Neither of us can say no."

Raven choked on her toast.

She coughed violently, struggling to breathe, and before she could grab her glass of water, Kai had already handed one to her.

He patted her back—a little too hard.

"Damn it, Kai!" she gasped between coughs. "Are you trying to break my spine?"

Kai looked genuinely surprised, as if he hadn't realized how strong his pats were.

She sighed, taking a sip of water. "Sorry. Reflex."

Kai smirked. "So? When's the honeymoon?"

He casually took another sip of coffee. "Today."

Raven nearly fainted.

"What?" she exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I only found out this morning," he said as if it wasn't a big deal. "Maria is already packing your bags. You should hurry up."

Raven took a deep breath, processing.

She quickly grabbed her phone and called her assistant. "Clear my schedule for two weeks. Shift the important work to my siblings."

Her assistant agreed without question, and she hung up.

She turned to Kai with suspicion. "Where are we even going?"

Kai's lips curled into a smirk. "China."

Raven blinked, then grinned. "Okay."

Without another word, she rushed upstairs to help Maria pack.

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Off to China

An hour later, they were at the private jet, ready to take off.

Raven sat down, letting out a deep sigh. Despite her initial shock, she was secretly excited.

The thought of exploring a new place, eating delicious food, and experiencing something different made her feel a tiny spark of adventure.

As soon as the jet took off, exhaustion hit her. The sleepless night finally caught up to her.

She leaned against the soft seat, pulled a blanket over herself, and drifted off to sleep as the jet soared into the sky.

End of chapter.