A few well-trained men in black followed closely behind him. Their synchronized steps and powerful presence were enough to inspire awe from a distance.
Dennis wore a white turtleneck sweater under a gray trench coat tonight.
His skin was smooth, and under the moonlight, it looked as soft and radiant as jade.
His features were sharp and defined, with an air of nobility that was hard to describe. Combined with his natural charisma, he looked like a prince straight out of a comic book.
Seeing Raymond and Zachary inside the helicopter, Dennis's lips curled into a pleased smile. "Who would've thought the three of us would reunite under such circumstances?"
He then turned to his men. "Go into the forest and help find the others."
"Yes, sir," the men in black responded in unison before heading into the dense woods.
Dennis turned his attention back to Raymond. "I heard you got hurt. How bad is it?"
"Just a scratch," Raymond replied nonchalantly.
Dennis glanced at his shoes and joked, "My shoes are covered in mud. You'll owe me a new pair."
"I'll get you several pairs," Raymond said dismissively.
Dennis looked down at his shoes again and frowned. "What a hassle. I'll need to get these cleaned later."
"Your obsession with cleanliness hasn't changed a bit," Zachary laughed.
"Same goes for you," Dennis shot back. "I like things clean, and you just hate the hassle."
The three of them shared a laugh, reminiscing about their younger, wilder days.
"So, how long are you staying this time?" Raymond asked.
"It's been a while since I was home. Thought I'd visit for a bit," Dennis replied. "What about you guys? Heading back too?"
"Yeah, I need to visit some family," Zachary said.
Just then, footsteps approached, and Celestia and her men were brought over, restrained.
Seeing Dennis and Zachary next to Raymond, Celestia's face turned as white as a sheet. Her eyes were filled with fear and confusion, not understanding who these men were or how they had found Raymond so precisely.
"Who would've thought someone like you could trap Raymond," Dennis sneered at her. "But this is where it ends. You're no match for us."
Celestia trembled, feeling an invisible force suppressing her. She couldn't even muster the strength to struggle as she was taken away.
"Take care of them," Raymond instructed, glancing at Celestia and her men.
"Yes, sir," one of his men responded before leading them away.
Back home, Melinda sat by Sam's bedside, her eyes red from crying, but she stubbornly refused to close them.
She was waiting for news about Raymond.
Her phone suddenly rang, and she answered it almost immediately. "Hello?"
"It's me," Raymond's voice came through the receiver. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm on my way back, should be there in about seven hours."
Hearing his voice, Melinda's tears flowed uncontrollably. She walked to the balcony, choking back sobs. "I'm just glad you're okay..."
"Don't cry, silly," Raymond said gently. "Get some rest. I'll call you when I arrive."
"Okay," Melinda replied, but she didn't hang up. She listened to his breathing, finding comfort in the sound.
Raymond didn't hang up either, a tender smile playing on his lips as he listened to her.
After a long while, Melinda finally let go of the phone. She took a deep breath and went back inside.
Though Raymond had told her to rest, she couldn't sleep. She lay in bed, tossing and turning, thinking about him all night.
The next morning, Melinda got up early. She freshened up quickly and sat in the living room, waiting for news from Stuart.
She barely ate, only drinking a cup of coffee to stay awake. Every time her phone rang, she rushed to check it, only to be disappointed each time.
"Melinda, don't worry so much," Kathy said, seeing how exhausted she looked. "Mr. Thomas will be fine."
"Okay," Melinda nodded, but her face remained devoid of any smile.
Finally, Stuart called. "Ms. Sharp, Mr. Thomas and the others have landed. They should be here by around three this afternoon."
Hearing this, Melinda finally breathed a sigh of relief. She walked to the balcony, looking at the distant buildings coming into focus, filled with anticipation.
At the police station, Rufus sat in the interrogation room, handcuffed, with a smug and arrogant smile. He thought he would be out soon, having received a call from Celestia, knowing Raymond was trapped abroad and couldn't possibly return.
As long as he denied everything, the police couldn't do anything to him.
But just as he was about to sign his release papers, the interrogation room door opened, and a police officer walked in.
"Rufus, you're now a suspect in a kidnapping case. We're reopening your interrogation," the officer said sternly.
Rufus's smile froze. He stared at the officer in disbelief. "What? How could I be a suspect in a kidnapping case? You must be mistaken!"
"We'll find out soon enough," the officer said, signaling for Rufus to be re-cuffed.
Fear and unease filled Rufus's heart. He didn't know where he had slipped up or how Raymond had found him.
He could only watch helplessly as he was taken back to his cell.
At that moment, Rufus realized his plan had completely failed. He had underestimated Raymond's abilities and his love for Melinda.
This time, it seemed he wouldn't be able to turn things around.
At three in the afternoon, two private jets landed at the international airport, where four black SUVs were already waiting.
The car doors opened, and a group of people hurried out, looking serious as if on an important mission.
An hour later, the cars arrived at Raymond's villa, where Stuart was waiting at the door. As the cars stopped, he quickly walked over and opened the door.
Melinda and Kathy followed closely, standing at the entrance, anxiously waiting for Raymond.
The passenger door of the second car opened first, and then the back door was opened, revealing Raymond, who was helped out with an injured leg.
"Mr. Thomas!" Stuart exclaimed, rushing over.
"Hey, Stuart," Raymond said, trying to sound casual despite the pain. "Good to be back."
Melinda's eyes welled up with tears as she saw him. She ran over and threw her arms around him, careful not to hurt his leg. "Raymond, you're really back."
"Yeah, I'm back," Raymond said softly, holding her close. "I'm not going anywhere."
Kathy stood nearby, smiling through her own tears. "Welcome home, Mr. Thomas."
Raymond nodded, grateful for the warm welcome. "Thanks, Kathy. It's good to be home."
As they helped Raymond inside, Melinda couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. The nightmare was finally over, and Raymond was safe.