"Yeah, Mr. Thomas."
Stuart nodded. "And he's the deputy director of the lab."
Raymond was quiet for a moment, a mix of emotions playing across his face.
He thought about Melinda's tough times abroad, how she was all alone, and how Vincent had been there for her. He couldn't help but worry that meddling in her and Vincent's affairs might upset her.
Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Melinda and Vincent were having a pleasant conversation.
"Melinda, you're getting married so soon after coming back? Is your husband also named Thomas?" Vincent asked, curious.
Melinda nodded. "Yeah, his name's Raymond."
Raymond?
Vincent frowned. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Is he really that great? Does he like Sam?" Vincent continued.
"Yeah, I'll tell you more about it later," Melinda paused, then asked, "What about Kaia? Didn't she come back with you?"
"She did. She signed with a modeling agency here and is doing pretty well," Vincent smiled.
"She used to say some harsh things to you. I hope you don't hold it against her."
Melinda smiled gently. "It's all in the past. She was just worried about you."
"Melinda, how's Sam doing? I haven't seen him in a while. I miss him."
A soft expression appeared on Melinda's face. "He's doing well. We'll arrange for you to see him sometime."
Melinda asked curiously, "By the way, how did you end up joining the lab?"
"A headhunter reached out to me," Vincent explained. "I was looking for an opportunity to come back, and when I saw the job posting, I applied. It all happened so smoothly."
He paused, then asked, "Why did you leave the lab back then? Was something bothering you?"
Melinda shook her head lightly. "No, I just felt I needed some time off to adjust."
She took out two invitations from her bag and handed them to Vincent.
"I'm getting married. I hope you can come."
Vincent took the invitation and was shocked when he saw the name on it. "Raymond? He's Sam's biological father?"
He looked up at Melinda, stunned. "Are you serious? After everything he did to you, have you forgotten?"
"Vincent, please don't."
She looked into Vincent's eyes and said earnestly, "I hope you can give me your blessing."
Vincent stared at her, as if he had a thousand things to say. But in the end, he remained silent.
He took the invitation from Melinda's hand without a word.
Melinda smiled with relief.
The door opened, and Raymond walked in. His eyes scanned the restaurant before settling on Melinda. He walked over to her with long strides and sat down beside her.
Raymond exuded an air of elegance and nobility, his gaze deep and affectionate as he looked at her.
He wrapped an arm around Melinda's waist, asserting his claim on her.
"Melinda, this is..." Vincent looked at Raymond, puzzled.
"He's my husband, Raymond," Melinda took a deep breath and introduced them.
Then she turned to Raymond. "Raymond, this is my friend from abroad, Vincent."
She emphasized "friend," hoping Raymond wouldn't get jealous.
Raymond nodded slightly, a polite smile on his face. "Vincent, thanks for looking out for Melinda while she was abroad."
"It was nothing," Vincent said awkwardly. After confirming he would attend their wedding, he left the private room.
After Vincent left, Melinda looked at Raymond's tense face and couldn't help but say, "Raymond, Vincent is just a good friend. Are you jealous?"
Raymond looked at her, his eyes deep. "No, I'm just worried about you."
His voice grew hoarse, his gaze tender. "Melinda, we missed out on five years. I wasn't there when Sam was born, I..."
"Raymond, stop."
Melinda placed a hand over his lips. "We're together now, aren't we? You made all this happen, didn't you?"
Raymond's gaze softened. He gently kissed her lips, then took her hand and led her out of the restaurant.
Meanwhile, Vincent returned to his office at the lab, closed the door, and took out his phone to call Kaia.
"Vincent, what's up?"
Kaia's gentle voice came through the phone.
"Kaia, I have something to tell you."
Vincent took a deep breath. "Melinda is getting married. Her fiancé is Raymond."
"What? Raymond?" Kaia exclaimed. "Is the child... his too?"
"Yeah," Vincent replied heavily.
"Vincent, how can you be so calm?" Kaia was frustrated. "That guy, Raymond, he owes you!"
"Kaia, you can't force feelings," Vincent said with a bitter smile. "As long as Melinda is happy, I'm content."
"Vincent, you're such a fool," Kaia sighed. "But I'll go to their wedding. I want to see if Raymond is worthy of Melinda."
Vincent hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, his thoughts drifting back to five years ago.
That was the first time he met Melinda.
She was sitting on a park bench, wiping away tears. Her thin dress fluttered in the wind. Melinda had her head down, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Vincent found himself walking over to her. "Are you okay?"
Melinda looked up, her eyes red and swollen.
She choked out, "I... I failed my exam."
At that moment, something in Vincent's heart was touched.
From that day on, he started paying attention to this stranger.
He learned her name was Melinda, and she was a graduate student from another school.
He began helping her find housing, contacting professors, and subtly checking on her academic progress.
When he found out she had narrowly missed passing her initial exam and didn't do well in the retake, he felt an opportunity.
He approached a professor and offered to sponsor Melinda so she could focus on her studies.
Melinda didn't give up.
The next year, she passed the exam, and the professor accepted her.
Vincent stayed by Melinda's side, comforting and encouraging her.
The day Sam was born, he waited nervously outside the delivery room.
When the nurse came out with the good news, he smiled slightly, his hands trembling as he took the baby from her.
The excitement and joy in his heart were overwhelming.
Unfortunately, when Sam was just over a year old, he was called back home.
Four years later, when they met again, although their feelings had changed, life had moved on, and she was about to become someone else's bride.
All he could do was silently wish her well.
Back at the villa.
In the quiet of the night, Melinda's eyes were distant, her thoughts drifting.
Raymond lay beside her, watching her with a frown.
"Melinda, what are you thinking about?" he asked softly.
Melinda snapped back to reality and let out a long sigh.
"I was thinking about when I was pregnant with Sam. It was so exhausting, both physically and mentally. There were many times I didn't want to go on, even..." She paused, her eyes welling up.
"Even thought about ending it all."
Raymond's heart clenched. He pulled Melinda into his arms, his voice as gentle as a summer breeze.
"I'm sorry, Melinda. It's all my fault."
Melinda felt the warmth of Raymond's chest, her tears falling freely. She remembered the help and comfort Vincent had given her and said, "Raymond, Vincent helped me a lot back then. Please... don't treat him unfairly."
Raymond nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, I won't."
He held Melinda tightly, as if trying to merge her into his own body.