Over the past few days, Gwyneth had been holed up in her apartment, staring at the emails on her computer screen.
Her mind was a tangled mess of heavy thoughts.
She didn't dare cross Raymond's boundaries, nor did she want to openly oppose Melinda.
Once a proud and confident woman, she now had to curb her sharpness and ambition.
She had started to learn how to read the room and handle things cautiously.
The Thomas Group family was like a giant dragon in the business world, its massive body and endless wealth commanding respect.
However, within this dragon, countless undercurrents were surging.
The side branches of the family had long been eyeing the projects in Raymond's hands, like hungry wolves ready to pounce on the tempting "meat."
The strict family rules prevented these side branches from getting a share, causing dissatisfaction and secret rebellion. They hoped for Larry's early demise, so Raymond would be left to fight alone, giving them a chance to swarm in and carve up the Thomas Group.
Gwyneth, as a member of the Thomas family, also yearned for the power and wealth in Raymond's hands.
She knew her opportunity lay in the upcoming financial summit.
In her view, Raymond would definitely attend this grand event, and he wouldn't bring along the annoying Melinda.
This would be her golden opportunity, and she was determined to seize it, aiming to become the woman by Raymond's side.
Meanwhile, Raymond had also received an invitation to the financial summit.
He glanced at the invitation, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
This summit would be attended by companies he was interested in collaborating with, so he certainly wouldn't miss it.
Melinda accompanied Raymond to the office, sitting quietly in a corner of the conference room, listening to the report on the lab's decision to collaborate abroad.
Her gaze was firm and sharp, exuding a leader's aura.
After the meeting, Kaia approached Melinda to express her gratitude for the endorsement opportunity.
Melinda, however, advised her to stay within her bounds and not do anything out of line.
Kaia nodded, but her eyes inadvertently fell on the diamond necklace around Melinda's neck, a flash of envy quickly concealed.
After Melinda left, Kaia couldn't wait to call Rhett.
They conspired over the phone, seemingly preparing for an upcoming moment.
That evening, they celebrated with drinks at a hotel.
Rhett complained about Larry's long life, which had kept them from entering the Thomas Group's board.
His eyes gleamed with greed, eagerly anticipating that day.
Kaia, nestled coquettishly in his arms, shared the same anticipation, hoping to win Rhett's heart.
Claire had spent three days with her parents, forgetting to return to Dennis.
During those three days, she almost forgot about everything else.
It wasn't until Dennis called that she snapped back to reality.
She asked for an extension of her leave, and after a moment of silence, Dennis agreed.
Claire had intended to tell him about her engagement, but decided it wasn't necessary.
To her, it was just a transaction between her and Dennis, nothing to take too seriously.
However, Otis was eager to meet her.
He told Claire he would return tonight and had arranged to meet her family the next day to discuss the engagement.
The Jenkins family was willing to pay off Beck's debts, which was a lifeline for the desperate Beck.
Although she had no feelings for Otis, she had to do it for her parents.
In Claire's absence, Ivy was overjoyed. Without Claire around, she bought a new dress and walked into Dennis's study with excitement.
She twirled gracefully, the hem of her dress fluttering like a blooming flower, hoping Dennis would compliment her.
However, Dennis only glanced at her briefly and casually said, "Looks nice."
Ivy felt a bit disappointed, sensing that Dennis didn't truly appreciate it.
During these three days without Claire, Dennis had been restless, often thinking of Claire's delicate face and clear, bright eyes.
Unbeknownst to Ivy, in Dennis's heart, she was always just a substitute.
Ivy had recently noticed Dennis's odd behavior. He seemed to prefer solitude, often locking himself in his study, either buried in books or swamped with work.
As his fiancée, she rarely had the chance to go out with him.
Whenever she suggested a walk or attending a friend's gathering, Dennis always declined, citing work.
One day, Ivy brought a cup of hot tea and gently pushed open the study door.
She saw Dennis sitting at his desk, frowning as he stared at a document.
She walked over, gently took his arm, and softly asked, "Dennis, what's been bothering you lately? You always seem so preoccupied."
Dennis looked up, his gaze briefly resting on Ivy's face before quickly looking down again.
His tone carried a hint of indifference, "Nothing, just busy with work." He rubbed his head lightly, as if genuinely tired.
Ivy wasn't satisfied with this brush-off.
She felt there was an invisible barrier between her and Dennis.
Taking a deep breath, she mustered the courage to continue, "Are you thinking about Claire? I know you have feelings for her, but you're my fiancé now."
Her voice was soft but firm, leaving no room for doubt.
Dennis frowned slightly, seemingly displeased.
He looked directly into Ivy's eyes, his voice cold, "Ivy, you're overthinking. There's nothing between Claire and me."
Ivy searched his eyes for any sign of a lie, but his gaze was sincere and unwavering, as if he were telling the truth.
She suddenly felt a wave of frustration.
She didn't know why she had become so sensitive and suspicious, perhaps because she cared too much about Dennis and was afraid of losing him.
With a sigh, she decided to drop the topic for now. After all, she and Dennis still had a long way to go.
Meanwhile, Melinda had been in a good mood these days. Every afternoon, Raymond would send lunch over, and when he wasn't busy, he would deliver it himself.
Tonight, Raymond had a social engagement, so Melinda picked up Sam herself. They were in the bathroom, splashing water and laughing together.
After the bath, Melinda gently dried Sam's hair with a towel and asked, "Sweetie, your birthday is coming up. What do you want as a gift?"
Sam's eyes twinkled mischievously, "Mommy, can I have a baby brother or sister as my birthday gift?"
Melinda laughed, pinching Sam's cheek, "Silly boy, a sibling isn't a birthday gift you can just give."
Sam looked a bit disappointed but quickly perked up, "Then I want Lego toys!"
Melinda smiled and nodded, "Alright, Mommy promises."
Just then, Raymond walked in.
He had just returned from his engagement, carrying a slight scent of alcohol.
Melinda wrinkled her nose at the smell, "Raymond, you've been drinking again?"
Raymond smiled without saying anything, just walked over to the bed and hugged Sam.
Melinda told Raymond about Sam's request, and after a moment of silence, Raymond said, "Melinda, the decision is yours. I won't pressure you."
He paused, then continued, "I would love a daughter too, but I don't want you to go through the pain of childbirth again."
Melinda felt a warmth in her heart and leaned on Raymond's shoulder, "Raymond, thank you. I'll think about it."
Raymond, excited, hugged Sam, "That's great! Sam, Mommy agreed to consider it. You might have a sibling soon."