Claire smiled softly, stood on her tiptoes, and gently kissed Dennis on the lips.
To Claire, Dennis wasn't just the man she loved deeply; he was her rock, more important than life itself.
If Dennis married Ivy, she'd lose her emotional anchor.
Dennis felt the same way when he found out.
He held Claire tightly and whispered in her ear, "Claire, even if I lost my memory, I never forgot you. I still love you." Tears streamed down Claire's face, but she was grateful she had made it back in time.
Otherwise, she would have lost Dennis.
Dennis lowered his head, wiped away her tears, and gently caressed her cheek before kissing her deeply.
Through her tears, Claire felt the depth of his love and sorrow.
In the guest room, Zachary and Raymond exchanged a knowing smile, filled with emotion.
They were relieved they had arrived in time; otherwise, Dennis would have fallen into the trap of the biological agent.
This danger was like a silent undercurrent in the night, eroding everything quietly.
Qiana had been with that person for a long time but never delved into the oddities.
The other people in the estate had long become accustomed to the subtle atmosphere, as if everything was as it should be.
Only Zachary, with his meticulous mind, sensed something was off.
His intuition had never failed him, and this time, he trusted his judgment once again.
Their bond was as solid as a rock, unshaken by any storm.
Raymond suggested Zachary wear formal attire for the evening, but Zachary declined, saying he felt uncomfortable in a suit.
Raymond didn't press the issue. He stood up and said gently, "I'll go keep Melinda company."
Zachary's handsome face and chiseled features gave him a sharp aura, exuding authority even without anger.
However, just as Raymond turned to leave, Zachary's phone rang. He answered, a hint of excitement in his voice, "Is there progress on 408?"
The voice on the other end confirmed, "Yes."
Zachary's eyes sharpened, and he said firmly, "I'll be back the day after tomorrow."
With that, his gaze turned cold. He had been tracking an international dangerous organization involved in the theft of confidential research and blueprints for over six months.
In the room, Melinda was video chatting with Sam. The little boy's handsome face on the screen filled Melinda with warmth.
"Melinda, when are you planning to have a second child?" William's voice came from off-screen, teasingly.
Melinda smiled but didn't answer, instead asking, "William, how's your girlfriend search going?"
William replied, "You don't need to rush. I need to find someone prettier and better than you before I consider it."
Melinda smiled back, "There aren't many women prettier, with a better figure, and a good temper than me, are there?"
At that moment, Raymond interjected. Melinda worried his jealous nature might get upset, and William quickly toned it down.
Raymond didn't hold back in front of Sam, and Melinda shot him a disapproving look. Raymond quickly explained and changed the subject, asking Sam about his schoolwork.
William, dressed in his sports gear, was ready to take Sam for some practice. He joked, "When your parents get back, they owe me a meal. Being a babysitter isn't easy."
Melinda placed her phone on the table, half-laying on the couch, rubbing her forehead. "I've been feeling so sleepy lately."
Raymond sat beside her, gently wrapping his arm around her, teasing, "Didn't sleep well last night?"
Melinda glared at him, "Shut up."
Raymond chuckled, saying nothing more, his arm still around her shoulders. Seeing Melinda dozing off on his shoulder, he gently carried her to the bed.
Watching his wife sleep peacefully, Raymond kissed her forehead lightly and took his phone outside.
Through this whole ordeal, Qiana finally realized that Dennis's love for Claire went beyond any differences in wealth.
She had seen a lot in her life and knew that even family members could have bad intentions. She just hoped Dennis would find happiness and not end up with someone who had ulterior motives.
The Price family was a prime example.
She had a servant call Claire over and told her to start addressing Claire as Mrs. Gonzalez from now on, not Ms. Murphy.
Qiana then had the servants prepare a selection of jewelry and clothes for Claire to choose from.
Watching Claire busy herself, Qiana felt immense joy, wishing she could marry Claire into the family right away.
Ivy returned home, covering her face as she cried.
Her parents denied her involvement to protect her.
At that moment, her so-called friend called, not to offer comfort but to kick her while she was down.
Sitting in the cold, empty room, Ivy stared blankly at the pale moonlight outside, finally understanding that in times of trouble, only cruelty remains.
Those who once flattered and fawned over her now avoided her like the plague, even taking pleasure in her downfall.
It was all her own doing.
In her glory days, she had treated others the same way.
She never imagined she would end up like this.
What pained her most was that Claire was about to become Dennis's wife, enjoying the Gonzalez family's immense wealth, having children with Dennis, and living the life Ivy had always dreamed of.
Meanwhile, her own family was in ruins, and her parents were in prison because of her.
She knew she had dragged her parents into this, making them suffer in their old age.
Thinking of this, Ivy's heart ached with regret.
She closed her eyes, letting the tears fall...
Meanwhile, at 7 PM, the Gonzalez Villa's banquet hall was brightly lit.
Qiana sat at the head of the table, surrounded by Dennis, Claire, Raymond, Zachary, and Melinda.
The servants couldn't help but admire how good-looking these young people were.
Qiana was most concerned about how Zachary and the others had detected Dennis's abnormality and suspected someone was targeting him.
Zachary explained, and Dennis was deeply moved, grateful that his friends knew him so well.
Raymond emphasized that for something as important as a wedding, Dennis would personally inform them.
Qiana sighed, feeling her age and slow reactions, thankful for Raymond and Zachary. Without them, the Gonzalez family would have faced disaster.
Dennis raised his glass, thanking Raymond and Zachary.
Raymond mentioned that when he was in trouble, Dennis and Zachary were the first to come to his aid, and he would never forget that bond.
Zachary smiled, saying it was the right thing to do.
Melinda and Claire exchanged a smile.
Qiana publicly apologized to Claire for the hurtful things she had said back home.
Claire shook her head, indicating it was okay. Dennis looked at Claire, his eyes filled with tenderness.
The two gazed at each other sweetly, their eyes brimming with affection.
After dinner, Raymond took Melinda for a walk.
In the garden, as Melinda admired the blooming roses, she suddenly felt a wave of nausea.
Raymond quickly held her, asking what was wrong.
Melinda said she just felt like throwing up, probably due to an upset stomach.
Back in the room, after drinking some warm water, she still didn't feel better.
Suddenly, she thought of something and went to get a pregnancy test from the Gonzalez family's private doctor. A few minutes later, staring at the two bright red lines on the test, Melinda was in disbelief.
Was she pregnant?