Raymond sat on the couch in the living room, his eyes filled with a mix of longing and worry. He wanted another child to bring more joy to their home, but the thought of Melinda enduring the pain of childbirth again was almost too much to bear.
The bathroom door creaked open, and Melinda stepped out.
She was wearing pink pajamas, her damp hair falling over her shoulders, and a deliberately disappointed look on her face.
She walked over to Raymond and said softly, "Raymond, I'm not pregnant."
Raymond felt a wave of relief wash over him, but it was quickly replaced by an inexplicable sense of loss.
He looked up into Melinda's eyes and said tenderly, "Melinda, I don't want you to go through that again."
Melinda's heart warmed at Raymond's loving gaze, and the disappointment on her face vanished instantly.
She smiled and threw herself into Raymond's arms, wrapping her hands around his neck, and teased, "Silly, I was just kidding! I really am pregnant!"
Raymond was stunned for a moment, then he realized what she said and hugged Melinda tightly, a look of pure joy spreading across his face.
He looked down at his wife, his voice trembling with excitement, "Really? Melinda."
Melinda nodded with a radiant smile, her face glowing with happiness.
She gently caressed Raymond's cheek and said softly, "Yes, it's true. I hope this time it's a girl."
Raymond was even more excited. He held Melinda's hand tightly and said with deep affection, "Whether it's a boy or a girl, as long as it's our child, I'll love them."
Melinda playfully added, "Well, you better be prepared for some abstinence for the sake of our baby."
Raymond was taken aback for a moment, then they both laughed, filling the room with a warm and happy atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Dennis's silver sports car cut a graceful arc through the night, carrying Claire towards the horizon.
They chose a wide, quiet road, driving at a leisurely pace that allowed the evening breeze to gently blow into the car, bringing a coolness that soothed the day's hustle and fatigue.
Dennis steered with one hand, while the other rested lightly on Claire's hand. Claire felt the warmth of Dennis's palm, and a sense of inexplicable peace washed over her.
The car finally arrived at the lookout point.
The elevated spot offered a sweeping view of the distant ocean and the surrounding flower fields.
Under the night sky, the ocean sparkled, and the flowers beside them emitted a fragrant scent in the moonlight, creating a serene and enchanting atmosphere.
The Milky Way was clearly visible, with countless stars twinkling like little fairies dancing in the night sky.
Claire was deeply moved by the breathtaking scenery, feeling as if she had stepped into a painting, so beautiful it took her breath away.
Dennis, eager to share this moment with her, led Claire to the edge of the lookout, pointing out the ocean and the stars, and talking about his family.
In this romantic setting, their feelings for each other grew stronger.
They embraced tightly, as if trying to merge into one.
Dennis leaned down and gently kissed Claire's lips. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, leaving only the two of them in the world.
Afterward, Dennis held Claire's hand as they walked down a path lined with white pebbles.
The pebbles glowed softly in the moonlight, making the path look like a silver river. They walked along it, feeling the softness and coolness under their feet, their hearts filled with happiness and contentment.
On the way back, Dennis carried Claire on his back along the road.
Claire rested her head on his back, listening to his heartbeat and feeling his warmth and breath.
She closed her eyes, savoring the rare moment of peace and comfort.
Dennis, carrying his whole world on his back, walked steadily and confidently, as if he wanted to carry this happiness forever. Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched long, blending into the tranquil night.
Meanwhile, Zachary was restless. Alone in his room, he was deep into some complex programming code when a message from his team popped up. Someone had crossed the border into the country and might be meeting with a buyer.
He quickly replied, "I'll be back on time."
Zachary's identity was top secret, and his job was to protect the country from any threats.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains, Claire slowly opened her eyes. She was nestled against Dennis, feeling his steady heartbeat, and for a moment, she felt disoriented.
The memories of their passionate night replayed in her mind, making her blush.
She turned her head slightly and saw Dennis's handsome sleeping face, his sharp eyebrows, high nose, and tightly closed lips. Claire tried to move but found herself tightly held in his arms, his arm like a steel band around her.
She tried to break free but didn't want to disturb his sleep, so she gave up.
At eight in the morning, a servant knocked on the door to wake Dennis and brought in a new wedding dress.
At that moment, Claire was more worried about the faint hickeys on her neck.
"What should I do?" Claire muttered to herself. "What if someone sees these hickeys when I wear the wedding dress? That would be so embarrassing."
Last night, Dennis's kisses had been so passionate and loving, she couldn't resist them.
But now, she wished the hickeys would disappear quickly, not wanting any blemishes on her wedding day.
Dennis smiled slightly, pulling her back into his arms. "Don't worry, I'll help you cover them up." Claire was taken aback, then understood what he meant.
She gently kissed his forehead and teased, "You're just causing trouble!"
They both laughed, filling the room with a sweet and happy atmosphere.
Downstairs, Qiana heard from the servants that Dennis and Claire were still not up. She smiled and decided not to rush them.
Half an hour later, the couple came downstairs to find Qiana waiting for them in the dining room, while the makeup artist and stylist were already anxious.
After breakfast, the makeup artist started working on Claire, while Dennis changed into his groom's suit, looking dashing like a prince. The servants had been busy since the day before, preparing for the wedding.
In the guest room, Melinda was still asleep, nestled in Raymond's arms.
Since becoming pregnant, Melinda had been particularly sleepy. Raymond looked at his beloved wife with adoration, but also restrained himself.
Zachary, dressed in a black suit, stood outside the chapel, his voice cold and stern as he spoke on the phone, scaring away a girl who admired him. She quickly ran off.
Zachary learned that his team had lost the target and decided to leave immediately after the wedding.
At ten o'clock, the wedding car slowly arrived at the chapel. The door opened, and Claire gracefully stepped out. This wedding was unique; instead of the groom waiting alone at the altar, the couple walked in hand-in-hand.
The wedding venue was beautifully decorated, with pink and blue balloons intertwined at the entrance, creating a romantic and dreamy atmosphere, Claire's favorite colors.
The guests, dressed in their finest, wore expressions of joy and blessings.
When Claire and Dennis appeared together, the guests were captivated by how perfect they looked together.
They seemed like a match made in heaven, perfectly complementing each other in both appearance and temperament.
Claire held onto Dennis's arm as they walked through the flower arch and onto the red carpet.
Petals rained down on them, as if showering them with happiness.
They walked through the petal rain, with Qiana sitting in the main guest seat, her face beaming with satisfaction.
When Claire and Dennis stood at the altar, their eyes met, filled with deep affection and determination.
Under the guidance of the pastor, they solemnly exchanged their wedding vows, answering "I do" without hesitation.