At this moment, Director Frank Martin cleared his throat, trying to quiet the conference room, "Colleagues, please allow me to introduce Mr. Thomas, our investor, Raymond Thomas!" As soon as this name was mentioned.
Raymond?
The audience immediately became restless, suddenly realizing that their laboratory was actually under the Thomas Group.
The host's voice carried a mix of excitement and reverence, "From today onwards, Mr. Thomas will lead our international hospital to glory. Let's give a warm round of applause to welcome Mr. Thomas!"
In this boiling atmosphere, Melinda suddenly looked up, her gaze meeting Raymond's. His eyes were as deep as the night sky, sharp like a hawk, seemingly able to see through the deepest secrets of the human heart.
Most people would avoid such a gaze, but Melinda faced it head-on, secretly wondering, "Could it be the Thomas family that has been looking for me?"
Raymond nodded slightly and calmly instructed Frank, "Let's begin." But at this moment, who could focus on the meeting content? Raymond, this walking hormone, had already become the center of attention, the dream lover of all the women in the city, with no one able to resist his charm.
In the conference room, apart from Raymond's steady and powerful voice, there were the shy glances and suppressed exclamations of the girls, making it hard to look away.
The atmosphere in the conference room was subtle and tense.
Frank's voice rang out again, like a thunderclap, "The research team for this project will be led by Melinda, who will be responsible for the research on the virus inhibitor." This sudden announcement made Melinda's body tremble. She hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and resolutely stood up, nodding in acknowledgment.
Melinda, secretly pondering, "The Thomas family? Is it the same Thomas family that has been looking for me?"
She was distracted, her eyes wandering, always feeling a burning gaze following her. She sneaked a glance and saw that familiar figure that made her heart race, the inexplicable pressure making her heart tighten.
As soon as the meeting ended, Melinda hurriedly left the scene, her hurried figure becoming a unique sight in Raymond's eyes. He couldn't help but smile slightly, seemingly enjoying this unexpected game of chase.
At night, on the hillside, a luxurious villa stood quietly, bathed in warm yellow light. The man inside, every line of his body exuding an extraordinary aura, wore a custom-made shirt that clung to his muscular frame, his figure sculpted by the light, like a character from a comic book.
At this moment, the secretary hurriedly handed over a file, "Boss, we have found Melinda's information."
Raymond opened the file, and the girl in the photo was the same Melinda who had inadvertently touched his heart in the laboratory today.
But what caught Raymond's attention even more was the small figure in the photo, a four or five-year-old boy in a hoodie and jeans, with Melinda gently arranging his clothes, her eyes full of affection.
This scene made Raymond's eyes instantly complex.
This child? Could she be married already? This thought was like a stone thrown into a lake, causing ripples in his heart.
Raymond's brow furrowed slightly. If this were true, he might not have to follow his grandfather's wishes to marry her.
Just as he was lost in thought, his phone rang abruptly, interrupting his thoughts. Emily's name flashed on the screen. He answered the call, and Emily's coquettish voice immediately came through, "Raymond, I miss you so much. You haven't come to see me in a long time."
"I've been busy lately. I'll come to see you when I have time," Raymond's voice was calm.
"I'll be waiting for you!" Emily pouted, and Raymond had to patiently agree, though his heart was in turmoil.
After hanging up, he said in a deep voice to the driver, "Back to the Thomas Villa." His brief words carried an undeniable decisiveness.
"Elsie, do you remember? The research data we talked about last time..." Melinda had just started speaking when the urgent sound of a disconnected call came from the other end.
"Hello? Hello!" Melinda was stunned, the call ended notification on the phone screen glaringly annoying. She sighed softly and slowly put down the phone, her heart filled with complex emotions.
"Mommy, what are you thinking about? Why are you staring at your phone?" A sweet childlike voice interrupted her thoughts. Sam bounced over to her, his eyes bright enough to light up a person's heart.
Melinda squatted down and gently ruffled his hair, "Sam, Mommy is thinking about what surprise to prepare for you tomorrow."
"Wow! Really? Then, can I have my favorite dessert?" Sam's eyes turned into crescents, almost jumping with excitement.
"Of course, my little prince."
"Then I'll go wash up now and be Mommy's best behaved baby!" Sam said, running into the bathroom, leaving behind his laughter.
Melinda watched Sam's back, her lips curling into a smile, but it was soon overshadowed by a hint of worry. Five years had passed since she was driven out by Connie. She had been working hard abroad, even secretly giving birth to Sam without telling her family, silently thinking, "What is meant to come will come. I am no longer the Melinda who only knows how to escape."
Finally, she walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed that familiar number.
"Hello? Who is it?" Connie's voice on the other end carried a hint of age.
"Mom, it's me, Melinda." Melinda's voice trembled slightly, her eyes welling up.
"Melinda! You child, it's been five years with no news. Do you know how worried I've been?" Connie's voice instantly became emotional.
Melinda took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady, "Mom, I'm sorry. I've been working abroad all these years, and now I've finally been transferred back."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, followed by Connie's slightly choked voice, "Good, good, as long as you're willing to come back, I'm happy. Those words back then were said in anger. I never meant to drive you away. Come home, your room has always been kept for you!"
Melinda's heart tightened, and after a moment of hesitation, she spoke, "I'll come back this week."
Listening to Connie's words, Melinda's worries seemed to slowly unravel, a warm feeling spreading through her body.
"Mom, I miss you too. When I come back, make my favorite dishes, okay?"
"Sure, I'll make sure you have your fill." Connie's words were full of anticipation.
As she hung up the phone, she took a deep breath and returned to the room, where Sam was already in his pajamas, waiting for her. Melinda gently walked to the bed, holding Sam in her arms, whispering softly in his ear, "This weekend, Mommy will take you to Grandma's house, okay?"
"Really?" Sam's eyes were filled with surprise.
Emily must not know that Sam was the precious result of that unexpected event in her life.
Meanwhile, Elsie's heart was filled with anxiety. She knew that Melinda's return was like a sword hanging over her head, ready to expose her at any moment. She had to take action to prevent the secrets of the past from coming to light. Without hesitation, she dialed Emily's number.
"Hello, Emily, I have bad news. Melinda is back." Elsie's voice was low, revealing a hint of tension.
"Melinda? I thought she was dead out there?" Emily was so shocked that she almost dropped her phone. She never expected that Melinda, who was supposed to disappear forever, would reappear.
"Who knows, maybe she's back to investigate what happened five years ago. If she finds out..." Elsie deliberately paused, her words full of probing.
Emily's heart sank to the bottom. She hated Melinda with a passion. Why couldn't Melinda just disappear forever? Her current happiness was built on Melinda's pain.
"Don't worry, we're on the same team. I'll think of something."
Seeing that her goal was achieved, Elsie said no more and hung up the phone.
Emily held her phone, her face dark, her mind already scheming. She couldn't let Melinda destroy everything she had now, especially the position of Raymond's wife, which she was determined to secure!
The weekend arrived in no time, and Melinda had promised Connie to return to the Zhou family for dinner.
Connie had been busy in the kitchen since early morning, but she overlooked Melinda's preferences and dietary restrictions.
"Why did you buy so much seafood? You'll get scolded later," the servant whispered, afraid of angering the household authority. Connie suddenly realized, feeling a wave of guilt and self-blame.
This meal was destined to be anything but peaceful.