"You're clearly bothered by it, so why won't you just admit it? You love me, you care about me, and you're jealous of other women around me, aren't you?" Raymond's eyes were intense, locking onto her, determined not to let her escape again.
Melinda's heart raced as she pushed him away. "No, no... Raymond, you're out of your mind! Let go of me!"
"Am I crazy, or are you just scared to face your own feelings?" Raymond's voice was relentless. "You like me but won't admit it! Today, I'm going to make you tell the truth!"
Melinda wasn't a little girl anymore; she knew she couldn't avoid this and had to face it bravely. She lifted her head and looked at him calmly. "Raymond, whether I like you or not, I know best. If you want the truth..."
"Cut the crap!" Raymond interrupted harshly, knowing she was still dodging the truth.
Melinda continued to play coy. "Raymond, I was drunk and made you misunderstand. I'm sorry, but it's definitely not love. You need to wake up too!"
Raymond was so furious his whole body tensed up. He felt like a trapped beast, desperate to find an outlet.
Finally, his gaze fell on Melinda's red lips.
With one hand, he gripped the back of her head tightly, and with the other, he pulled her waist close, lifting her slightly as he kissed her forcefully.
The kiss was as fierce and unyielding as a storm.
Melinda felt weak all over, unable to resist his control.
She had no idea what had provoked him; Raymond seemed to have lost his mind tonight.
Until her head hit something hard on the sofa, causing her to let out a muffled groan.
Raymond paused for a moment, instinctively wanting to move his head. Melinda seized the opportunity to push him away hard, covering her swollen lips. "Raymond, I'm changing the locks tomorrow. You won't get in."
"Fine, I'll let go." Raymond reluctantly released her. Melinda staggered to her feet, barefoot, and rushed into the next room.
Her mind was a blur, and under the influence of alcohol, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
She swore never to provoke Raymond again!
The next day, she was sleeping soundly when a commotion woke her up.
Opening her eyes, she found a circle of strangers around her bed. She thought she was still dreaming, influenced by the alcohol.
So, she closed her eyes, planning to open them again.
After a while, she opened her eyes again and found the people still there.
"Who are you? How did you get in?" she asked warily, shrinking under the covers with only her eyes showing.
"Ms. Sharp, we're the styling team Mr. Thomas hired," said a woman with long hair, smiling.
"What styling team? Get out, all of you! This is my house." She sat up abruptly.
So many people in her house, with Sam still in the next room, was too dangerous.
She ran barefoot to the next room and found Sam still asleep.
She breathed a sigh of relief and carefully held him in her arms.
At this moment, Stuart carefully made his way through the crowd and smiled. "Ms. Sharp, Mr. Thomas has returned to the Thomas Villa and instructed me to assist you here. These are the outfits I selected for you and Mr. Sam, along with a top-notch styling team. If you're not satisfied, we can hire another company."
Melinda was stunned for a moment, seeing that Stuart didn't seem to be lying.
"Have them wait in the living room. Don't scare Sam with so many people in the room."
Stuart immediately turned and coldly instructed the others, "Everyone out, wait in the living room."
The room, which had been crowded, suddenly emptied.
"Mommy, what happened just now? It was so noisy. I thought we were at an amusement park, but it was just a dream!" Sam rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked up at Melinda, speaking softly.
"Today is Larry's birthday. We're going to his birthday party, and you need to give your best wishes, okay?" Melinda said softly as she dressed him.
Sam tilted his head, unsure of what to say.
"Mommy will tell you when the time comes!" she said, kissing his soft cheek.
After washing up, they found breakfast already laid out on the table. While they ate, the staff from the custom dress company brought over outfits for Sam and Melinda to choose from.
Seeing the exquisite dresses, Melinda's mood improved a bit.
She immediately fell in love with a silver-gray floor-length evening gown, with a light white lace skirt at the bottom and a neckline adorned with small diamonds that sparkled under the light, elegant yet luxurious.
She pointed to the dress. "I'll try this one."
Back in her room, Melinda eagerly put on the dress. It fit her perfectly, accentuating her curves more than ever.
She also chose a white little suit with a blue bow tie for Sam. When he put it on, Melinda's breath caught; he looked so handsome.
Everyone came over to take pictures with Sam.
Some even mistook Sam for Raymond's illegitimate child, which made Melinda a bit worried, but then she found it amusing. The chances of that happening were slim, right?
Stuart picked up the phone and dialed a number. His deep, powerful voice came through the receiver. "Prepare the car to take Ms. Melinda Sharp and Mr. Sam Sharp to the old house."
As soon as he hung up, he turned to the mother and son standing nearby, his gaze softening.
"Ms. Sharp, we can go downstairs now. The car is ready." Melinda nodded, holding her child's hand and lifting her dress as they took the elevator down.
When they exited the building, the car was waiting by the curb.
Stuart opened the door and helped the mother and son into the car.
The interior was spacious and comfortable. Sam, sitting in such a car for the first time, couldn't help but look around curiously.
Stuart sat across from them, his expression serious.
The car drove off, gradually blending into the night.
About an hour later, the car slowly entered the Thomas family estate.
Through the window, Melinda saw a row of luxury cars lined up at the entrance, like a long dragon winding inside.
Dozens of bodyguards stood neatly on either side of the gate, meticulously checking each guest's invitation.
"It looks like Grandpa's birthday party is quite lively!" Melinda said softly, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, the Thomas family always goes all out," Stuart replied indifferently, unfazed.
"But actually, there are half as many people as there were ten years ago," Stuart continued, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
"Mr. Thomas said too many people are too noisy." The car entered through a side gate and stopped in a quieter courtyard.
"We're here," Stuart said, getting out of the car first.
He turned and extended his hand, gracefully helping Melinda out of the car.
Sam followed closely, curiously taking in his surroundings.