Raymond raised his glass, but his eyes kept drifting to Melinda, who was sitting across from him, silently drinking.
Melinda's eyes were vacant as she downed one drink after another, like she was trying to drown all her sorrows in alcohol.
"Melinda, you should slow down," Raymond couldn't help but say.
Melinda heard him, picked up her glass, and waved it in his direction before downing it in one gulp.
After finishing, she licked her lips, her eyes showing a mix of defiance and recklessness, as if to say, "Who are you to tell me what to do?"
Raymond looked at her, feeling both helpless and angry. Why was Melinda so stubborn? Did she really have to get herself drunk?
"Celestia, you and Mr. Thomas must have a special relationship!" Tenley seized the moment to gossip.
Celestia smiled slightly, put down her glass, and said gracefully, "To be honest, my father and Raymond's father have been close friends for many years. Our families are quite connected."
Everyone was shocked by this revelation.
No wonder Celestia could sit with Raymond; she had such a strong background.
Lena, sitting nearby, breathed a sigh of relief, glad she hadn't told Emily about Celestia. Offending Celestia would have made her life difficult.
Celestia glanced at Melinda with a sense of superiority, but Melinda was too busy drinking to notice.
Celestia felt a pang of irritation but didn't show it.
"Ms. Banks, let me toast to you. If you need any help at the company, feel free to ask me," Tenley took the opportunity to befriend Celestia while subtly putting Melinda down.
"Thank you, Ms. Clark," Celestia responded politely.
"Melinda, why are you drinking alone?" Tenley raised her voice to draw attention, "Is something bothering you? Share it with us; maybe it'll cheer you up!"
Melinda stood up and said, "I need to use the restroom." She covered her mouth and stumbled away.
Delilah quickly followed her.
"Are you okay?" Delilah asked, supporting Melinda.
"I'm... fine," Melinda shook her head, indicating she was okay.
However, shortly after Melinda left, her phone rang on the table.
Raymond glanced at it and saw "Leo" on the screen.
He frowned and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" Leo's voice came through.
"She's drunk and can't take the call right now," Raymond said coldly and hung up.
He looked at the phone and saw another message come in.
Raymond unlocked the phone and read the concerned message. His expression grew complicated.
"Melinda, I heard you have a dinner. Did you drink? Do you need me to pick you up?" Leo's message appeared, and Raymond's eyes flashed with displeasure.
Melinda and Leo were this close? "Tell me the address, and I'll come get you," Leo sent another message.
Raymond's face darkened, and he stared at the screen as if trying to see through it.
Finally, he flipped the phone over, screen down on the table.
Celestia noticed Raymond's change in mood, her gentle eyes filled with curiosity.
Melinda had drunk so much tonight; Raymond must be worried about her.
She needed to get Raymond drunk quickly.
"Raymond, have a drink!" Celestia asked softly, her tone full of concern.
"Okay," Raymond replied indifferently, but his eyes never left the phone.
Meanwhile, Delilah was sitting with Melinda on a bench. Under the influence of alcohol, Melinda's eyes were already dazed.
"My head is spinning, Ms. Lewis. Can you take me home?" Melinda asked, her last bit of rationality showing as she looked at Delilah pleadingly.
"Okay, I'll take you home," Delilah said, helping her up. But Melinda was too drunk, stumbling and nearly falling several times.
Raymond suddenly appeared in front of them, his cold gaze sweeping over Melinda before settling on her limp arm.
Melinda's eyes were closed.
Damn it, how could she drink so much when he wasn't looking?
Raymond's eyes flashed with anger as he pulled her from Delilah's grasp.
"Mr. Thomas, you..." Delilah was startled and asked in surprise.
"I'll take her home," Raymond said coldly, carrying Melinda and striding towards the elevator.
Celestia came out just in time to see Raymond carrying Melinda, her face twisting with anger. Her plan to get Raymond drunk had failed.
The atmosphere in the restaurant became awkward with Raymond's sudden departure, and everyone looked at Celestia, whose face grew increasingly grim.
Finally, someone couldn't help but speak, "It seems Melinda's place in Mr. Thomas's heart is unshakable."
Celestia's face darkened at these words.
She finally understood that no matter how hard she tried, she could never replace Melinda in Raymond's heart.
It was all just her wishful thinking.
At that moment, Raymond was sitting in the car with Melinda in his arms. He looked at her flushed face, and his anger gradually subsided.
Instead, a strange emotion made his heart beat faster.
Melinda, in her dazed state, leaned against Raymond's chest, mumbling, "Ms. Lewis, take me to a nearby hotel. I don't want to go home."
Raymond held her head steady, a smile playing on his lips.
"To a hotel!"
Melinda, unaware of whose car she was in, was completely out of it.
As the car drove through the night, the motion made her head spin even more.
Melinda instinctively grabbed Raymond, mumbling, "Ms. Lewis, you know what? Raymond is such a jerk..."
Raymond was taken aback, not expecting her to badmouth him.
He looked down at her, his voice tinged with amusement, "So, do you like him or hate him?"
"You got this drunk because of him, didn't you? And you say you don't like him?" He continued to coax her, finding her drunken state somewhat endearing.
"I'm not doing this for him..." Melinda mumbled, occasionally cursing, "He's just a jerk... How could I like him?"
Her curses grew quieter until they were just incoherent mutters.
Listening to her drunken ramblings, Raymond felt a strange emotion welling up inside him.
He looked at her peaceful sleeping face and couldn't help but sigh, "I'm sorry. It was my fault. I shouldn't have tried to punish you in such a stupid way."
The car stopped at a five-star hotel, and Raymond carried the drunk Melinda out.
Stuart quickly followed, booking a business suite and accompanying Raymond to the elevator.
Once they were in the room, Stuart tactfully left.
"Get some rest. I'll explain everything when you wake up," Raymond said, gently placing Melinda on the bed and covering her with a blanket. He brushed her hair from her face and kissed her forehead lightly. Just as he was about to leave, she grabbed his hand.
"Raymond, don't go. It's my fault. I like you..." Melinda mumbled.
Raymond was stunned for a few seconds before chuckling.
Finally, he heard what he wanted to hear, even if it was in her drunken state.