Connie glanced at the caller ID and immediately broke into a smile. It was Melinda calling.
"Hey, Melinda! What's up?" Connie's voice was warm and affectionate.
On the other end, Melinda's cheerful voice came through, "Mom, Raymond's coming over for dinner tonight."
"Raymond? He's coming over for dinner?" Connie's voice rose with excitement.
She glanced around the living room where Bobby and Emily were sitting and whispered, "That's wonderful! I'll start preparing right away. We need to make sure we have plenty of good food. We can't afford to be rude."
After hanging up, Connie went straight to the front hall to find Bobby.
When Bobby heard that Raymond was coming, he felt a headache coming on.
Even though he disliked Melinda, he didn't dare offend Raymond. Besides, he still harbored a faint hope that Emily might get closer to Raymond through this opportunity.
So, Bobby quickly instructed the servants to go to the supermarket to buy ingredients, while Connie personally supervised the cooking process. He also made sure to inform Emily about the news.
When Emily heard that Raymond was coming over for dinner, she was so excited she almost jumped up.
She immediately hung up the phone and dragged her friend to the mall to pick out clothes. She wanted to look her best in front of Raymond, even if it was just to catch his eye for a moment.
Meanwhile, Raymond received a call from Larry.
Larry's voice was full of joy and anticipation, "Raymond, you're going to Melinda's for dinner tonight, right? I won't be going, so make sure to keep her company for me. I'm really hoping you two get married soon."
Raymond chuckled and agreed, feeling a slight flutter in his heart.
He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already 3 PM.
He got up and walked to his wardrobe, changing into a gray casual suit paired with a dark shirt and vest.
In the mirror, he looked like a dashing heir from a TV drama.
Melinda, watching from the side, couldn't help but be captivated.
Raymond nodded in satisfaction, then took Sam by the hand and headed to the underground parking lot.
He chose a car equipped with a child safety seat and got ready to leave.
Sam was also dressed up adorably, looking like a little model.
The three of them buckled up and set off. The car slowly drove out of the parking lot, heading towards Melinda's house, giving off the warm and harmonious vibe of a family.
At the Lowe Villa, the scene was bustling. Servants were busy setting the table and arranging the cutlery; chefs were in the kitchen preparing various delicious dishes; and Bobby and Connie stood at the door, ready to welcome their distinguished guests.
Finally, amidst everyone's anticipation, a sleek car slowly drove into the yard.
Emily saw this from her second-floor window, her heart racing. She quickly ran to the mirror to fix her makeup and outfit, then hurried downstairs to greet Raymond.
When Bobby saw Raymond getting out of the car with Sam, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy and dissatisfaction.
As Raymond and Melinda arrived at the Lowe Villa with their child, the setting sun cast a golden glow over the courtyard, with fallen leaves creating a path leading to the European-style villa.
Connie stood at the door, beaming as she welcomed them, while Bobby stood beside her with a forced smile, his eyes betraying a hint of calculation.
Emily had dressed up meticulously, wearing a tight dress and perfectly applied makeup. As she walked down the stairs, her high heels clicked loudly, making sure everyone noticed her. Seeing Raymond, her eyes lit up, and she swayed over, saying sweetly, "Raymond, you're here."
Raymond nodded slightly in acknowledgment, but his gaze was mostly on Melinda and the child.
Melinda, in a simple dress, exuded a gentle elegance.
In the living room, Emily kept trying to strike up a conversation with Raymond. She picked up a cherry and offered it to him, "Raymond, try this cherry. It's so sweet."
Raymond, however, took the orange Melinda handed him, peeled a segment, and popped it into his mouth, smiling, "Melinda's oranges are the best."
Melinda smiled softly and peeled another segment for Raymond, their interaction looking very intimate.
Seeing this, Emily's face darkened, and the cherry in her hand suddenly seemed tasteless. She glared at Melinda and left the living room.
Soon, Connie returned with Sam, holding a bottle of milk she had specially bought for him. Everyone gathered around again, and the atmosphere was relatively harmonious.
Connie played with Sam for a while and suddenly noticed how much he resembled Raymond, prompting her to take a closer look.
During dinner, Melinda not only took care of Sam but also frequently served Raymond food. Her actions were so natural, as if she was used to this kind of life.
Bobby and Emily watched, feeling a sense of unease.
They exchanged glances, both seeing the anxiety in each other's eyes.
After dinner, Raymond and Melinda left with their child. Connie saw them to the door and then went for a walk.
Emily watched their figures disappear into the night and couldn't help but complain to Bobby, "Did you see how smug Melinda looked? It's infuriating."
Bobby comforted her a bit, and they both went back inside.
As night fell, on the way back to Raymond's villa, Melinda felt unusually happy. She looked out the car window and saw a brand-new white sports car in the truck's cargo area, a prize Raymond had prepared for her.
She couldn't help but exclaim, "What a beautiful car!"
Raymond glanced at her, a doting smile on his lips, "Do you like it? Then it's yours."
Melinda nodded happily, "Thank you, Mr. Thomas!"
"Let's take it for a spin tomorrow," Raymond suggested.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Celestia was at Marshall's villa, her face dark with anger. She had just learned that Marshall had met with her godfather, Rufus, and was being urged to implement their plan quickly.
Celestia was furious. She had already arranged for someone to kidnap Sam. If Raymond didn't come to the rescue, she would make Melinda pay dearly!
Raymond sat in his study, his brow furrowed. He had just learned about Marshall's visit to Rufus and couldn't help but feel suspicious.
Why would Marshall visit Rufus at this time? What was he plotting?
After a moment of thought, he picked up the phone, "Stuart, I need you to look into Marshall's son abroad and the blood relationship between Celestia and Marshall."
The news of the museum's free admission for seven days had spread, attracting countless citizens and tourists.
Melinda took the opportunity to bring Sam for a visit.
The museum was bustling with people, filled with the laughter of children and the chatter of adults.
The museum had also set up many children's activities, with the dinosaur exhibit being particularly popular among the kids.
Holding Sam's little hand, Melinda had just walked through the museum's entrance when Sam eagerly pointed towards the dinosaur exhibit.
Melinda smiled and followed him, with Raymond's bodyguards blending into the crowd, silently protecting Melinda and Sam.
However, amidst the joyful atmosphere, a group of dangerous individuals was quietly approaching.