Even though they had already checked out the wedding venue, finalized the decorations, tried on their wedding outfits, and completed their premarital checkups...
Today, they had one more important task—to practice their wedding vows!
Even though they had them memorized, they were still a bit nervous.
As night fell, they kept tweaking the wording, trying to get it just right.
Larry stood a short distance away, watching Raymond and Melinda with satisfaction. He turned to Zaid and said, "Zaid, don't you think Raymond and Melinda are perfect for each other?"
Zaid gave a wry smile and shook his head. "Every generation has its own blessings..."
"What do you mean?" Larry's face grew serious.
Zaid sighed. "I mean, young people have their own plans. We, the older generation, should stay out of it..."
Larry called Melinda over and began to explain the intricate and complex relationships within the Thomas family, particularly highlighting two significant factions, one being his cousin's branch.
"These factions have both tried to take control of the Thomas Group's board," Larry said with a hint of authority in his voice. "But I firmly rejected them. The Thomas Group should only be inherited by the direct bloodline of the Thomas family."
Listening to these alarming stories, Melinda hadn't realized just how complicated the internal dynamics of the Thomas Group were.
However, as Raymond's wife, she knew she would inevitably face all of this in the future.
She looked at Larry with determination. "Grandpa, don't worry. I'll handle my relationships with them well."
Larry nodded in satisfaction, his eyes showing appreciation and trust in Melinda.
After leaving Larry's study, Melinda immediately called Stuart.
"Mrs. Melinda Thomas, you've found the right person. Mr. Raymond Thomas is waiting for you at the villa for lunch," Stuart teased with a smile.
Melinda's face lit up with joy. She quickly hung up and hurried back to the villa.
As soon as she entered, she saw Raymond standing by the living room window, his back straight and proud.
"Raymond!"
Unable to contain herself, Melinda called out and ran into his arms.
Raymond held her tightly and kissed her forehead. "You're back? You must be starving. Come on, let's eat."
They walked to the dining room, arms around each other. Raymond looked at Melinda with concern. "Melinda, you married me, and you haven't even had a chance to enjoy life yet. Now you're forced to deal with my messy life."
"Raymond, don't say that," Melinda said, looking at him with gentle determination. "Since I chose you, I'm ready to face everything."
Raymond was deeply moved and held her hand tightly. "Melinda, thank you."
They smiled at each other.
After lunch, they decided to spend some time with Sam.
But considering the villa's soundproofing issues, Melinda suggested that Sam continue staying with William.
In the evening, Dennis had to go out for some business.
As soon as his car disappeared from sight, Claire jumped up excitedly.
"Finally, some freedom! I'm going to have a blast at the party!" she said to herself.
She quickly changed into a beautiful evening gown, applied some exquisite makeup, and headed to the party.
The moment Claire entered the ballroom, she attracted the attention of many young men.
With her slim figure and outstanding presence, she stood out in the crowd.
Several men tried to approach her, but she skillfully avoided them.
Just then, she spotted Rhett, and he saw her too. His eyes lit up as he walked over. "Claire? What are you doing here? Where's your boyfriend?"
Claire clarified, "What boyfriend? Don't be ridiculous! Dennis and I are just... friends."
Rhett was secretly pleased and introduced her to his friends. "Hey guys, this is my friend Claire. Be cool, alright?"
He even signaled them not to compete for her attention.
Claire felt a bit speechless but smiled politely.
Suddenly, she noticed her favorite band performing on stage and excitedly ran over.
Meanwhile, Dennis returned to the villa after finishing his business.
He called out, "Claire," but there was no response.
Frowning, he went upstairs to check and found Claire's room empty.
He immediately took out his phone to call her, but it was turned off.
A surge of anger rose within Dennis. He guessed that Claire had sneaked out to the party.
Furious, he thought, "That disobedient maid! How dare she defy my orders and sneak out! Looks like I need to teach her a lesson!"
He picked up his phone and called for backup...
Dennis sat in the back seat of the car, his deep eyes narrowing slightly as he coldly ordered, "Drive."
The car arrived at the entrance of the ballroom. Dennis got out, took his coat from the bodyguard, draped it over his arm, and walked alone towards the brightly lit ballroom.
Tall and elegant, his presence was both cold and noble.
Kaia caught a glimpse of a figure with a straight and steady posture, exuding a confidence she had never seen before. She quickened her pace, eager to see this mysterious person up close.
When she finally caught up and saw Dennis's handsome face, her heart began to race.
Dennis entered the ballroom, his gaze sweeping over the crowd until he quickly spotted Claire and Rhett.
They were chatting and laughing by the dance floor.
A flash of displeasure crossed Dennis's eyes. He picked up a glass of red wine and sat on a nearby sofa, quietly observing their every move.
As the band's performance ended, the lights on the dance floor dimmed, signaling the start of the formal dance.
Rhett's two friends playfully ran towards the center of the dance floor but deliberately changed direction at the last moment, bumping into Claire.
Caught off guard, Claire stumbled forward, and Rhett seized the opportunity to catch her by the waist.
"Are you okay?" Rhett asked with concern.
Claire shook her head, indicating she was fine, unaware that it was all part of Rhett's plan.
Moved by her clear eyes, Rhett gently invited, "Claire, would you be my dance partner for a song?"
Claire hesitated, "I'm not very good at dancing..."
"No worries, I can teach you," Rhett said with a smile.
Just as Claire was about to place her hand in Rhett's, a tall figure suddenly stepped between them.
Dennis firmly grasped Claire's wrist, giving Rhett a cold glance. "She's dancing with me."
Rhett, taken aback by Dennis's imposing presence, stammered, "Who are you? Why do you say she's your dance partner?"
"Because I'm her employer," Dennis said calmly. "She's my maid."
Rhett frowned and looked at Claire for confirmation. "Claire, is that true?"
Claire nodded reluctantly. "I did agree to be his maid for a year..."
Not giving Rhett any more chances, Dennis wrapped his arm around Claire's waist and led her to the dance floor.
As the music played, they danced closer, feeling each other's presence more intensely.
Claire could clearly sense Dennis's unique scent, his broad and warm chest, and their heartbeats gradually syncing.
Dennis gazed at Claire's close-up red lips, trembling slightly.
The atmosphere between them grew increasingly intimate. Dennis lowered his eyes, looking into her sparkling, haloed eyes, his heart pounding in his chest.
Suddenly, Claire stumbled, losing her balance and falling straight into Dennis's arms.