Raymond knew Qiana's decision was final, and he understood it meant being separated from Claire for a while. A wave of sadness washed over him, a deep longing and reluctance to part with her.
He couldn't oppose Qiana's decision, so he just nodded in resignation.
Upstairs, Ivy heard the news and secretly rejoiced.
She had always seen Claire as a thorn in her side, and now that Claire was banned from the Gonzalez Villa, she couldn't be happier. Her heart was filled with anticipation and excitement for the future, as if she could already see herself becoming Dennis's wife...
Meanwhile, the police considered the case severe, suspecting the thief had planned it for a long time.
Their goal was likely to steal Raymond's sperm to conceive a child related to Raymond by blood, thus becoming one of the Thomas family heirs.
Soon, the police identified six suspects.
These six were all high-level managers and department heads at the hospital, with substantial salaries and no suspicious financial transactions in their accounts.
But their social connections were unusually complex.
Raymond stated he didn't know these people well, as the daily management of the hospital was handled by the dean.
Among the suspects' profiles, Raymond keenly noticed something unusual about one person.
It was the hospital director, Robert.
In the surveillance footage, Robert's behavior was extremely suspicious.
He was lurking in the hallway outside the dean's office, waiting for a long time before pretending to have just arrived, then proactively approached to inquire about the case's progress, a clear sign of a guilty conscience.
Moreover, after the explosion, while everyone else was fleeing in panic, he calmly entered the scene and came out with a briefcase.
Raymond was certain Robert was involved.
Further investigation by the police revealed Robert's call records, showing he had called Vaughn on the day of the incident.
Vaughn was a respected elder in a branch of the family who had once proposed a collaboration to Raymond, which he had declined.
A suspicion arose in his mind: Could this be related to Vaughn?
Soon, the police decided to summon Robert for questioning.
At the same time, they restricted the movements of related family members based on Raymond's list to prevent anyone from fleeing.
Thus, the conspiracy behind the scenes began to surface.
Raymond informed Melinda of the investigation's progress.
When she heard Vaughn might be involved, she became very agitated.
She instinctively believed Gwyneth was the most suspicious.
Recently, Gwyneth hadn't come to see Raymond and seemed to have vanished, and Raymond hadn't found any clues about her leaving the country.
Raymond gently held her hand and comforted her softly, "Don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this."
But Melinda felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
A few days ago, she had a dream that felt very real.
She wondered if Gwyneth might be trying to have Raymond's child to secure a core position in the Thomas family.
Meanwhile, Robert was extremely nervous and anxious.
When the police came to his office, he happened to be in the restroom.
Upon learning the police were onto him, he was terrified.
He immediately called Vaughn, "Mr. Thomas, it's bad! The police are onto me! What should I do?"
There was a brief silence on the other end before Vaughn slowly replied, "Don't worry, I'll handle it."
But Robert could clearly hear the impatience in Vaughn's voice...
In Raymond's office, the atmosphere was tense and heavy.
The police had also discovered Robert and Gwyneth had communicated several times before.
Stuart had found out Gwyneth had recently left the country on a private jet to Lumaria.
Unfortunately, they were a step too late.
Raymond's face was grim, his eyes sharp with determination. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, but he was resolute in making Gwyneth pay. He was prepared to do whatever it took to make her terminate the pregnancy.
At Vaughn's house, the atmosphere was equally tense.
Vaughn sat in his study, his expression heavy. He knew Raymond would definitely go after Gwyneth. To protect her and their plan, he had already sent trusted aides to guard her. He also mobilized various resources and manpower to help Gwyneth escape Raymond's reach.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Vaughn's heart tightened, but he quickly regained his composure. He opened the door to find the police.
"Mr. Thomas, you're under suspicion for a theft case. Please come with us." The police showed their badges and an arrest warrant.
Vaughn calmly followed the police out of his house. His family, however, was thrown into panic. Brielle fainted, and Vaughn's son was trembling with fear.
Meanwhile, Melinda was at home preparing dinner for Sam when she accidentally cut her finger, blood immediately staining the cutting board. Though the cut wasn't deep, she felt a sudden wave of anxiety. She looked out at the deepening night, a strong sense of unease rising in her heart. She didn't know where Raymond was or if he was safe. All she could do was silently pray that he would find Gwyneth soon and get answers...
In a bar somewhere in the city, Dennis was drinking alone. His eyes were distant and deep, filled with endless thoughts. Qiana had asked him to return home early the next morning, which made him feel a bit down and reluctant. He picked up his phone and dialed Claire's number, wanting to see her one last time.
However, Claire gently declined his request. She didn't try to keep him or show much emotion, simply saying, "Mr. Gonzalez, I wish you a safe journey."
This made Dennis even more depressed and lost. He didn't know what Claire was thinking or where their relationship was headed. After hanging up, Claire's mind was still echoing with Qiana's warning to "stay away from Dennis." She looked out at the city lights, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She understood that there was an insurmountable gap between her and Dennis. He was like a star in the sky, while she was just dust on the ground.
After Dennis returned to his family, Ivy was already Qiana's chosen bride for him. Why should she torture herself by longing for a love that wasn't hers?
Just then, her phone buzzed again. It was Dennis calling. Claire looked at the flashing name on the screen, hesitated for a moment, and answered.
"Come down, I'm waiting outside your house," Dennis's voice was firm and unyielding.
"I..." Claire was about to refuse, but Dennis continued, "If you don't come down, I'll climb over the wall to find you."
Claire sighed helplessly. She knew Dennis meant what he said. She didn't want her parents to see Dennis or worry about him. So, she reluctantly agreed, "Alright, wait a moment." Claire quickly changed clothes and left the house.
She hurried her steps, not wanting Dennis to get impatient. When she opened the villa gate, she saw the familiar black car. Dennis was leaning against the car door, a cigarette in his hand, looking a bit forlorn. Seeing Claire approach, his eyes lit up instantly. He put out his cigarette, "Claire, you're here." He smiled, as if all the previous unpleasantness had never happened.
Claire nodded, feeling a bit uneasy and avoiding his gaze, "Why did you come suddenly?"
"I wanted to see you," Dennis said bluntly, "Let's go for a walk." Claire wanted to refuse, but seeing the hopeful look in Dennis's eyes, she inexplicably agreed.
They walked side by side in the night, the breeze gently brushing their faces, bringing a slight chill.
"Claire, do you like me?" Dennis suddenly asked.
Claire was startled, not expecting Dennis to be so direct. She paused before replying, "We're not right for each other."