Chapter 167
Chapter 167
Since that incident, Zoey's attitude towards Raymond had shifted, albeit subtly.
She no longer turned away or snapped at him the moment she saw him.
But to say Zoey could suddenly accept the person she once despised was still a bit of a stretch.
These tangled emotions made her care for Raymond in a rather awkward way.
Anyone else might have quickly picked up on Zoey's awkward concern and eased the tension.
But Raymond seemed to enjoy making things difficult for her.
With a slight mischievous grin, he asked, "So, have you forgiven me now? Can we talk?"
Raymond's words instantly made Zoey blush with embarrassment.
Her face turned red, and she angrily buried herself in Amelia's arms.
"Mom, he's so mean! I don't want to talk to him ever again!"
Amelia looked at Zoey, who was like a little kitten with its fur standing on end, and gently comforted her, "Alright, he's mean. We won't talk to him."
Then she waved to Noah, calling him over, and the three of them headed to the car together.
It had been a long time since Noah, Zoey, and Amelia had a chance to talk like this.
Once they got in the car, they couldn't stop chatting.
Zoey excitedly shared funny stories from kindergarten, while Noah occasionally chimed in, teasing Zoey about her little mishaps.
Amelia watched Noah and Zoey, her face beaming with happiness, occasionally asking questions to both of them.
Raymond drove by himself.
Amelia thought they were heading home, but the car kept driving out of town.
By the time Amelia realized it, they were almost at their destination.
Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, Amelia was surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't we going home? Where are you taking us?"
Raymond glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his lips curling into a smile.
"Staying at home all the time gets boring, doesn't it? Tomorrow's the weekend, so I'm taking you to a fun place."
As he spoke, the car slowly stopped at a countryside hot spring resort.
The resort was filled with blooming flowers, and the sunlight on the petals gave them a golden edge, making the place look like a fairy tale.
Raymond explained to them.
"I've been wanting to bring you here for a while, but never had the chance. Consider this fulfilling a wish of mine."
Before Amelia could respond, the car door opened, and Noah and Zoey ran out like wild ponies, cheering.
Zoey eagerly ran to the edge of the hot spring pool, carefully touching the water.
Feeling the warm sensation on her fingertips, she exclaimed, "Mom, this place is so beautiful! The water is warm. Can we play here?"
After getting Amelia's approval, Noah and Zoey couldn't contain their excitement and ran deeper into the resort.
Amelia worried they might hurt themselves and was about to follow when Raymond stopped her.
"Don't worry, someone is watching them."
Without waiting for Amelia's response, Raymond led her to a room upstairs.
Upstairs was a huge terrace with an infinity pool, the water crystal clear, shimmering under the sunlight.
The poolside was adorned with flowers and various drinks.
Colorful flowers competed for attention, complementing the transparent glasses and exquisite bottles, creating a romantic and relaxing atmosphere.
The sun was setting, casting a brilliant glow on the drinks, making them look almost dreamlike.
Amelia gazed at the mesmerizing sunset, lost in thought.
Just then, Raymond gently embraced her from behind, his touch light yet irresistible.
He whispered in her ear, "This resort is my gift to you. Do you like it?"
Raymond's warm breath on Amelia's neck made her shiver slightly.
This unfamiliar yet intimate feeling made Amelia uneasy. She shifted slightly and asked, "What do you mean by that? And why are you giving me gifts?"
Raymond avoided her first question, tilting his head slightly, looking at her helplessly.
"Do I need a reason to give you something? I just wanted to."
Raymond's warm breath lingered around Amelia's ear, along with his cold, sharp scent.
This overly intimate distance made Amelia's heart race, and she struggled, "Let go of me. We can talk properly."
Her voice carried a hint of urgency, and she tried to pry Raymond's arms away.
Seeing Amelia struggle, Raymond had no choice but to release her.
Amelia turned to leave.
But she slipped on some spilled drink, the floor was wet and slippery, and she fell uncontrollably towards Raymond.
Raymond reacted quickly, catching her steadily, a teasing smile on his face, "So this is how you want to 'talk'."
At this moment, their proximity allowed them to hear each other's heartbeat, and the atmosphere turned ambiguous.
Raymond held Amelia's face, his eyes filled with complex emotions—gentleness, anticipation, and an indescribable longing.
He slowly leaned in, intending to kiss Amelia.
Amelia hurriedly resisted, her hands pushing against Raymond's chest, her eyes full of panic, "What are you doing?"
Raymond looked at her resistance, slightly displeased, and frowned, "Why do you always reject me?"
Amelia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and looked him straight in the eye, speaking firmly, "I've told you before, I don't want to repeat the past, nor do I want to develop feelings for you."
Raymond's expression remained calm, his eyes narrowing slightly, "Given the current situation, do you think we can separate?"
Amelia's heart sank at his words.
Thinking about Barry's situation and the complications with Raymond's family, for the children's safety, it seemed they couldn't separate.
Amelia looked at Raymond silently, not speaking.
Raymond seemed to understand what Amelia was thinking. He approached her again, gently holding her waist, and asked, "Do you have any desires now?"
His body pressed closely against Amelia's, his deep voice in her ear, like a spell.
Amelia felt a slight tremor inside. She wanted to deny it, but a certain emotion deep within drove her.
In this conflicting mood, she oddly nodded.
Raymond saw her reaction, his smile deepening with satisfaction.
He continued, "We both have a need for cleanliness. During our relationship, we don't want to settle for others, nor do we want to see each other settle. So why not seize the moment?"
Raymond spoke, his eyes sincerely looking at Amelia, his deep affection seemingly overwhelming her.
Amelia felt his eyes had a certain magic, and his words made her heart waver.
Just as Raymond held Amelia's face and leaned in to kiss her, a sudden knock on the door interrupted them.