Chapter 120 Detection of Problems

The air was thick with tension. "You should leave. Even if you want to stay, you need clothes. How else are you gonna take a shower?"

Melinda felt a pang of guilt, remembering how she had upset him last time.

"I'll have Stuart bring them up. I have clothes in the car," Raymond said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Melinda felt like she was being played. Raymond had come over to crash at her place. "Fine, you sleep. I'll have Stuart bring your clothes up," Melinda conceded.

Raymond's deep eyes sparkled with amusement. "Alright."

Stuart quickly brought up the clothes. Besides a set for tomorrow, there was also a comfortable set of loungewear. It seemed Raymond had come prepared.

Melinda put Sam to bed first, leaving Raymond to shower and sleep on his own. Sam, exhausted from playing, was already dozing off. Melinda hummed a lullaby, gently patting him, and soon she too drifted into a light sleep.

Until a warm body pressed against her back, the heat seeping through her pajamas, making her stiffen.

Raymond wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chest against her back. With a slight lift of his eyelids, he could see Melinda's slender neck and elegant collarbone. His fingers twitched, his hand resting on her waist.

"It's still early. How about I help you fall asleep?" Raymond's deep voice murmured in her ear.

Melinda's mind flashed back to the embarrassing scene that afternoon, her body instinctively rejecting him.

"No," she turned to face Raymond, looking into his eyes.

Raymond's eyes twinkled, his lashes fluttering. "Then how about we do something else?"

Melinda was at a loss for words.

She couldn't let Raymond push his luck.

"No..." "Melinda's voice was barely a whisper.

Raymond's lips curled into a faint smile. "I was hoping we could get a bit closer." Melinda: "...Get out!"

"I'll sleep with Sam," Melinda declared, not planning to share a bed with him.

"It's all the same," Raymond said, carrying her back to the master bedroom.

How could it be the same?

The moment Raymond set her down, Melinda's sleepiness vanished. She wanted to escape immediately, but Raymond's long arms easily pulled her into his embrace.

She couldn't resist Raymond's passionate kisses, which sent shivers down her spine, making her feel a mix of shame and desire for more.

"Do you want it?" Raymond asked softly.

"No..." Melinda stubbornly denied it, but deep down, she wanted to try, to accept, to see if she could handle Raymond now, five years later, and if the fear he had awakened in her back then still lingered.

She didn't want to be haunted by that shadow forever. She wanted to experience the joy of being a woman. But she still pushed him away. "It's late. You should sleep." Sam was still in the house!

Raymond respected her wishes. If she didn't want it, he wouldn't force her, even though he was already struggling to hold back.

Melinda fled to Sam's room, her mind filled with thoughts of Raymond-his eyes, his scent, his kisses.

The next morning.

Melinda was in a deep sleep when she heard Sam's angelic voice. "Mommy, can you take me to school? I'm going to be late."

"It's the weekend, no school today," Melinda reminded him.

Sam's voice was soft and low. "Mommy, are you dreaming? It's only Thursday."

Melinda groggily picked up her phone. She had trouble sleeping because of Raymond last night. She glanced at the room next door and smiled. "Mr. Thomas is here. Let Mr. Thomas take you to school."

Melinda closed her eyes, hoping to catch a few more minutes of sleep.

"Okay!" Sam said happily, jumping out of bed and running out of the room.

"Mr. Thomas, my mommy wants to sleep a bit more. Can you take me to school?"

Raymond's lips curved into a smile. "Sure, pack your bag. I'll go say goodbye to your mom."

Melinda found a comfortable position and was about to drift off again when she felt the bed dip. She opened her eyes to see Raymond sitting on the edge, leaning over her.

She instinctively reached out to touch his head, still half-asleep. "Sam, go to school."

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Raymond's smile widened. He lifted her eyelids, making Melinda's clear eyes meet his. "Why are you here?"

"Do you want me to take Sam to school?" Raymond asked with a mischievous grin. "Maybe Mr. White can take him," Melinda mumbled.

"No need. It's my pleasure to take Sam to school," Raymond's voice was husky, almost magical.

Melinda felt a shiver run through her, her whole body tingling.

Raymond held her waist with one hand and cupped the back of her head with the other, capturing her lips.

Their breaths mingled, like a pair of intimate lovers.

Raymond's lips were rough, his hot breath on her neck making her weak.

"Last night was torture," Raymond's voice was hoarse and sexy.

He was about to kiss her again.

Melinda tilted her head, her eyes glistening with a seductive charm. She turned away

from his kiss and whispered, "Raymond, go. I need to sleep."

Raymond chuckled helplessly, giving her a light kiss on the lips. "Sleep well."

After Raymond left, Melinda covered her flushed face with her hands.

How could there be such a shameless person in the world?

She couldn't help but think about last night...

Raymond was like a furnace!

Hearing the door close, knowing Raymond had taken Sam to school, Melinda closed

her eyes and went back to sleep.

She hadn't slept long when the phone rang incessantly. Melinda didn't want to answer,

but seeing it was Delilah, she had no choice.

"Melinda, there's a problem. You need to come to the lab."

Delilah's voice was urgent.

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and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now!

"What happened?"

Melinda's sleepiness vanished. She got up immediately.

"The report from your team has a major issue. You need to come."

Melinda didn't waste any time. She quickly got dressed and headed to the lab.

"That's impossible. I personally checked the report. There shouldn't be such a big mistake."

Rushing to the lab, Melinda went straight to Delilah's office.

"I know your team's capabilities, but this batch of drugs has a problem..."

Delilah handed Melinda the file. The entire process had been halted due to the drug test results.

Such a basic mistake was unthinkable for Melinda, but the evidence was right in front

of her. The report had her signature.

For a moment, Melinda was at a loss.

Regardless of the reason, Melinda had been reported multiple times, and some even openly wanted her out of the lab.

They felt Melinda wasn't fit to be the deputy director. Raymond had suppressed these rumors, but the pharmaceutical industry was buzzing.

"Ms. Lewis, give me all the documents. I have backups on my computer."

Melinda feared there might have been a mix-up. She went to her office and checked her computer files.

She compared them over and over, suddenly noticing a problem. Why was the test report only half-written?

The second half of the report didn't match the data.

But this didn't prove the report wasn't Melinda's work.

"Find anything?"

Raymond's voice came from behind. "Why are you here?"

Looking at Raymond, Melinda put the documents on the desk. "I heard from Delilah.

I'll get to the bottom of this."

Raymond naturally trusted Melinda.

Melinda was surprised. "You believe me?"