Chapter 131: The Truth, Unbearable Past

Melinda leaned back on the couch, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "Raymond, I've already let go of what happened back then... Digging up the past now is pointless." Raymond took a deep breath. "I just want to know the truth."

Melinda glanced at him, her eyes dark and unreadable. "You like Emily, don't you?" Raymond was taken aback. "What?"

Melinda's lips curled into a slight smile. "You like Emily... That's why you believe her over me, right?"

Raymond frowned. "No, I just want to find out the truth and make sure the person who hurt you gets what they deserve."

Melinda lowered her gaze. So, this was for her?

"I told you before, it was Emily who set it all up."

Melinda's voice was calm, but her body trembled involuntarily.

"She tricked me into going to the hotel. I had no guard up, and as soon as I entered the room, someone pinned me to the bed..."

Raymond could hear the fear in Melinda's voice and gently held her trembling body.

So, it really was Emily who framed Melinda?

"Why didn't you ever defend yourself?"

Knowing she was framed, why had Melinda never spoken up for herself?

"What good would it do? She's your woman. No matter what I did, you'd always believe her and feel sorry for her."

Talking about this made Melinda uncomfortable, and she shook off Raymond's hand.

"I believe you." Raymond's eyes were clear, his tone sincere. "I've always believed you." Melinda felt a warmth in her heart and softened her voice. "Then why did you show me this photo?"

Raymond tilted the screen towards her. "I had Stuart investigate what happened five years ago. He found out that the hotel's surveillance footage was burned by a security guard, and the person who instructed the guard was Emily."

Melinda was shocked. "What?"

Why would Emily destroy the surveillance footage?

"She must be hiding something," Raymond said.

Melinda shook her head. "I don't know."

"That night, something happened between Emily and me too." Raymond didn't want to bring it up, his lips pressed tightly together as he controlled his emotions.

Melinda was stunned. According to his logic, he must feel guilty towards Emily, which

is why he was so lenient and indulgent with her.

"I was drugged and stumbled into a room, and then Emily showed up..."

"So, under the influence of the drug, you assaulted her?" Melinda asked in surprise. Raymond nodded.

"I..." Raymond's Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke with difficulty. "Afterwards, I gave her a necklace, and inside the locket was a photo."

"What photo?"

"A family photo," Raymond's eyes darkened. "One of a kind."

"When I saw the necklace in Emily's possession, I found her."

Melinda gave a bitter smile. The same experience, yet Emily received Raymond's guilt and apology, while she got nothing.

That despicable man, selfish and cold-hearted, had been threatening and intimidating her all along.

Melinda really wanted to drag that bastard out and see just how vile he was.

Her thoughts were chaotic for a moment, but Melinda quickly regained her composure, her expression growing colder.

"Why did Emily go to such lengths to destroy those photos? Was she afraid of being discovered?"

"Or is there an unspeakable secret behind those photos?" Raymond was slightly taken aback.

Melinda shook her head. "Only Emily knows."

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Melinda had never doubted that Emily was the one behind it all.

Nor did she know that the despicable man she spoke of was the very man in front of her-Raymond.

"Can you trace an address from a phone number?" Melinda wanted to rely on his skills to find that bastard.

"Who are you looking for?" Raymond asked, his voice steady.

"That unknown number that called me recently, threatening me. I want to know who it is," Melinda replied, her determination clear. She was done being controlled.

"Give me the number, and I'll have Stuart look into it," Raymond offered.

Melinda pulled out her phone and found the call from a few days ago. Raymond noted the number and called Stuart, giving him precise instructions.

"Emily knows who that bastard is," Melinda's voice trembled slightly. "She admitted it five years ago."

Her anger flared, and she wanted to tear Emily apart to vent her hatred. Raymond's last bit of goodwill towards Emily crumbled instantly. If the truth came out, he would make sure Emily paid the price.

"I'll find this person and make them pay for what they did," he promised.

"Thank you," Melinda sighed in relief. She was reluctant to see that man again, but now she had to face him.

Meanwhile, Emily had no idea that her actions were being exposed step by step. After returning from the hospital, her sense of taste hadn't returned, so she contacted doctors abroad to find out what was wrong.

But now, she had a stunning face.

In the past, Melinda was so breathtakingly beautiful that Emily only got noticed when

she stood next to her. But now, looking at her transformed self in the mirror, Emily's lips curled into a smug smile.

Just then, her phone rang.

Emily picked it up and saw it was Nolan.

Her eyes lit up with joy as she answered, "Ms. Lowe, I just got word that Larry is hosting a family dinner the day after tomorrow, inviting all the friends and family of the Thomas Group."

"Raymond didn't tell me about this... Does that mean he doesn't want me to go?" Emily gripped her phone, trembling with anger. What did she have to do to get his attention? "Help me find a way. I have to be there."

Emily couldn't miss such a prime opportunity to outshine Melinda.

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"Ms. Lowe, go there first thing in the morning. Once you're there, Mr. Thomas won't turn you away in front of the family."

Emily thought it made sense. With her new face, it was the perfect time to compete with Melinda. She knew Larry wouldn't turn her away, given her history with Raymond. Sitting on the couch, Emily's eyes flashed with cold determination. She couldn't miss this chance to deal with Melinda.

She called Elsie. "Elsie, come over tonight. I have a gift for you."

Elsie was the perfect person to get information about Melinda.

Elsie quickly arrived and was stunned when she saw Emily.

"Emily, did you... get plastic surgery?" She looked Emily up and down in disbelief.

Emily smirked, challenging her. "Who do I look like?"

Elsie examined her closely and blurted out, "Did you get surgery to look like Melinda?"

"Do I look good now?" Emily asked proudly.

"Much better than before, but Emily, I don't know if I should say this..." Elsie hesitated.

"We're friends. You can say anything."

"It's just..." Elsie glanced at her and whispered, "I don't think you look much like Melinda."

"What did you say?" Emily thought she misheard.

"I mean, you're much prettier than Melinda. You don't look like her at all." Elsie flattered her.

Emily was in a great mood and handed her a designer bag from the coffee table. "Here, a gift for you."

"This bag is gorgeous! Emily, you're too kind! But where did you get the money for

such an expensive bag?" Elsie's eyes lit up.

Emily forced a smile. "Raymond bought it for me."

Elsie nodded. "This bag suits you. You're so beautiful; you deserve such an expensive

bag!"