Chapter 181 Vincent's Appearance

Every muscle on his body was well-defined and incredibly enticing. Droplets of water slid down from his hair, landing on his broad shoulders and creating ripples.

The water seemed to linger on his warm skin, slowly trailing down his firm chest, past his tight abs, and finally disappearing beneath the towel wrapped around his waist.

The sight made Melinda's breath quicken, her heartbeat pounding like a runaway drum. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire.

She couldn't bear to look any longer, afraid her gaze would betray her thoughts. She quickly turned her head, her voice trembling, "Your clothes... they're over there."

Raymond, noticing her shyness, felt a surge of amusement. He deliberately walked over to her and said in a low, magnetic voice, "Melinda, help me get dressed."

His voice had a mesmerizing quality that Melinda couldn't resist. He leaned in slightly, his body close to hers.

Through her thin nightgown, Melinda could feel the heat radiating from him and the scent of his masculinity. Her heart raced, threatening to leap out of her chest. She bit her lower lip hard, afraid she might make an embarrassing sound.

Raymond, seeing her nervousness, smiled smugly. Melinda took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. When their eyes met, her heart raced even faster.

"You can dress yourself," she said, her voice still shaky.

Raymond chuckled and, not teasing her any further, dressed himself. Once he was dressed, he lay down on the bed while Melinda retreated to the bathroom, staying there for quite a while.

On Monday morning, Raymond personally drove Sam to school. Melinda stood at the door, smiling as she watched the father and son leave. She had once dreamed of this life, and now it was real.

She turned back into the house, where Lyric was waiting in the living room, ready to take Simba to the pet store for his shots and deworming. Simba was trembling with fear.

Melinda gently stroked his fur, soothing him softly, and carefully placed him in the pet carrier. He meowed the whole way there.

At the pet store, the staff meticulously checked Simba, bathed him, dewormed him, and gave him his vaccines. An hour later, a clean and adorable Simba was returned to Melinda. Just then, her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen; it was an unfamiliar number. She hesitated but answered the call.

A familiar, teasing voice came through, "Guess who?"

Melinda was momentarily stunned, then excitedly guessed, "Vincent Woods?"

"Ha ha, that's right! It's me!"

Vincent's voice carried a hint of joy that touched Melinda deeply. "I heard about you by chance in the lab. I've been looking for you for years. I didn't expect to find you here. Do you have time for a coffee? We can catch up."

Melinda's thoughts drifted back to five years ago, when she had arrived in a foreign country alone. She had no one, didn't speak the language, and faced countless hardships and setbacks. When she discovered she was pregnant, the inner struggle and pain nearly broke her.

But Sam's arrival became the most beautiful gift in her life. His birth healed her deep wounds and gave her the courage and hope to live again.

She remembered the familiar yet distant lab where she met Vincent and his sister, Kaia Woods. After she graduated and returned home, she hadn't seen them since.

She quickly agreed to Vincent's invitation and decided to meet him right away. After hanging up, she brought Simba back to the villa.

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She hurried upstairs to grab two guest invitations, writing Vincent and Kaia's names on them. She hoped they could attend her wedding. She didn't have many family members to invite.

Melinda arrived at the agreed location. Vincent, dressed in a well-tailored suit, walked towards her confidently. His face bore a faint smile, exuding a professional and self- assured aura.

Melinda couldn't help but marvel at the passage of time. She had reserved a table at the city's most stylish restaurant and waited for Vincent, dressed to the nines.

The restaurant's lighting was soft, and Vincent arrived on time, his figure appearing particularly tall under the lights. Seeing Melinda, his eyes showed a hint of joy at their reunion. "Long time no see, Melinda," he said warmly.

Melinda looked up, her eyes lighting up with surprise. She stood up, walked over to him, and smiled, "Long time no see, Vincent. What brings you here?"

Her voice was filled with surprise and curiosity.

"I'm working at the Thomas Group lab now," Vincent explained with a smile.

Melinda was slightly taken aback, not expecting Vincent to return and work at the lab. Just then, Lyric approached with a stern expression.

She glanced coldly at Vincent before standing protectively by Melinda's side. The atmosphere became awkward.

Melinda quickly introduced, "Vincent, this is Lyric, my husband's bodyguard."

Vincent extended his hand to Lyric, trying to ease the tension. However, Lyric merely gave him a cold look and didn't shake his hand.

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"I'm Mrs. Thomas's bodyguard. You don't need to mind me," she said firmly. Vincent was puzzled but didn't say more. Melinda, seeing this, quickly led him into the private dining room.

The room was elegant and quiet, isolating them from the outside noise. They sat across from each other, reminiscing about the past and soon became engrossed in conversation.

Lyric, however, sat expressionlessly nearby, her eyes fixed on Vincent. Her gaze made Vincent uncomfortable, but he didn't show it.

Melinda noticed Lyric's reaction and, worried Vincent might feel uneasy, softly said, "Lyric, you can go back. It should be safe here."

But Lyric shook her head firmly. "No, I can't leave. It's my job to protect you," she said with unwavering determination.

Melinda sighed and arranged for Lyric to sit at a nearby table, ensuring she could still keep an eye on her without making Vincent too uncomfortable. The three of them quietly enjoyed their special dinner.

Lyric stepped out and called Raymond, her tone serious, "Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Thomas had dinner with a male friend today."

Raymond raised an eyebrow, a hint of tension in his eyes. He quickly checked Lyric's email, which contained several photos.

In the photos, Melinda was smiling brightly, while the man beside her was unfamiliar. Raymond asked in a low voice, "Who is this man? Find out his identity."

Stuart responded and soon returned with a report. "Mr. Thomas, this man is Vincent, a new hire at the lab."

"Vincent?" Raymond repeated the name, his brow furrowing. He looked at the information Stuart handed him, his gaze sharp. "He's Melinda's classmate from when she studied abroad?"