Chapter 20: One Step Ahead

Raymond sat by her hospital bed, looking at Emily, and said coldly, "Stay in the hospital for a few days for observation."

Emily lay weakly on the bed and asked Raymond, "Raymond, why were you with Melinda? Were you working together?" Her voice carried a hint of probing and curiosity.

Raymond shook his head and said, "Well, we were supposed to visit Grandpa today."

Hearing this, Emily's face showed a surprised expression and she asked, "Why did you take her?"

Raymond was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Actually, Grandpa wanted to see her."

He didn't want to tell Emily everything, after all, she wasn't really anyone to him yet. Hearing his words, a surge of inexplicable jealousy rose in Emily's heart. Why did he take Melinda to meet the Thomas family's elders?

"Oh, is that so? How does Melinda know Mr. Thomas?" She really wanted to know how Melinda knew Raymond's grandfather Larry, as she never had the chance to meet him. Raymond grew suspicious. How could it be such a coincidence that he planned to take Melinda to see Larry, and Emily happened to have an accident?

So after comforting Emily, he walked out of the ward.

As Emily watched Raymond's back, her fists clenched tightly, "Melinda, you really are shameless. You clearly see that my relationship with Raymond is not ordinary, yet you dare to interfere. You really don't want to live, and Sam, that bastard, won't live either." She had an even more malicious idea in mind.

Raymond, after leaving the room, called Stuart.

"Check how Emily got injured today Did she meet anyone?"

After hanging up, he glanced at the ward and then walked towards the elevator.

He took a deep breath and stepped into the elevator, having already made up his mind.

Just then, the phone rang. He answered, "Grandpa, I'll be back soon." After saying that, he hung up and turned to leave.

Emily kept her eyes on the door, but Raymond's tall figure never appeared again. However, she wouldn't give up; one day, she would become his woman!

In her disappointment, Emily's mind kept replaying the scenes of Raymond and

Melinda together, and anger and jealousy almost consumed her.

She resolutely pulled out the needle from her hand, even though blood seeped from

the back of her hand, and left the hospital without looking back.

She called her driver, Fred Reed, "Take me to the Thomas Villa."

Raymond was unaware of Emily's crazy actions. He didn't notice the undercurrents of emotions behind Emily and the series of actions she was taking.

Half an hour later, Emily stood in front of the imposing mansion. She took a deep breath to calm her excitement.

She knew that to become the mistress of this mansion, she had to be ruthless and eliminate all obstacles, and Melinda and her son were her biggest obstacles.

Emily stood at the door and rang the doorbell. After a while, a maid came over and cautiously asked her purpose.

She lied, claiming to be Raymond's girlfriend and wanting to see Larry. The maid asked her to wait while she checked inside. During the wait, Emily's heart raced, and she nervously clenched her fists, fearing any mistake in her plan.

A few minutes later, Emily finally stepped inside the Thomas Villa. She followed the maid through winding corridors to a uniquely designed pavilion where Larry was elegantly drinking tea. Hearing that a guest had arrived, he slightly raised his head, revealing a pair of dignified eyes.

Emily's heart tightened, but she quickly adjusted her state, smiling as she greeted, "Mr. Thomas, hello, I'm Emily, Raymond's girlfriend." Her voice trembled slightly, but she tried to stay calm.

Larry's eyebrows slightly raised, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He looked Emily up and down, his tone revealing a hint of authority, "Oh? You're

Raymond's girlfriend? Why haven't I heard him mention you?"

Emily's heart skipped a beat. She knew Larry was testing her.

She showed a remorseful expression and said softly, "Grandpa, Raymond and I haven't been together for long, and I haven't had the chance to visit you yet. Please forgive my rudeness." As she spoke, she observed Larry's reaction.

Larry's expression softened a bit, but he remained cautious.

"Emily, how did you meet Raymond?" Larry's gaze scrutinized Emily, as if trying to see through her thoughts.

Emily lowered her eyes, her lips tightly closed, as if finding it hard to speak. After a moment of silence, she looked up at Larry, her voice trembling slightly, "I... I'm embarrassed to say." Her face showed a hint of shyness and difficulty.

"What's there to be embarrassed about? I can make decisions for you." Larry looked at her coldly.

Emily took a deep breath, as if gathering courage, and began to recount the events of that night five years ago. Larry listened in shock, never expecting that Raymond had forcibly taken Emily's innocence five years ago!

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"Raymond found me and said he wanted to take responsibility for me." Emily's voice trembled, her eyes reddening.

She looked up at Larry, tears welling up in her eyes.

Larry's eyes showed a mix of anger and pity.

He gestured for Emily to sit down, "Emily, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Rest assured, the Thomas family is reasonable."

Hearing Larry's words, Emily knew she was taking a risk. Only three people knew about that incident back then. Elsie wouldn't betray her, and that male escort, Derek, had left Shadow City three years ago and was nowhere to be found, even changing his phone number.

"Mr. Thomas, I'm very grateful for your words." Her voice choked up again.

"Tell the kitchen to prepare some food for Ms. Lowe," Larry instructed the maid, then turned to Emily with a gentle and caring look, "Emily, you're welcome to visit often." Larry hadn't agreed to anything, always speaking politely.

Emily knew that Larry wouldn't immediately agree to her marrying Raymond, but at least she had blocked Melinda's path to the Thomas Villa, which was enough for now, just the first step.

She looked at Larry with feigned gratitude and nodded slightly.

Meanwhile, Melinda had just left the lab when Raymond suddenly braked sharply, opened the car door, and walked straight towards her.

Raymond forcefully opened the passenger door with one hand and tightly gripped her

wrist with the other, pushing her into the passenger seat, "Hey, Raymond, what are you doing?"