Chapter 91: Dominant Declaration

She tried to keep her tone calm, "Ray, it's getting late. I need to give Sam a bath. You should head home too."

But Raymond showed no intention of leaving. He walked over to the couch and sat down. "I'll wait until Sam's done with his bath and play with him for a bit."

Melinda opened her mouth, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to ask about Celestia.

After his bath, Sam ran to the couch and started playing with a Rubik's Cube with Raymond.

Melinda tidied up the house, occasionally glancing at the two on the couch.

Finally, at ten o'clock, Melinda urged Sam to go to bed. "Sam, it's bedtime. It's already so late."

"I still want to play with Mr. Thomas," Sam mumbled.

"How about I put you to bed?" Raymond picked up Sam and carried him to his room.

Melinda stood in the living room, unable to figure out why Raymond wouldn't leave. Was he planning to stay at her house all night?

At eleven o'clock, Melinda finally finished her chores. Exhausted, she lay down on the couch and took a sip of water. Feeling drowsy, she got up and gently pushed open Sam's bedroom door.

In the dim light, Sam was already asleep. Raymond waved at her, signaling her to leave. Melinda nodded and had just stepped out of the room when her phone rang.

She glanced at it and saw a message from Leo: [Melinda, Mrs. Lowe has been safely taken home.]

[Thanks, Leo.] Melinda replied gratefully.

[Don't call me Mr. Schmidt, just call me Leo!] Leo's response was almost instant.

Just as Melinda was about to reply, a large hand snatched her phone away.

"What are you doing?" She looked up to see Raymond, his expression dark and menacing.

"Who are you texting?" Raymond asked coldly, his eyes fixed on the phone screen. "Melinda? That's quite intimate."

Melinda's heart tightened. She explained, "You saw it, didn't you? That person was introduced by my mom. He just helped take my mom home and was letting me know."

"Really?" Raymond's tone was filled with suspicion and dissatisfaction. "So how were you planning to reply to his message?"

Melinda looked at the phone screen in Raymond's hand, showing Leo's last message: "Melinda, I had a wonderful evening. Thank you for such a lovely night."

Her face turned pale. This message was clearly sent by mistake.

She hurriedly explained, "Ray, let me explain. This message isn't what you think..."

"Isn't what?" Raymond interrupted, his eyes filled with a dangerous glint.

What had Melinda done to make Leo describe the night as wonderful? Melinda's brows furrowed, and she shot a sharp look at Raymond, her tone urgent, "Give me back my phone!"

Raymond glanced at her with a mocking smile, playing with her phone in his hand, his eyes flashing dangerously. "What did you and that man do tonight?"

"Just had dinner," Melinda replied irritably. What else could she have done with Leo? "Just dinner?" Raymond clearly didn't believe her. Leo's message suggested otherwise. "Raymond, stop being unreasonable. Give me back my phone!" Melinda didn't want him prying into her privacy any further.

At that moment, another message came in: "Melinda, good night. Sweet dreams. Looking forward to seeing you again."

Raymond glanced at the screen, a cold smile playing on his lips. "First meeting, and he's already so reluctant to part. Has he fallen for you?"

"You..." Melinda was at a loss for words. She glared at Raymond and reached out her hand. "You're being ridiculous!"

Raymond deliberately held the phone high, out of her reach. "Want it? Come and get it."

Melinda knew he was doing it on purpose and didn't want to fall into his trap. She huffed, "Forget it. When are you leaving?"

"I'm not leaving tonight," Raymond said, crossing his arms. "I promised Sam I'd take him to school tomorrow."

"My house is too small. There's no extra bed for you!" Melinda snapped.

"Your bed will do," Raymond said with a tone that brooked no argument.

Melinda was stunned. She hadn't expected Raymond to be so direct, even shameless.

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"Raymond, can you be reasonable?" Melinda tried to reason with him, but as soon as she spoke, she realized Raymond wouldn't communicate normally.

Raymond always did things his way, never following the rules.

"Reason? In my world, my word is reason." Raymond's confident smile suggested he had everything under control.

Melinda was furious but helpless.

Raymond had no intention of leaving. He was in a particularly bad mood tonight and needed an outlet.

"Raymond, don't go too far!" Melinda glared at him, a flash of anger in her eyes.

"Unless you promise me you won't see that man again," Raymond demanded domineeringly.

Melinda walked to the door, her face cold. "Mr. Thomas, please leave."

Raymond took a step as if to leave, and Melinda breathed a sigh of relief.

However, he stopped at the door, reached out, and turned off the light switch on the wall.

With a click, the already dim light went out, plunging the entire room into darkness.

The sudden darkness made Melinda's eyes lose their focus. She gasped, and the next second, Raymond had her pinned against the wall.

His kiss was forceful and passionate, taking her breath away.

Melinda tried to struggle, but his strength left her powerless.

His kiss was rough and intense, leaving her defenseless.

"Let me go..." Melinda's plea was weak.

Raymond, breathing heavily, pressed his forehead against hers. "No more waiting, Melinda. You forced me."

Melinda's breathing was erratic. She pushed him angrily. "Stop it."

Melinda pushed Raymond away with all her might. The hormones in the dark made it impossible to think clearly.

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"Do you think I'm as casual as you?" she snapped, turning on the light. The bright light flooded the room.

Raymond's eyes, like a hungry wolf, burned with a scorching intensity, as if ready to devour her.

"I'm only casual with you," Raymond's deep voice was firm, almost magical, making Melinda's heart race.

A wave of heat washed over her, and sweat beaded on her forehead.

She tried to push him away again. "Go home." She turned towards the water cooler. "Your mom is trying to set you up. She wants you to find a man and get married." Raymond's voice came from behind her. Melinda turned sharply, shocked. "What did you say?" She couldn't believe her ears.

"I'd marry you too," Raymond said, looking into her eyes with utmost seriousness.

"Are you crazy? You can't joke about something like this." Melinda looked at Raymond, speechless.

Raymond frowned. "I'm serious."

"No way. You're the heir to the Thomas family. If you marry me, what about your grandfather? Would he agree? And..." She thought of Emily. If that woman found out about the marriage, who knew what kind of drama she'd stir up.

It would also endanger Sam.

She couldn't agree.

"Remember, you're my woman. You can only marry me," Raymond declared, his tone possessive and firm.

Melinda swallowed hard, looking down at herself, not understanding why Raymond was so fixated on her.

"Raymond, there are so many good girls out there. Why me?" she asked softly, feeling both helpless and touched.

"I don't know why either. From the day I met you, I couldn't help myself," Raymond said, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Melinda had never seen him so angry.