"Yulia, I’m not feeling well." Melinda’s tone was cold. "I’m afraid I can’t accompany you any further."

Yulia knew the reason, of course. She didn’t really need Melinda’s help anyway.

Her purpose was an entirely different matter, and she had accomplished that already.

She didn’t protest, but she could see that the encounter had a physical effect on the other woman.

If they came back to mansion and the rest of the family saw the state Melinda was in, they would no doubt blame it on Yulia. "Let me take you back home."

"There’s no need for that," Melinda’s reply was swift. "You need to continue checking out your shop."

She needed a moment of peace. The bustle of the city was giving her a headache, and she was feeling close to suffocating.

She wanted to explode.

Yulia bit her lip and examined the situation. Her main concern was the certainty that Nelson and Queena would think she had done something to Melinda if she returned like this. She couldn’t let that happen.

"No, it would be better if I stayed with you," she tried again, her intent genuine this time, albeit somehow two-faced.

It gave Melinda pause. ‘It looks like Yulia really cares about me,’ she mused.

But she had suffered enough in the hands of this girl to let herself be fooled over repeatedly. ‘She’s only putting up appearances.’

"I want to be left alone," she told Yulia firmly. The younger girl was too embarrassed to insist any further after such an absolute denial, so she said nothing. Melinda walked away and Yulia let her.

As she passed by the spot where she saw her husband and another woman earlier, Melinda was assaulted by the pungent smell of tobacco and the cloying scent of Emily’s perfume.

The pounding on her temples grew stronger. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again, she raised her chin, and walked to the parking lot with her head held high.

As soon as she was seated inside her car, however, her facade cracked, and the dam broke. She hunched over the steering wheel and sobbed quietly.

How many times had she told herself that her husband was never worth crying her heart out? Countless times. Too many times.

And yet there she was, her tears falling uncontrollably as she let her heart be wrenched and gutted yet again.

She allowed herself a good cry, and it took her the better part of the hour before the tears subsided.

The seat beside her was littered with dirty tissues, and the tissue box on her dashboard was almost empty.

She pulled out a couple more sheets, and took a final dab at her eyes. They felt swollen and puffy, and they no doubt looked just how they felt.

She glanced at her reflection on the rearview mirror, and could see that her cheeks were red as well.

She took a sip of water from the tumbler she always packed in her car, and then rummaged for her makeup kit. After a couple of beats, she realized she hadn’t brought it with her, which was a total bummer.

this, Grandpa Nelson would definitely question her. She really didn’t have any

it, so despite her worry, she started her engine and made the long drive

room was empty when she arrived. She sped up the stairs, locked the bedroom

vibrating rather insistently on the table. She picked it

steeled herself, and took a

in what felt like forever. He had dialed her number

wife was

number next

hoarse from all her crying, but in his relief,

been calling you so many times, why did

tad too sensitive at the moment. And in light of her witnessing one of

have my eyes glued to the phone all the time, and my time so free and flexible that I have to answer it every time it rings?" There was a wealth of sarcasm in

moment that he realized something was wrong.

right, Mellie? Are you unwell?" His mind was already racing with the possibilities. ‘What happened? Wasn’t she all

weary and cold. She sounded as if the past few days they shared in

He scrambled for something to say. "Mellie,

time his wife was upset, it always had something to do with the actress. Perhaps such was the case now. He'd better go

the reasons he had been trying to reach his wife in the first place anyway. He

what an utterly terrible idea it was. It was exactly the wrong thing to say at the moment. If

back over the phone. ‘So a so-called

line, but before Jonas could say anything more, she

her face. To say she was disappointed

she cared to count. It had become a cycle, and she had always submitted herself to

on to Jonas any longer. The point had flown out

to do but

and still holding the phone, Jonas came to the unmistakable truth that his marriage was once again

see his wife

in his arms, meant to be delivered to his boss’

and his secretary could only stare as

have possibly happened? His boss had

between Soaring Group offices and the Gu's mansion usually took one hour,

was only mid-afternoon, so everyone at the residence

had just come back herself, and was in the living room being served some snacks by Gavin. She had mixed feelings about

could not help the

the end, and

eyes from her frantic brother’s direction, and her quiet guilt became useful in doubling as innocence to the

Jonas demanded, his face flushed,

Yulia. He knew the two women went

well, and she knew he was about to accuse her

gone too far today!" she spat at her brother. Everyone, including the servants who were quietly minding their tasks nearby, paused

narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening. "What the hell are you talking about?" he

up her spine, but she gritted

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