Melanie stared at Natalia in disbelief. "You can't be serious. I will never be your maid."
Natalia laughed coldly. "Why? Because you think you're above it? Please. Do not forget where you came from." She stepped even closer, gaze raking over Melanie calculatingly. "Or have you forgotten? Your mother was a simple maid when my father picked her up, wasn't she?" Anger flooded Melanie at the jab at her late mother. "My mother worked hard as a waitress - it was honest work providing for me. Besides, your father is my father too." Natalia waved her hand dismissively. "Waitress, maid, potato, potahto, it's all the same." Melanie turned helplessly to Hardin. "Please, tell me you won't allow this." Hardin watched her impassively, his hazel eyes showing nothing. "Our marriage is dissolved, Melanie. You have no right to be here anymore." "How can you be so cold?" she whispered in despair. “I do not know you to be a troublemaker Melanie,” he looked at her coldly. “You have to leave right now.” Defeated, Melanie stumbled from the house with her things onto the driveway, barely holding back tears. Driving to the nearest and cheapest motel with blurry vision, she hastily booked a room and collapsed onto the lumpy bed in exhaustion. A short restless sleep later, she knew what she had to do - confront her father. It didn't take long to arrive at the house where she grew up. When she was five years old, her mother had developed cancer and had only few weeks to live. So her mother had to bring her to live with her father. But she was never welcomed. Not by her own father, his wife, or their evil daughter, Natalia. She saw hell everyday living with them. The only friend she had was her grandfather who was fond of her. But he had to pass away too, leaving her utterly alone. Melanie inhaled deeply and strode to the front door, hammering on it insistently. It opened to reveal Cordelia, her stepmother. The woman's lips coated with bright red lipstick pursed in disapproval at the sight of Melanie. "What do you want? This isn't some motherless babies home. You need to leave, and leave now." "I need to speak to my father," Melanie said firmly. Cordelia's eyes flashed as she adjusted a pin in her blonde hair piled at the top of her head. "Well, we are very busy. I think it's best if you leave us in peace." She tried to shut the door but Melanie jammed her foot in the frame. "Dad!" she called loudly, ignoring Cordelia's attempts to push her out. "Dad, I know you're here. We need to talk!" Heavy footsteps approached and her father Ben emerged with lines creasing his forehead. His gaze fell on Melanie and his scowl darkened further. "What is the meaning of this?" "Can we please talk privately?" Melanie pleaded. "I need to understand what's happening." Ben grunted dismissively. "I heard about your divorce already.Not able to keep a man, eh?" Melanie moved back in surprise as if slapped. "How can you say that? Especially when you were in on the plan all along with Hardin and Natalia!" After a tense moment, he grunted but kept glaring at her. "And so what if we did? You decided to be naive anyway." Melanie stared at him disbelievingly. "You really won't defend your own daughter? I'm sickened to know how low you people will stoop just for money." "You brought this upon yourself," came Ben's gruff reply. "Now get off my property before there's real trouble." Melanie shot back. "You all were always against me, jealous of Grandpa's love. That's why you all joined forces to steal everything!" Cordelia sneered. "You ungrateful brat. After all we did to raise you when your dead mother abandoned you," Melanie swallowed hard, feeling hurt at the mention of her mother. "Mark my words, one day I'll be back for all of you. You'll pay for what you've done." Ben was red faced with anger. "Don't you threaten me, girl! I said get off my property!" The look in his eyes gave her pause - there was no love or remorse, only cold calculation. Deflated, she stepped back slowly. "You were never my father," she spat bitterly. “Good riddance to you, gold digger,” Cordelia said with a huff as Melanie finally made her way to her car and drove out. She let out a shaky breath and just at that moment, she noticed her ring on her finger. With trembling fingers, she pried it off and held it up to the light. It was funny how something so seemingly precious could turn sour so quickly. Well, she refused to carry this symbol of his empty promises a minute longer. She turned round the corner and made her way to a pawn shop. The owner grunted as he inspected it under a magnifying glass. "Good quality gold, nice inscription too. I can give you $3000” for it." $3000! It was more than she had expected for a simple wedding band. Melanie nodded her assent, just wanting it out of her possession as soon as possible. The money was passed over with a slip of paper and she pocketed it all gratefully. A weight seemed to lift off her shoulders now that the last tangible tie was severed. But as Melanie turned to leave, she suddenly felt dizzy. She gasped, grasping weakly at the doorframe, but the world was already fading to black. When she was concious, the harsh fluorescent lighting and beeping machines welcomed her. She squinted her eyes and asked, "Where am I?" A friendly doctor smiled down at her. "You're in the hospital, dear. Lucky for you, the pawn shop owner called an ambulance when you collapsed. How are you feeling?" Melanie could feel her head pounding."Like I got run over.What happened?" The doctor's eyes creased with a smile. "You're pregnant, congratulations! About three months along from what the tests show." Pregnant. The word echoed in her brain, shattering all other thoughts. She clutched her stomach in disbelief. A baby- Hardin's baby, was growing inside her very body. A shocked laugh escaped her lips even as tears welled up. Maybe because this was the first time she was ever pregnant. Hardin had betrayed her in the most cruel way without remorse yet her heart still yearned for the man she loved. She had always envisioned raising a family with him. Perhaps their unborn child could bring him back to her, and make everything right? This innocent little being deserved a complete home with both parents. No. She couldn’t go back to him. He didn’t deserve to know. Or did he?Melanie straightened her lilac dress that hung to her curves and headed for Hardin's office straight from the hospital. She had to give him this chance to do right, for their baby's sake if not her own.As she was trying to talk to the secretary, Natalia appeared from nowhere. Great, her witch sister was all she needed to have a mental breakdown."Well well, if it isn't the miserable ex. Causing trouble as usual, I see." She paused and glared at the secretary. “Didn’t I tell you she isn’t allowed into the premises?”Melanie held her head high. "I need to see Hardin. It's urgent."Natalia scoffed. "Well tough luck, he's in an all day meeting. Come back with an appointment, maybe in a few months I'll squeeze you in.Or how about you come back….never?""Are you serious? This can't wait. Please, it's about..." Melanie trailed off, unwilling to give anything away to this snake yet.Natalia sauntered closer until they were nose to nose. "You'll tell me whatever it is, darling. Hardin's in an
Back at Marshall Corp. The secretary, Gina, had put off a particular conversation with Hardin for weeks but knew she couldn't delay it any longer. Her stomach was in knots just thinking about breaking the news to him. Hardin was an intimidating boss, always stern and unrelenting in his demands. Gina feared how he would react to what she had to say. She heard the elevator ding, signaling Hardin's arrival on their floor. His long strides could be heard down the hall as he approached his office. Gina slowly got up from her desk and walked over to meet him. "Good evening, Mr. Greene. Do you have a minute? There's something I need to discuss with you," Gina said, trying to keep her voice even. Hardin glanced at her impatiently as he unlocked his office door. "Make it quick, Gina. I have a lot of work to get through tonight." She hesitantly followed him into his spacious office. Hardin tossed his briefcase onto the leather couch and turned to face her, crossing his arms expectantly.
FIVE YEARS LATERDUBLIN, IRELAND.Sophie twirled around in front of the small mirror hanging on the wall of their bedroom, checking her pink sundress and white bow tied around her long brown hair for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning. "Don't I look like the prettiest princess, Mommy?” she asked excitedly, turning to face Melanie who was folding clothes and putting them into their suitcases. "You look gorgeous as always sweetpea," Melanie smiled at her daughter. Sophie beamed and did another twirl, the skirt of her dress flaring out around her. From the bed, her twin brother Matthew scoffed in response. At nearly five years old, his slim frame already showed signs of future height. "You look silly is what," he teased. Sophie turned to stick her tongue out at him, hands on her hips."I’m not! Take it back, Mattie poo!" Her foot stamped petulantly against the expensive carpet.Melanie heard Matt sigh loudly. She looked over to see him walking over to peer into the smal
Melanie wanted to surprise her husband on his birthday, but he gave her a surprise instead. And boy, was it a nasty one. It had been three draining days in Tokyo for a business trip, but all she could think about was surprising her husband, Hardin, for his 29th birthday that weekend. She tapped her foot impatiently in line, and a fluttery feeling rose in her stomach as she exited customs at SeaTac. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Hardin’s face! After retrieving her bags, she hurried to the waiting car. She was more than excited when it finally pulled up in front of the mansion. She spun the keys around her finger as she walked up the steps to her front door, an eager smile on her face. Balancing the gift bags and boxes in one arm, she quietly unlocked the door, planning to sneak up on Hardin. The house greeted her in silence. The lights were off, and her heels clicked loudly against the hardwood floor as she made her way down the hall, her gift bags swinging. "Hardin? I'
He reached out and grabbed the pen, shoving it in her limp fingers. Melanie held the pen, hesitating as she hovered over the line. Part of her wanted to resist, to not make it so easy for Hardin after his betrayal. But deep down, she knew prolonging things would only cause more pain. "You don't deserve to be celebrated, Hardin. You're nothing but a liar and a cheat," she spat out. She scrawled her name quickly in the vacant lines before she lost her nerve, throwing the pen down in disgust. Natalia clapped her hands with glee. "Oh wonderful! Let's go celebrate your freedom and also continue your birthday celebration, babe." Melanie struggled to tear her eyes away from Hardin as his lips met Natalia’s in a passionate kiss. Once they left, she ran a bath and sank into the scalding water, sobbing violently. She had loved this man with all of her heart, even before he married her. Was their entire marriage a whole lie? The next morning, Melanie woke with a pounding headache, her
Melanie let out a long sigh as she trudged through the front door of her too-big, empty mansion. She had to figure out some other way to hire a good lawyer.As she headed to the kitchen, she could hear hushed whispers from the maids. "I heard Master Hardin leave Miss Melanie for that tramp sister of hers. I never would've guessed he had it in him." Another maid was added. "That Miss Natalia looks like trouble. Mark my words; she'll break his heart too in time." That's when the cruelest one chimed in. "If you ask me, Miss Melanie was too boring and goody-goody. Master Hardin always liked the wild ones more. About time she got what was coming." Melanie froze, blinking back angry tears. At that moment, one of the maids glanced up and fell silent, spotting her. She nudged the other two, and they quickly straightened. “Welcome back home, Miss Melanie!” The one who had been badmouthing her was the first to ask, "Good evening, Miss. Can I get you anything?" Melanie shook her head,