Chapter 4

"She's lost her mind—completely lost it!" George Olson roared, his finger shaking as he pointed at Melissa. "I've told you, it wasn't Shawn forcing this marriage. I was the one who begged him to marry you!"

His wife, Katie, nodded furiously from beside him. "Exactly, Mel. Now that Shawn is here, sit down and listen to us. Let's talk this through properly."

But Melissa's fury only mounted. "Shawn, have you brainwashed my parents? Why else would they grovel before you like this? Even now, they refuse to let me divorce you! They want me to apologize? To you? Let me make this clear—it's not happening!"

Seeing George's temper boil over, his hand trembling with the urge to slap sense into her, I quickly stepped in, holding him back despite his strength. "George, let's not force Mel. If she truly loves someone else, there's no point in holding on to this marriage."

Tears welled up in George's eyes, and he gripped my arm tightly, his voice trembling. "Shawn… please… don't…"

Before he could finish, Melissa hurled the fruit knife onto the table and stormed toward me. She shoved me hard. "What are you begging him for? I don't want him! I've never liked him—not in the past, not now, not ever! Even without Matt, I still wouldn't want to be with him!"

Her glare pierced me like a blade. It was the kind of look one reserves for their worst enemy.

I wasn't sure when things had turned so sour between us. Once upon a time, she'd been the little girl who leaned on me for everything. Now, she was someone entirely different—someone who didn't need me at all.

I swallowed the ache rising in my chest and forced my voice steady. Turning to George and Katie, I said earnestly, "There's no need to push Mel any further. Let's part on good terms. A divorce would be better for both of us."

George froze, his eyes widening. "No, Shawn, you can't divorce her! This is my fault—I spoiled her rotten! Let me apologize on her behalf—"

But before he could finish, Melissa grabbed his arm, pulling him back with a violent tug. She turned her fury back on me, her voice shrill and accusing. "Shawn, don't think you can use this divorce to manipulate my dad. I'm telling you—no matter how much you pester us, you'll never have me!"

"Mel, how could you turn into someone like this?" Katie's voice broke into sobs as she stared at her daughter in disbelief, shaking her head.

I let out a slow, measured breath, then reached into my bag and pulled out the divorce papers I'd prepared. I held them out to her, my tone calm but resolute. "Mel, I've already signed the papers. I agree to the divorce. I'm serious about this."

Melissa snatched the documents from my hand, her eyes darting over the pages. Before she could say anything, George lunged forward, yanking the papers away with trembling hands.

His voice shook with frustration and anger. "Mel, enough of this nonsense! Don't you see what you're doing? This marriage—this arrangement—was all my doing! I begged Shawn to marry you. I used the years of friendship between our families to guilt him into it. All I wanted was for you to keep living as carefree as you always have, even after our family lost everything!"

Melissa let out a harsh laugh, her eyes filled with scorn. She turned to me with a sneer, her voice dripping with mockery. "Was this your plan all along, Shawn? You knew my parents wouldn't consent to our divorce no matter what. Isn't this pathetic? Another excuse, another lie! How low can you go? Can't you just leave me alone?"

And with that, she grabbed the divorce papers and flung them in my face. Before I could react, she spun on her heel and bolted from the room.

George instinctively rushed after her, calling her name as he neared the staircase. But in his haste, his foot slipped. Time seemed to slow as he tumbled down the stairs, his body landing hard at the bottom. The sickening thud echoed through the house.

Blood began to pool around his head, spreading across the floor like an ominous shadow.

Melissa froze mid-step, her face draining of color. She turned slowly, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the scene. "No… no…" she whispered, trembling.

Katie let out a piercing scream and flung herself down the stairs, collapsing beside her husband. Her sobs filled the house as she desperately shook his limp body, begging him to wake up.

My own heart pounded as I pulled out my phone and dialed for an ambulance. Within minutes, we were on our way to the hospital.

In the waiting room outside the emergency unit, Katie clung to my arm, silently weeping into a tissue.

Melissa sat a few seats away, her face pale and lifeless. After what felt like an eternity of silence, she suddenly pulled out her phone, her hands shaking as she dialed a number.

"Matt," she sobbed. "I don't know what to do. My dad… he fell down the stairs. He's in the emergency room now. I'm so scared. Can you come to Vernicia Hospital now? Please… as quickly as you can."