Melanie looked down, avoiding his gaze. She said in a cold and business-like fashion, “This was adapted from the most typical divorce settlement template with no additional, special terms. I’ll leave without asking anything of you or Morgan Group, and I won’t make things difficult for you with the board of directors.”“Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” Jeffrey said hoarsely.“Of course, I do,” Melanie said with her fingers intertwined.“Is this really what you want?” Jeffrey said through gritted teeth as he raised the divorce papers up in the air.“Do you think I’m being rash about this?” Melanie looked up at him coldly, and it felt as though the air around them froze.Just then, someone knocked on the door.She took the chance to take a deep breath and walk past Jeffrey to the door. Opening the door, she saw a well-dressed man who asked courteously, “Hello, are you Miss Melanie Jones?”“I am.”The man outside smiled as he handed her an exquisitely wrapped box. “This i
“Will you wear that tonight?” Annie asked out of curiosity.“I will,” Melanie said with a sigh. “Jeffrey will be going to the dinner, too. If I don’t wear it, it’ll be obvious that I agreed to go just to anger him. He’ll never sign the divorce papers that way.”Jeffrey was going to the dinner too?Annie nodded. She felt more assured with Jeffrey accompanying Melanie to the dinner.Melanie put the box containing the gown and jewelry aside, and got changed into a casual set of shirt and long pants that was comfortable to move in. Very soon, she received a message from the Snow family’s private investigator. “Gabriel has entered the fragrance blending room.”“I’m going there too,” Melanie said to Annie.“Have you thought this through?” Annie asked, still concerned.“It’s fine. I have to actively enter the lion’s den instead of being a sitting duck,” Melanie said as she patted Annie’s shoulders. “Jeffrey’s men are also stationed nearby the fragrance blending room. Don’t worry.”
The dinner at the Yorks hadn’t officially started yet.The family was in the living hall downstairs. Only the older members of the family were surrounding Joseph, talking in the glass room above the backyard.Everyone saw the scene in Gabriel’s fragrance blending room, and started talking among themselves.“I heard yesterday, she concocted a fragrance for Gabriel in front of everyone using many types of roses as a base, saying that it results in a stark contrast between control and impulse. There’s definitely something between those two!”“Is that…how artists spice things up in their romance…in the fragrance blending room?” someone remarked with a chuckle.Joseph’s face turned dark with displeasure.He turned back and glanced at his two grandsons, his eyes glinting. Harlow couldn’t contain his gleeful expression, while Leo stood there looking aloof, which came as a surprise to Joseph.“Grandpa, this…is their personal affair. It’s not that appropriate for us to continue looking a
“You… Shut up!” Harlow yelled in frustration, with no way of refuting Melanie.“Why are you getting angry, Mr. Harlow? Did I say anything wrong?” Melanie’s voice turned cold, refusing to spare him.Everyone else understood what was going on and that everything turned out to be Harlow’s ploy.He wanted Melanie and Gabriel to be photographed together in the fragrance blending room, and deliberately created an opportunity to show the Yorks the footage so Melanie’s reputation would be torn to shreds.The Yorks knew that Leo was pursuing Melanie. If Melanie’s reputation was ruined, Leo would in turn become the butt of everyone’s jokes.The Yorks’ heirs were brothers, but everyone knew how insignificant brotherly ties were in the face of inheritance issues.“I’m sorry for ruining the mood. The dinner is about to start. Leo, bring Melanie here.”Joseph kept his gaze down, making it difficult to tell his mood right now. He finally urged Leo to bring Melanie to the dinner banquet after h
“Mr. Harlow, where did you go just now? Why didn’t you let me come with you?” Sylvia immediately clung onto Harlow upon his return.“Scram!” Harlow glared at her before leaving in frustration.Sylvia tried to hide her indignation and composed herself, straightening out her necklace, before approaching a group of ladies and exchanging pleasantries with them.Coincidentally, the ladies were complaining about Melanie. When Sylvia joined them, they asked, “Did Mr. Leo give Melanie Jones the gown and jewelry she’s wearing?”“Yes, he did.”Everyone knew Sylvia was Harlow’s new girlfriend, and would certainly be aware of things going on in the York family. Her words could be trusted.“How shameless! How dare she accept such an extravagant gift!”Some of the ladies were outraged and raged at Melanie behind her back, while deliberately looking at another woman who was the focal point amidst the group of ladies—Kelly Murray, the heiress of the Murrays.She was the only one who remained
Another hand grabbed Harlow’s hand in midair. He struggled against the hold, and the realization that he was overpowered embarrassed him.“President Morgan! Why are you interfering?!” Harlow yelled at Jeffrey, furious.“Show some self-respect!” Jeffrey flung Harlow’s arm, and he winced in pain. Harlow glared at Melanie as he rubbed his arm. “I just don’t understand. Why does Grandpa like you so much, a social climber who’s still entangled with Jeffrey Morgan?”“Why don’t you ask him yourself if you’re so curious?” Melanie said coldly.“Hmph!” Harlow left in a huff, mumbling under his breath, knowing that he had no chance of taking advantage of Melanie.Jeffrey looked at Melanie. When Harlow raised his hand, he saw Melanie subconsciously protecting their baby. That meant that she wanted to keep the baby, despite her saying that she wanted to leave him…That meant he still had a place in her heart…Jeffrey was moved by that thought, and set his mind on being wherever she went
Kelly swallowed past her constricted throat. From the corner of her eye, she could see everyone sniggering at her. It made her feel even more awkward.Melanie Jones has a sharp tongue indeed!But she hadn’t made her move yet. It wasn’t yet clear who between them was the victor!Kelly put down the plate, and sneered as she looked at Melanie from head to toe. “Are you wearing the gown Leo gave you?”Melanie looked back at Kelly and noticed that the disdainful look in her eyes resembled Harlow. Both of them showed no respect and regard for others.“Do you know how much the gown and jewelry you’re wearing costs? Don’t you feel bad accepting them?” Kelly raised her voice, accusing Melanie bitterly right in front of everyone.Melanie was speechless. Although she knew that such banquets were dull and boring, she should have expected even more dull and boring people to come along and broaden her horizons.“The Murrays have invested in this country for years, and have been thriving. You
Kelly’s face darkened with displeasure when she saw how the tables had turned. “Mr. Leo, thank you for the gown and jewelry you gave me. Many guests praised me for them,” Melanie said, raising her voice deliberately.Leo smiled, and waved his hand. “You’re the one who accentuated their beauty. It’s a mesmerizing scene to see stunning jewelry worn by a true beauty!”“Jewelry pieces have collection value. I’ll return this set to you after tonight, Mr. York. Since you bid for and purchased it from an auction, I’m sure you like it very much. You should be the one keeping it,” Melanie said.“Huh? Why would I take back a gift that I’ve given?” Leo said, waving his hands profusely.“Alright, then,” Melanie went on with a smile. “I won’t put you on the spot then, Mr. York. Why don’t we make a promise to cooperate on the two Unraveling Enigmas perfumes? If the results aren’t stellar, I’ll gladly return you this jewelry, okay?”“You have a deal.”Leo’s eyes shone as Melanie reached out h