Chapter 03

"Melissa, come out darling. It's time already". Mrs Evelyn said hitting the door and trying to turn the door knob lightly, with a sad expression plastered on her face and when she didn't even hear a sound coming from the room, her expression turned into a worried one.

" Melissa please, mummy's begging, and your father's waiting for you presence. You wouldn't want to get him mad at you and I will you? "Her voice sounded calm and refreshing that Melissa had to bodly take a few steps and a deep breath. She walked towards her door and gently turned the door knob opened.

"Melissa, you aren't dressed up?". Mrs Evelyn questioned taking a good look at her daughter and when she couldn't hold back her tears, she made it fall freely from her eyes.

" Mother, I'm not ready for this." Melissa said, her voice choking in her tears." I don't want to get married to someone like him because I have my life to live."Melissa continued and gently got into the warm and welcoming embrace of her mother.

" Neither do I want you to do this Melissa, but your father is a strict man and I wish I could go there and talk some senses into his head right now,but I can't. As you know his company comes first before every other thing and I'm sorry I can't protect you Melissa".

Melissa whimpered hearing her mother say this, they both had no other choice and could never dare question her father's authority but even at that, Melissa was sure of one thing. *She wound make him regret ever letting her go through this kind of pain*.

Right now, the power wasn't enough and not only to make him go through pain but she would secretly end her marriage with Edward and return back home to her mother.

" Come on dear, let's get you dressed up okay... 10 minutes should be enough else you don't want your father barging in here to check up on you". She held Melissa's hands and gently walked into the room with her.

Wearing a yellow gown reaching the level of her knee, with a big yellow ribbon tied at the side of the dress, Melissa took a seat facing the big mirror hung on the wall with her mother attending to her hair.

She grabbed a smaller hair brush and handed it over to her mom with a forced smile on her face watching her mom attend to her hair perfectly.

" You look extremely beautiful my darling and no man out there would ever resist wanting to have you as a bride". Her mom said trying to make the sad expression on her daughter's face fade away.

" Yeah right mom, you really do love teasing me a lot "Melissa replied releasing a chuckle.

" Darling..." They both heard a strict voice outside and seconds later, footsteps getting closer each seconds.

Turning their gaze at each other, both women giggled and hurriedly Mrs Evelyn have Melissa's hair a finishing touch by making it escape freely from the hair band Melissa had used in tieing it up.

" When the wind blows, and your hair dances around freely, it only make you an exceptionally beautiful lady. Don't forget that Melissa". Melissa turned back and gave her mom a warm hug. " I love you so much Mom" She whispered to her ear and when both could hear the footsteps getting closer they broke the hug and looked at each other like little kids ready to play a game and gently laughed.

" Your father's almost here, come on.." Mrs Evelyn said stretching her hands towards Melissa which she took and started out with her mother.

When they had both gotten to the stairs, an angry looking man stood there with a gaze which could kill any moment.

" Took you long enough, now let's hurry up" His voice sounded strict but secretly let out a small smile when his eyes roamed his daughter's beauty.

Melissa followed behind her father and when they had gotten to the SUV car which awaited them outside with a chuffer standing close to the car, she took in a deep breath and got inside the car with her mom.

Returning her mom's smile back, Melissa adjusted herself properly and decided to think about the good things bound to happen to her, but she couldn't find any.

Trying to get her mind off this marriage of a thing, Melissa took out her phone and decided to chat up with her best friend, but still that didn't give her peace... So she decided to remain quiet and calm till the journey would end.

She opened her eyes in shock gazing at the huge mansion, it wasn't even a mansion,but an estate and Melissa could tell it was a bit better that theirs. She had never found a reason to admit a house being better than hers,but today she had laid eyes on one.

Close to a fountain, the car halted when the chuffer had noticed the presence of the McDonald's close by.

Melissa wanted to stay in the car and bury her face under the seat, but when her mother called her name, she came back to her senses. " Let's not keep them waiting now Melissa". Her mother's voice disciplined her with utmost care.

Melissa nodded back and got down from the car. She held her mom's hand walking with her and when she looked around she couldn't find Edward anywhere close to the building but it never occurred to her he would be inside the house.

" Darling, welcome. Glad having you here"She heard a voice and reluctantly turned around to look at the woman smiling at her.

" Good day ma, it's a pleasure meeting you " Melissa greeted in the most mannered way she ever could, making the couple likeness and fondness for her increase.

" Oh, you must be looking for my son right? I'm so sorry but he's in for now, probably getting ready as he wishes to look good today". Mrs Emily stated giving a lame excuse to Melissa with a brightened smile on her face.

Melissa's happiness died down immediately she heard such words, she changed the look on her face and walked towards her mom instead holding her hands.

" Breakfast is served". An older woman in black and white outfit with a black heels informed while to couple nodded using their hands to dismiss her.

" Shall we" Mrs Emily said looking still fixing her gaze at Melissa while she walked and when they all nodded she smiled back at them taking her husband hands in hers already. Melissa stood at the entrance of the house still not willing to walk into the house, but when all eyes stared at her she took out he band from her purse and rolled her hair with it, gripping it so tight that it made her head hurt so much,but she swore to take in the pain.

Ignoring the look on her mother's face, Melissa bodly walked into the house, though her body couldn't stop shaking as she walked in, her eyes met with the large table of different foods all neatly arranged with vase of flowers which had beautiful scent at the middle. The yellow and red candles made the table even more prettier but even at this, Melissa still lost the appetite to take a bite from the meal in front of her. Lost in her own thoughts, Melissa reluctantly grabbed a fork from the table and wickedly hammered it deep into her stakes without even lifting her face to look at the shocked expression on the faces of her parents and the McDonald's.

The angry face plastered on her father was abruptly interrupted by the approaching footsteps which echoed down the stairs, as the housekeepers stood up straight and greeted Edward respectfully. They didn't dare to raise their heads up untill the distinguished individual had stopped at the end of the stairs and raised his hands.

" Son" The silence which took place due to his presence was broken by Mrs Emily when she stood up and walked towards him. Melissa had to turn her face the other way,in order to prevent him from having a look at her.

When Edward turned to look at the visitors and his supposed in-laws, his eyes immediately caught the amazing and beholding sight of Melissa. He wasn't able to stare at her face properly,but the figure which her body displayed got him nearly aroused, and the urge and impatience to take a good look at her face crept slowly inside him making him wet his dry lips.

Melissa clenched her fist so hard when she turned around for the fear of him coming closer to her, she suddenly felt the urge to take to her heels and never return back to the damn house she was in but when she turned a bit to look at her father, his words replayed back in her head making her forsake that urge to run away.

Her clenched fist got released when she felt the warm touch of her mother. Melissa wanted to turn around and look at him straight in the eyes with just the little courage she had gathered from the touch of her mother, but his footsteps gaining close to her made her change her mind.

Settled in her seat and watching her son take steps towards Melissa, Mrs Emily eyes brightened awaiting as she smiled at Melissa's mom, her head shaking like that of a cunning lizard.

Edward walked forward his eyes fixed on the empty seat close to Melissa which had been purposely prepared for him by his mother,and when he got there Melissa turned her face again to prevent him from staring at her. But when her eyes caught with that of her father, she immediately sat up right and cleared her throat taking a good look at everyone seated.

Gathering all the courage she could get that moment even if she felt it wasn't enough, Melissa turned and her eyes met with that of Edward like her father wanted, but immediately he set his eyes on her, a loud gasp escape from his mouth making him roughly stand up from his seat and when Melissa saw the shocked expression on his face, she carved up a smirk at the right side of her lips watching him.