Chapter 39 : A concubine

Melissa’s POV

I could feel my mother’s gaze on me, watching for any signs of resistance. I crossed my arms and leaned back against the hospital bed, trying to stay calm. “Fine, Mother. Have Andrew check my schedule and set a date for this… meeting,” I said, forcing the word out of my mouth.

The truth was, I had no intention of going through with it. I’d have Andrew push the meeting back as far as possible. Eventually, my mother would give up. At least, that was the plan.

But her next words threw me completely off guard. “You won’t need to wait long, dear. She’s coming today.”

My eyes snapped to her, a flicker of frustration sparking in my chest. “Today? That’s too soon. I’ve barely had time to… prepare for something like this.”

Mother simply smiled, the kind of smile that always meant she had anticipated my every move. “I know you, Knox. If I left it up to you, you’d delay this forever. We don’t have time for that. She’s already on her way.”

I clenched my jaw. I had expected resistanc