Chapter 58

Melanie didn't drop the pitiful act. "I don't mean anything else by it, Ms. Jacinto. Please don't be mad at me."

"You're overthinking this, Ms. Smith." With that, Alanna left the private room. As she shut the door, she saw Hades handing Melanie a tissue. The latter didn't take it. Hades helplessly wiped her tears away.

"Look at you, still crying when you're at this age," he said.

"It's not like I wanted to."

"You look so ugly." Despite his words, the smile on his face remained in place.

Alanna tightened her grip on the doorknob. Her knuckles turned white from the force. The night before, Hades had cruelly told her that crying was useless and that she shouldn't even dream that her tears would soften his heart.

She'd always felt that he had a heart of stone. Indeed, he'd been incredibly cruel to her over the years. He wouldn't soften his stance when faced with her tears, nor would he back down because of her pleading.

But when Hades was with Melanie, he was the complete opposite o