Melanie waited until Alejandro put his pen down before signing her name with equal resolute. She ended it with a print of her thumb, asking, “So, when do we begin the legal procedures?”
Alejandro didn’t answer her. Instead, he stormed out of the house and slammed the door.
Melanie’s knees buckled and she crashed onto the couch, her strength leaving her body. Tears broke out from the corner of her eyes and traced an invisible path down her face, its salty liquid stinging the painful heat that had yet left her cheek. A while later she rose to her feet and went into the bathroom.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror and suddenly felt a thick, awful lump furling in her chest. Mrs. Lark had put in more force than she expected, causing her cheek to swell even more than she had imagined. When Alejandro looked at her just now—she must have been a hideous sight to him, wasn’t she? He had never liked her, but after all of this, after Tiffany… He must hate her even more, did he not?
There was nothing left for her now. Nothing… not even her daughter belonged to her.
They might not have begun their legal procedures, but both sides had assented to the agreement with their signature. Melanie took it as an opportunity to leave the Smith Estate at once, so she packed her things and—after coaxing Melissa to sleep—slipped out of the residence unnoticed.
If Melissa were awake and saw her leave, she would immediately burst into tears in protest. It was hardly surprising, given that Melanie had always been the one taking care of the girl since she was a baby. Just thinking about how harrowing and gut-wrenching Melissa’s bawl would be jarred her heart, but… she was not given any choice.
Melanie took nothing from her divorce, but her exit was at least buffered by some personal savings. Through that, she was able to get a room in a hotel for the time being before looking for a good place to rent.
One day, Alejandro would finally know she was not the one who pushed Tiffany. Still, Melanie rather not imagined if he would regret his decision. He would not, most likely. His knowledge would not matter.
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