Ex husband's Plea for Forgiveness novel Chapter 16

"Mellie, I'm glad to see you like this."

Kent smiled at Melinda who was packing her things. She had a goal now and was striving to achieve it. She was not the old Melinda who wallowed in self-pity. She was stronger than ever, sparkling like a diamond.

"Yeah, I'm glad to be back on track too. I've finally got my life together after all these years. I've wasted the most crucial years of my life. I'm going to start living for myself."

A strand of hair brushed across Melinda's cheek and Kent tucked it behind her ear. Melinda's eyes were gleaming with happiness. She was looking like the chirpy girl she once used to be. She was radiating with positivity, which added a glow to her flawless face.

"It's getting late. I need to go now. See you later."

Although Melinda was reluctant to go back home, she had to fulfill her responsibilities of Jonas's wife. She hadn't divorced Jonas yet and was still living in the Gu's mansion.

Kent had been worried about Melinda before, but he was relieved to witness the change in her.

"Let me drive you home."

Kent paid the bill and went back to the table to help Melinda take her laptop. She smiled gratefully and walked out. Kent had parked his car in the underground parking lot and Melinda was waiting outside the shopping mall. Her eyes flitted to the towering building of Soaring Group.

She was a speck of dot before the enormous building. She couldn't reach the top, just like she couldn't find a place in Jonas's heart.

The honking sound of the car snapped her from the reverie. She turned around and saw that Kent was waiting for her to get into the car.

The Gu's mansion consisted of a bunch of old houses that were renovated over the years to keep up with the changing trend.

Kent dropped Melinda at the gate. She got off the car and went straight into the house. An eerie atmosphere prevailed in the mansion. The mansion was usually silent only when Jonas was home.

Melinda wondered if he was back, but she quickly brushed away the thought and decided to go back to her room.

"Do you know what time it is now?"

Melinda heard a sharp voice as soon as she stepped into the living room.

She turned around to see who it was. Queena Yao was sitting on the sofa with one leg across the other, glaring at her. She was wearing a formal suit. Her hair was curled to perfection and her lips were coated with a layer of vibrant red lipstick.

"Mom!" Melinda greeted her respectfully.

Queena Yao was a strong woman. Although she was powerful, she was never domineering. Everyone admired and respected her.

Melinda was aware of Queena Yao's strong dislike towards her. All these years, Melinda had worked hard to be the perfect daughter-in-law of the Gu family and win her heart. But all her efforts were in vain. She couldn't earn Queena Yao's love and trust.

"Melinda, who dropped you home? It's a nice BMW. Looks like you've gotten rich friends as well," Yulia mocked. Melinda didn't realize Yulia's presence until she heard her voice.

Queena Yao frowned at Yulia's remark.

"He was my senior at school. I needed a favor from him," Melinda said.

She understood that Yulia was trying to cause trouble and felt that she needed to explain.

"You could have sought help from my brother. He's, after all, the most powerful person in A City."

Yulia worshipped Jonas. He was a hero in her eyes. She had always craved love and affection. She wanted Jonas to spoil her and make her happy like how a normal brother would, but Jonas always ignored her.

"You are the daughter-in-law of the Gu family and you need to be careful while choosing friends," Queena Yao said. Melinda couldn't help but smirk at her.

Everyone in the Gu family's social circle disdained Melinda. They always looked down upon her. No one tried making friends with her because of Jonas. She was invisible to them as everyone ignored her.

"I got it," Melinda said obediently. Melinda knew that she couldn't argue with Queena Yao, so she smiled and walked to her room.

Queena Yao's face flustered with embarrassment. She was surprised to see that Melinda was unfazed by her taunts.

"Aunt Queena, Melinda has started to ignore you as well."

Yulia frowned. But Queena Yao was aware of Yulia's intentions. She knew that Yulia was trying to cause trouble between her and Melinda.

Queena Yao hated Yulia as much as she hated Melinda.

"A sparrow is always a sparrow," Queena Yao muttered coldly.

Yulia's face changed when she saw Queena Yao's tight expression, but she managed to force a smile.

The liveliness of the Gu's mansion was gone and the atmosphere had become tense since Queena Yao's arrival. Everyone was afraid of her and tried to be in their best behavior. Nelson was hardly in the mansion as he was catching up with his old friends.

Melinda was swept by a fresh wave of energy as new ideas seemed to crop up in her mind after her conversation with Kent. He had helped Melinda regain her confidence and she was busy converting her ideas into stories.

Melinda was checking her first draft when a loud voice reverberated across the silent room. "What are you doing?"

She instinctively switched her computer off and stood up. Queena Yao was leaning against the doorframe with her arms across her chest.

"You've been staying at home all day doing nothing. It's been five years since you got married to my son and you still don't have children. I don't understand why Father was insistent on Jonas getting married to a woman like you who has been leeching off him all these years," Queena Yao said as she raked her eyes across Melinda's body, from head to toe.

She scrunched her nose in distaste as Melinda wearing casual loungewear. Queena Yao was disappointed to find that her daughter-in-law was devoid of the poise and grace of a noblewoman.