"Jonas, I need your help."
As soon as Emily blurted out those words, Melinda felt a great shock, or perhaps she had some admiration. How could she say that she needed help so confidently as if Jonas would come running to her aid?
Hearing the soft bossa nova music playing inside the coffee shop, Melinda glanced around and looked out of the window, trying to appease herself. It was rare that she got along well with Jonas, and the tension now ruined that peace. To be honest, she wanted to quarrel with Emily.
"I don't have time today. We can talk about it tomorrow."
Lately, Jonas had been trying his best to be friendly to Melinda. Seeing Melinda's expression on her face, he felt that she was not pleased, so he wanted to deal with Emily as soon as possible.
Emily noticed the sudden change in the attitude of Jonas to her. She stared at Melinda with eyes full of resentment. But she didn't turn her back and walked away. Emily looked at Jonas with grievance and deftly bit her rosy lips.
"Jonas, I know you hate me now, but it's all because I love you too much. You and I were..."
Emily wanted to say something but stopped on second thought. She peered through Jonas's eyes. Her expression conveyed that she wished Jonas to know how unfaithful he had been. Melinda had been observing them the entire time. Hearing what Emily said, she could not help raising her eyebrows.
"Forget it. It's no use saying that I'm sorry. You don't trust me anymore." Emily took a deep breath, pretended to be reasonable, and went straight to the point. "Jonas, I'm no longer a little girl. The company shifted its focus on others recently, and I need your support."
Emily clenched her fists. When she thought of how the company had treated her, her eyes would fill up with anger. Those in charge would only add insult to injury and would never offer much-needed assistance to others. She would just stay away from them.
The entertainment circle had been such a cruel place. Emily had worked there for ages, and despite starting in a high position, it still didn't go well these years. After returning to China, she found just the right personality to make use of his reputation like Jonas.
Sure enough, the company noticed her value and made arrangements for her, but the conditions suddenly changed, and the company considered giving her up.
"Jonas, I didn't do anything shady except love you. Why are you so unfair to me? Have you forgotten what transpired when we were little? We played house at that time. You said you would marry me.
Back then, you didn't know how happy and mortified I was at the same time. You were so kind to me. I fretted that I didn't deserve you, so I had been working hard on bettering myself. I thought that one day I would be entitled to stand beside you. Am I too late now?"
Emily said painfully, hot tears rolling down from her fingers. Her delicate oval face was wet with tears, making people want to take care of her.
"Jonas, I've always dreamed of being your bride since I was a little girl."
Tears welled up in Emily's eyes, and she looked at Jonas. Thinking of the events when they were small, Jonas was touched. But they were young and naive then, and those were all empty promises. Jonas remembered that it was Emily who had left first, but it was too late to say anything now.
"I'm going home first."
Melinda felt nauseated when she heard Emily began talking about the past from her childhood, especially when it involved the word "bride". She could almost imagine the scene when two little kids said their vows to each other slowly. She was Jonas's legal wife, but now she seemed to be the third person who ruined their bond.
Sometimes, a writer's imagination could become uncontrollable.
Melinda's mind was now full of drama revolving around a love triangle.
"Mellie."
While clutching her handbag, Melinda stood up from her seat. Jonas immediately reached out for her arm, but Melinda darkened her face and flung his hand away, a bright smile flashing across her lips.
"I won't disturb you two."
While saying that, Melinda secretly resolved that she wouldn't forgive Jonas easily if he dared to reminisce about the old days with Emily.
Seeing the unnatural expression on Melinda's face, Jonas knew that something disastrous was bound to happen. Just when he was about to catch up to her, Emily suddenly appeared in front of him and said in an aggrieved voice, "Jonas."
Emily blocked Jonas's way. Melinda, who was already on her feet, had already walked to the coffee shop door. She paused her steps for a second, but she didn't catch Jonas following behind her. She left the establishment with a sullen face.
"Get out of the way."
Jonas was a little apprehensive, but he couldn't be so harsh to Emily. The feelings he had when he was a kid still made him uncertain. Seeing that Melinda was going farther and farther away from him, he panicked.
"Jonas, aren't you going to help me? Seriously?"
Emily still struggled to endure her last strife. She didn't want to accept the fact that Jonas was insensitive to her and that he worried more for Melinda.
After going out of the coffee shop, Melinda hailed a taxi. When she spun around, she saw Jonas and Emily still fumbling with each other. With a taunting smile, she got on the car and slammed the door shut.
The sudden loud bang startled the driver. Turning around, he discovered that it was a sophisticated young woman. 'Never judge a person by her looks,' he thought to himself. Then he picked up the address from Melinda and was too overwhelmed to say more.
He didn't dare aggravate the people from that neighborhood.
"Emily, move aside. Don't make me repeat my words."
Jonas stared intently at the taxi, memorized that number of its license plate, and ordered William to find out where the taxi went after picking Emily up. After hearing that it headed straight to the Gu's mansion, Jonas was secretly relieved.
He hadn't driven fast for a long time, but to reach Melinda soon and provide an explanation, he stepped on the gas and sped away. Finally, Jonas arrived at the same time as Melinda at the mansion.
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