Melinda had been living a monotonous life. Her routine consisted of going to her workplace, getting essentials from the supermarket, and returning home. Her schedule was packed and she didn't have the time to think about anything else.
Melinda had been deliberately avoiding Kent. Kent didn't try contacting her either. He didn't want to bother her after she had clearly explained what she felt about him. They were like strangers now.
Melinda was back to living her life on her own, without anyone's support.
She wasn't petrified by the loneliness rather embraced it. She reveled in the bliss of solitude.
But Kent had been agitated since Melinda had left. He had been used to talking to her every day and her absence was killing him. He regretted ruining all his chances by confessing his love. He tried hard to calm down but he couldn't control his emotions anymore.
A week later, when Melinda left the office after work, her eyes settled on a familiar car. Kent was leaning against the car, smiling at her.
He was wearing a white shirt and black suit pants, looking quite elegant.
Melinda couldn't help but smile at him.
"Kent!"
She had forgotten everything about his confession. Kent breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door of his car.
"Come on, let's have dinner." He smiled and motioned her to get in.
Melinda bit her lip and looked at him nervously. "Don't you girls have guy friends? Consider me as your best male friend and hop into the car if you don't have a problem. I'll always be there for you."
"I want to eat roasted fish."
Melinda's face broke into a dazzling grin. Kent was finally happy to see her like this.
He didn't want to make things awkward between them. He was happy to have a part in her life even if it meant he could be nothing more than a friend to her.
Jonas had been frustrated lately. Although he hadn't paid attention to what Melinda was up to, the people around him were always curious about her and the gossips inevitably reached his ears.
He heard that Melinda and Kent were getting close to each other and that she was looking prettier than ever. Jonas was annoyed about it.
Every time he returned home, Nelson would scowl at him with disappointment.
Jonas was afraid that Nelson was going to abandon him for Melinda.
Nelson was at the door of the Gu's mansion, coming back from a walk when Jonas returned after partying. He snorted and glared at him.
"Don't you have anything else to do other than hooking up with women?"
"Grandpa, I hope you understand that Melinda and I can never be together."
Nelson narrowed his eyes and sat on the mahogany couch with the support of his crutch. He strangely felt lonely around Jonas. He wondered if he knew his grandson anymore.
Jonas hated that things had turned bitter between him and his grandfather.
"Grandpa, are you going to ignore my brother for Melinda? Jonas is your grandson, not her. What's so good about her that you're constantly praising her and putting him down? She has treated our servants badly, disregarded her duty as a wife and daughter-in-law, and most importantly, she has ruined the reputation of the Gu family."
Yulia despised Melinda and always abused her. Nelson usually reprimanded her but this time he just glanced at Jonas and remained quiet.
Nelson hated that Jonas couldn't think for himself. He always listened to what other people said about Melinda.
"Yulia, mind your business. If you've no work to do, I'll ask my secretary William to arrange a job for you in the company."
Although Jonas hated Melinda, he couldn't hear Yulia talk ill of her. Yulia always wanted to work in the company as she thought that everyone would revere her. But his company only appreciated skill and talent. Yulia didn't receive any privilege for who she was.
Yulia was incompetent and received severe criticism from the group leader. She had been afraid to go to the company since then.
After Yulia left, an awkward silence prevailed in the air. Nelson and Jonas shared a complicated relationship. Nelson was cold and Jonas was resolute about his decision.
The butler was loyal and couldn't stand this.
"Mr. Jonas, your grandfather misses Mrs. Gu, and that's why he wants you to bring her back," the butler said.
Nelson had been heartbroken ever since Melinda had left. He wasn't upset with her for not returning home as he knew that Jonas had hurt her.
"She is not Mrs. Gu anymore, Gavin," Jonas grunted.
The butler glanced at Nelson's hold on the crutch tightened and his knuckles almost turned white. He was shaking with fury.
"If Melinda isn't Mrs. Gu, then who the hell you think is the daughter-in-law of the Gu family? Is it Emily Bai or Holley Huang? Don't think that you can be with another woman. I won't let that happen as long as I'm alive. But don't worry, I'm old now, and if you continue to disappoint me, I'll be dead soon. You can do whatever you want after that," Nelson bellowed.
Jonas pursed his lips and looked at him. That wasn't what he had wanted. When Jonas opened his mouth to explain his feelings, the butler winked at him, gesturing him to keep quiet.
He knew that Nelson would be infuriated by Jonas's words and was worried that he would fall ill again.
Jonas remained quiet and Nelson continued to nag him. But he was soon out of breath and left to his room.
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