"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.
frowned at Yulia's
at school. I needed a favor from
Yulia was trying to cause trouble and felt that
could have sought help from my brother. He's, after all, the
wanted Jonas to spoil her
careful while choosing
always looked down upon her. No one tried making friends with her because of Jonas. She was invisible to them as everyone
it," Melinda said obediently. Melinda knew that she couldn't argue with Queena Yao, so she smiled and walked to her
flustered with embarrassment. She was surprised to see that Melinda was unfazed by
has started to ignore
of Yulia's intentions. She knew that Yulia
as much as
always a sparrow," Queena
face changed when she saw Queena Yao's tight expression, but she managed to force a
afraid of her and tried to be in their best behavior. Nelson was hardly in
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
was checking her first draft when a loud voice reverberated across the silent room. "What are
her computer off and stood up. Queena Yao was
you still don't have children. I don't understand why Father was insistent
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
of children. She clenched her fists to control the rage that was simmering in her heart. She was pregnant once and had lost her
trying to write a novel and she's brilliant at it. I've heard that great writers earn up to a
Yao's faithful follower and Melinda was surprised to see
Jonas earns a million
plenitude of wealth and that a million dollars meant nothing
at least she is working hard. We've
it was part of her plan. She knew
since I returned home and I haven't seen Jonas yet. My son
Queena Yao. She
not her
fault?" Queena Yao's anger spiked up with every word Yulia uttered. She was seething with rage.
them talking about her but didn't
Yao glanced at Melinda who was looking at her with a vacant expression. Melinda's nonchalance annoyed her
you find it weird to pretend like
Melinda finally asked.
urge to smile. She was
went back to the computer table to continue with her work, but her mind was a complete mess. She switched off the computer and went
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