Ex husband's Plea for Forgiveness

When Yulia got back to Alan’s place, she saw her belongings all strewn on the floor by the door. Inside, a middle-aged cleaning lady was constantly swearing as she worked.

Unable to bear any more, Yulia fled that rented apartment, weeping. She rushed back to the Gu's mansion in panic and desperation.

Naturally, Nelson knew all about the entire debacle. He was lounging on the sofa in the living room when Yulia returned, and she immediately got down on her knees before him as soon as she entered.

"Grandfather, I’ve been so wrong. Please forgive me. I promise, I’ll listen to you from now on. I won’t make stupid, childish mistakes anymore."

She wept and wailed on her grandfather’s lap, airing out all her grievances and sorrow.

Nelson only sighed. "You’d better learned your lesson. If it weren’t for Melinda, who knows how long it would have taken to expose that charlatan. Or how many more women he’d have deceived!"

It was only then that Yulia realized her brother and his wife were also in the room. She shot her grandfather a confused look. ‘What did he mean by that?’

Nelson was smiling warmly at Melinda, and explained everything, praising her every so often in between narratives.

"Grandpa, it’s all just a matter of coincidence and good luck." Melinda brushed off the compliments she was given. It was the truth.

If Jonas hadn’t mentioned that there was something wrong about Alan, she wouldn’t have dwelt on the matter and discovered the con artist’s schemes.

"Be that as it may, it doesn’t change the fact that you’ve done an excellent thing! Citizens of A City have been commending your actions. You’ve brought honor to the Gu family, and I’m so proud."

Yulia felt small in the face of all the praises Melinda was getting, and she grimaced in displeasure. Then she recalled the pictures and mail that she had received.

If she put two things together, it was safe to assume that those incriminating pieces of evidence were from her brother’s wife.

"Still, Grandpa, Yulia was in no fault at all. She was the one cheated on by that bastard." Though her tone was gentle, Melinda shot a snide look at Jonas when she said the word "bastard".

"Thank you, Melinda," Yulia said quietly. She was, in fact, not feeling grateful at all, but she had to mask her bitterness and resentment from their grandfather. This much she could manage.

"Oh never mind about that. Just make sure you use your brains in the future." Melinda’s statement was followed by a heavy silence.

It was a little harsh, but she realized too late, and the atmosphere had become awkward. She felt ashamed of herself. She had meant to comfort the younger girl, but her words slipped out easily unchecked.

Yulia took great offense at Melinda’s words, but she reined in her temper. She settled with silence, lest she said something vile in reply.

"Oh please don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t trying to imply anything mean." Melinda rushed to rectify the situation, but her words got the better of her yet again. "Women meet a bunch of lying bastards all the time. You’re actually luckier than I am in that respect."

Her last remark did not escape Jonas’s notice, and he gave his wife a pointed look. At that, Melinda raised both her hands, deciding to shut up once and for all.

Yulia wasn’t paying attention to them anyway. She hung her head, and her thoughts were filled with vitriol towards Melinda.

planned this from the start. She’s behind all this! She couldn’t bear to

covered by her bangs. And her resentment against Melinda was also obvious. Her reputation was

formed in her mind, Yulia raised her head and pasted an innocent smile on her face. "Melinda, thank you, really. Why don’t we go shopping one of these days? I want to buy you something to express my

earnest expression, and with her invitation phrased the way it was, it would be in poor taste if Melinda refused her. She

long known that she would never get along well

so potent it was practically palpable whenever they were in the same room. Surely all that

anything, Melinda was certain it only grew more each passing day. Nevertheless, as long as Yulia

the days that followed, the residents of the Gu's mansion avoided speaking of the matter with Alan. Yulia

badger Melinda into going to the mall with her. Melinda couldn’t put it off any longer, and they finally made plans to go

bright pink dress, not quite fuchsia, but not a muted baby shade either. Just

settled for

black body-hugging, sleeveless top that exposed her midriff, pumps, and a rather

to each other, Yulia looked like the

the jewelry district, dragging Melinda behind her. They weren’t the only ones in that

amount of time on her hands.

whined as she clung to his arm. "Let’s go to the Cartier Shoppe. I have

wearing an immaculate white dress, and an elaborate "natural look" makeup that consisted of a lot of products and took a lot

sunglasses that covered a majority of her

a handsome and successful young entrepreneur who had

the moment they stepped into the mall. Most of the attention fell solidly on Jonas, though.

Emily said, leaning closer

gentle towards her. She was smug about getting that little special treatment, and she

Yulia pulled Melinda into the Cartier Shoppe and looked at some watches. She mentioned how she noticed that the older woman wore nothing on her wrist, and that she wanted to

loud, and then turned towards the entrance. Emily and Jonas had

turned to see what the fuss was all about as well. She had a mildly curious expression on her face when she leaned over to look, and her face

out anytime soon. To her disappointment, Melinda only put down

she headed towards the doors on the other side of the shop, away from where Jonas

the situation. She looked back towards her brother and

scowled. He had his eyes trained on Melinda. He just barely saw her as she turned to leave, but he

also seen Melinda. How could she not, when Jonas stared so

wife at that moment. 'This damn woman, I’m her husband, dammit! How dare she act as if she didn’t know who the devil

thought, he shrugged off from Emily’s clutch and strode after the direction of

all but screeched, and then followed after him as well. She struggled to match his unrelenting pace,

his wife and give her a piece of his mind. She was

going on. What she was sure of, was

would go as far as admitting that she felt a pang in her chest when she saw them, and

continued to forge ahead, her steps confident and even. Yulia was beside her in a moment, looking unbothered at all as she tried to catch up to the older woman, even