The Bound Between Us

Chapter 244

Melinda’s sudden sobbing took Anastasia off guard. “Melinda, what’s wrong? What’s going on? Please, don’t cry.” Anastasia said. She handed Melinda a tissue and tried to wipe away her tears.

Unable to hold back her emotions, the moment Melinda hung up the phone, all her grievances poured out like a burst dam. Everything she had been working and fighting for seemed like a cruel joke. It was as if a string she had been tensing for years had suddenly snapped.

Melinda cried uncontrollably, drawing a few side-eyes from other customers in the shop.

Pattie, the wise little girl, tried to wipe Melinda’s tears away with her tiny hand, “Don’t cry. I’ll give you a sweet.”

She didn’t really know how to comfort people, but she was willing to share her candy. In Pattie’s world, having sweets always cheered her up.

Pattie unwrapped a sweet, and Melinda, unable to say no to the little girl, popped it in her mouth. She sobbed silently as she tasted the sweetness, which was a stark contrast to the bitterness in her heart. She was no longer a three-year-old child who could be placated with a piece of candy. The sweeter the candy, the more bitter she felt inside.

“My parents just bought a house in the county and didn’t even tell me. They used my money to buy my brother his wedding house. They set the wedding date without telling me. What the hell am I to them?” Melinda exploded, “Am I just an ATM to them? For years, I’ve been footing the bill for everything at home. They’ve squeezed me dry.”

Hearing this, Anastasia felt a surge of anger for Mélinda. Melinda might have seemed to be living the high life, but in reality, she was beaten and bruised, drained dry by her own family.

After a long while of comforting her, Melinda finally calmed down. Seeing Melinda in such a state, Anastasia didn’t dare to ask anything else.

cab for Melinda. Watching

her shared flat, Melinda seemed dazed. Her flatmate noticed her looking down and asked, “Melinda, what’s wrong? Is something bothering

wanting to talk about it.

flatmate, who had often accompanied her to the Neon Dreams club, suddenly remembered something, “Melinda, your friend from last time, she

on the couch, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone,

the rooftop. I followed her, and you won’t believe what I saw. She was with Mr. Salstrom from

was saying. Her mind was still preoccupied with the house her parents had purchased. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to call home. She took her phone into her room, closing the door behind her. The call was picked up almost immediately, and before Melinda could even ask about the house, her mother’s voice asking for money came through, “Melinda, do you have any money left? Could you send me another hundred grand? The

of her bed, clutching her bedsheets tightly, trying to hold back her emotions. She allowed her mother to finish her spiel before asking, “Mom, is my brother getting married next month? Does the bride’s family expect a hundred grand as a

house had already been bought; now all that was left was to prepare the wedding gift. Her mother suddenly

over the phone, didn’t seem to feel guilty in the slightest. Instead, she chuckled and replied, “Yes, he’s getting married next month. As his sister, you should take care of your brother’s wedding. The bride’s family want a hundred grand as a wedding gift. Your father

was being torn apart, yet she clung to a sliver of hope and

did.” Maria bragged over the phone, “Paid in full, with the money you’ve been sending us over the years. It’s a large three-bedroom flat with a big balcony.

returning home in a few years. Then we

money in Riverdale. There’s no future in a small town.

I want to come back and take care of you.