The Italian's proposal

Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

Melody

Devina was smiling and Melody couldn’t believe that, in her hands, was a check for that amount of money.

“Take it,” she told her holding her hands out to her.

“No...I...”

“Don’t say no. No person should be forced into marriage,” her logic was impossible to dispute. But, still, she couldn’t accept that much from a stranger, no matter how much her heart screamed at her that she could trust her.

“You’re right. But I don’t know you. Neither do you know me,” she handed the check back to her and stepped back, “I think we should save lunch for later. I’m exhausted.”

“Melody,” Devina couldn’t believe it, nor could she.

“I just can’t. I really, really don’t know how much I appreciate it. I have no idea how much money you have, nor do I care to know how you got it. That’s not my problem. But you can’t go giving three million dollars to someone you don’t know,” she sat up in bed, she was dizzy, and her head was starting to pound.

“I’m giving you the money you need to get the hell out. To be free,” she followed her steps and sat down next to her. “Look honey, no one should have to suffer and pay for something they didn’t do. The guilty ones, the ones who do harm, those should have a hard time, they should rot in jail. I’m sure you’ve been trying to make Timothy understand that you didn’t do anything, or am I wrong?”

Melody squeezed her temples. She was right. But it was still too much money.

“It’s a lot of money,” she mumbled in annoyance. “It’s too much. I wouldn’t even know how to begin to repay you.” She couldn’t believe she was even considering it. But taking that money was a better alternative than....

She looked at Devina who was watching her determined that she would accept the money.

Would it be possible?

“He sent you,” she told her finally realizing it.

“What?” the redhead stood up from the bed as if it had thorns everywhere.

“You heard me. He sent you, didn’t he? Let’s see if I’m dumb enough to take the money. You want to see if I’ll take off with the money?” she also got out of bed and without thinking she slapped Devina across the cheek.

She almost fell for it, what a fool she had been! She almost had trusted Devina, without knowing her.

“You’re crazy! Insane!” she said, putting her hand on the area that was beginning to redden. “I only came to help you, because I don’t think you stole from Timothy, I’m just trying to help!”

“Crazy? You think I’m crazy? Come near me again and I’ll gouge your fucking eyes out with a fork,” the threat was harsher than she would have believed.

“No one sent me,” Devina told her with flashing green eyes.

“I’m not as stupid as Timothy thinks I am. I’d appreciate it if you’d close the door on your way out.”

She grabbed her side purse that sat on top of the nightstand, the cell phone Timothy had given her earlier that morning, assuring her that he wanted her available at any time of day. She resented the situation as no one could imagine, but it was what she had been dealt.

Or so she thought.

hadn’t made a mistake with the redhead, but she would never trust anyone lightly again. She trusted her brother-in-law for years and look

didn’t call out to her at any point, she

pushed the elevator button, determined to get

couldn’t stay there for another

Timothy thought she was a thief,

leave. Even if she had to borrow from her parents, beg them to listen to her, she

her start to

beg her parents, those who had slammed the door

was the only

going?” said Timothy as the elevator doors opened and he saw her

off guard, and stepped into

turned his face in the direction of the room but couldn’t react in

She was already gone.

****

hours after wandering zombie-like through the streets of Manhattan, an ice cream, and a pack of popcorn in her stomach, Melody finally

in front

how to take the steps now that she

would he say? What would she say to

was cold to death. And the decision of eating the ice cream didn’t help her at all. But

arms, running her hands fervently up

Redford. What are you supposed to wait in there?” Lydia Redford opened the door

again, as she ran into

share her decision to have her child, for a second, for a thousandth of a second, she wanted refuge in familiar arms. Ones that had cared for her

squeezed her tight. Melody calmed down after a few minutes. “Come on inside Mel. You need to get warm. You’re

one’s arms around the other’s back. Melody had missed her mother so much that, in her grief at not receiving her support, she

down, let me get you a coat,” her mother hurried out of the living room and Melody sat in

whole thing made her feel like a

her and Melody immediately squeezed the fabric for extra warmth. “Would you like a cup of chocolate? Look how skinny you are!” her mother let a tear fall as she stroked her head, just like she used to do when Melody was a little girl. “How did you get so much worse

to get their complaints, their; ‘I

was a waste

was screaming at her in a Mexican serenade voice, that she had nowhere else

cup of hot chocolate, with a little cinnamon on top, just the way Melody liked to

cinnamon on it,” she was being a

ridiculous. It’s been a week since you got the hell out of here. Not ten

felt like

a willingness to help a stranger without asking for anything in return, a genuine and sincere look. He condemned lies

voice of Charles Redford flooded through the house, grabbing the attention of

into the living room, startled by the imperious, frightened tone her

in

all right, Charles?” she asked

as if this one

her father to know she was there, at least not when she could tell he was so angry. She who was already a cause for anger and

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