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.

the room, passing Devina’s side. She prayed to God she 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

at any point, she didn’t look back

determined to get out of

couldn’t stay there

Timothy thought she was a thief, well, let him think

to borrow from her parents, beg them to listen to her,

thought made her start to

consider going to beg her parents, those who had slammed the door in

the only

said Timothy as

she shoved him, catching him off guard, and stepped into the elevator. “Tell your sister-in-law she can stick her check where

dumbfounded, she noticed it in his green eyes, confusion gave way to anger, he turned his face in the direction of the room but couldn’t react in time. The elevator doors

She was already gone.

****

through the streets of Manhattan, an ice cream, and a pack

stopped in front of the

the steps now that

she say to make

ice cream didn’t help her at all. But she

running her hands fervently

in there?” Lydia Redford opened the door to

began to cry again, as she

of a second, she wanted refuge in familiar

her arms around her and squeezed her tight. Melody calmed down after a few minutes. “Come on inside

back. Melody had missed her mother so much that, in her grief at not receiving her

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

her feel like a stranger in her parents’

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

to get me some chocolate?” suddenly it didn’t feel so good to go to her parents’ house anymore. She was going to get their complaints, their; ‘I told you so you

a waste

was screaming at her in a Mexican serenade voice, that

chocolate, with a

was being a wanton crybaby, from those

since you got the hell out of here. Not ten years,” there were always

She felt like her head was going to explode and her chest couldn’t take any

right about something. She liked Timothy, she saw something different in him, a willingness to help a stranger

the voice of Charles Redford flooded through the house, grabbing

living room, startled by the imperious, frightened tone her father had

followed in her

all right, Charles?” she asked

hand, holding it as if this one

not when she could tell he was so angry. She who

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