She Loves Him, But He's Her Brother

"I've made up my mind, Brent. I'll work at your company, but I've got a few things to take care of first."

The sky was lit with the soft hues of a sunset as Melanie stood on the secondfloor balcony, looking down at the luggage by the door. A woman stood there too, eager to move in. Watching it all unfold, Melanie felt her heart sink so low it felt like it might never rise again.

"Alright, Mel. Let me know when you're ready, and I'll book your flight," Brenton replied.

"Thanks, Brent," she murmured before ending the call.

Turning back to her room, she quietly started packing her things.

She had lived in this house for eight years, once thinking it would be her home forever. But that was just her wishful thinking.

On the night before her 14th birthday, her parents abandoned her. They left behind nothing but a short letter and a mountain of debt. Her perfect world came crashing down, and she was kicked out of the villa like some stray with nowhere to go.

At her lowest, it was Edwin Setchfield—nine years older than her—who defied all odds to bring her into his home. He protected her and cared for her for eight long years.

He gave her back a sense of stability, joy, and the freedom to chase her dreams without fear.

In her youth, she met someone who made her feel like he could define her life, and that guy stayed by her side as she grew up. How could she not fall in love with him?

It was slow, so slow she didn't even notice it at first. But the way he cared for her and how he was always there made it impossible not to hope that maybe he felt the same.

Last summer, she went hiking with friends, got lost, and injured her leg. It was Edwin who searched for her all night in the rain. When he found her, he carried her down the mountain on his back.

At dawn, as she lay against him, watching the golden light spread across the horizon, she finally confessed her feelings.

But Edwin didn't say anything.

Not long after they returned to Oklahoma, he introduced a girlfriend to the family.

Everything changed after that. He stopped picking her up from school. He stopped taking her out to eat or shop. They hardly saw each other anymore.

By June, at Melanie's graduation ceremony, she overheard someone say Edwin had broken up with his girlfriend.

That night, after a few drinks with friends, she kissed him in a haze of courage, wrapping her arms around his neck and confessing to him in front of everyone.

It was the first time he ever yelled at her.

"This is ridiculous! Melanie, I'm your brother!"

"But you're not really my brother, Ed! I've liked you for so long, since—"

"Enough! This is absurd!"

He stormed off, slamming the door behind him.

That night, it rained harder than it had in years. She waited for him outside the bar, sitting in the cold for hours. But he never came back.

When she finally ran back to the Setchfields' villa, drenched and shaking, the maid told her he hadn't been home at all.

Terrified something might've happened to him, she ran out again into the rain to look for him. She checked his office, his usual spots—he wasn't there.

Then it hit her. His ex.

Out of desperation, she rushed to the woman's place.

By the time she arrived, the rain had eased, and the sky was starting to lighten.

Across the street, she saw them—Edwin and Maurice. She was standing there in a silk nightgown, leaning close to him under the same umbrella. They looked nothing like two couples who had broken up.

When Melanie returned to the Setchfields' villa, soaked and exhausted, Edwin was calmly having breakfast.

He barely glanced at her before saying, "Get your things packed. Don't be late on your first day at work."

Fighting the ache in her chest, she walked up to him, holding back tears. "Have you ever… even once… liked me?

She could feel it—deep down, she knew she meant something to him.

But then, that look on his face… Melanie could never forget it.

It was cold, colder than she'd ever seen, with a hint of disgust she never expected from him.

He said, "The only reason I took you in was because of the bond between our parents. I treated you well out of pity, nothing more."

"I've never felt anything for you beyond what a brother feels for his sister."

His words were sharp, final, and completely emotionless. Just like that, her last bit of hope crumbled.

She barely remembered how she made it to the company. She walked to the office soaked from the rain, her head pounding, her body weak. In the middle of a meeting, she fainted.

That night, her fever spiked past 39 degrees. She lay alone on a hospital bed, her ears ringing and her vision blurred by darkness.

The noise around her was overwhelming, but one thing was painfully clear: Edwin wasn't there.

It wasn't until a nurse came in and noticed how bad Melanie's fever was that she finally got some meds injected into her.

When she woke up the next morning, her body felt drenched like she'd been boiling in her own skin.

Being sick makes you weak. It makes you crave care—any kind of care.

After hesitating for a long time, she picked up her phone and called Edwin.

"Ed… can you bring me some clothes? Please?"

She hoped he'd come like he used to. But the voice on the other end wasn't his.

It was Maurice.

The clothes? Maurice brought them over. Edwin never showed up.

Maurice smiled warmly. "Edwin's been so busy with work lately. If you need anything, just let me know. I'm your sisterinlaw now, you know."

When Melanie was discharged, it wasn't Edwin who came to get her. He sent a driver.

Standing at the hospital's entrance, she looked around. Strangers rushed past and cars whizzed by, but the one person she longed to see wasn't there.

Back at the villa, the emptiness felt suffocating. She sat in the living room all night, waiting.

He didn't come home.

Even now, part of her refused to believe he could be so heartless.

But today, staring at the luggage by the door and the woman walking in like she owned the place, Melanie finally pieced everything together.

The courage she'd held onto for so long was gone, washed away by the rain.

She didn't want to love Edwin anymore.

A sudden knock at the door startled her, making her drop the photo frame in her hands. It hit the floor with a sharp crack, the glass shattering over the picture, blurring the faces in it.

Maurice stood at the door, looking apologetic. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Edwin asked me to bring my stuff to his room. This is his room, right?"

Melanie's heart ached, but she forced herself to smile. "Oh, it's fine. I—I'm just finishing up packing. Sorry to keep you waiting."

This used to be Edwin's room. But because she loved the ocean view and the way the sunlight streamed in the room, he'd let her have it.

Now, it was going back to him.

Maurice nodded. "Take your time. I'll run to the store for some essentials. When Edwin gets back, we can all have dinner together."

She set the suitcase down inside and left.

But as she turned, Melanie noticed something hanging from the suitcase. It was a photo keychain—a picture of Maurice and Edwin, smiling and close in front of Melanie.

Once upon a time, Edwin hated taking pictures. The only photo he and Melanie had ever taken together was one she'd begged him for.

Melanie stared at the photo on the floor, tears slipping down her face again.

She bent down to pick it up, not even noticing when tiny shards of glass pierced through her fingers.

In the picture, she was smiling brightly, leaning slightly toward Edwin. But he? He looked so distant like he didn't even want to be there.

It was nothing like the photo of him and Maurice on that keychain.

That's when she finally got it: love and indifference—they'd always been clear. She was just too stupid to see it.

This villa had been her home for eight years. Every corner of it was filled with her things. But so much of it—too much—had been gifts from Edwin.

She decided she didn't need to keep any of it.

Piece by piece, she packed everything he'd given her into boxes. It took a few trips to carry it all down to the storage room.

When she was done, all she had left was one suitcase.

As she stepped out of the house, she ran right into Edwin.

He glanced at the suitcase she was pulling, his brows furrowing slightly, but he didn't say a word.

Her heart ached as he brushed past her without a word. It felt like swallowing a thousand needles, but she still forced herself to speak.

"Ed, my department's really busy this week. I'm going to stay at the company for a few days."

She'd taken on some freelance projects recently. Once she finished them, she'd finally have enough money to pay him back. Between that and her savings from college, she could finally clear her debt to him.

Then she could leave for good.

He paused for a second, but his tone stayed cold. "Do what you want."

And just like that, he walked back inside. No other words. No attempt to stop her.

Her eyes stung as she dragged her suitcase out the door.

She couldn't help but think back to when he first brought her here. He'd told her this was her home. He'd told her that he'd always be there for her.

When her parents abandoned her, Edwin was the one who pieced her heart back together.

No matter how busy he was, he'd come home every night to eat with her. On weekends, he'd take her hiking or camping. He even introduced her to his friends.

"This is my baby," he'd say with a grin. "She's going to be a big designer one day!"

Eight years of warmth and promises… gone, just like that.

She pulled her suitcase to the gate and was about to call for a ride when a delivery guy in a Southern Roots Kitchen uniform walked up to her, holding a fancy food container.

It was from her favorite restaurant.

"Hi, are you Miss Henley? This is your order," he said.

She blinked, confused. "I didn't order anything."

The delivery guy showed her the receipt. "The number ends in 3981. Isn't that yours? The address matches here, too."

That number—it was Edwin's.

The delivery guy looked at her, a bit impatient. "I tried calling the number earlier, but no one answered. Are you Miss Henley?"

After a moment, she nodded quietly and signed for the food. She took the container and set her suitcase aside.

She figured she'd give it to the maid. It wasn't hers, anyway. A glance at the receipt told her everything—these were all dishes Maurice liked.

As she walked back to the door, she saw Edwin heading her way, phone in hand, talking to someone.

When he spotted her, his steps faltered for a second before he said into the phone, "Got it. I'll be there soon.

When he hung up, he looked at her with the same calm, distant expression as always. "Did you book the ride?"

Her chest tightened, but she forced herself to nod.

She only had 30 bucks left. If she was careful, it might last 10 days, but there was no way she could afford a cab.

Still, she nodded, not wanting him to worry.

"Cancel it," Edwin said suddenly.

She looked up in confusion.

Without looking at her, he explained in a firm, cold voice, "I'm leaving for a twoday business trip. Maurice doesn't like being alone, so stay here for a few more days and keep her company. When I'm back, we'll talk. Take any car from the garage to get to work."

Her heart sank, but she didn't argue—just moved to the smallest room at the end of the hallway.

The room didn't have the spacious floortoceiling windows she was used to—just two tiny ones that barely gave her a glimpse of the ocean.

Even though no one had roomed there for a while, it was spotless. The bedding had been freshly replaced, but she didn't bother unpacking.

She spread her suitcase on the floor, grabbed a few essentials, and left the rest untouched. She wanted to be ready to leave at any moment.

That night dragged on forever, but eventually, morning came.

Melanie got up early, went downstairs, and started helping prepare breakfast.

She noticed the time and realized it was almost time for work, but Maurice still hadn't come down. When she asked about it, one of the maids casually mentioned, "Miss Maurice went with Sir Edwin on his trip."

Edwin had always been strict about keeping work and personal life separate.

When Melanie wanted to join the game development department at Setchfield Square, she had to go through the proper hiring process and assessments like everyone else.

But now, he'd taken Maurice on a business trip?

Melanie couldn't explain how she felt. The breakfast on her plate might as well have been cardboard. All she knew was that she was about to be late.

At the office, her colleague Crista Joyce was the first to greet her.

When Crista heard that Melanie was planning to resign, the former gasped in shock. "Wait, what? Are you serious? But President Setchfield already approved your project proposal! They're going to announce your promotion any day now!"

On Melanie's first day, the department head asked everyone to submit a proposal along with a project plan.

Since she was new, she wasn't required to participate. But then, the department head casually asked if she had any ideas.

Back then, her reason for joining Edwin's company wasn't just because of him—it was because this company was the perfect place to bring her ideas to life.

She took the chance when the department head asked her; she brought up an old game concept she'd worked on before.

But she'd barely gotten through half her presentation before she fainted from a fever and ended up missing work for days. She had no idea anyone had paid attention to her pitch.

Back then, she'd shown it to Edwin once. He hadn't been impressed, dismissing it as "too risky." Businesses value profit, and just a few words doomed her concept to have no future.

"Melanie," Crista said earnestly, "you can't leave! You're so talented, and President Setchfield clearly values your work. Girl, how could you throw this chance away?"

Melanie forced a smile. "Well, nothing's really me keeping me here. I've been in Oklahoma for too long. I mean, it's time to move on and see the world."

She used to think she could stay in Oklahoma forever, even with all its painful memories—as long as Edwin was here.

But now, there was nothing left but the pain.

If leaving would make things easier for him, she'd go.

She'd been a burden to him for too long.

Still, by the end of the morning, she couldn't bring herself to formally withdraw her project.

It wasn't just a project to her—it was her dream, her hard work, her heart and soul. She couldn't let it go so easily.

That afternoon, Melanie knocked on the director's office door. She tried to explain that her project still had too many flaws and asked if it could be withdrawn and replaced with another.

The director gave her a polite but firm reply: the project had already been submitted, and the CEO himself had approved it. If she wanted to pull it back, she'd have to wait until he returned from his business trip.

As she stepped into the hallway, her phone buzzed a few times.

It was a message from Maurice, along with a photo.

[Melanie!!! OMG! OMG!!!!! Edwin proposed! We're going to look for wedding rings later. Can you help me pick from these designs? Which one do you think is best?]

The attached photo wasn't of rings, though. It showed Maurice nestled in Edwin's arms, gazing up at him like she was about to kiss him.

Two seconds later, the photo was deleted and replaced by photos of diamond rings.

[Oops! Sorry! Wrong pic!]

This wasn't the first time Maurice had "accidentally" sent pictures like this. Every time Melanie would stare at their intimate photos, they left her crying and sitting in silence for hours, struggling to keep the pain at bay.

But this time was different. She had decided to quit loving Edwin, so she could look at such intimate photos now.

She studied the pictures of rings, feeling oddly calm. After carefully considering the options, she picked one and replied with her suggestion.

Less than an hour later, another photo came through. This time, it was Maurice wearing the ring Melanie had suggested.

[Here, does it look beautiful in my finger?]

The diamond was huge and clearly expensive.

Melanie stared at the photo for a moment, her expression still calm. Then she typed a short reply.

[It looks perfect. Congratulations to you both!]

Later that day, her company's private group chat exploded with two pieces of gossip.

The first: [the new girl in Game Development, Melanie, is President Setchfield's sister!]

The second: [President Setchfield has proposed to Mr. Steffensen's daughter!]

The chat lit up like wildfire, with one comment after another scrolling by.

Sitting on the bus, Melanie scrolled through the messages, her heart sinking as she read them.

She had just joined the group that afternoon. She hadn't even updated her display name or introduced herself yet before those two "explosive" messages shoved her into the spotlight.

[No wonder a rookie's project got approved! Nepotism much?]

[Yep! Did you see the budget for that project? No way they'd greenlight it, right? Well, turns out the CEO's her brother, so he doesn't mind investing in such a risky proposal!]

[I was working so hard for a promotion, but what's the point? She's obviously getting the lead role in this. Gosh, can you imagine a rookie bossing around?!]

[Please don't assign her project to my team. I don't want to waste my time making her look good.]

The comments just kept piling up. Different words, same meaning—they were all mocking her, painting her as incompetent, relying entirely on connections to get ahead.

But Melanie didn't bother defending herself. She simply turned off her phone, leaned back in her seat, and stared out the window.

By the time she got home, the sky was dark.

Mrs. Claire, the housekeeper, had dinner ready, but Melanie barely touched her food before heading upstairs.

She tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

The next morning, when she finally came downstairs, Edwin and Maurice were already back. They were sitting at the dining table, waiting for breakfast.

Melanie noticed that her usual seat had been taken by Maurice. But without saying a word, she just sat at the far end of the table.

She didn't want to sit next to Edwin.

Breakfast was unbearable—the couple giggled and chatted like they were the only two people there.

Melanie just kept her head down, quietly sipping her coffee.

Usually, Melanie would sit beside Edwin, chatting away about everything that happened the day before—who got teased by the teacher, who suddenly started dating, or which new idol everyone was obsessing over.

But today, she was quiet. Too quiet.

Edwin wasn't used to it.

"I'm full. I'll head to work now." Melanie grabbed her bag and was about to leave when his voice stopped her.

"It's raining outside. The roads are slippery. I'll drive you later."

She froze for a second. It had been so long since she'd heard something like that from him. For a moment, she felt… disoriented.

Turning back, she replied calmly, "No need, I'll take the bus. It's convenient enough."

Edwin frowned, about to insist, but Maurice spoke first.

"Melanie, it's no trouble at all! Edwin and I are going to the company anyway. We can drop you off on the way," she said with a sweet smile.

Melanie blinked, glancing at Edwin. "I thought you two were going to pick out wedding outfits today?"

Yesterday, Maurice had sent her pictures of dresses, asking for her opinion before the photoshoot.

Maurice looked up at Edwin with adoration, her hand slipping into his. "Well, that's for later," she clarified. "This morning, babe's taking me to the company for a little tour. Soon, Melanie, we'll be colleagues!"

For some reason, hearing that made Melanie feel uneasy.

And her instincts were right.

At the company, she was called into the CEO's office.

Edwin didn't waste time. "Gummy Gem—I've decided to assign that project to Maurice. She has more experience. You'll work under her and learn from her."

Gummy Gem wasn't her baby. She'd spent countless hour and resources and sacrificed other opportunities to perfectly conceptualize that game.

And Edwin knew that. He knew exactly how much it meant to her.

Yet here he was, handing it over to someone else—without even discussing it with her first.

Melanie let out a bitter laugh. "President Setchfield, I don't agree."

Edwin's expression darkened, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk. "Why not?"

Why not?

He knew the answer. But he was cold and distant, still pushing her to accept his decision.

Was it because he didn't love her? Was that why he had to trample all over her like this?

Melanie blinked back the tears building in her eyes, forcing herself to meet Edwin's gaze. "Because Gummy Gem is my work. I put my heart into it, and I won't hand it over to someone else. Besides, has Maurice ever developed a game on her own? Has she led a team to win awards in international competitions? She—"

"Enough, Melanie." His tone was sharp, cutting her off. "This is business. It's not about your personal feelings but profits. Stop acting like a child."

"I'm not!" Her voice shook, but she held firm. "I'm just being logical. I don't—"

"This isn't up for discussion." His voice dropped, cold and final. "The announcement will be made later today. I'm just informing you."

The CEO's face darkened a little, and it was obvious his tone left no room for argument.

Melanie stared at him, and it was at that moment that she realized how that man in front of her felt like a stranger.

This was the same person who once told her she could do anything and encouraged her to dream. But now? He was dismissing her passion like it was nothing, calling it childish.

It hit her then—he really did love Maurice. So much so that he was willing to throw away his principles and standards, even use Melanie as a stepping stone to pave the way.

"Ed," Melanie said, "are you happy now?"

The light in the office flickered unevenly, casting shadows over Edwin as he leaned back in his chair, looking up at her.

For the first time, he realized that the girl who used to follow him around had grown up. But somehow, the bright, cheerful Melanie he used to know wasn't there anymore.

And yet…

The silence was broken when the door opened.

Maurice strolled in, wearing a chic little tweed outfit, her heels clicking against the floor. Without hesitation, she walked up to Edwin, clasping his hand with a playful pout.

"Babe, I've decided! I want the office right next to yours. The view is perfect, and I love the décor!"

Edwin instinctively wanted to refuse, and his eyes couldn't help but drift to Melanie. "This office isn't supposed to be—"

"President Setchfield, I'm stepping down." Melanie forced a smile, turned around, and walked out.

That office had been meant for her. He'd promised her that when she joined the company, she'd work there close to him, so it would be convenient to look after her.

But none of it mattered anymore.

She didn't want it. She didn't want anything anymore.

Half an hour before lunch, the announcement was released.

Just as expected, the Gummy Gem project was handed over to Maurice and the third game development team.

Melanie couldn't forget how, not long ago, the staff in that team were the ones complaining about the project the most. Yet, as soon as the news broke, they all suddenly changed their attitude, throwing compliments at Maurice.

Of course, Maurice was the future wife of the company's CEO. Who wouldn't want to flatter her?

But Melanie? She wasn't anyone special. She could be ignored or insulted.

When she looked at the assignment list, barely paying attention, she had to scroll through it until she finally saw her name at the very bottom.

She'd been assigned to the third team, responsible for the simplest task—building the frontend framework.

That was fine. Once she finished her part, she could focus on her freelance projects. The sooner she wrapped those up, the sooner she could pay back Edwin.

After work, Crista came by to ask if she wanted to grab dinner, but Melanie declined.

Instead, she pulled a sandwich out of her bag, ate quickly, and got back to coding.

When she heard footsteps approaching behind her, she hurriedly switched her screen before turning around. Edwin stood there in his usual black suit, his face calm but distant.

"Why aren't you eating?" he asked.

Melanie got up and stood in front of her computer, answering lightly, "I already ate."

He frowned. "You're new here. Aside from Gummy Gem, did Director Shaw assign you anything else?"

She hesitated, then saw him pull out his phone, clearly about to call the director. Panicking, she quickly said, "No, Director Shaw has been really kind to me. I was just practicing earlier."

Her explanation didn't convince him. She watched nervously as he found Director Shaw's number and was about to dial.

Before he could, someone knocked on the door.

"Babe, there you are! I've been looking all over for you!"

Maurice walked in with a bright smile and casually linked her arm to his. "Come on, I'm starving!"

Edwin glanced briefly at Melanie before putting his phone away. "Alright."

Maurice's eyes landed on Melanie as if noticing her for the first time. The former's smile widened as she invited the latter. "Melanie, why don't you join us for dinner?"

As she spoke, her fingers played with the ring on Edwin's hand, almost like she was showing off.

Melanie wasn't naive. She could see right through Edwin's fiancée.

"No, thank you. I've already eaten."

Edwin didn't say anything. He just left with Maurice.

Ten minutes later, a message popped on Melanie's phone.

It was from Maurice.

The message was deleted almost immediately, but not before Melanie saw it.

It said: [Edwin and I are getting married soon. I hope you'll learn to keep your distance, you know.]

Melanie stared at the "Maurice unsent a message" notification on her screen and let out a bitter laugh. She didn't reply. She just went back to her work.

Over the next few days, Melanie made sure to leave early and return late, carefully avoiding Edwin and Maurice.

Her goal was simple: finish her freelance projects as soon as possible, collect her client's payments, and pay back Edwin. Then she could leave for good.

After several busy days, she finally completed all her freelance projects. When she added up the payments she was about to receive, she realized it was finally enough.

Melanie stretched her arms and glanced at the clock. It was six in the evening.

Packing up her things, she slung her bag over her shoulder and left the office. On her way out, she called her client.

The client answered the call right away and asked her to first pick up a document from his company's finance department, and then meet him at a restaurant to get it signed. Once signed, she could submit it to the finance team the next day to process her payment.

It was getting late, and she didn't feel like going. However, the client said he was leaving on a business trip tonight and wouldn't be back for a week.

Considering Edwin's upcoming wedding and Maurice's hostility toward her, she couldn't wait that long.

Right then, she called a cab and went to the client's company. Luckily, the finance department was still open, and they handed her the document she needed.

By the time she arrived at the restaurant, it was completely dark outside.

The private room she entered was loud and lively. Melanie knocked on the door before stepping in. She handed the document to the client for his signature.

But before she could say much, a man in his late 30s wearing a gray suit came up to her.

He casually draped an arm over her shoulder "Hey, babe," the man said with a grin, "are you a friend of Walter? Come sit with us and have a drink!"

He reeked of alcohol as he spoke.

The room had four or five men, all dressed sharply. But the table only had alcohol—no food. It seemed they were waiting for someone.

Probably out of boredom, the man's words made the others laugh loudly.

Melanie glanced at the client, who was busy looking for a pen and didn't seem to care about what was happening. Her expression darkened.

"Sorry, I don't drink. I'm just here to get something signed by Mr. Dettman," she said firmly.

But the man didn't back off. His big hand slid from her shoulder down to her hand.

"What kind of document? Need me to sign it for you?" he asked, smirking.

Melanie quickly shook off his hand and turned to the client. "Mr. Dettman, is it ready yet?"

The client ignored her. The man, annoyed at being pushed away, grabbed her shoulder and tried to force her into a chair.

"Just have a drink, and I'll sign it for you," he sneered.

Melanie struggled but couldn't free herself. She was about to say something to scare them off when the door suddenly opened.

Edwin and Maurice walked in.

The men in the room immediately straightened up, plastering on polite smiles as they went to greet Edwin.

The client, who had been stalling, quickly scribbled his signature on the document and threw it to Melanie. "I've got important business here. You should leave now," he said in a rush, shoving her toward the door.

The push made her stumble, almost falling to the floor.

Before she could hit the ground, Edwin stepped forward and caught her in his arms.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice cold and distant. He smelled faintly of men's cologne mixed with a woman's perfume.

Stunned, Melanie quickly stepped out of his arms and backed away. Her heart raced as she mumbled, "I… I walked into the wrong room. It's nothing. I'll leave now."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left in a hurry.

Edwin didn't return home until almost midnight.

Melanie, who had been halfasleep, heard his footsteps approaching and immediately woke up.

A few seconds later, there was a knock at her door.

She hesitated for a moment, hoping he'd leave. But when the footsteps didn't go away, she reluctantly got out of bed and opened the door.

The scent of cologne and perfume hit her.

Edwin stood at the door, his usual composed expression replaced by frustration. "Are you short on money?"

Melanie shook her head. "No."

He frowned. "Mr. Dettman said you've been working on a game design for him."

She had known the moment she saw him at the restaurant that this wouldn't stay hidden.

"I was just practicing," she said lightly. "I didn't want to lose my touch."

Hearing this, Edwin's expression softened slightly. He asked, "Are you still mad at me?"

Melanie met Edwin's gaze for a moment before shaking her head. "No, I'm not mad. I won't take on any more work like that. It's late, Ed. You should get some rest."

With that, she closed the door. She turned to her open halfpacked suitcase, let out a long sigh, and crouched down to zip it shut.

The next morning, after Edwin left the house, she went to his study and placed a letter and a bank card on the desk.

As she pulled her suitcase out of the house, her heart, which had felt numb for so long, suddenly began to ache.

The pain was sharp like someone was slowly tearing away all the memories she had made here.

She had wanted to say goodbye to Edwin properly, but she didn't know how to face him.

Eight years of her life—days and nights they had been through together—had finally come to an end.

The words she couldn't bring herself to say, she wrote in that letter. In the end, she wished him happiness, peace, and joy for the rest of his life.

That was it.

As the cab drove her toward the airport, her phone rang. It was Maurice calling.

Melanie ignored it. She had already made her decision to leave. There was no point in getting tangled up with Maurice and Edwin anymore.

But the phone rang again. And again. On the third call, she gave in and picked it up.

Maurice's voice was hoarse and desperate, begging Melanie to bring money to save her and Edwin. Before Melanie could respond, Maurice blurted out an address.

Then a rough male voice came on the line. He warned Melanie not to try anything clever or they'd kill her.

The call abruptly ended.

For a moment, Melanie was overwhelmed by fear. Then she snapped out of it and told the cab driver to turn around and head back to the Setchfields' villa.

As the cab sped toward the address, Melanie called Iverson, Edwin's assistant, who told her the CEO wasn't at the company and had canceled all his plans for the day.

Melanie tried calling a few of Edwin's friends, but none of them were with him.

An hour later, Melanie arrived at a dock with the money and boarded a yacht.

"The money's here," she said, trying to steady her voice. "Now let my brother go."

On the deck, a man wearing sunglasses smirked and motioned to one of the bodyguards nearby.

The bodyguard stepped forward and grabbed the card from Melanie's hands. A moment later, Maurice, tied up and disheveled, was dragged out onto the deck.

When she saw her fiancé's adopted sister, Maurice's face lit up. The bodyguard ripped the tape off her mouth, and she immediately dropped to her knees in front of the man in sunglasses.

"Mr. Fournier, now that she's here, you'll let me go, right?" she pleaded.

Myron, the man called Mr. Fournier, stood a few steps away and looked lazily at her. A wicked smile spread across his face.

"Oh, not so fast. The real fun is just beginning!"

His gaze shifted to Melanie. "Miss Henley, don't blame me. Blame Edwin for making too many enemies! And blame this dear sisterinlaw of yours for her stupidity. She didn't just owe me money; she ran off and started a new life with the one person I despise the most! Did you really think I'd let her off that easily?"

It hit Melanie all at once. There was no Edwin here. Maurice had betrayed her.

Maurice, now trembling on the verge of collapse, looked up at Myron with wide eyes. "You said if I paid you back, you'd let me go!"

Myron sneered. "That money was hers, not yours. But don't worry—you still have a chance. When Edwin gets here, pray he chooses you. If he does, well, you might be saved."

Maurice's lips parted slightly as a bitter smile crept onto her face. "Son of a bitch! Aren't you afraid of being punished for this?!"

Myron slouched on the couch, taking a lazy drag from the cigarette his bodyguard had lit for him. "Afraid? Yeah, sure. But what's there to lose? I've already hit rock bottom. I've got nothing to lose—barefoot and reckless, baby. Dragging this out just buys me more time and a bigger payoff!"

"Damn lunatic," Maurice muttered.

An hour later, the growl of an engine tore through the quiet as a sleek black sports car sped down the winding coastal road. Dust and gravel flew up in its wake as it screeched to a halt by the shore.

Edwin stepped out, all business in his sharp black suit, carrying a leather briefcase.

On the yacht, Melanie and Maurice were separated, standing on opposite sides of the deck. Myron, riding a jet ski, zipped to the shore to start negotiations.

Maurice was already a sobbing mess, screaming out Edwin's name.

Melanie, on the other hand, was gripping the railing so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her eyes stayed glued to the figure in the distance, her heart pounding in her chest.

For just a second, she let herself hope. Maybe—just maybe—she wouldn't be the one abandoned this time.

She couldn't help but remember when she was 14. How it felt to be dumped like trash. How Edwin had been the one to pick her up.

It had been raining cold and relentless that day, and all she was wearing was her thin pajamas.

She'd been thrown out of her house by debt collectors and stumbled into the mud.

Sharp gravel tore at her palms, and cruel, mocking words echoed around her like a relentless storm

People in passing luxury cars stared at her, their gazes filled with either pity or indifference. One of her classmates walked by, sneering, her lips curling with disdain.

To this day, Melanie could still hear her classmate's voice, crystal clear in her memory.

"Hey, Melanie! Heard your parents dumped you! Our villa needs a maid to sweep the yard—interested?"

The rain grew heavier, soaking Melanie's hair until it clung to her face. She stood shakily, cold, wet, and humiliated.

She struggled to stand, only to see a shadow fall over her.

She'd looked up and seen him—Edwin. Composed and perfect.

He held out his hand to pull her out of the mud and take her to his villa that day.

"This is your home now," he'd said. "From now on, I'm your family."

And for years, she had naively believed him. She thought she'd never feel the sting of abandonment again.

Being abandoned—it hurt more than she could ever put into words.

But then, over the radio on the yacht, she heard Edwin call Maurice's name.

And just like that, Melanie's fragile hope shattered into a thousand sharp little pieces.

She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, her chest heaving as the relief hit her like a punch.

Her tears started falling, heavy and endless, but for once, they didn't hurt.

The ocean breeze was strong, and the sky was clear. Overhead, seagulls sang, and from the other side of the deck, Maurice's giddy voice carried over.

"I knew it! I knew Edwin wouldn't abandon me! He loves me—I just knew it!"

Melanie smiled faintly through her tears. She glanced toward the shore and thought, for just a moment, that Edwin was looking at her too.

But she quickly shook off the thought, laughing bitterly to herself.

Why would he be looking at her?

He hadn't looked at her when she'd confessed to him and gotten rejected.

He hadn't looked at her when she'd been burning up with a fever in that hospital bed.

And he sure as hell hadn't looked at her when he'd handed over her Gummy Gem—the one she'd worked so hard on—as a stepping stone to his fiancée.

In his eyes, she had long been replaced.

And maybe that was better.

That was better. At the very least, she didn't owe him anything anymore.

The next second, while the guards around her were distracted, Melanie climbed over the railing and jumped into the sea.