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“You’re a match. Go check in with the doctor. Melanie’s there, but maybe they need more blood.”
Wyatt nodded and headed toward the designated room. At that exact second, I noticed Melanie’s parents heading toward me, both with frantic looks on their faces.
Fuck me twice!
I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the tantrum they were about to throw.
“Where is my daughter?!” Dedrick roared, seething.
“She’s being examined by the doctor,” I replied dryly.
“Why? What happened?” Celine’s eyes grew wide in horror. I glanced at her, narrowing my eyes. I was wondering why she never stood up for her daughter. She clearly cared for Melanie, yet for some reason, she chose an abusive husband over her only offspring.
“She’s okay.” I calmed her down. “She’s going to donate her blood. My friend needs a transfusion.”
Celine breathed a sigh of relief. She sat on the chair, rubbing her temples. She wasn’t as strong as her daughter. Maybe that’s why she’d never found the strength, the courage to be in charge of her own life.
Dedrick’s harsh voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Once they’re done, Melanie is going back to California with us.”
I tilted my head to the side, looking Atwood straight in his raging eyes before saying, matter-of-factly, “She’s not going anywhere with you.”
He gave me a spiteful look. “How dare you speak to me like that! I’m her father, and you? You don’t own her, Vergoossen!”
I scoffed. “I’m aware. Unlike you.”
Dedrick was the type of man who couldn’t take being challenged. He locked his hands into fists and hissed through clenched teeth, “She’s coming back home with us.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Melanie’s soft voice caught everyone’s attention. I looked back to see her closing the door to the room before she approached me. Celine stood up, her hands shaking, and moved to her husband’s side. Melanie stood beside me, staring at her parents resolutely, saying, “I’m staying here. With Shane.”
“I’ll never approve of your relationship!” Dedrick yelled, still clenching his fists. Celine watched the whole commotion, her brows furrowed in concern. She barely held her tears back.
“I don’t need your approval,” Melanie retorted. “Nor permission. I’m staying here where I belong.”
“Melanie, please. You can’t,” her mother pleaded, shedding a tear. “What about your life? Your studies?”
“My life?” Melanie scoffed. “My studies? It was all yours. I’ve never had my own life until I met Shane. I can start over. Here in New York, on my own terms.”
I silently watched Melanie, proud of her. This was the first time she’d been so determined, as if something had changed. I thought it was because of the proposal or because I confessed my love to her. She felt more secure knowing she wasn’t just a game to me. And partially, I was right.Partially.
“If you stay with that man,” Dedrick started, boiling inside. “Or worse, marry him, you can forget you ever had parents!”
“Dedrick,” Celine gasped, her eyes wide.
“Okay,” Melanie stated, her tone barely above a whisper. She nodded, looking at her parents, her eyes welling up with tears. “It’s not like I’ve ever had real parents anyway.”
I reached for Melanie’s hand and intertwined her fingers with mine. I saw how hard it was for her to have this conversation, and I wanted her to know she wasn’t alone. She had me, and I would stand by her side no matter what.
Celine burst into tears, covering her mouth with her hands. Dedrick, in contrast, smiled cynically, scoffing, “You’ll regret your decision faster than you think, Melanie. Apparently, you don’t know who you want to marry. You’re not aware of what kind of people the Vergoossens are.”
Melanie didn’t speak. She pressed her lips together, fighting back the tears before she cleared her throat and squeezed my hand, giving her parents a stern look.
“Don’t bother coming home,” Dedrick threw out harshly before grabbing his wife by her elbow. “Celine, let’s go.”
“But Dedrick!” Celine cried out.
I couldn’t understand why she let that abusive motherfucker rule her like that. And I couldn’t stand the power he had over that broken, intimidated woman. I focused my gaze solely on Celine. “You’re welcome to stay with us, Mrs. Atwood.”
Melanie glanced at me, a spark of hope gleaming in her eyes, but it was killed faster than it appeared.
