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Novel Catalog
Chapter_77
A Shameless Request
I lay in bed, trying to shake off the remnants of a nightmare that had plagued me all night. Matthew and Melanie’s voices echoed in my mind as they tormented Ava and me. I woke up crying, but I couldn’t bring myself to let go of the anger and frustration that simmered beneath the surface. Despite everything, the sounds of birds chirping outside and the warmth of the morning sun began to soothe me, calming my racing heart.
When I finally got dressed and went downstairs, I was struck by how breathtaking the view was. The beauty of the place hadn’t really registered with me before. I knew I shouldn’t have taken it for granted; it was a sight I should have appreciated from the moment I arrived.
It was dawn when Atlas found me, his concern apparent as he observed my face. “Did you sleep well?” he asked.
I smiled at him, though my mind was still tangled with thoughts. “I slept wonderfully. Thank you.”
“Here we go again with the unnecessary thanks,” Atlas teased, his tone light as he took my hand. “Are you hungry? Let’s have breakfast.”
Breakfast was sumptuous, the spread more than enough to satisfy my hunger. I needed all the energy I could get, for what lay ahead was anything but simple.
On the way back, Atlas turned to me, a note of seriousness creeping into his voice. “Take care of yourself. Don’t be too stubborn.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by “stubborn,” but I chose not to press the matter. My thoughts were already elsewhere. This was the first time I’d been away overnight with my phone off while Matthew was at home. I had no desire to deal with the questions or judgment from my colleagues at the office; I just wanted a little peace.
However, my attempt at peace was short-lived. When I entered the house, I was shocked to find the entire Murphy family gathered there. The sight made me feel guilty, like I had done something shameful.
Matthew was the first to notice me. His face lit up with relief as he rushed over to grab my hand. “Honey, you’re finally back! We couldn’t find you anywhere, and your phone was off. Do you know how worried I was?”
His words were so sincere, but a part of me couldn’t help but question whether he was genuinely concerned or just playing the part. The unease in my chest didn’t disappear; if anything, it grew stronger as I observed his actions.
I wanted to slap him, to tell him everything I had been holding in, but I held myself back. Not yet. Not until I had achieved what I came here for.
“Were you really that concerned about me?” I asked, my voice flat, as I glanced around the room.
I removed my shoes and walked into the living room, eyeing the family members who were watching us. “Is something going on? It looks like a family meeting,” I said, a hint of sarcasm in my voice.
Melanie immediately jumped in, her anger flaring. “You little—”
“Enough, you two!” Matthew snapped, cutting her off.
He turned back to me, his face softening, and his voice took on that same pleading tone I had come to loathe. “Honey, it’s good that you’re back. I know you were angry yesterday. Melanie didn’t understand the situation and was worried because it didn’t look good for us. I let my temper get the best of me, too. Please don’t be mad at me anymore.”
I forced a smile and glanced at Melanie, her expression full of disdain. “You don’t understand a thing, do you?” I said quietly.
Melanie, not one to back down, shot back, “Have some shame, will you?”
Grace, thankfully, intervened. “Shut your mouth! When will you ever change your ways?” she scolded Melanie before turning to me. “Chlo, we’re glad that you’re back. We’re family, so I hope you can move past things.”
Her tone was calm, almost maternal, but I could feel the weight of the words. “It’s my fault for not raising my son right. It led him to make such a big mistake. Still, he only did that for the sake of this family. Sometimes, men need to put on an act for their careers, so you shouldn’t be too bothered by it. I’ll apologize to you on his behalf.”
I remained silent. As much as I wanted to argue, I couldn’t bring myself to disrespect Grace. She was the closest thing to a mother I had left, and I knew it wasn’t her fault.
“Chlo, now that the situation has escalated, we hope you can forgive Matt. Let’s find a way to resolve this issue as a family,” Grace said, her voice laced with hope.
I crossed my arms and looked at Matthew, who was nervously rubbing his hands together as he inched closer to me. “Honey,” he began, “let’s face it together and celebrate our wedding anniversary in style. We can invite all our business partners and make it a grand event. Of course… I still love you. I’ve always wanted to host a party for you. I’ve always felt guilty about not being able to organize a wedding back then. We can take advantage of this…”
I interrupted him before he could continue, my patience running thin. “Do as you please,” I said flatly, not wanting to hear another word of his shameless rambling.
As I turned and headed into the bedroom, I caught sight of Melanie’s expression. Her lips were twitching with anger, and I couldn’t help but feel a spark of satisfaction.
Seeing her so rattled gave me a sense of power, a reminder that, in this house, I still had some control over the situation.
I’ll make sure to rile her up as much as possible, I thought, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.