Chapter 4
Melanie opened her eyes to find that the doctor had left. Albert was frowning as he sat by her bed, regret and guilt filling his eyes.
When he saw her awake, he quickly helped her up and said, “I heard about what happened. I’m sorry. I didn’t expect Vivi to do something like this.”
There was a sharp, churning sensation in Melanie’s stomach, and even talking was difficult for her.
She sighed and said, “Let the police handle this. Vivienne’s not a kid anymore and shouldn’t be allowed to get away with such extreme, harmful behavior. A few days in a holding cell should set her straight.”
She was about to grab her phone and call the police when Albert snatched it away. “No, she didn’t mean to hurt you. Let’s just call it a day and forget about this, Melanie.”
Melanie gaped at Albert in disbelief. When his words sank in, she asked, “Are you saying that I got my stomach pumped for nothing?”
Albert paused, then said, “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise, but please leave Vivi out of this.”
“You realize you’re spoiling her, don’t you?” Melanie countered.
He shook his head. “If your beloved was still alive, you’d want to protect him at all costs too, wouldn’t you?”
Melanie was stumped by his question, and it took her a while to respond. “Fine. I understand where you’re coming from, but I won’t have this happening again.”
Albert still felt uneasy despite Melanie’s agreement to overlook Vivienne’s behavior.
He stared at her evenly and couldn’t resist asking, “Do you still miss him after all this time? It’s been years since he passed away.”
Melanie had no idea why Albert would ask such a thing all of a sudden. He knew she loved Leon, and in her defense, she’d never stopped him from indulging or loving Vivienne. She might be wrong, but Albert looked a little miffed that she was still hung up on Leon.
She was about to point this out to Albert when his phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Vivienne.
After picking up the call, Albert calmed down enough to feel his rage subside. He stood up and resumed his usual, gentle-mannered self.
Yet his voice was tinged with exasperation as he said, “Vivi’s throwing another one of her fits. I have to go now, but I’ll visit you when I have the time.”
Melanie watched him leave and instinctively stopped him. “Vivienne seems to care a lot about whether I might become pregnant. You should tell her she has nothing to worry about because I won’t be getting pregnant anytime soon. I’ve had my tubes tied ever since we got married.”
Albert stopped abruptly and turned to give her an incredulous look. “What was that?”
Melanie blinked at him. In the five years they’d been married, they treated each other like acquaintances. She’d hardly seen any emotion on his face before today, and she couldn’t help but find his behavior erratic.
She elaborated, “I refuse to have anyone’s children but Leon’s. I’m sure you can understand.”
A stormy look passed over Albert’s face, and he seemed to be reining in his temper.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand at all, Melanie. Have the procedure reversed right now,” he bit out, seemingly leashing his temper as a stormy look flashed in his eyes. Afraid that she might retaliate and refuse to get the surgery, he added for good measure, “It’s part of our marital duties.”
However, Melanie simply shook her head and said matter-of-factly, “But our divorce is being finalized as we speak. Soon, we won’t have any marital duties at all.”
