Chapter 2
Melanie had a wonderful dream that night, and she woke up the next morning with a trace of a smile curving her lips.
It cheered her up to know that her days of being courteous and formal with Albert were ending and that soon she would be seeing Leon’s face every day. She even prayed that the divorce would be finalized soon, willing the cooling-off period to go by faster.
The maids had already made breakfast when Melanie came downstairs. She’d planned on packing her things after breakfast until she heard noises coming from the foyer.
She looked up to see Albert holding the door open, and behind him stood Vivienne, as well as several bodyguards weighed down by suitcases.
Albert looked elegant in a fitted black suit that flattered his broad shoulders and towering silhouette. Vivienne, on the other hand, wore a long, ivory dress. Her long hair cascaded past her shoulders, and she had one arm looped through Albert’s.
They made a handsome couple and looked like a match made in heaven.
Albert made room for the bodyguards to bring in Vivienne’s luggage before explaining to Melanie, “Vivi’s been having nightmares recently. She can’t sleep unless I’m around, so I figured I’d let her move in with us for a while.”
Having said this, he took an ornate jewelry box out of his pocket and handed it to Melanie. “I got this necklace during an auction for you. Think of it as… compensation, if you will.”
Melanie stared at the box but didn’t reach for it. Instead, she gently pushed it back to Albert and said softly, “You don’t have to compensate me for anything, Albert. We’ve plenty of room in the house. Vivienne is welcome to stay.”
Albert was surprised. “You’re not angry?”
“Why would I be angry?” Melanie asked, even more surprised by his question. “She’ll move in here after a month, anyway.”
Albert froze, not at all understanding what Melanie meant by that. Why would she expect Vivienne to move into their home a month later?
He was about to press Melanie further when Vivienne interjected with a smug, challenging smile, “Thank you, Ms. Olsen.”
She never addressed Melanie by her married name since she didn’t acknowledge Melanie as Albert’s lawfully wedded wife.
When Melanie and Albert had first gotten married five years ago, Vivienne stormed into their marital bedroom with a horde of bodyguards and trashed the room beyond repair. She’d looked like a feral beast as she roared at Melanie hysterically, “You have no right to steal my brother from me!”
After that, Albert must have talked to Vivienne and convinced her to tone it down, for she stopped throwing such maniacal fits. Perhaps she’d come to realize that Albert wouldn’t stop loving or indulging in her even if he was married.
He would go shopping with Vivienne and tuck her into bed at night, sometimes even guarding her bedside until morning. He was kind and patient with her and loved her so fiercely that he might have forgotten all about his actual wife.
“Albert, you promised you’d go to the amusement park with me after this,” Vivienne reminded sweetly, tugging on Albert’s sleeve childishly.
Albert gazed down at her, his eyes full of love as he said, “We’ll go after this, okay?”
He cut a look at Melanie and looked like he wanted to say something, but Melanie smiled at him warmly. “Go and have fun with Vivienne. Just give me a heads-up if you’re coming home for dinner so l can have the maids prepare it.”
Vivienne smirked at this. “Thanks again, Ms. Olsen.”
Melanie heard the triumph in Vivienne’s tone but didn’t rise to the bait. She smiled and nodded politely at Vivienne and Albert before heading to her room.
She spent the rest of the day packing up her stuff, and it was already dark outside when she was done.
Albert and Vivienne had yet to return. Melanie took a shower and pulled on her pajamas. She then lay in bed and waited for sleep to come. Just as she was dozing off, she heard the sound of voices outside the door.
“Albert, I’m scared. I don’t want to be alone tonight. Can’t you sleep with me?” Vivienne pleaded in a high, honeyed voice.
“Vivi, my wife is in the room. It’d be unreasonable of me to spend the night with you and not her,” Albert said patiently, though Melanie heard his exasperation.
“Why is it unreasonable? You like me, and I like you. Melanie’s just ornamental at this point,” Vivienne argued.
Melanie’s fingers curled slightly, but she didn’t move. She kept her eyes closed and pretended as if she hadn’t heard their conversation.
Outside, Albert was silent for a moment before he answered, “Vivi, I can still treat you the same way I’ve been doing all these years and give you my whole heart, but I’m afraid I can’t go beyond that.
“I’m still married, and your reputation will be ruined if anything unsavory happens between us. All you need to know is that I’ll always love you.”
“In that case, promise me you won’t touch her tonight!” Vivienne demanded in an unyielding tone. Albert muttered something in reply, but he spoke too quietly for Melanie to catch his words.
A while later, the bedroom door creaked open.
Albert padded into the room, his gaze landing on the suitcases by the bed. Startled by the sight of them, he asked, ‘What’s with the suitcases?”
Melanie considered telling him the truth, but she recalled how he’d let her call the shots when she tried to bring up the divorce last night. He had no idea their divorce was being finalized, and she reckoned she wouldn’t have to explain anything to him once she relocated to Southaven.
As such, she lied, “Spring cleaning.”
Albert bought the lie and nodded without pressing further. He went to the bathroom and took a shower, only to emerge with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Water droplets rolled down his sculpted chest and along the deep V-lines running along his hips.
He approached the bed and kissed Melanie, who froze with shock. She instinctively shoved him away, reminding him, “Vivienne doesn’t want you touching me, remember?”
He stiffened. “You heard that?”
Melanie nodded.
Albert fell silent and made no reply. Instead, he changed topics and said, “Can I have you tonight?”
Chapter 3
