Chapter 6
The dinner eventually ended amidst Krystal’s objections.
Laura hurriedly tried to appease Krystal, whereas Andrew turned to Melody instead.
“Don’t read too much into what your mother said. You and Jeremy have been engaged for a few years now. Though Jeremy still can’t let go of Cheryl, the two of you did grow up together, so there’s bound to be some feelings there.”
Those words practically meant that Jeremy didn’t like Melody and was only with her because of Cheryl. After all, everyone knew that when Cheryl was alive, she had been particularly fond of her adopted younger sister.
The rain hadn’t stopped when they left Regallo Villas.
Melody trailed behind Jeremy in small steps. She had many questions she wanted to ask, but she couldn’t find the right opportunity.
Suddenly, Jeremy stopped in his tracks. Melody, who had been lost in thought and wasn’t paying attention, bumped into his arm.
She was used to walking a few steps diagonally behind him.
She looked up and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
After a beat, Jeremy answered, “Krystal is Cheryl’s biological younger sister.”
“I know,” Melody answered.
Laura had emphasized this many times at the dinner table—Krystal Finnigan was the true daughter of the Wardolfs.
She didn’t understand why Jeremy was bringing this up. She recalled what she had heard earlier, then asked, “How did the two of you meet?”
The two of them were standing rather close right then. Melody could even smell the faint scent of disinfectant coming off of him. The smell was both clean and wintry, seemingly keeping everyone at arm’s length, much like the person himself.
Jeremy frowned. He looked at Melody with those dark eyes of his. “Do you not understand what I mean?”
Melody stiffened.
“Everything you own now is given to you by the Wardolf family.”
Melody’s eyelashes trembled. She seemed to understand what Jeremy was trying to say. “And?”
Jeremy’s gaze was fixed on her, but the emotions flashing through his eyes were complex. It was hard to discern what he was really thinking.
After a while, he continued, “All of this should have belonged to Krystal. You’ve used what would’ve been her resources, which meant that she needed to make a larger effort to get her life back on track. So you better not get into any disagreements or arguments with her. Just abide by her.”
That was indeed the truth, so Melody only hummed softly in agreement.
However, in the next second, she couldn’t hold her emotions in any longer. She looked up at Jeremy and asked tentatively, “So, are you going to marry Krystal?”
Yet, as soon as those words escaped her, Melody started regretting them.
The question had crossed a line, and as expected, Jeremy didn’t answer.
She instinctively wanted to explain herself, but her mind went blank as she got more flustered.
Her engagement with Jeremy had never been intentional. If it weren’t for Cheryl’s sudden death and the Wardolf family’s desperation to be in a marriage arrangement with the Chessons, the engagement wouldn’t have fallen into Melody’s lap.
Furthermore, it was clear that the whole arrangement was only about business interests. Everyone naturally assumed there were no real feelings between Melody and Jeremy.
Therefore, Melody had carefully kept her feelings hidden, afraid of revealing even one hint.
Jeremy’s expression gradually turned frosty, and Melody found herself unable to move even a muscle under his gaze.
“That has nothing to do with you. Krystal’s dream is to be an outstanding doctor. I will respect her wishes,” he said.
Melody felt as if something was squeezing her heart tightly. However, when she looked into Jeremy’s deep, dark eyes, she hurriedly realized that she shouldn’t be acting that way.
She had always been a meek and understanding person in front of Jeremy. So, how could an obedient younger sister have such feelings for her older sister’s boyfriend?
She swallowed the lump in her throat and stared at the rain that was getting heavier instead.
“Yes, it doesn’t have anything to do with me. I was just thinking that should that day arrive, you need to tell me beforehand. I will have to move my things out of your house so Krystal won’t be displeased,” she blurted out.
Then, she tried to plaster a smile on her face, but the result wasn’t too appealing. “You know how women are. We tend to overthink things.”
Jeremy stared at her, and his brows slowly furrowed.
He couldn’t explain why, but when he heard Melody say those words, he felt a tightness somewhere in his chest. That tightness soon disappeared, and he chalked it up to not getting enough rest recently.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose and said nonchalantly, “That’s very considerate of you. I’ll ask Krystal for her opinion. I don’t want to force her.”
