Chapter 5 I Hope You Remain This Happy

Chelsey smiled softly, and something about her looked delicate.

"When did you start working in this field?" Melanie asked, giving the camera a flawless smile.

"I've liked makeup since college. After graduating, I worked in social media, mostly on personal branding. At first, I just wanted to share more makeup techniques with everyone."

They followed the script without any issues, but when the interview ended and Chelsey started to stand, Melanie stopped her. "Miss Wallace, I've got one last question from viewers who care about you."

No one had warned Chelsey about anything extra. She froze for a beat, then eased back into the chair with a strained smile.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Yes," she said, and her smile turned sweet. "He loves me deeply."

Melanie kept her expression steady, but her hand clamped down on the microphone until her fingers ached.

Gabriel loved Chelsey?

So what was about his wife?

"I hope you remain this happy," Melanie said calmly, and she ended the interview.

Outside the studio, Gabriel came up to her right away.

"Honey," he called, and his eyes still went to Chelsey.

Melanie understood what he wanted. He wanted her swallowed up by work so she wouldn't interfere with his life with Chelsey.

"Other things need my attention," Melanie said coldly. "You head back first."

Without slowing down, she brushed past them and went straight to her office.

The door closed behind her, and the tension finally slipped. She pressed her fingers to her temples and rubbed until the ache eased.

A sharp knock pulled her out of her thoughts.

Rhett came in, and his eyes paused on her worn out face. "It's lunch time. You coming with me or not?"

"I'm busy," she said. "Go eat without me."

"So this is your plan?" he said, and his tone turned cutting. "Skip meals so Gabriel starts paying attention again? You're already thin enough. Do you want people to think you are sick?"

He stepped closer and studied her face like he expected her to drop any second.

She met his eyes, and he bit his lip without meaning to, because her face stayed stuck in his head.

She didn't have the energy to argue. After a slow breath, she gave in. "Fine. Let's go. We'll eat at the restaurant downstairs."

The second they sat down, Melanie's phone started ringing. Her lawyer's name showed up.

"Ms. Shaw, the divorce papers are finished, and I've sent them to your email."

Relief loosened her shoulders, and a small smile finally showed. "Thank you."

Rhett watched her closely, then reached over and took her plate. "So what is it?" he asked, cutting her steak for her. "Did you get news about the divorce?"

Melanie kept her mouth shut and didn't give him anything.

Before he could push again, his own phone buzzed with a new message from her lawyer. "Ms. Shaw's divorce papers are ready. Once her husband signs, it's done-she doesn't need to be there. I heard you're friends with her. So why keep it quiet that you found her a lawyer?"