Chapter 3 I Will Not Apologize

What followed was a heavy and deafening silence. Everyone was stunned at what had just happened.

Stacey pressed her palm against her rapidly swelling cheek, her face a mask of rage and disbelief.

"How dare you hit me!" she screamed before charging at Melanie like a rabid animal.

Jenifer was fuming as well, outraged that a good-for-nothing nobody had lifted a hand against her daughter. She stepped forward as well, intent on teaching Melanie a lesson.

Before either woman could do anything, Melanie turned and locked her gaze onto Ashton. He had been standing to the side the entire time, just watching them.

Chuckling to herself, Melanie pivoted and deftly averted Stacey and Jenifer's attacks.

Driven by momentum, the two women lost their balance and staggered a few steps to find purchase. Jenifer almost fell face first on the floor, too, if Stacey hadn't managed to catch her at the last second.

Melanie swept her eyes over mother and daughter.

"You're accusing me of stealing things from the Willis family? How absurd. It is you two who have been pilfering my belongings! That bracelet on your wrist, Jenifer, and those earrings, necklace, and bracelets that Stacey is wearing-those are all mine!"

Both Stacey and Jenifer stiffened, their expressions grim.

Jenifer instinctively covered the bracelet with her other hand and turned away, while Stacey fiddled with her hair in an attempt to hide the glittering earrings.

Shocked, Ashton turned to his mother and sister, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

The Willis family had more money than they could ever need in a lifetime. Why would they take Melanie's jewelry?

"What is going on here?" Ashton demanded roughly.

Stacey quickly put her hands behind her back, afraid that he would see the bracelets, while Jenifer put on an affronted act.

"Stop lying, Melanie!" she said fiercely. "When did we ever take your things?"

The tension in the room was so thick, you could cut it with a butter knife.

Melanie cocked her head to the side and shot her a sarcastic smile. "You've been quite vocal about liking my jewelry. When I made no offer to give it to you, you simply stole it behind my back. I still have the receipts for all those pieces you are currently wearing. We can take this to the police station if you'd like. What do you say?"

Jenifer and Stacey were rendered speechless. They pressed their lips into thin lines and hung their heads. Behind them, Ashton's expression turned darker.

But Melanie wasn't interested in arguing with them any further. She had said her piece, so she picked up her luggage and walked away.

This snapped Ashton back to attention. With a few quick strides, he was in front of her, blocking her path. His face was twisted in a mix of guilt and helplessness.

"Melanie, I... I had no idea that Mom and Stacey were touching your belongings. It's a grave oversight on my part, I will admit. In return, I will forgive your actions at the hospital. But as my wife, you need to get rid of that stubbornness and get back in line."

Despite his callous words, there was a hint of pleading in Ashton's voice, something that even he failed to notice. Deep down, he desperately hoped that Melanie would listen, so they could all return to the way things had been.

Melanie was unmoved, though. To her, he might as well have talked to the air.

Unfortunately, Ashton took her silence as a yes, and thought she agreed to his request. He breathed a sigh of relief and kept talking. "See, that temper of yours nearly put Olivia's life at risk. You need to apologize to her."

That earned him a scoff and an eye roll. Melanie couldn't stomach this ridiculous amount of self-righteousness.

Before Ashton could react, she produced the divorce agreement she had prepared beforehand and threw it at his face. Dumbfounded, he watched the papers flutter to his feet.

"I will not apologize," Melanie said, her voice ringing loud and clear. "And I no longer want to play the role of your wife. We are getting divorced, Ashton."

The word "divorce" struck Ashton like a bolt of lightning in the sky, leaving him dazed.

He stared at Melanie incredulously. "What kind of nonsense are you up to now?"

"This isn't nonsense, Ashton. If you don't want to settle this peacefully, I'll be more than happy to take the proceedings to court." Her tone was calm, yet decisive.

Still thinking that she was just throwing a tantrum, Ashton moved to persuade her, but Melanie dodged him and headed for the door.

Ashton acted on reflex and grabbed her wrist.

"Let go of me!"

Melanie tried to shake free from his grip, but she was still weak from the blood loss.

Her struggle proved to be futile, and one of her sleeves even slipped in the process, revealing her shoulder.

"That's enough!" A booming male voice suddenly called out from the doorway. "What are you doing?"