Chapter 15
Niklaus‘ POV
The past few months have been a lesson in restraint. I’d decided not to bother Rosalyn, not wanting to push her further away. But that didn’t mean I wasn‘ t keeping tabs on her. Jeff, my trusted man, ensured I stayed updated. I just needed to know she was okay. But knowing she was living her life without
me was torture.
It was past 8 p.m., and I was still buried in the documents sprawled across my desk, trying to distract myself. The dull glow of my office lamp illuminated the chaos, but my mind wandered back to her–her laughter, her
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to h. A sharp vibration from my phone snapped me back to reality. Jeff was calling.
“Is she alright?” I asked before he could
even say a word, my voice thick with anxiety.
“She’s fine,” Jeff replied, his tone calm but hesitant. “I thought you should know what happened between her and Melanie a few days ago at the boutique.”
I straightened in my chair. “What happened?”
“Miss Melanie approached her and told her some things about you…about still being in love with her.”
“What?” My blood ran cold.
“Yes. Rosalyn seemed to believe her. Melanie
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tod her you‘ re madly in love with her.”
The chair scraped harshly against the floor as I stood, fury coursing through my veins.
“How dare she? After everything, she still has the nerve to interfere.”
Jeff remained silent, letting me vent.
“Keep an eye on Rosalyn. Let me know if anything else comes up,” I muttered, ending the call abruptly. I needed to act, but first, I had to confront Melanie.
As I grabbed my car keys, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was Mrs. Woods.
“Niklaus, I thought you should know- Rosalyn is here, at the house. She’s talking to your mother and Cherry like nothing happened.”
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What?” I barked. “After I warned her to stay away? I’m coming.”
Taking a sharp U–turn, I sped toward my family’s estate. The ten–minute drive felt like an eternity as my grip tightened on the steering wheel, my mind racing. By the time I stormed into the house, I was a tempest.
Melanie was seated on the couch, her face a mask of innocence as she chatted with my family. My mother’s face lit up when she saw me. “Ah, here’s the soon–to–be groom,” she said, smiling warmly.
Soon–to–be groom? What the hell was she talking about?
Melanie turned to me with a radiant smile, as
if she hadn’t wreaked havoc in my life.
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“Niklaus,” she greeted sweetly, like she
hadn’t betrayed me.
‘What are you doing here?” I growled, my voice low and menacing.
My mother frowned at my tone. “Why are you speaking to her like that? Melanie is your good friend and-” she paused dramatically,
“-soon–to–be wife.”
My heart stopped. “What?”
Cherry stepped forward, her expression pleading. “Niklaus, you’ve been a shadow of yourself since Rosalyn left. We just wanted to help you move on, so we arranged for you and Melanie to get married soon.”
“You what?” My voice rose, incredulous.
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“She’s perfect for you,” my mother added, her voice soft. “You‘ ve shown her so much
love these past two years. We thought this would be best.”
I turned to Melanie, who looked down, feigning shyness. Rage bubbled in
my chest. “I’d rather die than marry Melanie,” I declared coldly.
Gasps echoed in the room. Melanie’s head snapped up, her expression one of hurt.
“Niklaus, how could you say that?” she whispered.
“Cut the act, Melanie!” I roared.
My mother’s eyes narrowed. “What‘ s wrong with you? Melanie has always been good to you.”
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“Good to me?” I laughed bitterly. “She‘ s
the reason Rosalyn left. She orchestrated everything. She lied, manipulated, and deceived everyone. Do you know she endangered Father’s life just to win me over?”
The room fell silent. My mother‘ s face went pale. “Is this true?” she demanded, turning to Melanie.
Melanie stammered, tears welling in her eyes. “I only did it because I love him! Everything I did was out of love.”
Without warning, my mother slapped her across the face. “You endangered my husband‘ s life for love?” she spat.
Melanie clutched her cheek, stunned. Before
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she could respond, Cherry stepped forward
and delivered another slap. “How could you?” Cherry hissed. “I trusted you. I treated you like a sister.”
“Cherry, please-”
“Shut up, Melanie!” Cherry snapped. “You manipulated my boyfriend, ruined Niklaus‘ relationship, and now you‘ re here
pretending to be innocent? You‘ re nothing but a wretch.”
Melanie‘ s façade crumbled. “I just wanted to be with Niklaus,” she sobbed.
“The right thing you should do now is
leave,” my mother said sternly, pointing at the door. “Get out of my house.”
Melanie’s eyes darted around the room,
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filled with desperation. Suddenly, her gaze landed on the knife beside the fruit bowl on
the table. In a flash, she grabbed it and lunged toward Mrs. Woods, pulling her close and pressing the blade against her neck.
“Don’t come any closer!” Melanie screamed. “I’ll do it. I swear.”
We froze, horror etched on our faces.
“Melanie, let her go,
go,” I said, my voice
steady but firm. “This isn‘ t you.”
“Shut up, Niklaus!” she yelled, her grip tightening. “I loved you, and you couldn’t even look at me. What‘ s so special about Rosalyn?”
“She’s different from you,” I stated. “She won’t endanger anyone’s life.”
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“Apart from that, aren’t I special to have your
love?” She asked, looking at me with hurt.
“You‘ re nothing special,” Mrs. Woods interjected bitterly. “You‘ re selfish and deceitful, just like you’ve always has been. That’s why Niklaus can’t love you.”
“Shut up!” Melanie screamed, pressing the knife harder. A thin line of blood appeared, and Mrs. Woods gasped.
“You’ve gone mad, Melanie!” Cherry
shouted.
Melanie scoffed. “I’ve always been mad. You just never noticed.”
The tension was unbearable. Every second felt like an eternity as I inched closer.
“Melanie, listen to me,” I said softly.
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“You‘ re not thinking clearly. Let her go, and we can talk about this.”
“Talk?” She laughed bitterly. “You want to talk now? After you humiliated me?”
Behind her, the front door burst open, and Mr. Logan entered, flanked by police officers and a team of doctors. His face was pale, his eyes heavy with regret.
“Melanie,” he said, stepping forward. “It’s over. Please, put the knife down.”
“No!” she screamed, her voice cracking. “I won’t let you take this from me!”
Mr. Logan gestured to the officers, who slowly spread out. “You need help, Melanie. Let her go, and we’ll get you the help you need.”
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“She’s lying,” Melanie hissed, her eyes darting wildly. “They‘ re all lying.”
I saw my chance. While she was distracted, I lunged forward, grabbing her wrist and twisting it. The knife clattered to the floor, and the officers swarmed in, restraining her.
“Let me go!” Melanie screamed, thrashing
against them. “I love him! Niklaus, don’t let
them take me!
ララ
The doctors moved quickly, injecting her with a sedative. Her screams turned to whimpers as she slumped into their arms.
Mr. Logan approached me, his eyes filled with sorrow. “I’m sorry for everything, Niklaus. I knew she wasn’t well, but I thought she‘ d change. I should have done more.”
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I nodded stiffly. “It’s good she’s getting help now.”
Melanie‘ s tear–streaked face turned to me as
“I’ll
the doctors led her away. “I‘ 11 change,
Niklaus,” she begged weakly. “Please don’t
hate me.
As the door closed behind her, silence fell over the room. My mother sank into a chair, her face ashen. “Poor Rosalyn,” she
murmured. “We‘ ve wronged her so much. Will she ever forgive us?”
I sighed heavily, my heart aching. My phone buzzed again. It was Jeff.
“Sir,” he began hesitantly, “I found out Rosalyn left the city three days ago. She‘ s in Texas with her parents.”
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“What?” I demanded. “And you‘ re just telling me this now?”
“I’m sorry, sir. But there’s more…she’s leaving for Paris tomorrow. I don’t think she’s coming back.”
My heart sank. “What?” I whispered.
Jeff‘ s words echoed in my mind as the weight of everything crashed down on me.
