Chapter 4

I used a morning to send my mother for cremation.

Coming out of the crematorium, I discovered Melody had called me over a dozen times.

Unable to reach me by phone, she cursed at me on WhatsApp.

[Fintan, we're getting the marriage license today, are you playing hard to get on purpose?]

[Do you know how the media is reporting about me?]

[Get your ass over here right now!]

[If not, even if you beg me on your knees in the future, I won't marry you!]

It was then that I remembered.

Today was the day Melody and I had agreed to get our marriage license.

However, I didn't care anymore.

Gazing at the clear sky, I slowly walked out holding my mother's urn.

A luxurious stretched Lincoln blocked my path.

"Are you Mr. Winters?"

"We were sent by Ms. Frost. Please get in the car."

Only one person in the Frost Family could be referred to as Ms. Frost, and that was Melody's aunt Vivienne.

Slightly surprised, I followed them into the car.

Once inside, I noticed a prepared black suit.

"Mr.Winters, put on a suit. A welcome party is thrown in the Frost Residence for Ms. Frost.

I stood in front of the mirror after changing into a suit at the Frost Residence. For a moment, I saw the spirited young man I once was at the swimming pool.

But all of that was destroyed three years ago by a tragic accident.

A bitter smile played on my lips. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside the door.

Then came the intimate sound of a man and woman breathing heavily.

"Melody, I think that punk Fintan was deliberately trying to embarrass you, making you wait in the cold wind for so long."

"It breaks my heart."

Levi held Melody close, kissing her passionately.

Melody didn't respond to him. She only pulled away, slightly out of breath, her gaze haughty.

"Within a day, Fintan will definitely be begging me to marry him."

"He's just my lapdog. Everyone knows he knelt in front of my parents for a whole day just to marry me back then."

"How could someone so pathetic give up easily?"

"Yesterday he even said his mother was critically ill and asked me to donate blood?"

"I think he's just making excuses. He's not afraid of jinxing his mom to death!" Melody slipped off her jacket and pinned Levi beneath her.

Another round of heavy breathing ensued between the man and woman.

Just a wall away, I clenched my fists, wanting to burst in and curse them out.

But reason held me back.

I stood there, forced to listen to their sounds of passion.

Only when the party was about to begin did they finally leave.

I crouched down to ease my stiff legs, then exited the room a few minutes later and made my way to the ballroom.

Frost family gatherings were typically held at the old residence.

By the time I arrived, the ballroom was abuzz with clinking glasses - New York City's grandest spectacle of wealth and status in full swing.

I pushed my way through the crowd, quickly spotting Melody as the center of attention.

She wore a pink haute couture gown, wrapped in the embrace of Levi in his black suit.

The two were intimately close as I watched from afar, feeling utterly unmoved.

Until Levi's eyes met mine.

His gaze held a mix of challenge and disdain as he mouthed two words.

"Loser!"

Then he leaned down to whisper something to Melody.

Melody turned to look at me, eyes blazing.

"Fintan, how dare you show your face here?"

"Who let you in?"

"What makes trash like you think you can attend my aunt's welcome party?"

As she spoke, she raised her hand to slap me. I blocked her wrist, but was caught off guard when her mom slapped me across the face.

"Fintan, you dare to show up here?"

"I see you've come here today just to die!"

I turned my head, a red handprint blooming on my left cheek.

The party guests covered their mouths, their eyes filled with mockery and disdain.

As if they were watching a clown.

Mr. Frost, Melody's dad, even more arrogant, called for security to drag me out.

I looked up, and everyone was laughing, as if they had just watched an amusing show.

And I was the monkey, there for their amusement and ridicule.

But at that moment, a woman's cold voice came from behind me.

"Who dares to touch him?"