Chapter 13

The morning sun greeted Melisa as she sat quietly for a while. A soft click of the door drew her attention.

Leonard walked out, his damp hair tousled from the shower, a towel casually draped over his hand as he wiped away the lingering droplets. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Melisa calmly looked away, as if nothing had happened.

After getting ready, she made her way downstairs for breakfast. Everyone except Aunt Eleanor was already seated. This time, Ivonne didn't take her usual seat next to Leonard—maybe she had finally figured out that this trick wasn't working.

"Leo… Leonard, why do you have dark circles under your eyes?" Ivonne asked softly, her voice laced with concern.

Melisa glanced at his face as well. She had noticed them earlier but didn't know how to ask, so she chose to remain silent.

Leonard wanted to ignore Ivonne as usual, but under his mother's worried gaze, he finally replied, "It's nothing. I just had some work to finish last night, so I slept late."

Melisa gave him a look—if she didn't share the same room with him, she might have believed his lie. But knowing the truth, she found it amusing how effortlessly he fabricated an excuse.

"Aunt Eleanor, he can also bring his secretary," Melisa, who had been suddenly dragged into the conversation, tried to say in a casual tone. They're going to divorce in future—what's the point of maintaining a public image?It will only make things more complicated when the time will come.

Ivonne also spoke in a persuading, cheerful tone, "Aunt, Melisa might be busy. I will be going as well, so don't worry."

Melisa was puzzled at first—why was Ivonne suddenly taking her side? But soon, she understood. This was her true intention all along.

She glanced at Leonard, a strange feeling stirring in her heart. She had already decided not to hold any illusions or hopes for this marriage, yet it seemed she had forgotten all the lessons she had learned.

Leonard's face darkened as he replied to Ivonne, but his eyes remained fixed on Melisa. "There's no need. I can manage alone."

"Why not Ivonne?" Tristan suddenly interrupted, his tone casual yet deliberate.

Leonard shot him a sharp glare, but Tristan simply shrugged, feigning innocence.

Aunt Eleanor, however, wasn't ready to back down. "Now, you are his wife. Why would he need anyone else?" Her eyes pleaded with Melisa, a rare request from someone who had always been kind to her.

Melisa hesitated. They were going to divorce soon, so what was the point of maintaining appearances? But Aunt Eleanor had never asked her for anything. With a sigh, she relented. "Okay, tell me the time. I'll be ready by then." Her gaze met Leonard's.

Leonard held her stare for a moment before finally saying, "Alright." His expression was unreadable, but inside, he wasn't sure if he was pleased or frustrated. She had agreed—yet only because his mother had insisted.

After breakfast, as Melisa was about to leave, Leonard's voice stopped her. "Melisa."

She turned to him, her expression calm and unreadable.

His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something more, but after a brief pause, he simply said, "Be ready by seven."

Melisa nodded. "I will."

Just as she took another step, his voice came again. "Eat something before going. You won't get much time to eat there."

She halted for a fraction of a second. The concern in his tone wasn't obvious, but it was there. She didn't know what to make of it, so she simply said, "Okay."

Aunt Eleanor chuckled. "Don't worry, Leo. I'll prepare some soup for both of you before you leave."

Ivonne's smile stiffened for a moment at Aunt Eleanor's words, but she quickly masked it with a soft laugh. "Aunt, I should also go home."

She had hoped Aunt Eleanor would ask her to stay for a few more days, but instead, she got a polite"Greet your mom for me."

Her eyes dimmed for a moment before she smile," I will,aunt".

Without another word, also Melisa gave a polite nod. "I'll be going now."

As she left, Leonard watched her retreating figure, his jaw tightening slightly.

Ivonne forced a smile and turned gracefully. "I should get ready too. See you tonight, Leonard." Then, without waiting for a response that would not arrive, she walked away, her fingers subtly clenching at her side.

At the party tonight, She would make Melisa unable to live here respectively.