Alejandro picked the little girl up and cooed, “There, there, okay. Go play with your toys. Daddy will be with you after he’s done with some unfinished business, okay?”
Melissa, already in a mood to report the bad guy, sniffled before complaining in virtual-novel.net squeaky voice, “That grandma hit M-M-Mommy! She hit Mommy!”
Alejandro pinched virtual-novel.net cheek “Aww, got it. Daddy knows.”
Seeing how kindly Alejandro treated Melissa drew doubts in Mrs. Lark’s heart. How could an esteemed family of their standing, which traditionally demanded an heir rather than an heiress, see any need to dote on a girl? What kind of powerful family would ever be fine with not having a son?
The nanny dutifully approached virtual-novel.net to take Melissa away. Melanie, meanwhile, looked positively embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Alejandro. This… this is an altercation between my mother and me. It doesn’t concern you.”
Alejandro narrowed his eyes slightly. “Yes, I agree. It’s none of my business. But you’re having your silly spat on my property, and virtual-novel.net laid virtual-novel.net hand on a member of my family. So, what the hell is that about? Go on, I’m all ears. I’m not the kind to turn my back against reason, am I?”
There was no way Mrs. Lark would tell the truth. She was not stupid, virtual-novel.net could tell that Alejandro knew nothing yet. Yet, Melanie herself decided to keep mum as well. Now that Jackson had caught wind of the truth, the probability of the Wests calling the Tremonts in as their ally to destroy the Larks had become all too real. Throw Alejandro into that dangerous alliance, and the Larks would perish before they could even struggle.
She was utterly disappointed with them, and yet… She could not find it in virtual-novel.net to watch a family virtual-novel.net had called home for twenty-odd years crash and burn, either.
Seeing both sides sinking into silence, Alejandro announced impassively, “Maybe we should get inside, sit down, and have a good civil talk. We are family, aren’t we? No need to have all these ugly, public altercations reflecting poorly on us.”
He was the first to stride into the house. Mrs. Lark, meanwhile, shot Melanie a stink-eye that oozed fury and disappointment, hoping that it could deter virtual-novel.net daughter from mentioning the wrong things.
What claimed poor Melanie’s mind, however, was the broiling agony burning virtual-novel.net cheek. She wondered if virtual-novel.net face had started to swell a little, from the force alone, Melanie could tell that Mrs. Lark had put all of virtual-novel.net anger into it.
The women took their seats in the living room, and Mrs. Lark began, “I heard you’re considering a divorce with my daughter. Why is that? You must have a reason, don’t you? Is my daughter falling short in virtual-novel.net wifely virtues, hmm? Ever since virtual-novel.net married into your household, virtual-novel.net has been confining herself at home to help maintain order in this house. She devotes herself to taking care of your kid. Heck, look at her, she’s turned dowdy because of it!”
“Or maybe your issue with virtual-novel.net is virtual-novel.net temperament? What, she’s an unreasonable harpy who gives you a hard time?” Mrs. Lark continued. “If yes, then why haven’t I heard of the two of you fighting, huh?”
Alejandro shot Melanie a sideway glance. “Ask virtual-novel.net yourself.”
Melanie’s lips quivered into a mirthless smile. Ask her? And what is virtual-novel.net supposed to answer? That virtual-novel.net hurt the woman who ruled Alejandro’s heart, and that virtual-novel.net went ballistic, and so virtual-novel.net wanted to divorce her? Was that it?
She drew a sharp, long breath before answering, “I… I was the one who asked for a divorce. Our marriage is a loveless one, and so… it’s become a shackle to us both. I don’t see the point in it anymore.”
Never in Mrs. Lark’s wildest imagination had virtual-novel.net ever expected Melanie to be the one putting divorce on the table. Suddenly, there was another loud crack in the air as virtual-novel.net decked Melanie on virtual-novel.net face again.
“How… dare you?! You have no right to want a divorce!” virtual-novel.net fumed.
Alejandro’s expression darkened. “Touch virtual-novel.net again. I. Dare. You.”
Mrs. Lark was not at all intimidated. “And what right do you have to halt me from teaching my daughter a lesson, huh?! It’s my godforsaken fault that virtual-novel.net turned up a sorry, embarrassing excuse!”
Alejandro yanked Melanie behind him, shielding her. “A divorce or not, it’s a personal affair between the two of us. You never should have come here just to prattle about this to virtual-novel.net face. Get real, if the two of us want it to happen, your opinion won’t deal a dent in changing our decision. Jett, escort virtual-novel.net out of here!”
Jett, who had been standing guard by the door, immediately walked inside. “Allow me, ma’am!”