On the way home Melody was quiet and drowsy. Brandon deduced she won't have enough strength to get dinner this way for herself later on and skip dinner before taking medication. So, Brandon decided to stop by a small shop nearby called "Tasty Cuisine" which he often visits when he used to study in the university. He always used to order food from there because it's clean and simple and mainly because he followed Melody there without her knowing when they were younger as he had a crush on her. Melody saw that he stopped by the shop and instantly recognised. She was surprised and asked Brandon if he knows the shop.
"Sir, you know this shop? The food here is so good and I often used to come here to eat when I was studying in the university."
"I do know this shop as I like to eat here as well. I remember telling you not to call me sir after work hours or when we are not working. It makes me look like a very strict and distant person. I'll go and get you some food for your dinner because I don't think you have enough strength to move about so much. Wait in the car for me. "
"Sir... Ah I'm sorry I mean Brandon! You don't have to do that. I can just manage with some biscuits or bread that I have left at home. "
"Are you trying to hinder your fast recovery Melody? I just told you this afternoon about the importance of your health. Wait here and I'll be back. "
Melody just stared at Brandon's back entering the shop. She was feeling drowsy and she closed her eyes. She was drawn back to her past. She was once a happy girl with a happy family consisting of her parents until her mother died and her father remarried her stepmother who had a daughter. After that, little did she know at that time that they only saw her as a tool to boost their reputation and to fulfill their wishes. Her parents Mr Hoffman and her stepmother Madam Andrea or known as Mrs Hoffman and her stepsister Molly all just took her for granted. Melody comes from a well to do family as well but because of her parents wishes to use her as a tool and her sister who hates her and always finds ways to embarrass and pull her down.
Her father owns The Hoffman Corporation which is also well known and is famous. Melody once thought that her step-mom and her stepsister loved her and will care for her as family as a young and naive child. Instead her thoughts were shattered as her step-mom made her do housework as well as her daughter's daily chores as Melody's Dad was often busy with work. Her step-mom will always badmouth and create a bad impression about Melody to her dad and her dad will hit her and scold her without even clarifying the matter. Her stepsister was also cruel and joined in telling wrong things about her and often fought with her and put up an act in front of their dad. This caused a major misunderstanding between Melody and her dad and he often blamed her and punished her.
Melody's stepmother was very cruel that when Melody didn't make mistakes and was minding her own work she will find fault with her and punish her. Melody often had to go hungry to bed. She will sometimes be locked in a dark room all by herself. Her stepsister often tool her favourite things and broke them apart. Melody only managed to save her mother's gifts with her in a safe lock only known to her and her mom in her room. She was often bullied in her house that her only wish was to leave home when she reaches 18 and to start her own life which she did. Melody was been a smart child since young. She was also good in music and arts, etc and thankfully her stepmother didn't stop her music and art classes nor her schooling as regardless of punishing her any other way her father refused to stop her classes as he had promised Melody's mom to give her proper education. She was brought up strictly such that she couldn't speak to boys or hang out with anyone else too much compared to her sister who was given all the privileges. Many wanted to approach her as she was beautiful and also smart. Her stepsister didn't like that and often tried to attract attention to herself by badmouthing Melody. So she had me very few friends.
At 18 she was adamant and left the house with her mother's inheritance and shares and she moved into the apartment which her mother had registered under her name as a future gift. Her father was very angry and said that since she is leaving she should not come back at all and she was being ungrateful and he will not give her a single cent. But that is okay to Melody as she had her own savings as well and did some part time work to support herself daily while continuing her studies in the college for two years. Her step-mom and stepsister were happy that she left but unhappy with the amount of inheritance her mother left which she took along with her when she left. Melody then entered university at 20 and studied very hard to where she is today. She went through even more heartbreaking moments during her university life as her stepsister was also admitted there. She was in tears when she thought of all this.
-Back to present-
Suddenly the car door opened up and Melody was startled. Brandon got in and was worried when he saw tears in her eyes. Brandon asked her what's wrong and passed her a tissue.
"Are you okay? What happened to you? A bad dream? Here is your dinner which I have asked them to put in a hot case."
"I'm okay and yes a bad dream perhaps. She didn't want to confide into anyone about her past that quickly. Thank you for the tissue. "
Brandon then further stopped at the pharmacy nearby and bought some medications for her before driving her back to her home. The journey was silent and as there was a slight traffic jam it took a bit longer. Melody fell asleep in Brandon's car. Brandon looked over at the sleeping Melody and whispered ,
"Do you know how long I've been looking for you ever since I came back? I've had a crush on you ever since college. I had to leave for further studies later and couldn't see you which made me yearn more for you. One day Melody, I will marry you and make you mine with your consent and I will love you more than anything as I have until today. There has never been another woman to attract me like you have. I fell in love for you at first sight but was not sure if it was a crush but when I couldn't see you I know that I loved you with all my heart. I had often followed you during college and university without you knowing just to have a glimpse of you and your smile. I'm scared if I told you this you will not accept me. What should I do? "