In the dimly lit room, the woman leaning against the wall furiously typed some strings of letter on her phone, her eyes blazing with savage fire. She paused for a minute, dabbing at the beads of sweat that had collected on her forehead.
"This is really unbelievable" Melissa mumbled under her breath as she replied to some messages.
Melissa's restless fingers drummed on the table beside her, her gaze flitting from corner to corner as if she could outrun her own thoughts.
A muscle in her jaw twitched, the only outward sign of the rage simmering beneath the surface. She felt like a volcano ready to erupt, pent up energy and frustration threatening to explode at any moment.
Walking back to her bed, she let down a shaky breath and for the first time since six years, Melissa found herself trembling.
Len had never ignored her message for too long. Even if he wasn't available, he would send a message and ask to talk later.
Melissa had been sending messages since yesterday but Len never replied any of them. She grew restless and her heart was in deep turmoil.
When she couldn't take it anymore, she grabbed the vase that was near her and smashed it against the wall.
"F*ck! F*ck!" She yelled uncontrollably, her whole body trembling with tension.
She cried out in terror, grabbing more items from the room and smashing them against the wall.
She did this for five minutes before taking short, deep breaths to calm herself.
Fir the past six years, she had been by his side, not minding his indifference but now, he's ignoring her?
"That bitch has to be the cause!"
At that moment, the room to her door was shoved open, revealing an elegant woman in her mid-fifties. Her arms were folded against her chest as she glared at the mess Melissa had created.
"What is it again, Mel?" With a questioning tone, the woman seemed indifferent. She wasn't pleased with the mess Melissa had created.
"Mom, if you are here to talk about the blind date I missed, let's do this another day. I'm not in the mood to talk right now." Melissa spoke up, her voice heavy with hurt.
However, the woman just rolled her eyes and walked towards her daughter.
"There are other men out there, darling. He doesn't deserve you" She tried talking sense into Melissa.
But could she truly let go of someone she had loved since she was a young girl?
She didn't know what changed but Len had always cared about her, he took care of her even when he was still married to her stepsister. What has changed?
"It's either him or no one" Melissa answered, avoiding eye contact with her mother. "To get him, I will do whatever it takes, even if it means getting rid of Paula once more. I've done it before, I can do it again."
Her sour mood lightened slightly as she spoke, determination flashing in her eyes.
"It does not matter what you do, darling, but exercise caution. I don't think your Father knows she's back yet. I will let him know."
Susanna, Melissa's mother, has always supported her daughter regardless of what she plans to do. Although she's glad that her daughter has interest in one of the most valuable man in the country, she still wants her to broaden her horizon and meet new people of the sane caliber.
But Melissa still has a thing for Len Bertram, and she will not let anyone else have him but her.
During the family meal, Melissa eats her food slowly while her mind is racing with various concepts. Whatever it takes, Len has to become hers.
She had been working hard for the past six years to develop her relationship with the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, but the arrival of her foolish stepsister had upset her plans.
Getting rid of her this time would be much easier than the first time.
"Honey, do you know Paula is back?" Susanna broke the silence, intending the question for her husband. "She left without saying a word and now she's back, no words from her again."
"Don't talk about her, Susanna. She's no longer my child and I don't care whatever she does" Gerald, Paula and Melissa's Father answered with a raised voice as he dropped his spoon on his plate. "I haven't seen her for six years and I've forgotten I have a daughter."
"I appreciate your choice, honey, but Melissa is having issues because she is returning here," Susanna said sternly. "You know I stayed silent when she took Melissa's boyfriend, you know I said nothing when you agreed to their marriage, and now that she is back, I fear the same thing will happen again."
Melissa gave her mother a thank-you look as she indifferently nibbled on her food. She intended to show her Father how annoyed and pained she was.
Everyone knew that Melissa and Len were always together and playing together six years prior, but when word got out that Paula had drugged Len and betrayed her sister, Melissa was met with a lot of sympathetic looks and Paula with severe ridicule.
"What do you want me to do? Melissa should keep her man in check then" Gerald replied harshly, his voice tinged with anger.
"You are Paula's Father! Talk to her and warn her!"
Annoyed, Susanna stood up from her seat and dashed out of the dining room while Melissa stayed, her eyes in her Father who let down a deep breath.
"Dad" Melissa called. "You know how much I love my sister and even though she betrayed me back then, I supported her while you all berated her. Even after cheating on Len, he still didn't terminate our family's collaboration with his company. Do you know why? It was because of me, Dad. I have no ill intention towards my sister but I will be glad if you speak with her."
With her lips spreading into a small smile, Melissa stood up and walked out of the dining room while her Father sat down contemplating her words.
If only his first daughter was as smart and considerate as this. He sighed bitterly.
Melissa went straight to her room, heaving a sigh of relief.
She was confident that Gerald would take action on her behalf because she is aware of how highly he regards her.
"You are going back to where you've been hiding, bitch" She smirked, closing her eyes before drifting into sleep.