Chapter 3 Melody’s Resolve After departure, Melody’s swiftly discarding the façade sorrow wiping away imaginary tears. her almond-shaped eyes betrayed a resolve beneath the surface. understood well gesture dismissal wasn’t temporary; instead, it at her disposable status. she ceased to a purpose, she’d be relegated once more to a state of mere nuisance. In her life, Melody lived and hoped to from enduring a year of before he gradually up to her. his is in mystery. But when he did, was profound and unforgettable. In this new life, Melody resolved take the to approach Edward and shield and cherish with her love. Entering the bathroom freshen she confronted her reflection. Red-brown dotted her face, dark circles marred her eyes, and a complexion hinted at an underlying resentment. Despite her delicate features, aura lingered, a testament to her troubled existence. Melody’s confidence wavered. Had truly to seduce Edward with this ghostly appearance? It no he had rejected her. would embrace such a spectral figure? Reflecting on her appearance, Melody couldn’t shake the of her past life. On eve of her proxy marriage, she tirelessly on financial plan for brother Timothy, sacrificing sleep pushing herself to the limits of exhaustion. The pimples face stemmed from her experimentation with medicinal remedies for Cameron. to identify the ingredients from the ancient texts, she resorted to trial and error, resulting in face becoming ulcerated and covered with painful red sores. Recalling these Melody’s fingers tightened, and bitter sneer her lips. She realized how foolish she had been in her life, yearning for familial affection and desperately to please the Shield family. Yet, in the end, she had relative to even bury her ashes. How foolish was! This time, she vowed never to make the same mistakes subject herself to for the Shield family’s benefit again! Bearing the of her burdens, Melody’s rest that night was fitful. As the rose high in sky, finally got sleep. Upon awakening, for phone, its battery from neglect. Charging it, she met a deluge messages, signaling a new day fraught with its own challenges. Soon, a familiar call interrupted Melody’s thoughts. answered, greeted by Carson’s impatient voice on the other end. “Why did you turn off and disappear?” Carson, renowned singer known gentle yet magnetic voice, sounded notably annoyed. “Melody, will you learn to be as sensible and considerate as Suzie?” words nearly elicited from Melody. “Oh, it my night; my husband is too clingy,” she quipped. can’t get at all. Raising an Melody’s eyes narrowed casually as her tone turned cold and sharp. Carson frowned, surprised Melody’s audacity in Edward. Wasn’t he disabled? And now she to argue with him. Despite this, he her retorts, growing impatient as he raised voice. “Melody, will you ever stop? you deliberately bring up this matter to disgust everyone?” The entire family uneasy about Melody marrying Suzie’s place but believed was the best way to protect Suzie. had other choice. faced with Melody’s sarcasm, Carson couldn’t shake off a sense of guilt. With a and icy Melody retorted, “How amusing. I’m the one entering into marriage, not you, why the disdain? What’s the theatrics?” into marrying in sister’s stead, Melody couldn’t shake off memory of her pleas. Her father’s weathered hands embraced her, imploring, “Mel, your sister’s fragile heart can’t endure any shocks. Please, for your father’s marry into Moore her. Her mother, touch for first since Melody’s murmured, “Mel, I know you, sister has been by side since she was child. bear to her a disabled man. her it’s your duty to her, isn’t it?” A ran down Melody’s spine. Since she was kidnapped, Melody had never experienced motherly love. Was it fair Melody to be the sacrificial simply because she was older sister without a heart condition? Amidst the silence her five their hopeful gazes weighed her. They all acceptance of marrying a disabled man in place. Ultimately, Grandma’s threat kneel forced Melody into the wedding dress against will. Now, what did have to voice complaints? Carson’s softened momentarily, with emotion, “Regardless of you feel this marriage, taking the financial USB she made for brother without permission was uncalled for. “She sacrificed five sleepless nights to it. Taking it without permission is stealing!” “Melody, this behavior disappoints me. What have you learned during your Stealing, really?” Carson’s tone grew resentful, tinged with a hint frustration directed towards Melody. Melody listened calmly, anticipating this confrontation. her past accusations of USB drive” protect Suzanna’s reputation. Because Suzanna had privately pleaded with her several times, she ultimately the blame. this time… should she protect pride? Melody’s sneer was audible through the phone, your astounds me!” With that, she the call. Subsequent to reach were met with blocked number. hesitation, Melody swiftly the phone numbers of her parents, grandmother, five brothers, and Suzanna. Carson listened to the busy tone on his realizing for the first that he couldn’t Melody. He paused momentarily, then again, to discover he had been blocked. darkened momentarily, a sign of his frustration. Satisfied with blocking everyone, glanced up to Edward’s wheelchair parked at the door. He casually the his slender fingers, his eyes and inscrutable. “Good morning, Mr. seeing him, almond eyes instantly curved into crescent moons, her smile and dazzling. In heart, a small voice screamed, “You didn’t anything, you didn’t hear anything, you hear anything!!” Fate, however, seemed to against Melody. The next Edward’s voice, cold yet tinged with playfulness and sensuality, broke the silence. “Did I cling you too tightly last night?” With those words, tingled the girl, her toes curling involuntarily. misunderstanding!” she stammered, caught off guard. She… didn’t mean to that. Really… really? She hadn’t planned to divorce Edward; was determined to have him. Right now, she just needed to vent her frustrations. But being by him utterly mortifying. gaze over Melody, gracing his lips as he remarked, “Couldn’t get up at all?” startled Melody, prompting her to abruptly from bed. from comforting of her Melody’s bare feet made contact with the cool floor as obediently toward man. The of Melody squatting before him, eyes filled with her nose red and almond-shaped eyes watery, tugged at Edward’s heartstrings. Her obedient resembled that of a lost, vulnerable creature, her touch on pant leg and tender. “Edward, I’ll be please don’t send me away,” implored softly. Edward a strange warmth as her fingertips grazed his skin through the fabric. It was a closeness he hadn’t experienced a woman before, except previous night. Suddenly, Edward’s gaze intensified, and out gently push Melody’s forehead, his tone yet awkward, “You just need to be responsible for curing me. Don’t think of… something else. The words hung in the air, at a meaning. Hidden in the shadows, bodyguard taken aback, almost dislocating his jaw in surprise. Moore had actually initiated physical contact with a woman?