Chapter 12

Barry had a cigarette balanced between his lips, and he reeked of alcohol. He leaned closer to Melanie as he spoke. Although Melanie looked old, she had exquisite features. Barry had seen many women in his life, but he had never met anyone as attractive as her. On top of that, her husband was dead, and she had a child to worry about. He thought that a woman like her was the easiest to control. He said, "I can be your husband since you don't have one. I'll give you money to spend as long as you serve me well." Melanie glared at him coldly as she took a step back. "Aren't you afraid that your girlfriend will find out?" She had only decided to stay in this area because the rent was dirt cheap. A single room had only cost 600 dollars, so she could save a lot of money in the long run. She could use the money to buy better medicine for Louisa. Not wanting to continue the conversation with Barry, Melanie tried to head back to her room, only to have her way blocked by Barry. "Her shift is