Chapter 265

"Father, Mother, let me introduce you all. This is my fiancee, Melissa; this is Alvin and Alvina Austin, children of Melissa and I; this is Robert Barry..." Before Joseph could finish, his father, Jacob interrupted him impatiently. "Your children? But why do they have the last name Austin not Clarkson?" To defuse the situation, Grandma Julia spoke up amicably. "There are lots of twists and turns regarding these two children, Jacob, but it's quite interesting." Joseph's mother, however, looked at Melissa with a stern face and then turned to Joseph. "Joseph, come to our room after dinner. We have something to talk to you about." Joseph could already see that his parents had reservations about Melissa. He shot a comforting glance at Melissa before ascending to his parents' bedroom upstairs. "What's wrong, Mother? What would you like to speak with me about?" Joseph asked gravely. He had already made up his mind. No matter how much his parents disagreed with his engagement to Melissa, the engagement ceremony would take place as scheduled. "Why would you want to be with a woman who already has children?" Joseph's mother asked with a sigh, and it was clear that she didn't like Melissa. Joseph wore a polite smile and explained. "It's a long story, Mother. I promise I will explain everything to you in time. Melissa is a very kind girl, you will see." Having heard enough, Jacob darkened his face and bluntly stated. "She's kind? What use is that? Don't you know she's a divorcee? Stories will begin to circulate that Joseph picked up a woman his brother-in-law had slept with!" Maintaining his composure, Joseph patiently responded. "This is my life we're talking about, I'm not living it for the benefit of others. I could care less about these rumors. I have made up my mind to be with Melissa." "That's not possible, I won't allow it." Jacob set his stern gaze on Joseph, frustration painting his words. "I wish you to sever all connections with her as soon as possible. I will not permit her to enter the Clarkson household!" "I'm afraid that's no longer up to you, Father. The invitations for the engagement ceremony have already been distributed. It's a done deal, I've decided to be with Melissa!" Joseph counteracted coolly, a tone and gaze he rarely used with his father. "Joseph, you are becoming less and less like my son! Have you forgotten what I have told you about marriage..." Jacob was interrupted before he could finish by Melissa who had just entered the room, bringing the tense conversation to an abrupt halt. Melissa had merely wanted to check on Joseph upstairs, but soon realized she had unwittingly trespassed. She quickly explained. "Uncle, Auntie, I saw the door was unlocked so I came in..." Joseph's mother looked haughtily at Melissa before addressing Jacob. "Sure enough, she lacks manners." Jacob looked at Melissa disdainfully, trying to keep his tone calm "You are the one who broke my owl specimen, right?" Melissa was taken aback and replied with embarrassment: "Oh, yes, I'm sorry Uncle, it was indeed my mistake to break the specimen." "It doesn't matter, your mistake was choosing Joseph. Do you know what impact that will have on Joseph after you're married?" Jacob confronts her straightaway, giving Melissa no face at all. Melissa stood there like a mute who had lost her voice, staring at them at the doorway. The next second, Joseph grabbed Melissa's hand and angrily walked down the stairs, taking the children home. On the way home, Melissa sat in the passenger seat and said "Joseph, maybe I really am dragging you down." Joseph saw the tears in Melissa's eyes and with a look of determination in his own, asked "Melissa, do you trust me?" Melissa nodded, she didn't know what to do anymore. "Then never say such discouraging words again. Just hold my hand." Joseph tightly held Melissa's hand, believing that these difficulties were only temporary. Three days before the engagement ceremony of Joseph and Melissa, Melissa was tossing and turning in bed late at night, unable to sleep. Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside the room, probably it was Joseph returning from a business social, this was already the third time he didn't bring Melissa along to accompany clients. When Joseph returned to their room, his body smelled of the fresh aroma of tobacco, he had stopped smoking a long time ago, but he didn't know why he had recently picked up the habit again. "Melissa, are you asleep?" Joseph softly asked seeing Melissa lay motionless on the bed. Usually no matter how late, Melissa would always wait for him to return home before resting. But it was not yet midnight, and Melissa was already asleep. Joseph removed his clothes and slid into the bed, making slight rustling noises. He found Melissa sleeping with her back to him tonight, so he instinctively stretched out his arm to embrace Melissa and fell asleep. "Don't touch me!" To his surprise, Melissa suddenly rolled off the bed with a strong reaction and warned in a chilly and resolute voice. "What's wrong, Melissa?" Joseph sat up from the bed and turned on the lamp above the headboard. He found Melissa's eyes were swollen from crying. "Please, don't touch me," Melissa feebly whispered in pain, curling up to sit on the stone steps at the entrance of the balcony. Seeing Melissa in this state, Joseph was torn between heartache and a feeling he could not put into words. He didn't know whether he should try to explain things to her at this point. "Melissa, it's cold over there. Come here, okay?" Joseph extended a hand towards Melissa, looking at her with eyes full of affection. Melissa shook her head, tears in her eyes. "Don't... come any closer. If you ever had any love for me or respect for me, please let me go." "What do you mean?" Joseph knew what was bothering Melissa these days. He thought it was best to talk everything out. Melissa gave a bitter laugh and starred at Joseph with teary eyes, and weakly said. "Anna, she is the AD behind the watch dial, isn't she?" Usually, a woman's intuition in such matters is quite accurate. He had been coming home late these days. He must have been seeing Anna. "How did you find out?" Joseph asked plainly, not denying anything. He had indeed been in touch with Anna these days, but not in the way Melissa assumed. "One day you were taking a shower, and Anna made a video call on WeChat. I saw it." Melissa had discovered this accidentally. She had always trusted Joseph before, but this time she didn't dare to deceive herself anymore. After all, she had seen this name six years ago, a thorn in her heart. "Yes, Anna is back. I thought I could handle this past relationship on my own, so I didn't tell you. Melissa, you might have misunderstood me. If it bothers you, next time I'll take you with me to see her..."