Chapter 39

Joseph had a reason for being so persistent with Melissa. Today at the office, he stumbled upon a video of his younger sister brawling with Melissa at a café online. A few days ago, he had learned some information about the history between these two women through an investigation. Although he didn't want to worry about these matters, he always felt this woman had some hidden schemes brewing. He believed that this video took place yesterday afternoon; thus, he deemed it necessary to thoroughly question Melissa's whereabouts. "I was meeting with an old friend, what does that have to do with you?" Melissa frowned, finding this man excessively meddlesome. It was downright annoying for a grown man to be so nosy. "What old friend?" Joseph stared into Melissa's eyes, as though he was going to see through her with his piercing stare. Just then, Melissa’s phone rang. Pushing Joseph off to the side, she answered the call "Hello, Peter" Unexpectedly, Joseph snatched Melissa's phone away, listening impassively. "Melissa, have you reached home?" Peter voice came from the other end of the call. "She has." Joseph responded coldly in a low voice. When he heard a man's voice, he immediately envisioned unsavory scenes. Like the day when Melissa seduced him in the hotel, eventually leading to him being detained. This woman was truly detestable! When Peter heard the voice on the other end, his tone wasn't as gentle anymore "You must be Mr. Clarkson, the second son of the Clarkson Family. I hope you would kindly return Miss Melissa's phone to her." "And who might you be? Stop harassing her from now on!" A surge of anger ignited in Joseph's heart. He didn't even know where this anger was coming from. "I am someone who can protect Melissa at all times. Please, return the phone to her!" Peter spoke bluntly. He sensed that Joseph had some sort of control over Melissa. Peter didn't want Melissa to spend too much time with the Clarkson Family. With a cold humph, Joseph promptly hung up the phone. Melissa hurriedly grabbed her mobile, rebuking Joseph "Who do you think you are! How could you hang up on me, that's so out of line." Melissa was infuriated to the point of losing her senses, this man was too arrogant, too vile. "Melissa you better straighten up, don't forget that you're in a relationship with me now. If my grandmother discovers you having a date with other men, you won't get a penny!" Joseph grips Melissa's chin, threatening in a low voice. He sizes up and down at this recklessly immoral woman. As a mother, it’s simply hopeless. Melissa threw a harsh glare at Joseph and breaks away from his hand "Unreasonable!" After saying that, Melissa strides out of the garage, leaving Joseph behind. As soon as Melissa crosses her home's doorway, she rushes to the living room "Alvin, Alvina, Mommy’s home, have you missed me today?" "No!" Alvin answered, grinning mischievously. "Big brother didn't miss Mommy, but I missed Mommy. Oh right, mommy, Great Grandma also told me before; she misses you!" Alvina hugs Melissa's neck, being lovey-dovey. She loves being clingy to her mother the most. Melissa gives Grandma Julia a warm smile and tells her children "Mommy also misses your Great Grandma." Then Melissa rubs Alvin's little head "Alvin, do you really not miss mommy?" "Hahahaha, I'm just teasing you." Alvin also kisses the back of Melissa's hand. "What have you both been up to at home today?" Melissa asks her little treasures "Have you been playing with Great Grandma?" "Yes, we did! Great Grandma told us stories!” Alvina quickly replies. "Yes, Great Grandma even played card games with us and did magic tricks!" Alvin also hurriedly shares, looking at the clock on the wall, suddenly pulls Alvina out from Melissa's arms "Oh my, Mommy, Alvina and I have to stop chatting for now, it's time for cartoons.” "Alright, don't sit too close to the screen when watching cartoons!" Melissa uttered, her voice tinged with affectionate concern. At this moment, Joseph arrives at the living room, slow but steadfast. "Got it, mom." Alvina, holding Alvina, rushes towards the projection room upstairs. "Melissa, come here" Joseph calls without any trace of emotion in the living room. "Joseph, if you two have something to discuss, speak here so that I can listen too." Grandma Julia senses that something is amiss and so stops Joseph. Quick to the scene, Melissa feigned sadness, her teary eyes pleadingly gazing at Grandma Julia. "Grandma, Joseph has been unhappy ever since he found out that I went out today. He even wants to confiscate the car keys you gave me... Just like I told you before, he doesn't trust me at all." She added, sniffling for effect, acting pitiful in front of the older woman. Despite the fact that they had not known each other for long, Grandma Julia loved her granddaughter-in-law dearly and couldn't bear to see her distressed. "Joseph, how could you treat Melissa this way? Those are the car keys that I gave to Melissa, and you have no right to confiscate them!" Grandma Julia declared excitedly, pained to see Melissa's apparent suffering. "Grandma, do you know who Melissa went out to meet today?" Joseph greatly loathed her act of playing the victim, but he could not call her out directly, he was incredibly frustrated. "I know, Melissa went to meet with a male leader who once mentored and helped her. You're throwing a tantrum with Melissa just because of this matter? As a man, such pettiness is unbecoming. No wonder Melissa is so upset." Grandma Julia was absolutely supportive of Melissa and had complete trust in her. With her gloating laughter hidden beneath a sullen face, Melissa mused on how Grandma Julia had just called Joseph petty. She imagined him to be highly perturbed at this point. Joseph was left speechless, his face incredibly grim. Melissa had planned this in advance with the grandmother. This woman really had a way, swindling people round and round. "Grandmother, I, actually...." Joseph didn't know how to warn his grandmother not to believe this woman easily. "Alright, stop defending yourself and apologize to Melissa. You are just jealous of others and you don't trust Melissa enough," Grandma Julia interrupted Joseph's remarks, and resorted to her stubborn character to threaten her grandson. "Grandmother, it's not like that at all," Joseph wanted to defend himself again, he couldn't let this woman win. "Grandma, you see, Joseph still doesn't trust me. I think in a relationship, if the trust in each other is lost, it would be better for me to move out and live with the children alone." Melissa shed tears of sadness, her shoulder shook slightly. Seeing Melissa so upset, Grandma Julia actually stood up from the sofa, pointing at Joseph and crying out "Joseph apologize to Melissa immediately! If you don't apologize, I will disown you as my grandson!" Joseph turned to his Grandma stunned with bulging eyes and thought to himself, 'what have I brought upon myself. This woman is manipulative and a schemer'