Chapter 66

"Melissa!" Nancy slams the table with anger, she's just about had enough. She stands fixedly by the window, watching Melissa act like a guest, browsing through her childhood photos in the room and admiring the beautiful hair ornaments on her dressing table. She can't help but let out a sound of admiration. At this moment, the only sound left in the room is the ticking of the clock. Nancy grows impatient waiting, she lunges forward, seizing Melissa's arm and causing a butterfly hair clip she was admiring to drop from her hand. "Are you deaf or what? Melissa, how much money do you want to leave the Clarkson family?" Outraged, Nancy finally shows her ugly side. Melissa shakes off Nancy's hand and lightly brushes off the spot on her clothes where Nancy had touched. "Mrs. Humphrey, at least half of the money you gave me is mine, if I say, I want to return to the Humphrey Group, can you afford it?" Melissa is too lazy to deal with Nancy, she's over simplifying things. Melissa turns to leave. Watching Melissa's arrogant demeanor, hate twists in Nancy's heart. She strides in front of Melissa in three steps to block her way. "You vile woman, don't think you can do whatever you want just because my grandmother loves you. I'm telling you, this is the Clarkson family, I warn you to leave the Clarkson Manor within three days!" Planting her hands on her hips, Nancy yells at Melissa with a sharp voice, her finger trembling with anger. Melissa sneers coldly, brushing past Nancy's shoulder, she whispers in her ear "I am your future sister-in-law, you'd better show me some respect." Hearing this, Nancy's face immediately turns ashen, her whole body shaking violently. "You shameless woman, you're really pushing your luck!" Nancy pushes Melissa away, nearly causing her to fall to the ground. Just as Nancy starts to enjoy Melissa's fury, the next second, wind breezes past Nancy's ear, and she is slapped to the floor by the bed. "You dare to hit me in my own house!" Nancy, her hand on her face in shock, stared at Melissa as she walked step-by-step towards her, immediately shrinking back. Ever since the incident at the coffee shop, Nancy became a bit afraid of this woman. However, the previous incident was setup by someone else and this time there were neither recordings nor video. Nancy decided to give back all the grievances she had swallowed last time. "I hit you, Nancy. If you have the guts, go downstairs and cry at your grandmother's feet!" Melissa pointed at the room's door, provocatively speaking in a tough tone. Nancy pounced on Melissa like a madwoman, trying to pull her hair. She opened her mouth and tried to bite off Melissa's ear. Melissa dug her nails beneath Nancy's eyes, gradually applying force which made Nancy scream in pain. Melissa covered Nancy's mouth, but she evaded. In a hurry, Melissa had to pick up a bottle of perfume from the dressing table and poured it into Nancy's mouth. Nancy immediately let go, vomited all over the place, and ran to the bathroom to rinse her mouth of the perfume. The retching made her weep. Melissa leaned against the bathroom door frame, silently watching the reflected image of Nancy puking in the mirror. Melissa looked a bit disheveled in the mirror, she took off her hair tie and used her bare hands to tie her hair up into a bun at the back of her head. "Nancy, I won't leave the manor without grandmother's permission, stop wasting your effort." Melissa firmly looked at the Nancy in the mirror, who was still throwing up, and stated her stance. Melissa's hand also got scratched, she knew she could not avoid a fight with Nancy as soon as they went upstairs. Nancy rinsed her mouth and carefully checked the injuries beneath her eyes. She felt extremely wronged and didn't want to say another word to Melissa. "Get out---" Melissa couldn't wait to leave anyway, before leaving, she didn't forget to leave a sarcastic comment. "This perfume is so pungent, but it matches Liam's taste very well. Trashy girl matches worthless guy, a perfect match." With that, Melissa clapped her palms together and went downstairs. Just as Melissa was going downstairs, Aunty Sarah was preparing dinner. Alvin and Alvina, holding their great-grandmother's hand, walked into the dining room and took their seats. "Alvina, what did your aunt talk to you about just now?" Alvina curiously asked, she was also concerned about her own mother. "Melissa, my younger aunt has been having a tough time lately, so I came to give her some advice." Melissa picked up a slice of mushroom for Alvina and put it in her bowl. At this point, she guessed that Joseph should be arriving soon, and Melissa was still pondering about how to play the peacemaker! Just then, hurried and decisive footsteps echoed from the living room downstairs, clearly those of an infuriated Nancy. She walked straight past the dining room towards the front door. "Nancy, aren't you staying for dinner?" Melissa asked, pretending to be concerned. Grandma Julia also craned her neck to look. "I am having dinner with Liam." Nancy replied grumpily, before storming out and slamming the door behind her. Grandma Julia asked Melissa with a puzzled look on her face "What's up with Nancy?" "No big deal, Grandma, I just accidentally broke her bottle of French perfume upstairs. I'll buy her a new one some other day," Melissa explained while eating. Grandma Julia shook her head helplessly and affectionately. "Nancy really has a childish temper, don't let it bother you!" Melissa gave a light laugh, noticing that Alvin was winking at her; the implication being that he knew their mother had won this bout. While they were in the middle of dinner, Joseph entered the house. He greeted his grandmother but did not come to the dining room, instead, he went straight to his bedroom. Melissa found Joseph's behavior a bit odd, but didn't give it much thought. In the dead of night, after Grandma Julia had gone to sleep, Joseph finally came out. He arrived at the door of Melissa and the children's room, knocking lightly. "Melissa, could you step outside for a moment?" Having said this, Joseph waited in the corridor. Two minutes later, Melissa, clad in her pyjamas, came out through the door. "Mr. Clarkson, what can I do for you?" While yawning, noticeably tired, she casually asked this question after adjusting her waistband. Joseph stared at Melissa, wanting to give her a chance to explain herself. "I saw Nancy when I returned home today." "Um!" Melissa responded, lifting her head. Seeing her act as though nothing had happened, a wave of anger surged through Joseph "Don't you want to explain yourself to me?" "What did she tell you?" Rather than answering, Melissa instead asked the fuming Joseph. This query vexed him further. Joseph pressed his lips thin, his sharp gaze acting like a pointed blade trying to pierce through Melissa's thoughts. This woman harmed his sister; she was clearly a wicked woman presenting a soft exterior but with a venomous heart inside. He seized Melissa by the wrist, pushing her against the wall. His icy countenance steadily got closer to Melissa till their eyes met. The dark pupils swirled with shadowy flames that seemed ready to consume her at any moment.