Chapter 71

She certainly wasn't doing this for Nancy, because Nancy had never been a victim of domestic violence. The story was completely fabricated by Melissa. She simply wanted Murphy to think of the wrong that Nancy had suffered under Liam, to disrupt their press conference. She also wanted to see Nancy's surprised and frantic expression after seeing her old lover. Melissa was just a bystander who enjoyed the drama and profited from it. “Yes.” Melissa answered without hesitation, not showing any signs of reticence “You are destined to be with Nancy.” Murphy took another close look at Melissa, he couldn't see any ulterior motives in her. But he needed the invitation to the Humphrey Group's press conference, so he couldn't fall out with Melissa just yet. “It’s getting late, I’ll drive you home.” Murphy turned his head forward, starting the engine and spoke indifferently, “Going back to Lory's Street?” “Um, thank you.” Melissa glanced at Murphy, still feeling uneasy in her heart. She was unsure whether her risky move was the correct one. “Don’t mention it, I'm counting on you for the invitation.” Murphy didn’t look at her, he believed that as long as he could infiltrate the press conference of the Humphrey Group, everything would be under his control. When Melissa returned to the Clarkson mansion, Joseph had already entered the house before her. Melissa hurried to the main gate and grabbed the door handle, she sidled in through the crack in the door and joined Joseph at the shoe cabinet to change shoes. “Went to see the 'scavenger', did you?” Joseph casually commented while changing his shoes. Melissa’s mind jolted, they had entered the mansion back-to-back, had Joseph intentionally followed her? “How did you know..." Melissa got confused. Indeed, guilt could dull a person's thinking, Joseph was simply mocking her. Melissa quickly corrected herself. "Who said that? I was at my best friend's house." "Does your best friend smoke?" Joseph glanced at Melissa contemptuously, coldly dropping a sentence and proceeded to the hall. Annoyed, Melissa slapped her own head, Joseph's nose was really sharp. It was all Murphy's fault for smoking so much. Melissa quickly changed her shoes and entered the main living room, wearing a calm and gentle smile. "Grandma, I'm back. I will go upstairs first to check on Alvin and Alvina." Melissa dared not get too close to her grandma, fearing that she might smell the smoke on her clothes. She needed to go upstairs and change her outfit before she could come down and chat with grandma. Grandma Julia kindly nodded her head and turned to urge Joseph saying "Joseph, you also go upstairs with Melissa and check on the kids." "Alright." Despite having all sorts of reluctance in his mind, Joseph had to adhere to his grandmother’s wishes and accompany this fake girlfriend Melissa, to look at his own fake children. While ascending the staircase, Joseph was justifying to himself. "I'm going upstairs to see Alvin and Alvina because they are adorable, not to show respect to Melissa. This casual woman doesn't deserve anyone's respect." When Melissa reached Alvin and Alvina's room, she found out they were not in their room. Where could these two kids have gone? Never mind, she thought, I'll first change into something fresh and then look for them. Melissa took off her sports attire, and picked out a loose-fitting long-sleeved blouse from the closet. She was busy getting dressed when she heard the sound of a door being pushed open. It must be Alvin and Alvina coming into the room. Melissa eagerly stuck her head out of the blouse only to find out the person standing at the door was Joseph! "Why did you come in without knocking!" Melissa quickly yanked her blouse down that got stuck at her bra. She was only wearing underwear on her lower body thus she quickly hid behind the wardrobe door. "How am I supposed to know that you were changing?" Joseph didn’t intentionally look at Melissa. He walked to the corner of the bed, turned his back towards her, and sat down "Where are Alvin and Alvina?" "They are not here, why are you still here?" Melissa hurriedly urged, hiding behind the wardrobe door and quickly found a pair of light-colored leggings. Regardless of the mismatch, covering up was the most important. Melissa, being a fashion designer, was really vexed about having to randomly choose an outfit like this. "What are you nervous about? I didn't come to see you." Joseph's words carried a double meaning, implying that he came to see the children and was not interested in Melissa's body. Melissa felt like she got a harsh choke, not willing to argue with him for a while. Melissa quickly got dressed and walked confidently out from behind the wardrobe. She took the sports suit she had just taken off and left on the bed into the bathroom. She then threw it into the washing machine. "I'm right, that suit has a problem." What Joseph meant was that he was right, Melissa did go out for a date with the "scavenger". "What could be wrong with it? Does it bother you?" Melissa made a face as if she was going to infuriate him, and slowly walked towards the door. Joseph quickly rose to his feet, catching Melissa's wrist accurately and pulling her back to face him. "I can't control your life, but if you ever get caught by grandmother, you can get out of the manor all by yourself!" Joseph's tone was relatively calm, but his silent rebuke had already seeped into Melissa's bones. Melissa didn't move or speak, because Joseph's dark eyes were staring at her all the time. It felt as if time had passed for a century. He was still staring at her, his gaze was not friendly at all. He had warned Melissa not to abuse her grandmother's fondness of her, but she just didn't listen. It was the first time in Joseph's life that he wanted to hit a woman. He suppressed the anger in his heart and shifted it entirely onto the wrist holding Melissa. Melissa couldn't break free, it felt like even a slight move would shatter her bones. "It hurts" Melissa couldn't bear it, Joseph was clearly intending to cause her harm. "You know what pain feels like?" Joseph looked at Melissa dismissively, really didn't know what kind of upbringing she had from childhood. "I guess your parents would be heartbroken to see you like this now!" This was a harsh criticism, Joseph said it to sting Melissa, to remind her not to act recklessly anymore. Baffled, Melissa stared at Joseph. Her mouth opened weakly, her eyes filled with stubborn defiance. "From a very young age, I had no mother, and my father passed away from a heart attack six years ago... What right do you have to speculate on their thoughts?" Melissa's beautiful eyes were filled with tears, her voice choked up. Having lost her mother at an early age, it was her father, Austin Parker, who raised her single-handedly. Melissa's deepest affection was for her father. Now that this sensitive topic had been brought up again, a sharp pain stabbed at Melissa's heart. She hated Joseph to the core. Why did he need to mention her parents? Even if Melissa was heart-broken, she would never show a hint of vulnerability in front of Joseph.