Chapter 848

Andrew's mind was truly warped. Given the environment he had grown up in, how could it not be? As he had once admitted to Melina, changing who he was at his core wasn't easy. While Melina's recent behavior had eased some of his fears that she might leave, deep down, he could never truly feel secure. He couldn't face being abandoned again. Melina was all he had now. That was why he resented seeing her care about anyone else. But he also knew he couldn't resort to the same methods as before. Melina wasn't someone who responded well to force. Pushing too hard would only backfire. So, outwardly, he gave her what seemed like complete freedom and respect. Meanwhile, he quietly manipulated things—blocking calls, disrupting signals, and keeping Lyla and others away. Now that Melina was upset, he had no choice but to act graciously. After the bodyguards left, Andrew walked back toward the house. Crossing through the yard, he accidentally stepped on an orchid plant. Without so much as a glance, he crushed it underfoot and kept walking, his expression cold and indifferent. Once inside, he looked into how Lyla had managed to contact Melina and discovered it had been through email. His eyes narrowed slightly. … Melina remained unaware of Andrew's increasingly twisted thoughts. She and Lyla, along with the others, headed to Shayla's house. The house was big—too big for a single person and a housekeeper, which was how Shayla had lived for most of her life. When her parents and brother had lived abroad, Shayla had been left behind in this empty, echoing home. Now that her family had moved back, the house was livelier, but it no longer felt like Shayla's. Kayden had taken over her sunny bedroom because he liked the view, and she had been relegated to a guest room. Her old study had been repurposed for his model collection. Growing up, she had learned that anything Kayden wanted automatically became his. When Melina and her group arrived, the atmosphere in the house was tense. Margaret had dragged Shayla back and locked her up in the storage room for refusing to apologize. Meanwhile, Margaret, Kenneth, and Kayden were sitting comfortably in the living room, watching TV and snacking on fruit. Kenneth asked casually, "Still no sign of her coming around?" Margaret was feeding a strawberry Kayden. She snapped, "I called the university and got her a leave of absence. She's staying in that room until she admits she's wrong. I'd like to see how long she can hold out." "Fine, just make sure she's fed," Kenneth replied indifferently. "I brought her food last night. Skipping a meal or two won't kill her. If we don't teach her a lesson now, she'll think she can walk all over us." Kayden tossed the strawberry he'd bitten back onto Margaret's plate and said with a pout, "I don't feel like eating dinner anymore." Margaret's demeanor changed instantly. "Kayden, what do you want for dinner? I'll make you whatever you like. You're still growing; you can't skip meals." Kayden mumbled a few complaints before letting her fuss over him. … In the storage room, Shayla had been locked up for two days. The day she had been dragged back, her parents had beaten her severely, hoping to break her spirit. At one point, she had managed to slip away when no one had been paying attention. Desperate for help, she had gone to Oakread, hoping to see Melina. But she had never made it past the gate and had been quickly caught and brought back. This time, Margaret and Kenneth had locked her in the storage room. The room was filled with items from Kayden's childhood—old toys, a stroller, and baby clothes Margaret had refused to throw away. She had insisted on keeping everything for sentimental reasons, saying they would serve as keepsakes one day.