When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

Talbot couldn't let Galen Brown remain a looming threat. He was determined to dig deeper.

He would mail the evidence each year. There should be traces left even if they were mailed from abroad.

If Talbot couldn't trace anything, it meant Galen Brown was exceptionally good at concealing his location and identity.

It was possible he was living abroad, or maybe he was just among us, yet we were unable to reach out to him. He gave them to someone overseas and asked the person to send them back.

When I thought about how Geneva might have been part of it and knew some of the secrets, my heart practically leaped into my throat.

Now that she was back, she was under Talbot's watchful eye. Getting close to her wouldn't be easy. We'd have to rely on Lisa.

"Why don't you meet with some of my family's old associates? Maybe they know something."

"They all worked for the Crawford family. Could they know something useful?"

Eliana pulled out a few profiles, but I shook my head after a quick glance.

"No. They weren't core members. It's unlikely they'd know anything substantial."NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

"I'll head back and discuss with Clyde. We've teamed up with Lisa now."

"What? You're not thinking of stepping down, are you?"

Eliana looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.

I quickly filled her in on the situation, including Lisa's lack of interest in Clyde, which had her laughing so hard she could barely breathe. "See, not everyone's as blind as we are."

"I had a bit more sense, at least. I cut my losses early. You, on the other hand..."

I was speechless and could not figure out exactly what made her laugh. She seemed to have forgotten her own college infatuation with Clyde.

But she was right. I was the one who ended up marrying Clyde after all while she had moved on.

Back at the Talbot's residence, Lisa was already deep in conversation with Clyde in his room.

The servants seemed to have an unspoken agreement that when Lisa was there, they left them undisturbed.

As I arrived, a servant announced loudly, "Miss Melanie, you're back."

Her voice echoed, almost painfully loud, clearly ensuring the message reached upstairs.

Lisa, looking annoyed as she opened the door, said, "No big deal. You're not a guest."

She returned to Clyde's room without shutting the door, a hey had something to

sign

with me. I hurried upstairs.

me. I hurried upstairs Met

"Any clues?"

Since she offered to help, I expected some solid commitment.

Lisa closed the door to make sure no one was listening. "I saw my dad's bodyguard near Geneva's apartment. Looks like they're

watching her, probably pressure

Galen Brown to show up. Talbot mentioned today that my granddad had some money go missing once."

She finally looked at me. Seemed to ask where that money had ended up.

Of course, I couldn't sell Clyde out, so I just shook my head helplessly.

"I didn't know at first. After my dad passed away, my mom mentioned the money before me, but that's it."

What I said was mostly true. My dad's sudden departure left many unresolved issues.

My granddad had a decent fortune, most of which, rumor had it, went to Talbot.

"That figures. I always said granddad was partial!"

"The Crawford family is strapped for cash and will want that money, so watch your back."