When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

After that day, Clyde and I were like oil and water.

Even during office meetings, he'd find reasons to argue against any suggestion I made.

Rachel would usually step in to smooth things over, and only then would Clyde begrudgingly consider my ideas, if only to keep up appearances. The office was buzzing with rumors that Rachel was on her way up.

But the real shocker came at Merritt's birthday bash. There they were, Rachel and Clyde, arm in arm, making a grand entrance. They were the picture of elegance in matching blue suits.

Rachel, usually so reserved, was suddenly the life of the party, introducing herself to everyone as the senior secretary of the Patterson Group, leaving out any other details. But the whispers had already started.

Seeing Clyde so happy, Merritt seemed to endorse this baffling turn of events.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

"Rachel, you've been taking such good care of him. Thank you," Merritt toasted, raising his glass to Rachel. Before she could take a sip, Clyde snatched the glass from her hand.

"Grandpa, she's been feeling under the weather. Let me drink for her."

"Then you shouldn't drink either. You're still recovering." Merritt scolded, taking his glass and instructing a servant to bring Rachel some juice instead. Rachel wore a polite smile throughout, quickly averting her gaze when it landed on me.

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, probably from the pregnancy. I've been unable to control these bouts of nausea lately.

Warren was still finalizing my medical report, deciding when to schedule my surgery.

Perhaps my retching was louder than I realized because soon enough, everyone's eyes were on me.

Evelyn rushed to my side. "Melanie, did you eat something bad?"

"Or could it be... are you pregnant?" Lucia chimed in, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"We don't even live together anymore, how could I be?" I wanted to say, but before I could, Rachel's voice cut through the chatter.

"Didn't you know? Melanie is pregnant," she announced, not even looking at me but addressing Clyde and Merritt directly.

"The Patterson family should take good care of her," she added, making everyone gasp.

Evelyn gripped my hand tighter. "Melanie, is it true?"

Lucia stood frozen, unsure of how to react.

Merritt was super excited at first, but then his happiness quickly changed to confusion. "What's going on here?"

"What do you mean, 'what's going

on'? The kid's not mine," Clyde said, irritation seeping into his voice as he grabbed Rachel's hand, pulling her behind him.

Rachel simply lowered her head, letting him lead.

ét

Clyde's cold stare pierced through me as he spoke harshly, "Melanie always playing the victim. You think by causing a scene, I'd acknowledge the child?"

"Let me make this clear. The child

you're carrying is none of my

Cve only ever loved Rachel.

bother with your schemes."