Chapter 7
Alex gave a slight nod, but his gaze instinctively drifted toward Gabriella.
His mind swirled with countless thoughts, and he imagined all the ways she might react.
Anger, sadness, or maybe both.
But no matter how many possibilities he had considered, he never expected her to quietly open the backseat door herself, as though she hadn’t heard the other couple’s exchange.
Maybe it was because, from the very beginning, he had told her he loved someone else.
And maybe it was because Gabriella loved him too much.
She had always been obedient, never demanding anything, never trying to fight for a place in his life. Throughout the years, she never expected anything from him.
Just like now, she was aware that his heart belonged to Melody, so she wouldn’t insist on claiming her rightful place as his wife in front of others.
Despite thinking so, Alex felt an unsettling feeling creep into his heart for some reason.
“Oh, no. Alex, I think I left my necklace in the ward. It’s really important. You gave it to me for my 18th birthday…” Melody suddenly said just as she was about to get into the car.
Both Alex’s and Lucas‘ attention instantly turned to her.
Alex immediately strode back toward the hospital. “I’ll go find it. Stay here and wait for me.”
Lucas hurriedly followed. “Dad, I’m coming too!”
As their figures disappeared into the crowd, Melody turned to Gabriella.
She lifted her chin and spoke contemptuously, “You really know how to keep your cool. Even now, you still can’t bear to leave, huh? If I were you, I’d get lost already.”
Gabriella had no patience for her theatrics and even less interest in listening to her nonsense. She didn’t spare Melody so much as a glance.
That indifference only fueled Melody’s anger, making her words even sharper. She continued her tirade, but Gabriella never reacted–until the sudden crack of a slap echoed through the air. Gabriella turned to see a bright red handprint had appeared on Melody’s cheek.
“Gabriella, whatever happened between me and Alex was in the past! If you don’t like me, I’ll stay out of your way, okay? Why did you have to hit me?”
Following that, Alex and Lucas rushed back like a storm, shoving Gabriella violently to the ground.
Seeing Melody’s tear–streaked face, Lucas lost all restraint. His fury exploded as he rushed over and slapped Gabriella several times.
“How could you hit Aunt Mel just because we took a little blood from you? You’re vicious!”
Gabriella never expected Lucas to hit her. Perhaps he truly despised her, because each slap came with full force, leaving her dizzy and her face burning with pain. “Lucas, that’s enough!”
Alex only stopped Lucas when the latter had vented his anger enough. When he turned to look at Gabriella, there was no warmth or sympathy in his eyes. Gabriella’s heart throbbed painfully. By the time she found her voice to speak, it was already hoarse.
“I didn’t hit her. There are security cameras here. If you don’t believe me, go check them.”
But neither Alex nor Lucas acknowledged her words. One on each side, they helped Melody into the car and drove off, without Gabriella She watched the car disappear in a cloud of dust, then let out a self–mocking laugh.
How foolish of her to think explaining herself would make a difference.
When she finally returned home, the house was completely empty.
It wasn’t hard to guess that Alex and Lucas had gone to be with Melody.
Gabriella glanced at the calendar and suddenly remembered that in three days, the mandatory waiting period for the divorce would be over. And From then on, she would be able to live her life freely without any ties to Alex and Lucas.
she could
walk away.
While Alex and Lucas never returned, Gabriella received a video.
In i Alex, who had never so much as lifted a finger in the kitchen, had prepared a table full of homemade dishes. Lucas, usually so spoiled, was peeling bright smile.
fruit and
anding it.
to Melody with a
Six years of marriage, and this was the first time Gabriella ever realized Alex could cook. It was also the first time she saw Lucas be so considerate.
She closed the video, slipped off the wedding ring she had worn for six years, and retrieved the old, crumpled drawings Luca’s had made when he was little and were kept tucked a nightstand.
Without hesitation, she tossed them all into the trash.
Two days before her departure, another video arrived.
This time, Alex, Lucas, and Melody stood in the middle of a vast lavender field.
Alex’s voice was impossibly gentle as he asked, “Mel, you once told me you love lavender, so I planted this entire field for you. Do you like it?”
