When Melanie stepped out of the city hall, she held a brand-new marriage certificate in her hand.
She stared at the paper, feeling a wave of unreality, and slowly opened it.
"Mathew Fuller?" A hint of confusion passed through Melanie's eyes.
She remembered the Fuller heir being called Matt Fuller. Why was the name different?
Noticing her doubt, the man in the driver's seat spoke with a light smile. "Matt is just my nickname. Mathew Fuller is my full legal name."
Hearing this, Melanie let the suspicion in her heart fade.
Mathew drove her to the entrance of her residential complex. "The wedding ceremony will be held in one month. Remember to attend on time, Mrs. Fuller. Here is my number. Contact me anytime if you need anything."
He casually picked up Melanie's phone and added his own contact.
Suddenly he leaned over and, without warning, pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
Melanie's face flushed bright red. She felt irritated by his forwardness.
But the man only gave a wicked grin, leaned closer and said, "You're a married woman now. You'd better keep your distance from other men, got it?"
Before Melanie could respond, he stepped on the accelerator and sped away.
Melanie walked toward her apartment. As soon as she opened the door, she saw a familiar figure.
"Melanie, you're back?" Ethan was wearing an apron, and a whole table of dishes had been prepared.
He stepped forward as usual, wanting to pull her into an embrace.
But when Melanie remembered the scene in the office, nausea surged through her.
She quietly sidestepped his arms.
Ethan noticed something was wrong and looked at her with full concern. "What's the matter, Melanie? Are you feeling unwell?"
He reached out to touch her forehead.
His movement was so gentle that Melanie felt momentarily dazed.
It was almost as if everything she had witnessed yesterday was fake.
At that moment, Ethan mysteriously pulled a velvet box out from behind him.
He slowly opened it to reveal a simple ring. "Melanie, do you remember the surprise I promised you when I returned to the country? Even though our relationship can't be made public, you will be my one and only wife."
Ethan spoke with deep sincerity, his eyes even turning slightly moist. "Melanie, will you marry me?"
Melanie's eyes instantly reddened. Thinking of the conversation she overheard in the office, the last trace of her illusion shattered completely.
She clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the overwhelming hatred inside.
After a long silence with no answer, Ethan assumed she was too moved to speak.
"No…" Melanie had just opened her mouth when the doorbell rang.
Ethan didn't wait for her reply. He hurriedly slid the ring onto her ring finger and rushed to open the door.
"Melanie, long time no see." It was Rosalyn.
She walked in slowly, smiling brightly at Melanie.
Melanie thought of her mother's tragic death and her whole body began to tremble slightly.
"Melanie, Rosalyn just returned to the country. I wasn't comfortable letting her live alone outside, so I asked her to move in." Ethan patiently explained.
"Melanie, you won't mind, right?" Rosalyn asked cautiously.
Melanie bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. She wanted nothing more than to rush forward and tear their disguises apart.
But she couldn't.
She had no evidence yet. She couldn't alert them.
The taste of blood on her tongue brought back a shred of reason.
Through gritted teeth she forced out words. "I don't mind."
With that, she turned straight into her room and began packing.
She had to leave this place. Otherwise she feared she wouldn't be able to control herself.
She threw every gift Ethan had ever given her into the trash, taking only her own belongings and the framed photo of her mother on the bedside table.
Looking at her mother's gentle smile, she felt tears well up in her eyes. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I was too foolish. I let my enemy sleep right beside me."
She gently stroked her mother's face in the photo. "Don't worry. Your daughter will get justice for you. I will make them pay."
She whispered softly, but her gaze was filled with determination.
"Melanie, this necklace is so pretty. Can you give it to me?" At some point Rosalyn had appeared without warning.
She walked toward the necklace box on the table.
Melanie's pupils contracted sharply. "Don't touch it!"
