Chapter 244


    Chapter 244


    Melinda’s sudden sobbing took Anastasia off guard. “Melinda, what’s wrong? What’s going on? Please,


    don’t cry.” Anastasia said. She handed Melinda a tissue and tried to wipe away her tears.


    Unable to hold back her emotions, the moment Melinda hung up the phone, all her grievances poured


    out like a burst dam. Everything she had been working and fighting for seemed like a cruel joke. It was


    as if a string she had been tensing for years had suddenly snapped.


    Melinda cried uncontrobly, drawing a few side-eyes from other customers in the shop.


    Pattie, the wise little girl, tried to wipe Melinda’s tears away with her tiny hand, “Don’t cry. I’ll give you a


    sweet.”


    She didn’t really know how tofort people, but she was willing to share her candy. In Pattie’s world,


    having sweets always cheered her up.


    Pattie unwrapped a sweet, and Melinda, unable to say no to the little girl, popped it in her mouth. She


    sobbed silently as she tasted the sweetness, which was a stark contrast to the bitterness in her heart.


    She was no longer a three-year-old child who could be cated with a piece of candy. The sweeter the


    candy, the more bitter she felt inside.


    “My parents just bought a house in the county and didn’t even tell me. They used my money to buy my


    brother his wedding house. They set the wedding date without telling me. What the hell am I to them?”


    Melinda exploded, “Am I just an ATM to them? For years, I’ve been footing the bill for everything at


    home. They’ve squeezed me dry.”


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Hearing this, Anastasia felt a surge of anger for Mélinda. Melinda might have seemed to be living the


    high life, but in reality, she was beaten and bruised, drained dry by her own family.


    After a long while offorting her, Melinda finally calmed down. Seeing Melinda in such a state,


    Anastasia didn’t dare to ask anything else.


    Melinda wasn’t in the mood for tea anymore, so they ended their afternoon tea early. Anastasia hailed


    a cab for Melinda. Watching the cab drive away. she stood on the bustling street with Pattie, pondering


    that every family had its set of problems.


    Back in her shared t, Melinda seemed dazed. Her tmate noticed her looking down and asked,


    “Melinda, what’s wrong? Is something bothering you?”


    “Nothing.” Melinda replied tly, not wanting to talk about it.


    Her tmate, who had often apanied her to the Neon Dreams club, suddenly remembered


    something, “Melinda, your friend fromst time, she seemed familiar. Wasn’t she the one who helped


    you confront that Mr. Winchester?”


    Melinda sat on the couch, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone, “Hmm.”


    “That’s why she seemed familiar. I just remembered something. That night, I saw your friend rushing


    out of Mr. Winchester’s private room and heading to the rooftop. I followed her, and you won’t believe


    what I saw. She was with Mr. Salstrom from Elysian Technologies, on the rooftop suite couch. They


    were really going at it.” Her tmate said.


    Melinda didn’t really pay attention to what her tmate was saying. Her mind was still preupied with


    the house her parents had purchased. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to call home. She took


    her phone into her room, closing the door behind her. The call was picked up almost immediately, and


    before Melinda could even ask about the house, her mother’s voice asking for money came through,


    “Melinda, do you have any money left? Could you send me another hundred grand? The man I


    identally hitst time is demandingpensation for his lost wages and medical bills. He wants a


    hundred grand.”


    Melinda sat on the edge of her bed, clutching her bedsheets tightly, trying to hold back her emotions.


    She allowed her mother to finish her spiel before asking, “Mom, is my brother getting married next


    month? Does the bride’s family expect a hundred grand as a wedding gift?”


    The house had already been bought; now all that was left was to prepare the wedding gift. Her mother


    suddenly asking for a hundred grand must be rted to that.


    Maria, over the phone, didn’t seem to feel guilty in the slightest. Instead, she chuckled and replied,


    “Yes, he’s getting married next month. As his sister, you should take care of your brother’s wedding.


    The bride’s family want a hundred grand as a wedding gift. Your father and I can’t afford that much.


    Can you figure something out? The wedding day is fast approaching.”


    Melinda felt like her heart was being torn apart, yet she clung to a sliver of hope and inquired, “Did our


    family buy a house?”


    “Yes, we did.” Maria bragged over the phone, “Paid in full, with the money you’ve been sending us over


    the years. It’s arge three-bedroom t with a big balcony. Theyout is great. After your brother gets


    married, your father and I n to move in there to help them look after the baby.”


    Melinda said, “That’s good. I’ve been contemting quitting my job and returning home in a few years.


    Then we can all be together.”


    The moment Maria heard this, she grew agitated, “What are youing back for? You can make


    money in Riverdale. There’s no future in a small town. Moreover, there won’t be any space for you at


    home.”


    “Mom, I’m tired of drifting around. I want toe back and take care of you. My brother just bought a


    three-bedroom t.” Melinda said.


    Before she could finish, her father’s voice came through the phone, “We don’t need you to take care of


    us. Your brother can handle it. Your mother and I will be taking one room in your brother’s new t, your


    brother and his wife will take another, and we need to save one for the baby. You’re doing just fine in


    Riverdale. There’s no need for you toe back.”


    His words made Melinda burst into tears again, “Dad, mum, I paid for the house, and I don’t even get a


    room? Is that fair?”


    “You contributed a bit of money, so what? It’s your brother’s house.” Her father said condescendingly


    over the phone, “Hurry up and figure out how toe up with the hundred grand. Your brother’s bride’s


    family is waiting for their wedding gift.”


    “I can’te up with the money. I had to borrow from a friend to get the moneyst time.” Melinda


    sobbed.


    Maria said, “Why don’t you hit them up for more cash? He’s your little bro, ain’t he? If his big sis ain’t


    gonna do anything, what are we supposed to do? Your dad and I ain’t got a dime back in the sticks.”


    Her mom had already started bawling on the phone. Melinda had a soft spot for her mom’s tears. They


    always got to her. Melinda caved in and said. “Alright, I’ll think of something else. When is my brother


    getting hitched next month? I’ll ask for some time off ande home early.”


    Before she could finish her sentence, her dad on the other end cut her off, “You don’t need toe


    home. You’re doing that job out there. If our rtives see you, won’t it be super awkward? It would be


    mortifying for your brother and his family. It’s not right for you toe back.”


    That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Melinda was crushed. She felt a stabbing pain deep in


    her heart and a shock that left her reeling. She couldn’t believe that in her parents’ eyes, she was that


    shameful, a disgrace.


    “Dad, mom, do you guys think I’ve brought shame on my brother? You think the job I’m doing is


    disgraceful, but every penny you guys use, I earned it. I put my little bro through college, bought his


    wedding house with my money, and now, do you guys think the money I earned is dirty?” Melinda was


    shaking all over. Her parents’ words were like a sharp arrow, piercing her heart deeply.