Chapter 19 Publication


    Since she was feeling weak, Melinda was focused on taking care of her health to regain her strength.


    From then on, she never stayed upte to write her novel and often went to the yground of the


    university in the next block to get some fresh air.


    Melinda was an effortless beauty. She didn''t prefer wearing makeup and usually went to the yground


    in simple clothes. Still she inadvertently stole the heart of many boys. A lot of boys were interested in


    her. Many of them hit on her while there were a couple of boys who even asked her out. Melinda didn''t


    know whether tough or cry about it.


    She had the entire day to herself and made the most of her time by working on her novel. She wrote


    over ten thousand words a day and made sure to go to bed only after revising and editing it. She


    finished her novel in two weeks.


    After Kent''s constant persuasion, Melinda mustered her strength to send her book to a magazine. The


    editor was impressed by Melinda''s work and had started publishing her story on their biweekly. She


    had also promised to publish the entire book if it received a positive response from the readers.


    Melinda was incredibly proud of herself. She couldn''t believe that her book was being published.


    She became passionate about writing and wanted to write another novel. However, her health didn''t


    seem to cooperate and she decided to take a break before working on another book.


    Melinda wasmunicating with the editor only via email. Kent had been handling all the crucial


    aspects of it. He was concerned about the contract and became a regr customer of the magazine.


    Kent didn''t want Melinda to feel disappointed, so he had informed the editor that he would invest his


    money in publishing the novel even if they weren''t happy about the story. But he didn''t tell Melinda


    about it.


    Fortunately, Melinda''s novel had gained a vast fan base. Most of her fans were eagerly waiting for her


    book to be published in paper form and asked about it on the social media tform. Melinda hadn''t


    revealed her identity and they were curious to find out about the author.


    The editor was pleased by the response. Melinda had even published a couple of short stories that


    were a huge hit among the people.


    The stories were a reflection of Melinda''s life. They were heart-stirring and many people could rte to


    it. Some parts made the readers cry and there was a dash of humor to the stories that turned them to a


    wholesome read. Her stories touched upon the topics of violence, abuse, and mental health.


    The readers experienced a wave of emotions and were immersed in the story. Melinda''s short stories


    were responsible for increasing her readership. Her fans multiplied in number and were waiting to read


    her new book.


    Kent was busy with work and it had been a long time since he had met Melinda. When Kent was in the


    company, he received a call from the chief editor of the magazine. She had called to inform him that


    they were ready to buy the copyright of Melinda''s novel.


    "I''ll send you the contract when it''s ready. You can also make your requests and negotiations. We''ll


    discuss ande to a conclusion," the editor said.


    Kent''s heart swelled with joy. An ecstatic grin stretched across his lips. He couldn''t contain his


    happiness and was incredibly proud of Melinda. Kent had witnessed Melinda''s hard work. He knew that


    she had once spent day and night writing her novel despite her health. His respect for Melinda grew


    multifold.


    Melinda had turned her own life experiences into a book. She had poured her heart out, which made


    the book more special.


    Kent knew that Melinda would be in cloud nine if she found out that her book was going to be


    published. He couldn''t help but chuckle at the thought of it. He quickly grabbed his phone and called


    her. The phone rang for a long time before it got disconnected.


    He called her again but there was no answer.


    Kent broke into a cold sweat when he got reminded of Melinda''s health. He regretted not checking on


    her. He immediately got into the car and drove to Melinda''s apartment.


    Kent''s heart was drumming in his chest. The road was empty and he didn''t bother obeying the traffic


    signal.


    He elerated his car as anxiety was killing him. He finally mmed the brake when he arrived at


    Melinda''s residence. It was a half an hour drive but Kent reached in twenty minutes. He had never lost


    his cool but Melinda''s unanswered call was driving him insane.


    Melinda walked out of the bathroom and wiped her hair with a towel. There was a sharp knock at the


    door. When Melinda opened the door, she was surprised to see Kent gasping for breath. He was


    sweating profusely and looking anxious.


    "Kent, what''s wrong with you?" Melinda frowned.


    She had never seen him like this. She quickly dropped the towel and poured a ss of water for him.


    Kent leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He was puffing and panting. He had been worried


    about Melinda and had run all the way to the fifth floor.


    "I called you, but you didn''t answer. I became worried," he said breathlessly.


    Melinda nced at her phone and bit her lip. She felt guilty for not answering his call.


    "I''m sorry, Kent, I was in the shower. What''s up? Why did you call?"


    Kent''s face broke into a happy grin. "The publisher has decided to buy the copyright of your book.


    Congrattions, Melinda."


    Melinda froze on the spot. Her eyes widened with shock as she mped her mouth with her hand. All


    her hard work had finally paid off.


    "So... So they''re going to publish my book?" Melinda muttered in disbelief. Kent chuckled and ruffled


    her hair.


    Melinda was aware of Kent''s feelings for her and always kept a safe distance from him. But she was


    too happy at the moment to care about anything else.


    "Yep. The editor will send the contractter. You''ll have to read it carefully and then go to the office and


    sign the contract," Kent said.


    Melinda pped her hands excitedly. She couldn''t recall being this happy before. Her eyes prickled


    with happy tears.


    Kent had been there for her and supported her the entire time. He could understand Melinda''s


    emotions. The next day, Kent apanied Melinda to the office to sign the contract.


    The editor was meeting Melinda for the first time. She felt that Melinda was a beauty with brain and


    was d to partner with her.


    "Oh,e on, Melinda. We need to enjoy your victory. Let me get you a cup of coffee to celebrate your


    sess." Kent smiled tenderly. Melinda was giggling like a little girl as her eyes didn''t leave the


    contract paper.


    His heart melted at the sight of her happy face. He hardly saw her smile and wanted to protect her at all


    costs. Melinda was precious to him and he wanted to always keep her happy.


    "Kent, you''ve been incredibly supportive and none of this would have been possible without you. So it''s


    my treat today."


    Melinda carefully ced the contract in her bag and grinned at him. There was a mall in front of the


    office and Melinda decided to take him to the most popr coffee shop there.


    "You haven''t changed one bit." Kent shook his head and smiled when he saw Melinda order the usual


    ck forest cake and mhiato.


    Melinda smiled and continued to stir her coffee.


    But deep in her heart, she knew that she had changed a lot.


    The coffee house was silent and a faint melody of piano filled the air. Melinda sighed contentedly as


    she was enjoying the moment. She always loved going to coffee shops and baking pastries. But she


    had abandoned all her wishes and desires after she got married to Jonas.


    She was like a moth that was attracted to the me. She wanted to start a new life with Jonas but


    marriage slowly killed every bit of happiness, hope, and life in her. She had turned into a numb, lifeless


    person. She didn''t know who she was anymore and was in search of the lost ambitions and dreams to


    fill her hollow heart.


    "Melinda! Hello?"


    Kent snapped his fingers, interrupting Melinda''s thought. She finally came back to her senses and


    realized that she was in a coffee shop with Kent. "I''m sorry. All of this is a bit overwhelming and I''m a bit


    distracted." Melinda smiled sheepishly.


    Kent knew what she had been thinking but he didn''t want to ask her about it, so he nodded and smiled


    at her.


    Holley had been depressedtely and there wasn''t any news about her. She was having a nasty


    headache and decided to grab a cup of coffee. When she walked into the coffee house, her eyes fell on


    Melinda who was talking happily with Kent. She disregarded her public image and walked up to her.


    "Isn''t this Mrs. Gu? Of course, it is. What are you doing with another man here? Secret affair is it?"


    Holley asked, smirking at Melinda.


    The big sunsses almost covered her entire face and Melinda couldn''t recognize her for a moment.


    "What a shameless couple!"


    Holley''s voice boomed across the coffee shop and everyone turned to look at her. "Miss Huang, mind


    your tongue!"


    Melinda growled.


    She had always been a strong, feisty woman, but everyone had misinterpreted her silence for fear.


    Melinda had endured Jonas''s torture all these years without fighting back and people thought that she


    was afraid of him.


    "Oops. Did I say anything wrong? Mrs. Gu, you''re a married woman. You cannot go on a date with


    random men," Holley mocked.


    She had always envied Melinda. She couldn''t ept that Melinda lived a better life than she did.


    "He''s not a random man. He''s my friend and I''m having coffee with him. This is a normal social activity,


    but I''m sure everything will seem wrong if you see through your filthy eyes. Moreover, I''ve been


    divorced and I can be with whoever I want. It''s none of your business."


    Melinda crossed her arms across her chest and smiled at her.


    Holley''s mouth popped open with shock.


    "Divorce?"


    Melinda''s words hit her with full force. She didn''t know that Jonas and Melinda were divorced.


    "I get it now. Mr. Gu would''ve found out that you''re a cheater. That''s perhaps why he has divorced you."


    Holley snickered.


    Although Holley was trying to push her buttons, Melinda didn''t lose herposure. But she was a little


    annoyed. It was her moment, and she was celebrating her sess, but Holley was ruining it for her.


    Jonas was on his way home after visiting his ailing grandfather. Themotion in the coffee shop


    caught his attention. He narrowed his eyes when he saw that Holley and Melinda fighting. He asked the


    driver to stop the car.


    Jonas''s breath caught in his throat when he saw Melinda. He hadn''t seen her for a long time and she


    was looking like a different person now.


    "Take Holley away. Don''t let the paparazzi take pictures of her," Jonas instructed the driver. The driver


    nodded and walked into the coffee shop.


    Jonas couldn''t take his eyes off Melinda.


    He couldn''t help but wonder if she was the same woman who had married him for his money. Melinda


    had always looked sad and weak but she seemed beautiful and energetic now.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Melinda was not in the mood to talk with Holley. She gritted her teeth and red at her. The driver


    strutted towards Holley and whispered in her ear, "Miss Huang, everyone''s watching you."


    Holley instinctively peered at the surroundings and saw that everyone was staring at her. Her face


    flustered with embarrassment. She quickly adjusted her sses and turned away.