Chapter 27 Cooperation


    Melinda had been living a monotonous life. Her routine consisted of going to her workce, getting


    essentials from the supermarket, and returning home. Her schedule was packed and she didn''t have


    the time to think about anything else.


    Melinda had been deliberately avoiding Kent. Kent didn''t try contacting her either. He didn''t want to


    bother her after she had clearly exined what she felt about him. They were like strangers now.


    Melinda was back to living her life on her own, without anyone''s support.


    She wasn''t petrified by the loneliness rather embraced it. She reveled in the bliss of solitude.


    But Kent had been agitated since Melinda had left. He had been used to talking to her every day and


    her absence was killing him. He regretted ruining all his chances by confessing his love. He tried hard


    to calm down but he couldn''t control his emotions anymore.


    A weekter, when Melinda left the office after work, her eyes settled on a familiar car. Kent was


    leaning against the car, smiling at her.


    He was wearing a white shirt and ck suit pants, looking quite elegant.


    Melinda couldn''t help but smile at him.


    "Kent!"


    She had forgotten everything about his confession. Kent breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door


    of his car.


    "Come on, let''s have dinner." He smiled and motioned her to get in.


    Melinda bit her lip and looked at him nervously. "Don''t you girls have guy friends? Consider me as your


    best male friend and hop into the car if you don''t have a problem. I''ll always be there for you."


    "I want to eat roasted fish."


    Melinda''s face broke into a dazzling grin. Kent was finally happy to see her like this.


    He didn''t want to make things awkward between them. He was happy to have a part in her life even if it


    meant he could be nothing more than a friend to her.


    Jonas had been frustratedtely. Although he hadn''t paid attention to what Melinda was up to, the


    people around him were always curious about her and the gossips inevitably reached his ears.


    He heard that Melinda and Kent were getting close to each other and that she was looking prettier than


    ever. Jonas was annoyed about it.


    Every time he returned home, Nelson would scowl at him with disappointment.


    Jonas was afraid that Nelson was going to abandon him for Melinda.


    Nelson was at the door of the Gu''s mansion,ing back from a walk when Jonas returned after


    partying. He snorted and red at him.


    "Don''t you have anything else to do other than hooking up with women?"


    "Grandpa, I hope you understand that Melinda and I can never be together."


    Nelson narrowed his eyes and sat on the mahogany couch with the support of his crutch. He strangely


    felt lonely around Jonas. He wondered if he knew his grandson anymore.


    Jonas hated that things had turned bitter between him and his grandfather.


    "Grandpa, are you going to ignore my brother for Melinda? Jonas is your grandson, not her. What''s so


    good about her that you''re constantly praising her and putting him down? She has treated our servants


    badly, disregarded her duty as a wife and daughter-inw, and most importantly, she has ruined the


    reputation of the Gu family."


    Yulia despised Melinda and always abused her. Nelson usually reprimanded her but this time he just


    nced at Jonas and remained quiet.


    Nelson hated that Jonas couldn''t think for himself. He always listened to what other people said about


    Melinda.


    "Yulia, mind your business. If you''ve no work to do, I''ll ask my secretary William to arrange a job for you


    in thepany."


    Although Jonas hated Melinda, he couldn''t hear Yulia talk ill of her. Yulia always wanted to work in the


    company as she thought that everyone would revere her. But hispany only appreciated skill and


    talent. Yulia didn''t receive any privilege for who she was.


    Yulia was ipetent and received severe criticism from the group leader. She had been afraid to go


    to thepany since then.


    After Yulia left, an awkward silence prevailed in the air. Nelson and Jonas shared aplicated


    rtionship. Nelson was cold and Jonas was resolute about his decision.


    The butler was loyal and couldn''t stand this.


    "Mr. Jonas, your grandfather misses Mrs. Gu, and that''s why he wants you to bring her back," the butler


    said.


    Nelson had been heartbroken ever since Melinda had left. He wasn''t upset with her for not returning


    home as he knew that Jonas had hurt her.


    "She is not Mrs. Gu anymore, Gavin," Jonas grunted.


    The butler nced at Nelson''s hold on the crutch tightened and his knuckles almost turned white. He


    was shaking with fury.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    "If Melinda isn''t Mrs. Gu, then who the hell you think is the daughter-inw of the Gu family? Is it Emily


    Bai or Holley Huang? Don''t think that you can be with another woman. I won''t let that happen as long


    as I''m alive. But don''t worry, I''m old now, and if you continue to disappoint me, I''ll be dead soon. You


    can do whatever you want after that," Nelson bellowed.


    Jonas pursed his lips and looked at him. That wasn''t what he had wanted. When Jonas opened his


    mouth to exin his feelings, the butler winked at him, gesturing him to keep quiet.


    He knew that Nelson would be infuriated by Jonas''s words and was worried that he would fall ill again.


    Jonas remained quiet and Nelson continued to nag him. But he was soon out of breath and left to his


    room.


    Jonas''s heart ached as he saw his grandfather trouble his health for Melinda who didn''t seem to care


    about them.


    He wanted to ask Nelson what he saw in her. She was a heartless, selfish woman but Jonas knew how


    much his grandfather adored Melinda, so he decided to keep quiet.


    Jonas returned to his room and slumped on his chair. His heart sank at the sight of his wedding picture.


    He went to the bathroom and took a shower to rx his tense nerves. Jonas walked out and changed


    into a fresh pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He grabbed clean clothes and threw them into his bag. He was


    struggling to put his things into the bag.


    Melinda always arranged his things neatly and he never had to worry about packing.


    A frown lined on his forehead when he thought about her. He never realized her importance before.


    Jonas hated himself for thinking about Melinda. He rammed his clothes into the bag and zipped it up


    clumsily. When he walked out, he saw the butler giving orders to the servants.


    "Gavin, I''ll be out for a few days. Take good care of Grandpa."


    Gavin nodded. He didn''t want to stop Jonas. He knew that it was good for him to move out for a while.


    Jonas headed straight to hispany. His mind was clouded with rage and he wanted to drown his


    thoughts into work and forget about everything.


    After noon the next day, Holley walked into Jonas''s office but William stopped her.


    "Miss Huang, please wait. Let me check if Mr. Gu is ready to see you," he said, smiling politely.


    Jonas was practically living in the office and had given clear instructions to let people in only after his


    approval.


    Holley had brought a box of sweets with her. She was a little annoyed that William had stopped her but


    she understood that it was Jonas''s orders and decided to obey it.


    William sent Holley in. She walked in and smiled at Jonas. "Hi, Jonas!" she said seductively.


    "What''s the matter?" Jonas asked coldly.


    He had been hanging out with Holley only to irritate Melinda. Otherwise, he was annoyed to be around


    her.


    "Jonas, should I have a reason to meet you? Well, I missed you, so I made these for you." She smiled


    and ced the box on the table before him. "Taste it while I make you a steaming cup of coffee."


    Melinda went to the storeroom and grabbed a bottle of ground coffee beans that Jonas loved.


    Jonas hated deserts, so he either discarded them or gave them to his workers.


    However, Holley came to his office every day for the next few days with a box of desserts. She knew


    that Jonas gave it to the secretaries and used it as a means to win their support.


    Jonas knew that Holley was trying to gain poprity by spreading rumors about having a possible


    rtionship with him. He had ignored it in the past but he couldn''t take it anymore. He was disgusted


    by the mere sight of her.


    "Why are you being distant?" Holley asked, twirling a lock of hair.


    She was aware that Jonas was a grumpy man. But his unwavering heart seemed to rub her ego and


    confidence.


    "If you''re going toe tomorrow with a box of desserts and waste my time, I might ask William to not


    let you in," Jonas snapped.


    Holley''s cheeks had turned red with embarrassment. She had beening to his office every day just


    to give him food. She thought that it was time for her to broach the topic.


    "I''ve got an important thing to discuss with you. Can you stop working and listen to me for a second?"


    she asked.


    Jonas skimmed through the document and signed it without looking at her.


    "I want to perform in a web series and be an overnight sensation, but I don''t have the money."


    Holley had alreadye to Jonas''s office to tell him about it. But she was irked by the picture of him


    and Melinda and had stormed out of the office in frustration. Her eyes flitted to the picture that was still


    on his desk. She strongly resisted the urge to rip it apart.


    "Web series?"


    Jonas frowned. Holley nodded and exined the n in detail. Everything was set but they didn''t have


    the capital tomence the project.


    "I can invest a small percentage of the capital but I will charge interest that I deem to be appropriate.


    It''s up to you to decide whether you need it or not," Jonas said curtly.


    He was money-minded and never extended help without reaping benefits from his favor. He wasn''t


    sure if Holley''s n would be sessful or not but he could earn regr interest from the web series.


    "Okay, I agree. I''ll finally get to make a grandeback," Holley said confidently.


    Jonas didn''t care about Holley''s career. He was only looking forward to making money through the web


    series.


    "I''ll prepare everything and ask William to contact you. If there''s nothing else to say, you may leave."


    Holley''s purpose was fulfilled, so she didn''t want to bother him anymore. She smiled sweetly and


    strutted out of the office.


    Jonas called William and asked him to deal with it.


    He had other important things to attend to and didn''t want to waste his time on a trivial project.