When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

I picked up the earrings, a pair of pretty heart-shaped ones with diamonds, just the type I used to adore.

I had bought from this brand after getting married, but that was before I ran into Clyde shopping with a young model. I haven't stepped foot in that store since.

Looking at Rachel's ears, I noticed she had just gotten them pierced.

Back in her hometown, she mentioned, only women of ill-repute got their ears pierced, so she never did. But now, she had.

And she didn't wait for her piercings to fully heal before wearing these rather large earrings.

Because I once loved such bold and sparkly earrings.

Little did she know, I had long stopped wearing earrings, let alone anything from that brand.

I gently placed the earrings aside, only to hear her snicker.

"Heard you sold your wedding ring for some cash, why the pretense? You're not divorcing him just because you want the money, right? Clyde will pay up. I'd advise you not to meddle in our affairs. You've always been after his money, from the start. Take my advice and quit while you're ahead!"

I looked up at Rachel, her sense of superiority clear. I responded with a smile, "Rachel, are you sure I'm the one intruding? Are you certain I've always been after his money?"

The truth is known to all, why deny it?

If it was money I wanted, Clyde wouldn't have been my choice from the beginning.

I would've chosen Vinson Russell, or any other well-off suitor, perhaps even taken over my family's business by now.

But life is not filled with what-ifs.

I just watched her silently until she looked a bit guilty.

Yet, she still glared at me fiercely.

"So what? Clyde loves me now."

"Are you sure?"

My question visibly rattled her. She knew Clyde's heart wasn't hers.

I continued, "What will you do if he comes to his senses one day?"

"What if he remembers everything; have you thought about how he'll treat you then?"

I saw her shiver and then look at me with a mix of fear and alarm.

Thinking back to when Clyde mentioned dealing with another

Rachel's feare

who was pestering

understood Rachel's fear.

Clyde has always been clear about his affections and aversions.

Apart from his indecisiveness regarding me, he's usually quite harsh with other suitors.

If he ever came around, he would not spare Rachel.

Being despised, even targeted, by someone you adore is indeed a frightening and heartbreaking scenario.

I subconsciously touched my ring finger, worried that he might not spare me either.

What would Clyde do if he truly remembered everything?

I closed my eyes, not daring to ponder the consequences any further.

Rachel and I sat in silence. We were both smart enough to know the unsaid truths.

Rachel slumped beside me.

"Melanie, you've always had

I've had nothing. If fate has

eng, even Clyde's love. E chance, I won't let itupet

slip?

me

away."

She turned to me, her eyes no longer scornful, but filled with resentment.

I couldn't understand her hatred.

Was it because I 'took' someone who didn't love her, or because my life seemed better than hers?

If she knew I had died several times over and was now homeless, would she still hate me?

"Melanie,

Mon noi best back off. He doesn't

me

you anymore. He loves

swnoget

Yes, that's right, he loves

Her words seemed more like a mantra for herself than a statement intended for me.

Honestly, who Clyde loved didn't seem to matter as much to me anymore.

Maybe he loved me, or maybe the version of me in his memories.

But at least for now, I was absent from his eyes.

I looked down, thinking back to what Warren had told me.

"Rachel, would you ever hurt Clyde?"