Chapter 54: Melissa's Nemesis
Melisaa’s POV
Just then, it hit me—my mother might actually be pregnant with Gabriel’s child. I didn’t even know if she was telling the truth, but the Brookes family’s reputation was at stake.
“Mylla, take it down,” I said softly, letting out a heavy sigh.
Chloe’s mocking laughter rang through the hall, sharp and wicked, echoing off the walls. My chest rose and fell as anger mixed with pain swirled inside me. My gaze shifted from Mylla back to Chloe, who had already straightened herself and was heading for the exit.
“Why are you doing this, Chloe?” I called after her. “My mother is different from me. Why must I suffer for her mistakes?”
“When your mother slept with my father and ruined him, did she think about me?” Chloe shot back.
“And how is that her fault, Chloe?” Mylla cut in, but I quickly grabbed her hand, knowing how easily things could escalate if Chloe said the wrong thing.
“Enough of this, Chloe,” Mylla added, her eyes reflecting exhaustion. “I thought we were sisters. I thought we were a win-together, lose-together team.”
“We were,” Chloe said, her fists clenching. “But not anymore.”
I could tell she felt it too—the same hurt, the same history—but she refused to let it show.
“What do you want?” I finally asked, gathering what little courage I had left.
Everything felt like it was collapsing around me—my academics, my family, my sanity.
“I want you all to feel the pain I felt,” she replied coldly, then walked away, leaving no space for reconciliation.
I moved to follow her, but Mylla pulled me back, shaking her head.
“Let her go.”
“But Mylla, you saw it—she was softening. She felt something.”
“Just let her be,” she insisted.
Soon, other students began flooding into the hallway.
As I turned toward class, I suddenly bumped into Jason. Before I could react, his grip closed tightly around my hand.
“Jason—” I tried to pull away, but he didn’t let go.
The next thing I knew, he had led me into the boys’ hockey changing room.
“This is against school rules,” I said, my voice tense. “Jason, please let me go.”
“I can’t.”
“Jason—”
“Can you just listen to me?” His voice softened as he finally released my hand, swallowing hard. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you like that.”
“Jason—”
“You love me, don’t you?”
“That’s not the point right now,” I said, shutting my eyes in frustration, avoiding his gaze.
“I told you I wasn’t the one who drugged—”
“I know it was Chloe,” he interrupted, running a hand through his hair as he turned away.
There was something raw about him—desperation, guilt, regret.
He turned back to face me, his steps slow, his eyes calmer now. “I’m sorry, Melissa. I shouldn’t have done that to you.”
“I believed you, Jason. Even when no one else did.”
“I’m sorry, Mel.”
“It’s not just about being sorry. It’s about—”
My words were cut off as he suddenly pulled me closer, his hand wrapping around my waist. Before I could react, his lips crashed against mine.
I felt my heart soften, my cheeks growing wetter as tears slipped freely. I couldn’t hold myself together anymore.
“I need to go, Jason.”
“Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”
I didn’t answer. I simply turned and walked toward the door—only to realize it wouldn’t budge.
For a second, I let out a small, awkward laugh. This had to be a mistake.
Jason wouldn’t lock me in here just to get my attention… right?
Slowly, I turned back to face him.
“Are you serious right now, Jason?”
“What?” he asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You finally forgive me?”
“Did you lock the door?”
He scoffed lightly, gesturing toward it as I took a cautious step back, my heart beginning to race.
Something felt off. My pulse quickened, heat creeping up my neck, making it hard to think straight.
“Scared?” he asked, stepping closer.
“No.” I shook my head quickly, even as I retreated another step.
“Then why are you shaking?”
“I’m not,” I lied, swallowing hard as my back hit the door.
Jason closed the distance between us, his presence overwhelming. My chest rose and fell unevenly as he moved closer, his gaze fixed on mine.
“Did you lock us in here?” I asked again, my voice unsteady. “Or… is this what you wanted?”
He smirked faintly. “I don’t need to lock you in, Melissa.”
My breath caught as he reached for the doorknob, turning it.
“Locked?” he said, glancing back at me.
“Are you playing games with me?”
“And why would I do that?” he replied calmly. “Someone else must’ve locked it.”
Before I could respond, a sharp, familiar voice cut through the silence from the other side of the door.
“I told you she’s sleeping with her stepbrother. And she’s shameless enough to do it in the boys’ changing room?”
Jason frowned. “Isn’t that Chloe?”
I nodded slowly, fear gripping me.
I couldn’t believe this. After everything—after his suspension had just been lifted—she was still doing this.
“Come out, you slut! We know you’re in there!” Chloe’s voice rang out again, furious and relentless.
The door suddenly jerked open, and before I could react—
Camera flashes exploded in my face.