Chapter 109 Family Heirloom
MELISSA'S POV
I watched Isabel as she walked out of the house. As I peeped out through the window, I took in the dark Aston Martin that had come to pick her up. I couldn't hold back the whistling that escaped my lips.
James's footfalls at the bottom of the stairs gained my attention immediately. His shoulders were slouched, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
She didn't let him fuck her? I could see that look in his eyes the whole time. The thing was that I couldn't trust James around women. He wasn't exactly loyal. And I would have cheated on him if I wanted to. But there was nothing to gain if countless men had access to my body.
It was better to hang on until there was nothing else to lose with him.
“What happened?” I asked, feigning innocence. “You couldn't stop her from leaving?”
It didn't matter how important he said she was. I wanted her out of my house, and the universe had managed to work in my favor. What could have been more better?
He shrugged like it was nothing. He was seething inside. I had spent the past six years studying him. I noticed the things that Anna didn't take the time to notice.
“There was no way I could stop her.”
“She just didn't want to stay. All she wanted for the night was a place to rest her head. You thought you found a partner. I'm glad she finally put you in your place.”
I watched his hands slowly curl into a fist at his side. I swallowed hard. He wasn't going to hesitate to swing a fist.
“She's still going to help,” he said, gritting his teeth.
“In what way?” I asked, genuinely interested now. As long as Isabel kept being a Quinn, there was no way I was believing any of that shit. They could never be of actual help. She might be adopted and not of the same blood, but to me, they were very identical when it came to something like that.
“She was in a relationship with the new CEO of Greenlife Med. She's going to sweep my name under the rug.”
I almost threw my head back in laughter at how stupid that even sounded. Where the fuck was the James that spent weeks plotting plans?
He believed anything that came out of a woman's mouth? A woman that he barely even knew? That was naive as fuck, but I wasn't going to be the one to say it.
“Well, good luck with that,” I said, pressing my lips together—anything to stop a snort from leaving my mouth.
He looked over at me, with his eyes twinkling. He was already having one of those 'his plans again' moments. I couldn't help but wonder when his idea bank was going to run dry.
“How about you approach Daniel?” He asked, and my face was immediately contorted in disgust.
“The one that would support Anna to her grave? Please be smart at least.”
“At least I'm trying!” He snapped. “All you've done is sit at home, watch television, and cook mediocre meals.”
I cocked an eyebrow, folding my hands in front of my chest. “Are you forgetting that you agreed to my terms of ordering take-outs, you were more than excited to take me out on expensive dates. I'm sorry to disappoint you, James. But you're the poorest of the boyfriends I've ever had.”
The words stung, and I watched as his jaw tightened. His eyes softened after a while.
“You have to go to your mom. Get the family heirloom. I need to hire any specialists who would look into the drugs. We need that money now.”
I wanted to shake my head, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
“I haven't been at the house in forever. I can't go there to beg for money. What do you want my mother to see me as?”
“It was your choice not to go there.”
“Have you forgotten that I stopped going because she didn't like you?” I asked, but he didn't even care.
“She's your mother. She would always feel affectionate. Are you going or not?”
I bit my lower lip as I considered. “Fine,” I finally said.
“I'll send you something for your Uber.”
My jaw almost hit the floor. “You won't even let me take the car?”
“I don't want anyone's hands on it, except mine,” he said absentmindedly, and I blinked the tears back.
Life with him was nothing to be ashamed of. People went through their ups and downs. But to my mom, it was going to be a big deal. Because she warned me. I just didn't listen. And when I was with her, I never went through any kind of stress. Yet, here I was, about to go and beg her for crumbs.
What was I even saying? It wasn't just crumbs. It was the family heirloom.
I headed upstairs in the slowest manner possible. I ran my hands through the clothes in my wardrobe, putting on one of the expensive ones that I actually liked. It was something that my mom was going to approve of.
James was sitting down in front of the television, but I could tell that he wasn't watching it. He was massaging his forehead with his fingers.
“Are you set?” he asked, looking at my dress from head to toe. I saw the slight disapproval in his eyes, but I didn't care. This wasn't one of his parties. It was my mom.
“Couldn't you have worn something else?” He asked, and I shook my head, giving him a snappy no.
“Fine. I've ordered your Uber. He's waiting for you outside. Behave and be the sweet girl that she likes.”
“I don't need you teaching me how to talk to my mom.”
He rolled his eyes. “You have to get that ring and chain. You know how much it's worth.”
I gave him a small nod as I headed outside in shaky heels. I got into the car, and the driver put the car in motion without saying a word, which I was grateful for. I wasn't even in the mood for small talk.
I rest my head against the seat, closing my eyes and hoping that sleep would come. It didn't. My eyes were wide open until the car came to a stop right at my mother's castle-like mansion. It was covered in stones.
Nostalgia hit me immediately. How stunned my friends always were when they came to see me. Even James had the same look on his face.
God, I missed digging my feet into the marble stones that she had, sprawled across the backyard. I missed leaving the house for the clubs and parties. I missed… my mom.
What would life have been like if I had listened to her, ended everything with James, and kept being best friends with Anna?
I couldn't even wrap my head around it. It felt like I was going to go mad with the way I was going about everything.
“We're here, ma'am,” the driver said, and I gave him a small nod as I headed out of the car. I walked towards the house as my heels dug into the gravel.
I rang the doorbell, and I couldn't help but smile as the familiar sound hit me.
I took a step back, and I waited. I heard footsteps from inside a few seconds later.
The door was opened, and it was my mother, without an atom of a single smile on her face.
“Melissa,” she said, and I stared at my feet.
“Mom.”