Chapter 369 Symbiotic All the media outlets feared they had missed out on breaking news, while Jeffrey was speeding all the way to the hotel that Melanie was staying in.
In her hotel room. Melanie was looking at the invitation card in her hands as she said to Annie, âTake a good break today. Weâll postpone our return to tomorrow.â
âAre you really going to visit the Yorks?â Annie asked with concern.
âTheir butler came in person to say that I helped Joseph York at the banquet yesterday, so he invited me to his house. Whatâs more, the heads of all the major families will be there, with the sole exception of my master. In other words, he wants me to attend on behalf of my master. What reason do I have to not go?â
Annie grabbed Melanieâs hand with a worried look. âWhat you said makes me feel even more worried. Theyâre clearly forcing you to go. Youâre in no state right now to be entering the lionâs den.â
Melanie nodded. She knew the visit to the Yorks would be a tough trip, but the men of the Yorks were acting suspicious. She had to get closer to them to figure out what was going on.
âDonât worry. Iâll protect myself,â Melanie promised.
Annie sighed. âI know I canât persuade you to change your mind. Iâll make the necessary arrangements and have my private investigator follow you.â
With that, Annie went to her room to make a call.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Melanie opened the door a crack. A man towered over her right outside. It was Jeffrey Morgan!
The sight of his face made Melanie panic. Did he manage to find out her true test results?
âWhat are you doing here?â she asked with feigned calmness.
âWeâll talk inside!â
Jeffrey squeezed through the crack, grabbed her wrist and shut the door tight.
She yanked her hand out of his hold and looked down as she rubbed her wrist. Jeffreyâs throat went dry as he asked, âDid I hurt you?â
Melanie ignored her question, and simply asked, âWhatâs up? Make it quick.â
Jeffrey knew she didnât want him to know about her pregnancy, and could understand why she was trying so hard to pretend to be calm...
He couldnât help but glance at her flat stomach. The child that belonged to them both was right inside!
Blood was thicker than water. The child was bound to tie them together, and neither of them could even think about leaving each other...
âI heard the Yorks invited you to their dinner. Did you agree to go?â Jeffrey asked something else unrelated, 143 FIS BONUS Melanie inwardly heaved a sigh of relief, and nodded.
âItâs a trap,â Jeffrey reminded. âDo you still remember what Harlow said in the washroom yesterday? Do you think that youâre the other person, aside from Gabriel, that he wants to make a move on?â
âI probably am.â Melanie went on indifferently. âHarlow was right. After last night, I have some new ideas for the theme of this competition and am planning to go to the fragrance blending room later.â
The sight of the couldnâtâcareâless look on Melanieâs face made Jeffreyâs brows knit together.
âYouâre still going to the fragrance blending room despite knowing that Harlow has set up a trap there?â
âIf I donât go now, he might dig another hole for me somewhere else. I might as well walk into this trap knowingly and see what exactly heâs trying to do.â
âThis isnât Harbor City,â Jeffrey warned.
âI have the protection of the Snows,â Melanie said, unwilling to compromise.
âThereâs no need to bother the Snows. My men are already stationed near the fragrance blending room.â Jeffrey said with furrowed brows.
âThe Snows have also made their own arrangements. We have a foolproof plan, so make sure your men are sharp and quickâ
witted enough.â
With that, Melanie suddenly flashed Jeffrey a bright smile. âSince youâre all set, President Morgan, why are you still trying to stop me from going?â
âIâm just worried you might still be at risk, however low the chances are!â Jeffreyâs brows were still tightly knit together as he spoke solemnly.
Melanie didnât dare to look straight into his concerned eyes, and she looked down to avoid his gaze. âItâs worth it to take the risk in exchange for peace in the future.â
âThe trap in the fragrance blending room and the invitation to the dinner at the Yorks are interlinked. After dodging the trap in the fragrance blending room, youâd better not go to the Yorks,â Jeffrey insisted on persuading Melanie.
âNo. The moment I see through the ploy in the fragrance blending room, Iâll go to the Yorks and expose Harlow before Joseph.
That way, he wonât dare to do anything to me in the future. Thatâs why I must attend the banquet at the Yorks!â
âHarlow is a madman! Even exposing him canât guarantee that heâll stop!â Jeffrey insisted, worried. âWhatâs more, the Yorks invited you with the intention of giving Leo a chance to get closer to you. Stay away from him!â
Melanieâs eyes grew cold as she looked at Jeffrey. âIs it appropriate for you to say something like that, given our relationship right now?â
Jeffreyâs voice softened helplessly. âTrust me, I really care about you as a person.â
âThis heart inside me is symbiotic with me. How are you sure that you care for me as a person and not this +15 BONUS The sight of Jeffrey silenced made Melanie arch her brows.
She sneered. âSo, itâs not appropriate at all for you to remind me to stay away from another man.â
Anger burned in Jeffreyâs eyes. âYouâre still my wife!â
âNot so in time to come.â Melanie said coldly.
Jeffreyâs brows furrowed in confusion.
âSince youâre here, I have something for you.â
Melanie turned around and walked back to her room, and retrieved an agreement. She flung it to Jeffrey, who saw the piercing words, âDivorce Settlementâ on the papers.
Jeffreyâs eyes narrowed dangerously. âWhat do you mean by this?â
âOur marriage has always been in name only. In that case, we might as well invalidate that pointless marriage certificate.â
âIn name only?â Jeffrey said in a trembling voice.
Then, how did their baby in her womb come about?!