Chapter 318

S2] 61. When Melanie Meets Diana

With a sullen look, Melanie grumbled, “I actually didn’t want to stay at your house. But we didn’t have another choice. Frank said it was safer if I was taken care of-”

Melanie stopped, realizing that such a confession could lower her self

-esteem.

“If I lived temporarily in this house,” she corrected, raising her chin.. As soon as it’s safe, I’ll go back to Frank’s house. So, you don’t need to feel uncomfortable. Right, Frank?”

Frank scrunched up one side of his face. “Yes.”

“I don’t feel uncomfortable.” Vivian stepped forward, approaching Melanie. Herexpression was now more relaxed. “You can stay here as long as you want.”

Vivian’s nod of the head was sincere. However, Melanie did not want to admit that impression. She snorted.

“Frank,” she glanced at her son, grumbling in a half-whisper, “I said, I didn’t want to meet this woman, but you still insisted. Look at the consequences. You’re embarrassing me.”

“Why are you embarrassed? She doesn’t mind anything. She doesn’t mind you staying at her house.”

“That’s just small talk,” Melanie added emphasis. “There are a lot of people here. She can’t possibly show her true feelings, especially since we want to have fun.”

Melanie glanced at Vivian briefly. Realizing the woman was still looking at her, she hissed.

“Later, when the party is over, she will definitely corner me. I don’t

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want that to happen. That’s why, tonight, I will come home with you. Besides, things are safe, right? I promise not to cause any more problems. My condition is fine. I’m stable.”

Frank sighed softly. “That’s just your feeling, Mom. Vivian Bell has let it all go. What happened in the past is no longer a problem for her. You can do that too, right?”

Melanie shook her head slightly. “That’s impossible, Frank. You won’t understand because you haven’t experienced it. The awkwardness between us will be insurmountable. So, tonight, you take me home.

Understand?”

Frank glanced at Kara. Despair began to weigh on his heart, but Kara gave him a small nod, gesturing for him to try again. When he cleared his throat, Diana suddenly caught their attention.

“Are you Norman’s ex-wife?”

Melanie gasped when she heard that name from the old woman’s mouth. Instead of answering, she lowered an eyebrow. “Who are you?”

Diana sighed and got up from the sofa. With nimble footsteps, she approached Melanie.

“So it’s true? You’re Norman’s ex-wife.”

Hearing Diana’s rising tone, Frank became alert. He was not sure about her response to Melanie. When he told her about Melanie,

Diana was silent. He just realized that the response could be the seed of a problem.

“Grandma, can we talk for a moment?” Frank shifted, about to approach Diana.

However, before he could take a step, his mother sighed,” “Grandma?”

From under her furrowed eyebrows, Melanie studied Diana’s face more closely. “You’re Susan’s mother?”

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Dian

head was pulled backward. “No.”

“Kara’s paternal grandmother?”

Diana shook her head faintly. “No.”

The two women were equally confused. After a moment of silence, Melanie gasped.

“You’re Rowan Harper’s ex-wife? Norman’s mother?” Melanie’s eyes trembled rapidly.

Not only Frank, but everyone also listened with bated breath.

Diana was nice to Vivian because she was a victim. Norman left her. But Melanie? The woman wanted to poison Norman and after Norman was gone, she disappeared too. She had no reason for Diana to like her.

“Why did you ask me back? Answer my question first. You are the woman who abandoned Frank, right? You let him grow up without parents?”

Diana’s round eyes looked more sunken and somewhat teary. No one could interpret it, whether she was disappointed, sad, or angry. One thing that was clearly visible through her fists was that she was

pain.

Meanwhile, Melanie’s body trembled. All the bad things she had eve done flashed through her mind. Her guts shrank, her face wrinkled

Frank and the others were worried seeing that. Their focus then turned to Ava. They were hoping for guidance from her if Melanie went crazy again.

However, before Ava had time to give an answer, Melanie dropped to her knees. Her hands were held together in front of her chest.

“Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt anyone, whether it was

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Norman or Frank. I was just trying to save my life.”

Frank was stunned. He didn’t expect that his mother would finally be willing to strip her of her pride. Not only in front of Vivian, but also

everyone.

Meanwhile, Diana pressed her forehead with her eyebrows. She also didn’t think that Melanie could bend her knees so quickly. From what she heard, wasn’t that woman selfish and stubborn?

“Please,” Melanie looked up, showing Diana her tears, “I’m sorry. I’m

really sorry.”

Diana was pensive. Her eyes froze. “Why do you apologize to me? Don’t you know? I also did the same thing as you-saving myself by leaving my son.”

Melanie’s sobs were muffled. Still with furrowed brows, she shook her head, asking for an explanation. “You’re not angry with me?”

Instead of answering, Diana looked up. Her focus was scattered among the air particles.

“I have no right to be angry. The misfortune you caused was the result of my actions. If only I had educated Norman well, he would not have hurt any woman, neither Vivian nor you. Because of that….”

Diana sighed and looked down again. “How about we forgive each other? From this moment on, let’s turn over a new chapter. Let’s try to be better parents to our children and grandchildren.”

Melanie was stunned. “Isn’t it too late for me to change?”

Diana leaned her head forward. “You are much luckier than me. Your

children are still alive. You still have a chance to improve your

relationship with them.”

Melanie involuntarily pouted. Her chin twitched to match the vibration of embarrassment within her. “I still have a chance?” she muttered.

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Slowly, Melanie’s head lowered. The shaking in her shoulders got worse. Just when she was about to cry, Diana’s hand stroked her head gently.

“What a poor woman.” Diana’s voice was thin and a bit dry. “I’m sorry you have to bear such a big burden. It must be so heavy that you made such a difficult decision.”

Melanie sighed in disbelief. All her life, she had always wanted to hear such comforting words. Decades of years, why was she only now. accepting it? And what was even more astonishing, why did it come from her mother-in-law-the mother of the man she hated and loved

the most?

“Now stand up. Your knees will hurt if you keep them bent like that.”

However, Melanie was too focused on her emotional turmoil. She didn’t move, letting her mouth open and close without a word. Frank and Jeremy were moved to help. Each of them held an arm.

“Come on, Mom, stand up,” Frank whispered.

Melanie couldn’t help but obey. She mustered up her remaining

strength. When she was upright again, Diana immediately gave her a hug.

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