Chapter 10

Felicia had thought about Edward's handsome face constantly since she had been 12 years old. She had always believed he would wait many more years before considering marriage. After all, he had always been focused on his career. No matter how many women had shown interest in him, he had politely declined them all. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagineed that the man she had admired and protected for so long would be taken by a woman like Melanie. The bitterness she felt was overwhelming, but there was no one she could confide in. "It's not an issue at all. Nothing is more important than you." Edward patted her on the shoulder with a brotherly smile. "You silly girl, go and eat now." "Okay." She looked at Edward one more time before finally leaving. Melanie, on the other hand, had figured it out. She was practically invisible to Felicia, who hadn't even given her a proper look. Edward, sensing that she might not fully understand the family dynamics, quickly and quietly gave her a brief explanation. She nodded, indicating she understood. "Felicia is a sweet, thoughtful girl. She's different from Sophie." Melanie couldn't help but wonder if he was really so clueless, despite how intelligent he was. From just a brief interaction, she could tell that Felicia was no ordinary woman. Compared to Sophie, her methods were far more refined. How else could an adopted daughter, essentially an outsider, win over the entire Grayson family like this? She had to be very skilled. During lunch, Felicia appeared distracted, her mind entirely occupied with the image of Melanie. She felt anger and resentment boiling inside her but was helpless to change anything. She reminded herself to be patient; she knew that acting rashly would solve nothing. Edward must have been forced into this marriage. It probably wouldn't last. Who knew how things would turn out in the future? While she was lost in these thoughts, Sophie came running over. The moment she saw Felicia, she clung to her like a lifeline, pouring out her grievances from the past two days. "Felicia, you have no idea how annoying that woman is! If I have to live under the same roof as her, I'm going to lose my mind! Can you do something to get rid of her? Or can you convince Edward not to marry her? You're so clever. You don't want him marrying a woman like that, do you?" Felicia looked at Sophie and planned her next move. There was no way she could openly oppose the marriage. Besides, her opinion carried no real weight. What kind of situation would make the wedding fall apart? Felicia thought it over and sighed. With the entire family supporting the wedding, any attempt to interfere would be futile. Unless something major happened, nothing would change. Just then, Luca walked over, and Felicia quickly softened her tone. "Sophie, don't say that. Since Edward agreed to marry her, I'm sure he has his reasons. We don't need to worry about it." Sophie's expression shifted, but before she could respond, Luca's voice boomed from the other end. "Look at how mature Felicia is! Your mother and I have always taught you to be graceful and well-mannered, yet here you are, acting so careless even at your age." Scenes like this were common in the Grayson residence—Felicia being praised while Sophie got scolded. Sophie huffed in frustration but held her tongue. … By nightfall, everything was ready for the wedding, with only a few small tasks left for the next day. That evening, Felicia cooked dinner, eager to please Luca and Sapphire. She had honed her cooking skills over the years, using them to win over many hearts. During the meal, Sophie deliberately praised Felicia, casting sidelong glances at Melanie. "Melanie, you don't know how to cook, do you? Wow, you had it easy back in the village—no job, no school, and now you don't even have to cook! Meanwhile, I have to go to school every day, and Felicia not only teaches at school but comes home and cooks for everyone too." Melanie could hear the snide remarks hidden in her words but wasn't about to take the bait. With eight people to feed in the Grayson family, cooking was no small task. Melanie's time was valuable; she needed to spend it on more important matters. Although she was quite capable of cooking, who would willingly volunteer to do all the housework? "I can cook, but I'm not that great at it. If you're not too picky, I can make lunch tomorrow." Seeing the conversation take a turn, Sapphire quickly jumped in to smooth things over. "We're all family here; it doesn't matter who cooks. Melanie, you're pregnant now, so it's the thought that counts." "Don't worry, Sapphire. I'll make lunch tomorrow," Melanie replied with a smile. Satisfied, Sapphire said no more. Truth be told, she had planned to get Melanie involved in some housework anyway. After all, it wouldn't be right for her to just sit around like some kind of mascot. Edward watched all of this unfold but said nothing. Felicia, however, felt a smug sense of satisfaction. A pretty face like Melanie's wasn't going to win her respect in this family. If she couldn't even cook, how could she compete? After dinner, Melanie offered to help clean up. This time, Edward didn't stop her. Everyone had been busy all day, and washing a few dishes wasn't a big deal. As she washed the dishes, he came into the kitchen to help dry them. Seeing this, Felicia's face flushed with anger. What right did a country bumpkin have to get Edward's help with doing dishes? Did she think she was some kind of princess? Later, when Edward finished, Felicia found an excuse to talk to him privately outside. Once they were alone, she broached the topic of Melanie. "Edward, tell me the truth. Do you really want to marry her? Or is something else going on?" Edward had always treated her like a younger sister and knew she was just concerned. "I'm marrying her of my own free will. Why? Did Sophie say something?" Hearing his answer, Felicia's carefully planned words fell apart. What more could she say after hearing that? If she spoke out of turn, Luca and Sapphire would not let it slide. "Nothing, really. I just wanted to wish you a happy marriage." Edward smiled warmly. "You're always so sensible. It's getting late. Get some rest. It will be a busy day tomorrow." As Felicia watched him walk away, she clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The next morning, the house was bustling with preparations. Around lunchtime, Melanie made her way to the kitchen. Just as she was about to start cooking, Edward followed her in and whispered in her ear, "Use less salt and oil to cook." Melanie blinked, surprised. "Why?" "Just trust me." Melanie nodded and got to work.