Chapter 12

Felicia stood frozen in place, stunned by Melanie's response. It wasn't what she had expected at all. Melina's words were logical and composed—nothing like what one would hear from an uneducated woman from the countryside. By the time Felicia gathered herself, Melanie was already back in her room. Fuming with anger, she couldn't understand why Melanie was so smug. As long as she was around, there was no way she would let Melanie settle into the Grayson residence easily. She was determined to force her out. Later in the afternoon, after the final touches were made to the wedding preparations, Melanie was most excited for the moment when the wedding gift would be handed over. "Melanie, here's 888 dollars," Sapphire said. "Since your parents won't be attending the wedding tomorrow, I'll give this to you directly. We're not sure what the customs are where you're from, but here, this is a significant amount—it's very auspicious." It was 1980, and 888 dollars was quite a sum. In some rural areas, brides didn't receive a wedding gift at all; sometimes, a few bags of flour were considered enough. The Grayson family was indeed wealthy. With this money in her hands, Melanie felt much more secure. She no longer worried about financial struggles. Though the Grayson family had money, they wouldn't hand it out freely. But the wedding gift was hers to manage as she saw fit. "Thank you, Sapphire. As you know, I can't afford to repay you right now, but I promise that I'll make sure to repay this once I start earning." Sophie and Felicia felt their hearts ache as they stared at the money Sapphire had given Melanie. How could someone like her be worthy of such a generous dowry? They felt even 88 dollars was too much for someone like Melanie. Their parents were seriously being too kind to her. As for Melanie's promise to repay the wedding gift? They scoffed at the idea. She couldn't even cook a proper meal; how was she going to make money? Anyone could boast, after all. But to Luca's and Sapphire's ears, Melanie's words sounded thoughtful and sincere. "You've got a good heart. That's what matters," Sapphire replied. "We're family now, so don't worry about those things." Melanie thanked her warmly, and suddenly, the Grayson family didn't seem so harsh after all. Money could smooth over just about anything. Back in her room, she hugged Nellie and smiled. "Nellie, we've got money now! I'll take this and start a little business. Soon, I'll make lots and lots of money for us, okay?" Seeing her so happy, Nellie beamed back. "Okay! You're going to make lots of money, Mommy!" That night, Melanie went to bed early. The next morning, she was up by 5:00 am to get ready for the wedding. The Graysons had hired someone to do her makeup. At that time, bold, bright looks—red lips and arched eyebrows—were in style. Although the techniques weren't refined, the result was vibrant and eye-catching. Melanie actually liked it. Her hair was swept up and adorned with a flower. She wore a white dress, a gift from Sapphire. It hugged her figure, accentuating her narrow waist and ample chest, giving her an elegant and graceful look. When she stepped out of her room, everyone stopped in their tracks. She was the most beautiful bride they had ever seen. In fact, she was almost like a movie star. Even Edward paused for a moment, surprised by how stunning she looked with her makeup. Yaeger also stood there with his eyes glued to her. The ever observant Felicia noticed the shift in the men's attention, and her expression soured. Nearby, Sophie muttered under her breath, "What a fox. She's dressed up so provocatively. Disgusting." She looked down at her own outfit, feeling even more embarrassed and frustrated. Felicia nodded in agreement with Sophie's comment. The wedding wasn't an extravagant affair. Given the circumstances, it was a modest ceremony, with only close family members invited. Xavier and the others were there as well, smiling and nodding approvingly at the sight of Melanie. Ever since Xavier had learned that he would soon get great-grandsons, he had been in much better spirits. He seemed to have recovered from his ailments as he ate heartily and moved around with renewed energy. Upon seeing how happy he was, Ophelia naturally extended her affection toward Melanie as well. She had even brought an emerald bracelet as a gift for her new granddaughter-in-law. Dressed in a suit, Edward stood tall and dignified, exuding an air of quiet strength and elegance. He drew admiring glances from the young women present, who couldn't help but steal a few extra glances at him. Gabrielle, though still bitter and heartbroken, had also come. As she watched Edward and Melanie exchange vows, she felt like her heart was being shattered all over again. Even though Melanie was wearing flats, standing throughout the long ceremony left her exhausted. By the time they finished eating and toasting the guests, it was already three or four o'clock in the afternoon. Of course, Melanie didn't drink alcohol, but Edward wasn't so lucky. As the groom, he had to endure a few rounds of drinks. Though outwardly polite, many of the guests whispered among themselves, wondering what on earth the Grayson family was thinking. They believed it was a mistake for someone as accomplished as Edward to marry an illiterate woman from the countryside. When the guests had finally left, Melanie went back in her room. As she sat on the bed, eating some food, she couldn't help but think how exhausting weddings were. She wondered how people who kept getting married and divorced found the energy to do it repeatedly. Since it was a special occasion, Nellie was staying with Luca and Sapphire for the night, leaving the newlyweds to themselves. After all, no one expected a child to be in the couple's room on their wedding night. Edward entered the room just as Melanie was eating, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster. "Got another fork? I'm hungry too," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Melanie handed him a set of cutlery. "Dig in," she said. He was indeed hungry, but seeing her eating on the bed made him frown slightly. "Let's eat at the table," he suggested. Normally, she was more particular, but she was just too tired today. Still, she didn't mind the suggestion. She slipped on her shoes and joined him at the table. As they ate, he mulled over how to bring up the topic. He knew he had to tell her the truth about that night. From the way she acted, it seemed she still didn't know who the man from that night was. It was better to be honest now so that they could clear up any misunderstandings before anything caused problems later. They could then focus on living a peaceful life together. After all, it was his fault. Even though he had been set up, the fact remained that Melanie had paid the price with her innocence. He vividly remembered the red stain on the bedsheet the morning after—a sign of her purity. But he couldn't help but wonder, Why was she still a virgin when she was already married?