Chapter 787

Melina only wanted to ask them a few questions on her mother's behalf. She did long for real family, but her real family was Joe, Wallace, and Joshua, not these people. Even if she'd still been that orphan struggling to survive, she'd never let them decide her future. Growing up in this poor and conservative mountain area, she'd seen too many women married off as soon as they turned old enough to read and write. Their lives were decided for them. People said there was no point in a woman learning too much. All that mattered was marrying and having children—that it was a woman's fate. But Joe had taught her otherwise. She could leave the mountains and have her own life. Unless she chose it herself, no one could force her into anything. Delilah never expected Melina, who was supposedly alone in the world, to defy her so boldly. Even though Delilah claimed to be her grandmother, Melina still refused to be obedient or leave with her. Delilah had already been smacked several times wit