Chapter 24

At that thought, Marcelo's gaze toward Melissa hardened. Before she could react, he seized her shirt collar and pulled her toward the artificial lake's edge. Sensing his intentions, Melissa clung to his legs, pleading desperately, "I'm sorry, Marcelo. I really am. But I saved your lives, and I do like you. Please, don't do this. It hurts so much. Forgive me, please."

Marcelo paused at her words, then brutally kicked her hand away. His voice was icy. "Don't touch me. You're disgusting."

Melissa stared blankly at her hand, the pain in her back and the burn on her chest searing. She never imagined such treatment. The kindness they'd shown her vanished in an instant.

"Why?" she asked, looking up at him. "I hid it so well. Why did you find out?"

Marcelo scoffed. "Hid it well? Don't flatter yourself. We chose to believe you; we didn't dig deeper."

Without another word, he kicked her into the lake. Watching her struggle, he was reminded of Emelie's desperate look that day in the lake—the day they'd saved Melissa, then abandoned her. That look haunted him.

"Marcelo! Anthony! Help me! I don't want to die!" Melissa screamed repeatedly, but Marcelo watched impassively.

Anthony arrived, her drowning struggle echoing Emelie's ordeal. His gaze turned ruthless. Just as Melissa was about to slip beneath the surface, he ordered a bodyguard to pull her out.

Barely breathing and soaked, she was shoved back into the water before regaining her breath. After several repetitions, her struggle ceased. She seemed broken, utterly despairing. Pleading only brought more torment; she gave up.

Seeing her lifeless appearance, Anthony signaled the bodyguard to release her. Melissa collapsed, drenched, her hair and clothes clinging to her. The fragile, pitiful woman was gone.

"I'm sorry. I really am. Please, forgive me. I won't do it again." She truly regretted it. The Horton brothers were demons, beyond her reach. She could never surpass Emelie in their hearts. She'd been so close to replacing her...

But she couldn't understand. Emelie was married. Why couldn't they let her go? Why couldn't they spare her even a glance?

"What's the point of apologizing to us?" Anthony's eyes were cold, devoid of mercy. "The person you should apologize to is Emelie."

He gestured for the bodyguards to take Melissa to Mirage Heights with Marcelo. Yet, upon arriving at the villa, the lights remained off, even into the evening. Had Emelie lived there, they might have thought it abandoned.

Anthony and Marcelo exchanged a worried glance. Had something happened to Emelie? The thought was unbearable, deepening their hatred for Tyler. Why couldn't they protect her?