Chapter 285
"Next week, there's a charity ball and auction," Lindy said sharply. "You and Colton better not embarrass the Stevens family like you did last time."
Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she glared at Melany. "Just because I let what happened before slide doesn't mean you get to act all high and mighty."
Melany's expression remained composed, almost innocent. "Lindy, I've already explained. It was just a misunderstanding. It had absolutely nothing to do with me."
Despite her calm demeanor, Melany's fingers subtly brushed the business card she'd kept from Nova. The exquisite brooch she'd seen earlier lingered in her thoughts, fueling her carefully hidden ambitions. Initially, she'd hoped to win Colton's support, but aligning herself with the Lloyd family now seemed far more beneficial.
"Nothing to do with you?" Lindy scoffed, disbelief thick in her voice. "Colton might be naive enough to believe that, but you can't fool me."
Lindy had been simmering with bitterness for days. Since Melany married into the Stevens family, everything had unraveled. Even when her husband had affairs, he'd at least called her, maintaining appearances. Now, their marriage was a sham, and his indiscretions were openly displayed. And Keanu's birthday banquet? A complete disaster, all thanks to Melany.
With only the two of them in the room, Lindy dropped her usual façade. Her voice, once soft, turned venomous. "If it weren't for that stupid video you made, how could the company's secrets have leaked?!" She glared at Melany with contempt.
For days, Lindy had been waiting for this moment. Melany, slippery as ever, had avoided confrontation. But today, Lindy was determined to give her a proper scolding.
"Think you've won, don't you? Think that by ruining me, you'll finally get what you want?" Lindy's face twisted with fury and regret. She cursed herself for being so blind, for letting this gold-digger marry her son. "If only Allison were still here, none of this would have happened," she muttered. "You must be dreaming if you think you'll ever be the lady of this house!" she spat. "Not while I'm still breathing."
The thought of her own secrets—the young man she'd kept on the side, a little indulgence her husband had long ignored—flickered in Lindy's mind. They had an understanding, an open arrangement. But now, thanks to Melany, all of that had been exposed. Keanu was so furious that he'd cut off financial support to her family, leaving her siblings in a panic and bombarding her phone with demands.
Ever since Melany entered their lives, it had been nothing but chaos. Lindy's thoughts drifted to the days when Allison had been around. At least Allison had been kind, obedient—a true breath of fresh air.
"You're not even a shadow of what Allison was. She knew how to handle Keanu, keep him happy. But you? You're nothing but trouble." Lindy's voice dripped with disdain.
Where most would have snapped under such a tirade, Melany simply laughed. "If Allison was so wonderful, then why didn't she save you when you were dying from that little headache?" Her smile was sweet, but her words cut like ice. "Oh wait—could it be that no one in this family actually likes you?" She paused, feigning an innocent frown before sighing softly. "Oh, that's right. Those were Allison's exact words, weren't they? She'd rather give that medicine to a complete stranger than lift a finger to help you."
Melany's words stabbed straight into Lindy's heart, leaving her speechless.