Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law

She closed her eyes, letting the cold seep into her skin, numbing the dull ache for a few precious moments. Just as she began to relax, the ice pack was lifted from her hand and held to her cheek by someone else. She didn't need to open her eyes to know who it was. The air shifted, the familiar presence settling beside her, unwelcome yet unavoidable.

She didn't want to talk to this man right now.

"Mel," Spencer's voice was low and pleading. "Are you really so angry that you won't even look at me?"

She let out a quiet, bitter scoff but still refused to turn his way. Instead, she shifted slightly, turning her head away from the lingering chill of the ice. Suddenly, it wasn't so soothing anymore.

Spencer sighed. "Mel, you know how Mom is. She's old, she has a temper, and sometimes she speaks before she thinks. Look, I'll talk to her, okay? I'll make sure she understands. She just needs to be more careful with her words."

Melanie finally opened her eyes then, her gaze steady as it met his. For a long moment, she simply studied him—this man she had waited for. And now? He would talk to her?

Now, all she wanted was to be free of him.

"Spencer," she spoke in a quiet voice. "Let's get a divorce."

Spencer's entire body went rigid, his breath catching as if the words had physically struck him. He stared at her, as though trying to gauge if she was serious, searching for hesitation, for uncertainty. But she gave him none. She simply stared at him.

Before he could formulate a response, he instinctively reached out, cupping her face between his palms. She winced at the contact, and he immediately softened his grip, shifting his hand to cup her uninjured cheek

"Melanie," he whispered almost desperately. "How can you say something like that? I just got back. We've been apart for so long, waiting for this moment, for us to finally be together. And now that I'm here, you want to throw it all away?"

His eyes searched hers, pleading, but Melanie remained unmoved.

"I've already thought this through," she said steadily. "Come with me to the civil affairs bureau tomorrow. We can annul the marriage—clean, simple. It's not like we ever consummated it."

Spencer flinched at that, as though the reminder stung. His jaw tightened, his grip on her easing as he exhaled sharply. "Melanie, you're upset right now. This isn't the time to make decisions like this. Let's talk when you've calmed down, when you're thinking clearly. You love me, how can you bear to leave me like this?"

She shook her head, pretending not to hear him, pretending his words didn't matter. But even now, they did. And they were much clear. It was not about loving each other. It was about her loving him. "If you don't want an annulment, fine. We'll get a divorce instead. We've already been separated for three years—long enough to claim irreconcilable differences. Or something like we grew apart."

Her voice was even, devoid of any emotion. 

"Don't be foolish, Mel!" Spencer snapped, his patient and repenetant tone disappearing. "You're being too harsh on Mom and me! I know what she did was wrong, but her anger wasn't unfounded. What you did was out of line—you humiliated me in front of Hallie and the driver!"

Melanie's eyes flashed with disbelief. "What I did was wrong?" she repeated, her voice sharp with incredulity. "Are you actually standing there justifying her actions? And what about you, Spencer? You didn't humiliate me? I thought Hallie was like family?" She let out a bitter laugh. "So, it's fine for you to throw a tantrum in front of her, to lash out at me in front of her, but the moment I do the same, suddenly, I'm the villain? Spencer Collins, I never took you for a hypocrite."

She took a step back, her voice turning cold. "I'm filing for a divorce tomorrow."

Spencer stilled. The anger in his eyes flickered and faded, replaced by something deeper—fear, desperation. In one swift motion, he reached out and caught her arms, his grip firm but gentle.

"Mel, baby," he murmured, his voice suddenly soft. "Why are we fighting like this? Hurting each other because of other people? Didn't we promise that nothing would come between us?" His hands slid up to cradle her face, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "Just take a breath, okay? Come here. Let me hold you."

Her body trembled as tears welled in her eyes, and before she could stop them, they fell. Spencer pulled her into his arms, holding her close, his warmth wrapping around her. For a moment, just a fleeting moment, she let herself sink into it.

Believing he had calmed her, Spencer exhaled, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "I know I've let you down these past three years, Mel," he whispered. "But give me this chance, okay? Don't talk about divorce again. In fact, give me a week. Next week marks three years since our wedding. Let's celebrate it—properly. I'll introduce you officially as my wife, the way I should have from the start."

He pulled back slightly, searching her face. "And in this one week, I'll erase every complaint you have against me. I'll prove to you that I can be the man you deserve.

"After that, if you still have doubts, if you still think you can't forgive me—we'll talk about divorce. But until then, don't even think about it." His voice dropped low and possessive. "No outsider is going to come between what me and what's mine. No one will come between us."

Melanie's breath hitched. And then, as though a switch had flipped inside her, her eyes snapped open and met an amused gaze.

Standing there, leaning casually against the doorframe, was Adam.