Dangerous Love: You Are My One and Only Bride novel Chapter 1777

Now, who would say no to a vacation? Arianne immediately waved her phone before chirping, “Well, then! Lemme ask for a half-day break from my Fearless Leader. Relax, I’ll have it settled in one late afternoon. Anything that’s gotta sway things to your favor, I’ll say ‘em. Remember to treat me to a good hearty meal for this!”

...

After her lunch with Mark, Arianne headed straight to the Smith Estate.

Melanie was tidying Alejandro’s clothes in the bedroom. Every shirt and suit she had touched was spotless and mint as though it were bought yesterday, stacked in the most orderly row one could imagine. Each of them had a scent, too; a faint, but distinct fragrance resembling Melanie herself—refined, prim, fetching, and a little bit mulish deep inside.

“All this is your handiwork?” Arianne exclaimed in shock. Ever since things were official between Mark and her, Arianne had never deigned herself to any of these chores. With her mind always trained toward developing her career, domestic chores just never crossed her mind. Who would have thought that a young woman of standing raised in a privileged family would get her hands dirty on menial chores—and to do them to such sterling degree made it obvious that Melanie had ample chances to hone her skill.

Melanie looked up at her and flashed a smile. “Yea. He really hates it if any of his shirts spots a single wrinkle. Seriously, any furrow in his shirt is a furrow in his eyebrows, and then he’ll nag the ears of the nanny for a bit. In the end, I decided to just come in and do it myself,” she explained. “He told me he was going to properly discuss our divorce tonight, so here I am, tidying and sorting his clothes before he pulls his hair trying to find the shirt he wants but can’t. You’re free enough to pay me a visit, Arianne? Aren’t you supposed to be busy in the office?”

“Men are not exactly renowned for their patience. Maybe Millie would even get a horrible spank if she keeps crying for her mom, you know? Can you really live with that? I don’t think Alejandro’s beyond salvation, frankly, so maybe you should give him a chance—in a sense, it’s like giving yourself a chance, too. He’s already trying to mend this, trying to right his wrongs. It was obvious to me the moment he bought that car for you. Didn’t you notice that too?”

Melanie felt bubbles of ire rising within her. Melissa was an innocent, naïve little angel whose adorable smiles could thaw ice; just the thought of leaving her baby like this was like having a razor pressed into her heart.

As though Arianne’s argument never crossed her mind! In fact, Melanie had already decided that she would wait until her life alone was stable enough before discussing with Alejandro to take the daughter back for herself. She had wavered between decisions for so long, straddling along the line between two sides until she chose divorce. Was she cold? Maybe. But the coldest was not her—it was Alejandro, was it not? A man who would never seem to be warmed by anything she did. Doubling down on that dogged, deluded clinging to warm his stone-cold heart would only bite Melanie with its frost until she herself became just as frozen, just as stiff, just as numb.