Second Chances And New Beginnings

Chapter 1 Betrayed By Her Husband

As Melissa Moore was heading to her mother-in-law Karina's VIP room at the Wellness Center after disposing of the bedpan, she happened to notice her husband Michael Moore's car parked outside.

Something didn't sit right with her. Michael usually traveled for work at the beginning of every month and would often stay away until mid-month. Today was the 9th, so according to routine, he should've been out of town. Yet here he was, at the Wellness Center.

Michael was a professor at Drakoria University, who was always busy. For the past decade, he'd regularly traveled to various universities across the country to give lectures.

Melissa understood the demands of his career and had always supported him, even taking on the full responsibility of caring for his disabled mother, Karina, without a second thought.

She even considered herself lucky. In her fifties now, her husband's career was thriving, and their son had his own family and was doing well.

People often told her she had a blessed life, and she felt the same. Despite all the hard work, she thought marrying Michael had been worth it.

Usually by this time, she had left the Wellness Center to catch the bus at 10 a.m. back to the city, where she'd hit the market to buy ingredients for lunch for her adopted son, Victor Moore, and Victor's wife, Mia Moore.

Today, however, she had been delayed because the toilet in Karina's room had clogged up. Given that Karina couldn't move, Melissa had to help her use a bedpan, and then go back and forth between Karina's room and the public restroom to dispose of it.

Melissa had already called the staff in the Wellness Center to fix the toilet earlier in the morning, but things like this happened all the time.

It was clear that the staff was growing impatient with her situation. Everyone there knew Karina was a handful. She constantly caused trouble for Melissa, whether it was clogging toilets on purpose, breaking things, or even "accidentally" falling from her wheelchair and blaming Melissa for it.

Melissa wasn't blind to it. She'd always known that Karina's disdain for her stemmed from the fact that twenty years ago, her own son, Gavin, had gone missing, and she'd never been able to conceive again.

Melissa had come to accept that she was being punished for not being able to provide a biological heir for the Moore family.

Michael and Karina had always been fixated on the idea of having another child. If Melissa couldn't bear a child, she was practically useless to the family, with no position in their eyes. In a worse-case scenario, it could mean being kicked out or worse, even suffering abuse.

Melissa had always taken the blame, feeling deep down like she owed the Moore family for not being able to continue their bloodline.

She walked up to Karina's room and placed her hand on the door handle. Just as she was about to open the door and ask her husband what he was doing here, a cheerful, clear child's voice interrupted her thoughts.

A boy's voice came from the other side of the door. "It's so great to meet you, Grandma. I'm Julian Moore. Daddy says I'm the glory of the family."

The mention of "Grandma" and "Daddy" made Melissa furrow her brows. She stood still, trying to process what she had just heard, until Karina's familiar voice, though somehow different, came from inside the room. "Good boy! Here's a card for you with 3,500 dollars in it. Buy whatever you want."

"Thank you, Grandma," replied the boy in an excited voice.

Melissa stood frozen with her eyes wide open. She had never heard Karina speak so kindly.

She couldn't help but think, 'Wait, is that really Karina? The woman who's always cruel and condescending to me is now acting as if she were some sweet, loving grandmother. And giving away so much money to a relative's child is definitely a first for Karina.'

"Oh, Karina, that's too much. You're gonna spoil Julian," came a soft, but firm woman's voice from inside. Melissa could tell the speaker was younger.

"Don't say that. Julian is my precious grandson. He deserves everything. Even Michael's property will all go to Julian." Karina's sharp voice cut through the conversation again.

Melissa's heart skipped a beat, and almost instinctively, she clenched the bedpan in her hand. Something clicked in her mind. She didn't quite have the full picture yet, but she was starting to piece things together.

Just as Melissa was about to pull herself together, she heard Michael's voice. "Sara's been through a lot these past few years. Mom, I found a penthouse in Opal Bay. How about I buy it for Sara and Julian?"

Karina replied in a light tone, "That's a great idea. The apartment they've been living in is too small. They definitely need a bigger place."

"The total price is 1.5 million dollars. I'm sure Melissa doesn't know I've got that much hidden away, so don't you let it slip, Mom."

"Of course, you can count on me. I'm just handicapped, not brainless."

After that, Melissa could barely make out the rest of their conversation. Her ears started to ring, and her whole body began to spin. She felt lightheaded and almost lost her balance.

The bedpan slipped from her grip, clattering loudly to the floor. Shivers ran through her, making her feel like she was about to freeze from the inside out. She wanted to leave, but her feet felt like they were glued to the floor, and she couldn't move.

There was a voice in her mind. 'I just heard my husband is buying a penthouse for his mistress and their love child?'

Over the past thirty years, Melissa had believed she was the perfect wife—dutiful, supportive, and devoted. Sure, she'd failed to give the Moore family another heir, but she'd never done anything to dishonor them. She'd been a good daughter-in-law and a good wife.

She had thought her life was pretty damn good, that she had everything. But now? Now she realized she'd been a fool.

She hadn't even known when her husband had started cheating. And now, he was planning to buy a house for his mistress and love child with their shared wealth.

Rage surged through her like wildfire. In a burst of fury, Melissa lost all control. She shoved the door open, but instead of rushing in, she screamed at the top of her lungs, "Michael Moore, how could you do this to me?"

She spat the words out one by one, as if each one took everything she had. Tears blurred her vision, and her heart shattered with every breath.

"Shut the door! She's lost it. Don't let anyone hear this!" Karina's voice shrieked in panic.

Michael hesitated for just a moment before striding over, ready to slam the door shut.

Melissa, fueled by anger, grabbed his elbow and forced him to stop. She screamed, "Afraid now, huh? You do think it's too shameless to let anyone know, right? When you hooked up with the bitch, didn't you think of the consequence?"

"Melissa, shut up!" Michael snapped, his voice dripping with venom. He shoved her away with full strength. After slamming the door, he locked it with a finality that echoed through the room.

Then, without a word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it, strolling over to the balcony as if nothing had happened.

It was the same old routine whenever he and Melissa fought—silent treatment. He would just retreat into his cold, distant shell, refusing to speak or explain.

The air in the room grew thick and suffocating. Melissa stood there, her body trembling with rage and disbelief. She stared at the woman and the boy beside the hospital bed.

The mistress looked young, probably no older than thirty. She was dressed head to toe in luxury: a Chanel outfit and a Hermes bag dangling from her arm.

Melissa was no stranger to high-end fashion products. As a professor's wife, she also made an effort to dress properly. But despite her careful spending, she couldn't imagine dropping that kind of money on a Hermes bag that cost several hundred thousand.

Then, she looked at the boy, who was dressed in an expensive, branded school uniform. It hit her like a ton of bricks. She recognized the uniform. It was from Lawrence Private School, the best school in town. Its yearly tuition alone was nearly 70,000 dollars a year.

Sensing the tension in the air and Melissa's malicious glare, Sara, the mistress, said in panic, "Karina, I think we gotta go. We'll come back to visit you another time."

Her flawless face had gone pale, and she hastily grabbed the child's hand. Before leaving, she turned to Michael, still standing by the window smoking, and said, "Mike, I'm leaving."

"Let the driver take you," Michael replied coolly, without so much as looking her way. With that, he returned to his usual stoic silence.

The door creaked open and then slammed shut.

As the silence hung heavy in the room again, Karina shot Melissa a look and said, "Well, since you've seen it all, I might as well come clean.

"It's pretty normal for a man to have a woman outside, you know? Don't worry, you're still Mike's wife, and it won't change. But you have to be smart about it—just turn a blind eye to Sara and Julian, okay? Be magnanimous."

Melissa couldn't believe her ears. In her head, she was shouting, 'What the hell? Karina's talking like it's no big deal, telling me to be understanding? Shouldn't Michael be apologizing and begging for my forgiveness?'

She looked at Michael, who was still sitting there, silent as a stone. Her heart ached so badly that it felt like she couldn't breathe.

After thirty years of marriage, she had always thought their bond was unbreakable. But now? Reality had just slapped her across the face.

"When did this happen?" Melissa forced the words out, her voice barely a whisper, trying to keep her emotions in check.

Michael puffed on his cigarette, looking visibly irritated. "Eleven years ago.

"It was around the time we were fighting over Gavin. If you hadn't let him out of your sight, we wouldn't have lost him, and I wouldn't have had to go out and find another woman to have a kid with."

Michael took another drag, his earlier frustration fading into something resembling guilt. "Look, I won't give Sara a title, so don't worry about that. When Julian gets older, he can help take care of you in your old years. It's not a bad thing, is it?"

Melissa actually laughed, but it was a hollow, bitter sound. She thought, 'He thinks I'll be taken care of by the mistress's child? I'm better off relying on my adopted son for that.'

"Victor will take care of us," Melissa retorted, her voice firm, each word laced with weight.

Michael snorted dismissively and said, "Victor's not my birth son, after all. There's no way I'll leave him my property when I die."

Melissa's eyes widened in disbelief. She'd never known Michael could be so cold-hearted.

"We've raised Victor for years. We always treat him like our own son, don't we?" Melissa shouted, her anger bubbling up.

Michael wasn't interested in discussing that. He immediately cut her off. "Look, now that you know the truth, maybe you and Sara can just get along. At least I don't have to keep lying every month about going on a business trip."

"What?" Melissa's eyes went wide, her mind racing. "So all these years, when you said you were on a business trip, you were really with her?"

"Well, I was just trying to spare your feelings," Michael said, as if he were playing a thoughtful husband.

Melissa burst into laughter, but it was a bitter, broken laugh. During her laugh, tears streamed down her face.

For the past ten years, while her husband was living it up with his mistress, she had been at the Wellness Center, serving Karina, enduring the old woman's cruel tongue, and managing the household.

For ten years, she had pinched pennies, never buying herself anything fancy, even though she was the wife of a well-off professor.

For ten years, she had barely allowed herself to be sick, dragging herself through rain or shine, always going back and forth between the Wellness Center and home.

However, all her efforts finally got her Michael's betrayal and his nonchalant words "I was just trying to spare your feelings".

Melissa suddenly felt like she was drowning. It was like everything she'd built her life on—the trust, the sacrifice, and the belief in her marriage—was crumbling to dust all around her.

She asked herself internally, 'How stupid have I been? What have I really gotten after thirty years of marriage?

'I got endless mistreatment from Karina, a sexless marriage with Michael for nearly twenty years, a husband who has been with another woman, and over a million dollars of our shared wealth siphoned off to fund the affair.'

She had worked herself to the bone to care for Karina and the family, only to end up with a body wracked by stress and exhaustion.

She hated herself for realizing the truth too late. She had wasted half her life. And she hated Michael—this heartless man who had betrayed her, the wife who had stuck by him through thick and thin.

But now, it was too late for regrets.

"Michael, let's get a divorce," Melissa said while wiping the tears from her eyes.

When she looked up at him, her gaze was clear, resolute, and final. She had no more illusions left.

Chapter 2 She Can't Live Without Me

"Divorce? Melissa, you're not getting any younger. Stop acting as childish as a young girl." Michael stubbed out his cigarette on the windowsill, walked up to Melissa, and stared down at her with that familiar, condescending look—like he was some kind of king and she was a servant.

Karina chimed in immediately, "Divorce? You're fifty, and you're seriously talking about divorce? It's natural for woman at our age to have some regrets. Do you know anyone who's divorced?

"Missy, I get that you're upset, but let's not blow things out of proportion. You can't have kids, but you can't let the Moore family die out, right?"

"The Moore family won't die out. I'll find Gavin!" Melissa clenched her fists, her voice shaking with emotion.

Karina scoffed, "You'll find him? Come on, it's been twenty years. If you can find him, you could've by now. He's probably dead."

"Don't you dare curse my son!" Melissa snapped.

That was Melissa's breaking point. Karina could be cruel to her, but not to her child.

Melissa said in a firm tone, "I'm not joking, Michael. If it wasn't for taking care of your bedridden mother all these years, I would've dropped everything to find Gavin. Well... Now, I'm finally free."

For the first time in a long while, Melissa felt a sense of relief. She added, "Bring the papers, and we're going to the courthouse tomorrow."

After the words, she turned around and left, leaving the furious mother and son in the room.

Watching Melissa walk away, Karina huffed and muttered, "See what you've done? You've spoiled her, letting her get away with everything. Now she's got the guts to talk about divorce!"

"Rest easy, Mom. She can't live without me," Michael said with absolute confidence. He knew his wife all too well—her only skills were cooking, cleaning, and waiting on him. Without him, she'd be nothing.

Relying on Victor to take care of her was a bad idea. Their adopted son was a cold-hearted bastard—he was no better than a stranger.

"Mom, just focus on getting better. Melissa and I are fine. She'll come begging me by tonight. I'll be back to check on you another time," Michael said. He was eager to leave; he didn't want to waste any more time on his mother.

In his mind, all the dirty work was for Melissa to handle.

When Karina heard Michael was leaving, she quickly said, "Make sure Melissa doesn't send me that porridge again. I'm sick of it. Tell her to make me meatball stew and pumpkin cake tomorrow."

Michael just nodded, grabbed his coat, and headed out.

He knew his mom was a nightmare to deal with. Every day, she'd make Melissa jump through hoops, and she refused to eat the food from the cafeteria. Thus, Melissa had to cook for her and bring the meals to her from home every day.

*****

After leaving the Wellness Center, Melissa missed the bus back to the city. Feeling down, she decided to call her adopted son, Victor, to tell him she wouldn't be making lunch today, so he and Mia could sort it out on their own.

But after several calls, no one picked up.

Just then, Melissa's best friend April Adams called. She'd sprained her ankle and couldn't get to the hospital alone. She asked Melissa to come with her.

Now, hospitals were especially unfriendly to middle-aged folks like them, so neither Melissa nor April knew how to make appointments online. The only choice was to show up in person, wait in line, get checked, and pick up prescriptions.

After all the hassle, April was exhausted and out of breath. She collapsed onto one of the benches, grumbling non-stop, "Missy, I don't know what I'd do without you."

Melissa looked at her friend, her heart full of sympathy. "Did Peter do this to you?"

April hung her head, pouting. "Yeah, every time he drinks, he turns the house into a circus."

Melissa's eyes softened with concern. She then asked in a tentative tone, "Haven't you thought about divorcing him?"

April's situation was worse than Melissa's. Her husband, a chronic drinker and gambler, would take out all his frustration on April whenever he lost money. The neighbors used to show some concern at first, but after a while, they just got used to it and completely ignored April's sufferings.

"Come on, I'm 52, Melissa. What would the people in the village think? I've already spent half my life putting up with this. Another thirty years should be okay. Just suck it up and get through it," April said with a defeated look on her face.

Melissa sighed and started to pour out her grievances. "You know, Michael's been cheating on me. The woman's at least twenty years younger than him, and they've got a son."

"What?" April's eyes went wide in disbelief. "You two were the model couple among us old classmates... How could this happen?"

People always talked about midlife crises, but hearing it for herself, Melissa realized that no one was immune.

"So, what are you gonna do about it? Should I round up some friends and teach that shameless bitch a lesson?" April tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with a hint of hatred.

Melissa appreciated her friend's support, but she shook her head. For some reason, she wasn't as angry at the mistress as she was at Michael.

Taking a deep sigh, Melissa replied, "Forget it, hitting her won't fix anything. I'm just going to let them have each other."

April looked at Melissa like she was crazy, and she asked, "You're not mad at them? This is something we've gotta take public. Let's get Michael's name dragged through the mud at Drakoria University, and let him get what he deserves!"

"That's not my priority. I'll wait until after the divorce. The more I get, the more I can use to find Gavin. I'll use whatever I can to get the media on my side," Melissa said with a steely determination in her voice.

April nodded, took a deep sigh, and comforted Melissa, "Just don't let it break you, okay? A man like that ain't worth your tears."

Melissa forced a smile but didn't say anything.

Truth be told, the love between her and Michael had been gone for a long time. After their thirty years of marriage, what remained wasn't love but some hollow form of family obligation.

Their relationship had been more about duty than anything else, and love had probably died twenty years ago.

A lot of things were just too hard to talk about, especially for middle-aged people.

For example, they hadn't had sex in over a decade. Every time she brought it up to Michael, he'd shut her down with some dismissive comment, telling her not to hold onto such things at their age.

Over time, Melissa pushed her own needs and desires deep down. She buried them so far that they barely even mattered anymore.

Now, she realized that Michael didn't want her because she was too old and unattractive. He probably even found her repulsive. But who could she even talk to about it? If she did, people would just laugh at her and call her shameless.

Her needs could be ignored, but Michael's certainly could not, and that was the problem.

Society was weirdly forgiving of men. If a man betrayed his wife, the outsiders would think it was his wife's fault. They would find the man a reasonable excuse that he had needs, and his wife couldn't satisfy him anymore. It was unfair.

But Melissa didn't want to dwell on it. She looked back at her life and, for the first time, felt a sharp emptiness. Things she once thought were meaningful now seemed ridiculous. She felt like some poor, foolish clown, who had wasted half of her life.

"I've got twenty, maybe thirty years left. From now on, I'm living for myself," Melissa said with determination while looking at April.

She gave her friend's shoulder a comforting pat and encouraged her. "You too, my best friend."

April didn't answer right away. She just looked at Melissa, her eyes full of understanding. She wanted out of her marriage too, but she just didn't have the guts to make the leap.

*****

To avoid further interaction between April and her husband, Melissa took a taxi and sent April to her daughter's place. After making sure April was settled in at her daughter's house, Melissa finally headed back to her own place.

When she checked her phone, she saw 26 missed calls. Two were from telemarketers, two from Mia, four from Victor, and the rest were all from Michael.

The most recent message was from him: [Mom wants meatball stew and pumpkin cake tomorrow. If you need more cash for household expenses, I'll send you $1,500 later.]

Seeing the message, Melissa couldn't help but laugh in frustration. She scoffed in her mind, 'His tone is so smug, as if he truly believes I won't go through with the divorce. He really thinks that it was just something I said in the heat of the moment?'

She didn't bother replying. Instead, she walked straight to the bedroom.

This apartment they were living in was provided by Michael's university when they married, and they'd been living here for almost twenty years now. It had been renovated once, but still, the ceilings would sometimes mold, the wallpaper peeled, and the wooden floors creaked.

To outsiders, Michael was the perfect picture of a professor and a humble man who didn't live a flashy life. Melissa had always bought into this image. She thought her husband was noble and virtuous.

But the moment she overheard him talking about buying a house for his mistress that cost 1.5 million dollars, she realized that the tough times she had been enduring were just hers to suffer.

Melissa noticed Michael's dirty clothes and socks on the sofa. In the past, she would always wash his things by hand, because Michael insisted his clothes were expensive, and the washing machine would ruin them. For years, she had washed his clothes by hand, through all kinds of weather.

Back when money was tight, they couldn't even afford to heat water in winter, so her hands would freeze while scrubbing his clothes. By the time spring came, her hands would be swollen and sore.

Looking at the pile of dirty laundry now, she realized just how much she had pampered him. She had spent decades tolerating the endless suffering life threw at her, but not anymore.

Without a second thought, she ignored the pile of clothes and walked to the walk-in closet to pack her things.

*****

The next morning, Michael returned home and went about his usual routine. After washing up, he walked into the kitchen and glanced over at Melissa, who was busy making breakfast.

He couldn't help but smirk to himself, thinking, 'She was just threatening to divorce me yesterday, and now she's cooking breakfast for us.'

He saw the pumpkin cake in the oven, something his mother loved, and then noticed the meatball stew was already done.

He thought to himself, "I knew it. Melissa's spineless. She can't live without me. I'm an honored professor at Drakoria University—men like me are practically one in a million. If she actually leaves, she'll never find anyone better than me."

As he watched her hustle around the kitchen, his mood softened a bit. Since she'd already backed down, he didn't want to appear too stingy.

Michael broke the ice and said, "You remember that two-hundred-dollar dress you liked? You can have Mia take you to buy it later. I'll take breakfast over to Mom."

Melissa couldn't help but laugh at his tone—he sounded so generous. She inwardly scoffed, 'Buy a Chanel for the mistress, but I get stuck with a two-hundred-dollar dress? And he expects me to thank him? That's ridiculous.'

"Are you still mad at me?" Michael asked. Noticing her silence, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "You're my wife, Melissa. Sara's just a mistress.

"In ancient times, you'd be the matriarch, and she'd be nothing more than a concubine. Don't worry, you're still the most important woman in the Moore family."

Melissa grimaced at his self-righteous words and scoffed in her mind, 'For a university professor, he is trying to brainwash me with some outdated nonsense.'

"Let's go to the courthouse to file for divorce after breakfast," Melissa said, her voice firm.

Michael raised his eyebrows in surprise and asked, "You're serious? You really want a divorce?"

Chapter 3 Persuade Melissa To Stay

"Yeah, I'm serious about it," Melissa said, her tone calm, almost flat.

Years of dealing with Karina's constant bickering and the relentless grind of family drama had worn her down. Even after being betrayed by her husband, she was still able to keep her composure.

She took the pumpkin cake out of the oven and set the single serving of meatball stew on the table.

Michael watched her dig in and asked with a frown, "Isn't this for my mom? Why are you eating it?"

"Am I not allowed to eat it?" Melissa looked up from her plate with a slight smirk on her lips. "We're getting a divorce, and you expect me to keep cooking for your mother? Am I out of my mind?"

"Fine, anyway." Michael's face twisted with frustration, his chest rising and falling with barely contained anger.

But he didn't argue. He always used the silent treatment as a weapon. Whenever they fought, he'd just give her the cold shoulder, and she would always back down. After thirty years, he knew her too well.

Michael thought to himself, 'But this time, she's really pushing it. When she comes crawling back, I'll make sure she knows who's the boss.'

He stormed around the kitchen for a minute, flinging open cupboards and checking the pots to confirm if Melissa really hadn't made his breakfast. Finding that she hadn't, he slammed the cupboard shut and stormed out.

'As if I really want the food made by her. After thirty years of that bland stuff, I'm sick of it!' Michael muttered in his mind.

Melissa, on the other hand, savored her breakfast, feeling a strange peace. She used to be too self-sacrificial and never allowed herself to enjoy the good things. She always gave the best things to that ungrateful old woman. Thinking of that, she couldn't help feeling sorry for herself.

Seeing Michael grabbed his coat and was ready to leave, Melissa instantly said to remind him, "See you at the courthouse at 9 o'clock."

Michael didn't respond, his jaw tight, and he slammed the door on his way out, using it to vent his frustration.

Melissa wasn't scared at all. She'd seen this routine a thousand times—he'd reserve all his bad moods for her, acting like the world owed him something.

In the past, she'd always been the one to apologize, the one to smooth things over. Even Melissa wanted to call her previous self a fool.

*****

Michael came to the Wellness Center with a box of meatball stew and pumpkin cake he bought in the restaurant, yet he claimed it was cooked by Melissa.

Karina took a few bites and immediately started complaining, "This isn't right. She didn't put any effort into this, huh? She's just half-assing it. Michael, you need to get tough with her. Cut down her allowance, and she'll fall in line."

Michael, clearly annoyed, took a drag from his cigarette but said nothing.

Karina's voice got louder. "If it weren't for your reputation, I'd have asked you to divorce her a long time ago."

"Divorce? She can't survive without me," Michael said, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Mom, you should be responsible for Gavin's missing, and you've been blaming Melissa for it. Honestly, I have feelings for her. Even if I have other women, I won't let her go."

Karina's face immediately darkened, and she put her finger to her lips, hushing him.

The next moment, she dramatically burst into fake tears. "I lost him, and what do you want me to do? Will killing myself make you feel better? Fine, I'm better off dead anyway. I'm just a burden to you both."

She dramatically moved toward the edge of the bed, trying to throw herself off the bed.

Michael, realizing his mother was about to make another scene, rushed over and caught her before she could fall. "Mom, that's not what I meant. Please, don't get upset. Stay calm, okay?"

After a few minutes of soothing her, Karina finally settled down. She leaned against the bed to wipe her tears.

"Gavin is missing. What's the point in blaming anyone now?" Michael continued, trying to calm her down.

Just then, Michael's phone buzzed, and his mood lifted when he saw it was Melissa calling. He answered with a sense of superiority, "Changed your mind, huh? Realized your mistake?"

"I'm already at the courthouse. Where are you?" Melissa stood in front of the imposing building. She scanned around but didn't see Michael.

Upon hearing her mention the divorce, Michael immediately got frustrated, and he snapped, "I've got a meeting this morning. I'm busy."

Without giving Melissa a chance to respond, he hung up.

Melissa heard the dial tone on the other end and quickly redialed. This time, the call didn't even go through.

*****

The divorce didn't go through, so Melissa headed back home. Just as she reached for her keys, she heard the door opening from the inside. It was Michael's sister, Heather Moore. She was in her forties, still unmarried, and still lived off her family.

Melissa had always been patient with Heather because of Michael, but today, she wasn't in the mood for any of it.

"Mom, Melissa's back," Heather said, looking over her shoulder.

Melissa stepped inside and saw a bunch of relatives gathered in the living room. They all stood up, greeting her with stiff smiles.

"Oh, Melissa, you're back."

"Missy, let us handle lunch today. You can take a break."

"Look, every man messes around. But Michael's not like the others. He's just trying to keep the Moore family name alive by having other women. You really can't blame him for that."

"Yeah, if he didn't care about you, he'd have brought Sara and the kid home years ago. He's kept them hidden for your sake."

"I can tell you've been sleeping in separate rooms for a while now. At our age, we all understand. Whether your husband's got someone else or not doesn't matter as long as he still gives you money and takes care of the family, right?"

The relatives went on and on, all trying to play the role of peacekeeper, begging Melissa to be patient and not go through with the divorce.

If this had been a few years ago, Melissa might have been moved by their words, but now, she was crystal clear on what was going on.

The Moore family didn't want her to leave because they didn't want Michael's reputation tarnished, and frankly, they didn't want to lose their free live-in maid. After all, no one would take care of Karina if she left.

"Enough, everyone. I'm getting a divorce from Michael, and that's final. Let's part on good terms," Melissa said coolly, her voice steady.

As soon as the words left her mouth, the room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Everyone exchanged looks, unsure of how to react. Finally, their eyes landed on Karina, who was sitting in her wheelchair.

Karina had stayed quiet up to that point. If it had been any other time, she would have ripped into Melissa with her usual venom. But with relatives around, she kept herself in check.

"I know what you're upset about," Karina said, trying to sound reasonable. "It's because Michael wants to buy a townhouse for Sara and Julian. If you move in with us, the house will be in Michael's name, just to be fair. How about that?"

"That sounds good," someone chimed in. "As long as Sara's name isn't on it, then it's a joint asset. Melissa, you won't have anything to worry about then."

Others nodded in agreement, thinking they had found a perfect compromise.

Melissa, however, couldn't help but laugh. She scoffed inwardly, 'Are they serious? They want me to take care of a bitter old woman and then look after the mistress and her kid? Do they think I'm a doormat?'

"Michael betrayed our marriage. He's no longer faithful, and I can't live with him like this. Divorce is the only way out," Melissa said calmly, taking a deep breath.

The room went dead silent. Everyone stared at Melissa with their eyes wide, unsure of what to say. They complained in their minds, 'What the hell is Melissa thinking? We tried to convince her and to appeal to her sense of duty, but it's all for nothing.'

It was Heather, of all people, who lost her cool first. She stormed up, her face dark with anger. "Oh, you want to divorce Michael, huh? How are you going to make up for losing Michael's child, huh?

"You owe our family an heir, and you think you can just leave?"

Chapter 4 Bring The Mistress Along

Hearing Heather's words, the relatives couldn't help but snicker. Everyone knew Melissa had lost her ability to have children years ago.

In more traditional areas, a woman like her would have been kicked out of the house. They thought they were already being generous by tolerating her.

"Heather, don't push Melissa. If she could have kids, she would have by now. It's not like she didn't want to. She just can't," one of the relatives interjected.

"Exactly," another chimed in.

"If she can't have kids, then she shouldn't even think about leaving!" Heather declared, puffing out her chest, trying to play the tough guy. She knew full well Melissa wouldn't do anything in front of so many people.

"You guys are going too far! How can you talk like that to Missy?" April barged in just as the shouting reached its peak.

April had worried that Karina would give Melissa a hard time and decided to check in on her. When April heard the mocking voices, she was nearly in tears.

April knew how much infertility had tortured Melissa over the years. It had been a constant source of emotional pain, and the insensitive comments just made it worse.

"Missy, don't put their words to heart. Let's go," April said while linking her arm with Melissa's, ready to whisk her away.

But before they could leave, Heather stepped forward and blocked their way. "What are you doing here? This is our family business, stay out of it."

She raised her eyebrows and glared at Melissa, trying to intimidate her. "So, are you still going through with the divorce, or are you going to make nice with my brother?"

April looked around at those people, each of whom was glaring at them like hungry wolves. She felt so sorry for Melissa.

April complained in her mind, 'These people are unbelievable, using their numbers to pressure Missy. Are they really trying to force her into submission? If Missy says no, will they fight with her? Especially Heather, she's no saint.'

"Heather, you want me to pay you back for everything, huh?" Melissa raised her eyebrows, not backing down.

Heather stuck her chin out defiantly and replied, "Yeah, you owe us."

"And what about things you owe me?" Melissa sneered, using her fingers to count. "When I married Michael, my family gave me two gold bracelets. You said I should do housework, so I left them off. But guess what? You took them both.

"Also, remember when you went to college? Karina and Michael couldn't afford it, so I used my money to pay your tuition. Do you want me to calculate how much the bracelets and the yearly 700 dollars tuition back then are worth now?"

Hearing Melissa bring up the past, Karina immediately bristled. She shot back, "You gave the bracelets and paid the tuition willingly. You can't just take them back."

"Yeah, you gave them because you wanted to. I never forced you," Heather muttered, clearly uncomfortable with where this conversation was headed.

Melissa scoffed, "You guys really have short memories, don't you? Uncle Samuel was worried I'd get screwed over, so he made Heather sign an IOU. I still have it."

Heather's face turned stiff, and she retorted, "That was ages ago. It doesn't have any legal standing now."

Heather was determined to argue with Melissa. It was impossible for her to repay the money to Melissa.

"Fine, you don't want to pay up? I'll have Uncle Samuel settle this," Melissa said calmly, knowing Heather would try to dodge it.

Glancing at the others, she added, "Over all these years, Heather's been coming to me for money every couple of months, and I've been keeping it from Michael because you guys know how much he hates it when I help her."

"Oh, by the way," Melissa continued with a sly smile, "Remember that time Heather swiped Michael's cherished watch and sold it? I still have the security footage, in case anyone needs a reminder. Want me to tell Michael, or should I just call the cops?"

She waved her phone in front of them with a sneer.

The relationship between Michael and Heather had always been tense. Michael had always thought Heather, living off them, was a drain on the family, and he thought having such a sister embarrassed him.

Years ago, he tried to set Heather up with one of his colleagues, but Heather nearly ruined the guy by involving him in a pyramid scheme. After that, Michael had given up on her completely.

"You... Shut up!" Heather, always concerned with her reputation, could feel her face burning as Melissa aired her dirty laundry in front of everyone.

Karina had always turned a blind eye to her daughter's antics, keeping family problems behind closed doors. But now, Melissa had aired their dirty laundry in front of all the relatives, and it was too much for them to bear.

"I've packed my bags. I'm going back to my parents's house for a while. Once I'm divorced from Michael, I'll sell this house. You better find a place to stay as soon as possible." Melissa cut the conversation short and made her exit.

Without wasting any more energy, she walked into her bedroom and grabbed her suitcase. Walking out, she said loudly, "April, let's go."

*****

April was still in a daze. It wasn't until they were in the taxi that she snapped out of it. She clapped her hands and said, "Missy, you were amazing! How did you have the guts to talk to Karina like that?"

As far as April knew, most women in their generation didn't dare to talk back at home. All they did was care for elderly parents and look after kids and their spouses.

They had no voice of their own. April couldn't imagine ever standing up to her mother-in-law the way Melissa just had.

Melissa glanced down at her phone, typing a quick message to Michael, telling him to meet her at the Courthouse tomorrow. She even threatened if he didn't show up, she'd go straight to his university and cause a scene.

"What's amazing about that? Everyone's equal. We have the right to accuse anyone or anything of unfair," Melissa replied. "Plus, I'm divorcing Michael. Karina and I don't owe each other anything anymore. No need to be polite."

April sighed deeply and said, "Missy, seriously, why is it so hard for us women? Michael's the one who screwed up, but somehow, it feels like it's all on you. Like you're the one doing something wrong just because you want a divorce."

Melissa replied in a calm voice, "Once the divorce goes through, things won't be this hard anymore."

She knew that even if she had to work, even if it meant picking up several jobs, it'd be nothing compared to the emotional weight of living in the Moore family.

Not long after, Melissa's phone buzzed. She looked at the message from Michael, feeling surprised. He'd never responded to her messages almost instantly before.

The last time Melissa had asked him to come home when she was sick with a fever, it had taken him over five hours to reply.

By then, April had already taken Melissa to the hospital. If not for April, Melissa feared she'd have ended up with pneumonia.

Melissa complained plenty about Michael's slow responses, but he always came back with the same boring excuses: "I'm busy", "I didn't see it", or "Stop making a fuss".

Over time, Melissa stopped expecting much from him and got used to his delayed replies.

Melissa clicked open the message and saw Michael's reply: [I'm downstairs. Let's talk at home.]

She quickly replied: [See you at the Courthouse in an hour.]

An hour was plenty of time to get from their house to the Courthouse.

*****

This time, Michael didn't find another excuse to avoid the divorce. When Melissa arrived, Michael was already there, earlier than expected.

As Melissa and April got out of the taxi, they spotted Michael's black Range Rover parked right outside the Courthouse.

Melissa remembered when Michael had bought that car. He claimed they'd take road trips around the world. Yet she had only ridden in that car a few times. Instead, every day, she squeezed onto crowded buses or took unlicensed taxis to the Wellness Center.

As Melissa walked toward the car, Michael got out of the driver's seat and walked around to the passenger side.

Even in his fifties, he looked sharp in a jacket and dress pants, with glasses that gave him an air of elegance. He carried himself like a man of stature, confident and well-put-together.

It was unfair, really. They were the same age, but Michael looked much younger. Melissa couldn't help but bitterly smile at that thought.

Just then, the passenger door opened, and out stepped a young woman dressed in a high-end outfit.

The moment Melissa saw that woman, her eyes widened, and she thought, 'What's Michael gonna do? He even brought his mistress along?'

Chapter 5 Slap The Mistress

After Sara stepped out of the car, she suddenly seemed to remember something. She turned around, opened the back door, and pulled something out of the backseat.

Walking over to Melissa, Sara handed Melissa a delicately wrapped box and said,

"Melissa, this is a full set of skincare products Mike and I picked up for you in Zephyria. Mike said you're always taking care of Karina and never get a chance to look after yourself."

Melissa froze for a second, a sarcastic smile curling on her lips. "Heh, you even took her to Zephyria?" She stood her ground and didn't even bother to reach for the gift Sara offered.

Michael had promised Melissa so many times that he'd take her on a vacation. But during their thirty years together, aside from their honeymoon, they never once went on vacation together.

Every time Melissa asked about it, Michael would just say he was too busy with work.

"I see. You were busy spending time with your mistress." Melissa shook her head bitterly, laughing at her own naivety.

The more she knew, the more she regretted marrying Michael. She regretted all those years she'd given to a man who'd never appreciated it.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. It's pointless now." Melissa looked up, her gaze clear. "Let's hurry up and file for the divorce."

Sara immediately grabbed Melissa's arm with unexpected sincerity.

"Melissa, just hear me out. I know I'm the one who came between you and Mike's marriage. I'm the one to blame. So I'm not asking for any status or title. Honestly, this situation, as it is, is fine with me."

Michael didn't speak, but he looked at Sara with such a tender expression, as if he was saying, 'See? Sara is so thoughtful.'

Melissa was stunned upon hearing Sara's comment. She thought Michael and Karina were shameless enough, but now she realized that the mistress had them both beaten in the shamelessness department.

She couldn't help but think to herself, 'She doesn't want to marry Michael? Then what does such a young girl want with a middle-aged guy?'

"Mike and I are truly in love," Sara said softly, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.

Melissa couldn't help but laugh. "If you two are really in love, then I should just help you out. Michael, be a real man and finalize the divorce now!"

Michael replied with a frown, "Missy, do you still not get it? I brought Sara here to show you that she's not going to fight with you. You don't have to worry about losing everything you have now."

Sara nodded and echoed, "Yeah, Missy, things will stay the same. Nothing will change. Mike will be with you for 20 days a month and with me for the rest of the 10 days. Everything will be just like before."

Michael cut in, "Ten days? That's not gonna work. To be honest, Melissa and I have been sleeping in separate rooms for years. We're practically just family now."

"No, there's no change. It needs to stay the same," Sara interjected.

Watching their rehearsed show, Melissa was utterly dumbfounded. She almost burst out laughing from sheer anger.

She'd seen shameless people before, but Michael and Sara? They were on another level entirely. She scoffed in her mind, 'Two women sharing one man? What the hell does Michael think he is? He doesn't deserve this!'

"You guys make me sick," Melissa muttered, rubbing her chest. Her stomach was really turning from this whole scene.

"Do you dare to say all this in front of everyone? Michael, would you dare say this in front of your students?" Melissa raised her voice, glaring at him.

Michael's face turned red with anger, and he snapped, "Melissa, don't push me! We're doing this for your own good! You want to drag things out and destroy everything?

"What's divorce gonna do for you? At your age, how are you going to survive on your own? I don't want to end up with a reputation of abandoning my wife!"

"Yeah, Missy, I know it's hard for you to accept me right now, but that's okay. Time will heal everything. Once you get to know me, you'll see I'm not so bad," Sara said, trying to be all patient and understanding.

With a gentle smile, she added, "Mike really wants the best for you. You've been a stay-at-home wife for almost thirty years, but do you even know how hard women's careers are at your age?

"The job you can do is cleaning toilets. Why bother with that when you can live the high life as a professor's wife and enjoy all the perks?"

Melissa's patience snapped, and she replied with a harsh tone, "You can have the title of the so-called professor's wife. I don't give a damn!"

It was clear as day that Sara was hinting at how Melissa was living it up in the Moore family. However, that wasn't the case at all. She was basically a free live-in maid.

"Even if I have to make a living as a cleaner, at least I'm getting paid," Melissa shot back while glaring at Michael. "But you can ask Michael if he ever pays me a penny for taking care of his family?"

Michael's face turned grim in an instant. "Melissa, you're impossible!"

"Who's impossible here? You are a professor. Do you think what you just said is proper?" April couldn't take it anymore and retorted. She had been quiet up until then, but seeing her best friend getting bullied by the scumbag and his mistress made her snap.

"The world has really gone crazy. Divorce is harder than climbing a mountain, and this piece of work has the guts to bring his mistress to pressure his wife?" April added.

"Shut up!" Michael's face was turning red from anger. After all, the professor valued his reputation very much.

April's words drew much attention, and when a couple of passersby turned their heads, Michael's face looked like it might explode.

Sara quickly stepped in, trying to smooth things over. "Mike always says Melissa is such a good woman. I bet it was your influence that pushed her to file a divorce, right?"

Sara didn't believe someone who had been playing a humble role in a marriage for nearly thirty years could just change so fast.

"Yeah, it's her," Michael spat, glaring at Melissa. "I've told you so many times not to hang around with people like her. She has less education and is just full of grievances. Her husband drinks and gambles; she's no saint either."

"Michael, watch your mouth!" Melissa shouted. She could take a lot of insults, but messing with her friends, especially her best friend, was where she drew the line.

"Look at you, you're the one who's causing Mike and Melissa to argue!" Sara pushed April from behind with a force that made her stumble.

April had hurt her foot the day before, so she lost her balance and fell straight to the ground.

"Ow!" April yelped, instinctively trying to catch herself. Her hands hit the ground, and her palms were covered in dirt and little pebbles, with blood oozing from several spots.

Melissa turned just in time to see what had happened, her anger flaring. She stared at Sara and asked, "Did you just push her?"

"No, I... I just gave her a light push... She probably tripped on purpose..." Sara quickly backed away, hiding behind Michael.

Michael stepped in front of Melissa to play the hero and protect his beloved. "April's strong enough. Sara couldn't have pushed her. What's the matter with you, Melissa?"

Melissa wasn't listening. She was sure the mistress had just shoved her best friend, and she wasn't going to let that slide.

Seeing that Melissa wouldn't let it go, Michael raised his voice, trying to intimidate her. "I'm right here. Do you dare to lay a finger on Sara?"

Michael's protective threats left Melissa frozen, and she stared at him in surprise. In her mind, she muttered, 'Is this really my husband? The man I've shared a bed with for thirty years is playing the knight in shining armor against me for the other woman?'

She felt a sharp pain in her heart that stole the breath from her chest. She let out a bitter laugh and said, "Well, let's see what happens then."

Melissa had spent years doing tough work, so she had pretty impressive strength. Michael, on the other hand, had lived a pampered life. He was no match for her strength.

With a swift motion, Melissa grabbed Michael's arm and pushed him aside, and he stumbled, caught off guard. He had no idea she could be so strong.

Without even looking at him, Melissa raised her hand high and slapped Sara across the face with all the force she could muster. The sound of it echoed in the air.

Chapter 6 Different Melissa

Sara was completely caught off guard by the sudden slap. She was so stunned that she froze for a moment, unsure of how to react.

Melissa, however, wasn't done. With fury blazing in her eyes, she raised her hand again and slapped Sara even harder than before. The sharp crack echoed in the air, as if it carried all of her pent-up anger.

Just as Melissa was about to throw a third slap, Michael charged in like a storm and grabbed her wrist. His grip was iron, his voice cold and cutting.

"Enough! Melissa, what's gotten into you? Since when did you start acting like some street brawler? You're embarrassing me and completely beneath yourself!"

Michael prided himself on being the ultimate gentleman who always preached about respect and dignity. He expected Melissa to be the model of propriety, a reflection of his supposed superiority.

"Clearly, your behavior is my failure," he added with a patronizing sigh, his expression twisted with disappointment. "Looks like I need to teach you some discipline myself." Without hesitation, he raised his hand, ready to slap Melissa.

But Melissa didn't give him the chance. Before his palm could descend, she struck first.

The slap landed with a fiery sting that left Michael's face burning. For a moment, he stood rooted in place, dumbfounded. His voice shook with disbelief. "Have you completely lost your mind? You actually dare hit me?"

In Michael's world, men ruled women. The idea of a wife daring to hit her husband was outrageous. To him, it was like the world had flipped upside down.

Melissa's glare cut through him like a blade. Her voice was razor-sharp, laced with warning. "Michael Moore, listen, if you or your mistress dare to hurt April again, I'll break the both of you. Don't test me."

Melissa wasn't bluffing. The apartment they lived in had no elevators, and the delivery guys always asked for extra money to deliver heavy stuff upstairs. To save money, Melissa had been doing such tough jobs herself.

Years of hauling groceries, water, and anything else up five flights of stairs in their ancient walk-up had built her great strength.

Michael stared at Melissa like she was a stranger, not the mild-mannered housewife he thought he'd married.

This wasn't the woman who quietly took his scolding and shrugged off his cruelty. This Melissa was fierce, commanding, like a lioness protecting her pride. And he had no idea since when she became like this.

"Mike..." Sara's soft voice broke the tension. She tugged on Michael's arm gently, her tone placating. "Let's talk about this another time, okay? She's angry. We'll talk to her when she's cooled off."

Michael hesitated, torn between pride and self-preservation. His cheek still throbbed from Melissa's slap, and deep down, he knew he didn't stand a chance against her right now. With a frustrated grunt, he finally relented.

"Fine," he spat, glaring at Melissa one last time. Then he turned on his heels, threw his arm around Sara's shoulders, and left.

Back in the car, Sara reached into her Hermes bag and pulled out a soft wipe, gently dabbing at the swelling on Michael's cheek. Her movements were tender, almost motherly.

"Don't take it to heart," she murmured, her voice soothing. "Melissa's just upset. I mean, who wouldn't be in her shoes? But I didn't realize she could hit like that. You didn't even have time to react."

Michael's expression turned gloomy, and he muttered in anger, "She's absolutely savage."

He'd always considered himself the one in charge, the one doling out punishments, not taking them. Being slapped by his wife was a humiliation he couldn't bear.

"Can't believe she did this to me after everything I've done for her. She's so ungrateful. If I weren't worried about her making a scene, I'd have divorced her ages ago." His voice was bitter, the words dripping with resentment.

Sara's lips curved into a small smile, and she leaned closer, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Mike, don't stress about it. Hey, I've got some news that'll definitely cheer you up."

"What news?" Michael's frown lingered, though his curiosity flickered.

Sara leaned in, her voice playful as she whispered in his ear, "You're going to have another child."

Michael froze for a moment, and the anger melted off his face. Then his eyes widened in surprise. "Wait... Really?"

He almost immediately held Sara in his arms. If it weren't for the limited space in the car, he would have locked her in his embrace and kissed her for a long while.

Sara nodded with a mischievous twinkling in her eye. "It's been four weeks. Let's hope it's a girl this time."

"You're incredible, Sara." Michael's face broke into a wide grin, and he continued, "I'm really lucky to have you. I'll make sure you and the baby have everything you deserve."

After a pause, Michael's brow furrowed slightly, as if he was already planning ahead. "Your mom's health isn't great. I'll need to find someone reliable to take care of you this time."

Sara tilted her head and winked at him. "What, like a fancy maternity center?"

"Obviously, but I'm thinking we'll also hire a personal nanny. Someone who can stay close and handle the little things to make sure everything's perfect," Michael said, lost in his thoughts.

Sara leaned against Michael, her fingers absentmindedly fiddling with the zipper on his jacket. "But it will cost a bundle. I don't want you to waste too much money."

Sara smiled, though her mind was already racing. Deep down, she knew she couldn't count on anyone else, not Karina, not her ailing mother. She had an idea of a proper nanny candidate, but the time wasn't quite right to say it out loud.

For now, she leaned against Michael, letting him bask in his pride while quietly setting her own plans in motion.

Michael gently rubbed Sara's head, his tone warm and reassuring. "Let's have Melissa look after you. She took care of my mom for ten years. She's more attentive and capable than any nanny we could hire."

"Really? Would she agree?" Sara tilted her head up, pretending to hesitate, though a spark of delight flashed in her eyes.

Michael's suggestion lined up perfectly with her own thoughts. The idea of making Melissa, his legitimate wife, serve her, the mistress, was just too satisfying.

Michael said with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry. Melissa's all bark and no bite. Without me, she wouldn't survive. Just give her a few days, and she'll come crawling back, begging me for help."

"Okay, if you say so," Sara replied sweetly, hiding the glee bubbling up inside her.

*****

"April, are you okay?" Melissa's voice was calm as she helped April to her feet while checking the scrapes on her palm.

"I'm fine," April muttered, but her eyes were red and brimming with tears. "Missy, I used to envy you. I thought you had it better than me. But now... it turns out your life isn't any easier.

"That jerk and his mistress are disgusting. Once you finalize the divorce and get your share of the money, we have to go to Michael's university and expose him. Make sure he's ruined. Trust me, they'll get what's coming."

Half an hour later, April followed Melissa to her childhood home. The place was quiet, almost too quiet, with an air of loneliness that hung heavy in the empty rooms.

In the center of the living room, a family portrait was displayed, capturing a moment from decades ago. April stood in front of the portrait, lost in thought.

Melissa had come from such a good family. Born in the '70s to two scientists, her parents had dedicated their lives to research. But a tragic lab accident had taken them both, leaving Melissa an orphan.

She was eventually adopted by a colleague of her parents, a man who never married and raised her like his own. Five years ago, he also passed away.

The family portrait was taken more than thirty years ago, back when Melissa was a bright-eyed teenager, her smile radiant and full of life. April realized it had been years since she'd seen Melissa smile like that.

Melissa practically came from a family of remarkable people. She'd even grown up surrounded by the admiration of her parents's peers, but life hadn't been kind. Now, at fifty, she was facing a broken marriage, no children, and a life of solitude.

Thinking of Melissa's tragic life, April couldn't hold back her tears.

Melissa returned with a bottle of iodine and some cotton swabs. When she saw April's tear-streaked face, she chuckled softly, her voice lighthearted. "Come on, are you still the same little girl who cries over a scraped knee?"

"I'm not crying because of this," April muttered, pouting as she wiped her face. Her tears were for Melissa.

"Alright, then sit down and let me take care of it," Melissa said, dropping the subject. She settled onto the couch and motioned for April to join her.

April obediently sat down and stretched out her hands. "Missy, do you have any plans after the divorce?"

Melissa carefully dabbed the iodine onto April's palm, her movements precise. "I'm thinking of making some handmade crafts to sell."

She put on a faint smile, though her words carried a hint of self-deprecation. "It's funny, isn't it? My biological parents and adoptive father all worked on rockets and missiles, but I can only make little trinkets."

Back then, Melissa had gotten into a good university but gave it all up for love. Looking back now, she couldn't help but wonder where she'd be if she had finished her studies.

Maybe she could have followed in her parents's footsteps to be a great scientist. After being a housewife for thirty years, stepping back into society made her daunted. But despite her doubts, Melissa was determined to turn things around.

*****

Meanwhile, chaos reigned in the Moore family without Melissa at the helm. Dirty laundry and socks piled up, and no one cooked meals.

After two days of takeout, Karina started complaining. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and muttered about how unhealthy the food outside was.

Finally, she picked up her phone and called Michael. Her voice was sharp, filled with irritation.

"Mike, get Melissa back here right now to cook for me. I can't eat this garbage anymore. If I keep eating takeout, the next call you get will be the news of my death."

Chapter 7 Accusations From Her Son

"Mom, can you hold on for a couple more days? She's still upset," Michael said awkwardly, trying to keep his voice calm over the phone.

"Upset? Who does she think she is?" Karina shot back, her voice rising with indignation. "Mike, you see this, don't you? This is your fault. You've spoiled her rotten."

"Yes, it's all my fault," Michael mumbled, rubbing his temple. "Just hang in there a little longer, okay?"

Karina slammed the phone down in frustration, muttering under her breath, "Hang in there? I'm over seventy and still have to put up with this nonsense? Melissa is so ungrateful."

"Mom," Heather chimed in with a mischievous grin. "How about I take you to the Wellness Center? They provide three meals a day, no takeout required."

Karina rolled her eyes and replied, "I'm not going anywhere. The staff there can't hold a candle to Melissa. Go call Victor and tell him to drag his mother back home. I want her back to cook for me."

*****

Meanwhile, over at Melissa's place, she and April were in the kitchen preparing dinner. Being both seasoned homemakers, they moved in perfect sync, each knowing exactly what to do without saying a word.

In just half an hour, they had whipped up a feast with eight dishes beautifully placed on the table.

April grabbed a couple of beers, pouring generous glasses for herself and Melissa.

The two women had been friends for forty years, and they shared everything from marriage to heartbreak. Tonight, there was no shortage of things to talk about.

Melissa hadn't touched alcohol in decades. She used to have a great tolerance back in her youth. She could down eight beers without breaking a sweat.

But after marriage, she gave it up completely. Taking care of Karina and Michael left no room for indulgences like drinking.

Now, with the weight of expectations lifted—if only temporarily—Melissa raised her glass and said, "Here's to the past and to the future! Cheers!"

April chuckled, raising her glass to meet Melissa's with a solid clink.

Just as the two were about to take their first sip, the doorbell rang, loud and insistent, shattering the moment.

"Who the hell is that? What a killjoy," April grumbled, holding Melissa back as she got up. "Stay put. I'll get it."

Melissa shrugged and drained her glass in one go, savoring the moment of freedom. She reached for the bottle to pour herself another when April opened the door.

Victor barged in without so much as a greeting, his expression stern and accusatory. Mia followed close behind, offering a polite nod to April. "Hi, Mrs. Adams."

April nodded back, motioning toward the table. "You're just in time. We made plenty of food. Grab a seat and join us."

As April spoke, she walked toward the kitchen to get them some tableware.

But Victor wasn't interested in pleasantries. He stormed up to Melissa, his voice dripping with disapproval. "Grandma's starving at home, and you're here having a feast? Seriously?"

April stopped in her tracks, clearly annoyed. "Victor, is that how you talk to your mother? Do you have any idea what she's been through these past few days?"

Victor ignored her, grabbing Melissa's arm as if to drag her out. "Come on, let's go. You're going back to cook for Grandma right now."

Melissa, who'd had a couple of beers and was already feeling the weight of her suppressed grievances, yanked her arm free.

She had always doted on Victor, her adopted son, and poured all her love into him after losing her own son.

Over the years, she'd given him everything she could, never asking for anything in return. She even took care of Victor's wife as if she were her own daughter.

But her kindness had only made Victor take her for granted, and he even went so bold as to talk back and order his mother to do more.

Melissa slammed her glass down on the table with a loud thud. She had never lost her temper in front of Victor before, so Victor almost thought his adopted mother was a pushover who anyone could instruct.

For the first time, Melissa looked Victor straight in the eye, her tone sharp and unyielding. "Cook for her? Have her son and daughter died? Why can't they manage?"

Victor blinked his eyes, caught off guard by Melissa's retort. He wasn't used to Melissa standing up to him like this. "Aunt Heather doesn't cook. She's lazy and always has been. Dad is busy. Besides, a man like him doesn't belong in the kitchen."

Victor was a college student, and he always seemed to have his logic whenever he was in arguments with Melissa.

Melissa pressed her lips together, letting out a bitter laugh as she shook her head. "Her own son can't cook, so I must pick up the slack? You all think I'm easy to pick on? Do I deserve to be treated like a maid?"

She tilted her head slightly, lifting her eyes to Victor. Her gaze was cold and piercing.

Victor shifted uncomfortably, fumbling for an answer. "Isn't this... what women are supposed to do? Take care of the elders, raise the kids..."

"Oh, women are supposed to do it? Then why isn't Mia doing it? She married you, and she doesn't lift a finger around the house. Why don't I hear you complaining about her?" Melissa talked back in a harsh tone.

Victor bristled, his voice rising defensively. "Mia and you are completely different. She has a job and makes money, but you don't. If you don't even do the housework, who's supposed to support you?"

Sensing the tension escalating, Mia stepped forward, tugging at Victor's sleeve in an attempt to defuse things. "Melissa, I offered to cook for Grandma, but she didn't like it. She says no one's food tastes as good as yours."

Melissa couldn't help but chuckle. It wasn't the warm, pleased kind of laugh, but it was hollow, dry, and tired. She'd heard this kind of flattery too many times before. It used to work on her, but not anymore.

"I'm planning to divorce Michael," she said flatly, her voice devoid of emotion. "So don't expect me to look after his mother anymore."

"What?" Victor and Mia exclaimed in unison.

The room fell into stunned silence. Victor and Mia stared at Melissa, struggling to process what they'd just heard.

Melissa picked up her fork and waved April over. "Let's finish our meal. Forget about them."

April pouted, throwing Victor and Mia a glare before sitting back down.

Victor finally snapped out of his daze. He rubbed his temples like he was dealing with a rebellious teenager. "You're fighting with Dad again? Mom, aren't you a little too old to play these games? Divorce isn't some joke you can throw around. It's irresponsible.

Mia tried to play the peacekeeper. She tugged Victor's arm and said, "Melissa, Michael has a temper. Just let him blow off some steam.

"After all, it's just the usual little things—groceries, chores, and money. You've already spent decades putting up with him. What's a few more years matter? Don't let it get to you."

Melissa's heart twisted at Victor's words. People said sons rarely empathize with their mothers, and she'd always dismissed it as nonsense. But now, she believed it.

At least Mia's words were somewhat considerate, even if they missed the mark. Victor's, on the other hand, cut deep, and each syllable was like a dagger aimed straight at her heart.

Melissa's appetite disappeared completely. The eight delicious dishes they cooked earlier looked bland to her. She silently set down her fork, grabbed a beer, and cracked it open.

She chugged the whole bottle in one go and slammed it onto the table with a resounding thud.

She then looked up at Victor, her gaze calm but firm. "Your father cheated on me. He's been seeing someone twenty years younger. They already have a ten-year-old son."

Her voice was steady, and she looked emotionless, like she was reading out a weather report. "So tell me, Victor, am I supposed to keep tolerating this? Am I supposed to just sit there and pretend nothing happened?"

"What?" Mia's eyes widened in shock, and she darted to Victor as if hoping for an explanation.

Victor froze, his mind grinding to a halt as he tried to process this new information.

Both Victor and Mia had always assumed Michael's wealth and assets would one day be theirs. Victor, though adopted, had always been treated like Michael's own flesh and blood.

But now? A biological son suddenly entering the picture changed everything. The inheritance they'd counted on was suddenly at risk.

Victor stood there, slack-jawed, before his expression twisted into frustration. His voice rose, tinged with anger and desperation. "Mom, how many times have I told you to take better care of yourself, dress up, put on makeup, and maybe even lose a little weight?

"Dad is a professor. He's surrounded by young and pretty students all day long. Think about when he comes home and sees you... Can you really blame him for getting tired of you?

"I heard from Grandma that you and Dad haven't shared a bed in years. If you can't even meet his needs, can you really blame him for looking for someone else?"

Chapter 8 File For Divorce

"Victor, what nonsense are you even saying? Michael's the one who messed up, and now you're blaming your mom for it? What is wrong with you?"

April snapped, her anger boiling over. She got up and started shoving Victor toward the door. "Get out! Neither of you are welcome here!"

Victor stood firm, crossing his arms like a statue. "Mrs. Adams, this is our house. If anyone's leaving, it should be you."

April's mouth opened, but no words came out. She stood there, fuming, utterly speechless.

Melissa had enough of Victor's disrespect. Her voice was sharp and commanding as she yelled, "Victor, this is my parents's house. You get out!"

Victor frowned, confused. "Mom, do you even hear yourself?"

"I said get out!" Melissa stood up, pointing toward the door with a trembling hand.

Victor hissed through gritted teeth, "Crazy woman! No wonder Dad found someone else!"

With that parting shot, he stomped off.

Mia hesitated, looking back and forth between Melissa and Victor, unsure of what to do. After a few seconds, she said, "Melissa, please, don't take Victor seriously. He didn't mean it."

She let out a heavy sigh, knowing she couldn't stay. "Take care, Melissa." With an apologetic glance, she hurried after Victor.

The door closed with a resounding bang, leaving April and Melissa in an uncomfortable silence.

April clutched her chest, trying to calm herself down. "Missy, you've spoiled Victor for nothing. He's just like Michael. How did he turn out like this?"

Melissa felt an overwhelming wave of exhaustion. Her husband and son—one betrayed her, the other blamed her. Her decades of devotion, sacrifice, and care for them now felt like the punchline to some cruel joke.

She shook her head and said bitterly, "I'm done waiting. I'm looking for a lawyer tomorrow. I'm filing for divorce."

April's face tightened with concern, and she hesitated to say, "Lawsuits take forever. My niece went through one, and it dragged on for over two years before she finally got her divorce."

Melissa's expression didn't waver, "I can wait. Michael's the one who can't afford to drag this out. He's the one who cares about keeping up appearances. I've got nothing to lose."

Her eyes flashed with determination as she thought, "Thirty years of my life were spent in service to that family. They owe me, and I'll make sure every one of them pays."

*****

Victor, still nursing his bruised ego after being thrown out, had no way to explain himself to Karina. Fearing Michael's wrath, he spun the story to shift the blame onto Melissa.

Victor said in fury, "Grandma, Mia and I went over there, and Mom tore into us like you wouldn't believe. You know how she is. When she gets unreasonable, no one can stop her."

Heather, munching on a handful of popcorn nearby, scoffed, "Mom, Michael's got another woman now, doesn't he? Let her take care of you instead."

Karina pursed her lips in displeasure. "Michael probably won't let her do such tough work."

"Well, then there's nothing else to do. Guess you'll have to go back to the Wellness Center," Heather said, brushing off her hands. "Mom, I've got plans tonight with my girlfriends. Don't wait for me."

Before Karina could protest, Heather grabbed her bag and walked out.

Heather spent most of her days aimlessly killing time, her nights filled with partying and bar-hopping. She often came home drunk, stumbling in at dawn.

Both Karina and Michael had tried to intervene before, but Heather refused to listen and even doubled down on her bad behavior instead. Her antics had even escalated to fights and public scenes.

Melissa had always been the one to clean up after Heather's messes, while Michael kept his distance, terrified that Heather's scandals might tarnish his reputation.

"Have fun, Aunt Heather," Mia said with a cheerful smile, waving as Heather left.

Heather shot her a wink and said, "Thank you for taking care of her."

Karina sat in her wheelchair, seething. Unable to rein in Heather, she directed her anger at Melissa instead. "That wretched woman! She won't stop until this family is in shambles!"

*****

At 1:00 a.m., Melissa was jolted awake by the relentless buzzing of her phone.

She never muted her phone at night, which was a habit born from years of worrying about Karina's health and waiting for emergency calls from the Wellness Center. Even now, with everything that had happened, it was a hard habit to break.

Squinting at the screen, she saw Michael's name flashing. She didn't answer. Instead, she hit decline and immediately set her phone to silent.

Turning over, she closed her eyes, hoping for a few more hours of peace. But just as she drifted off, an urgent, heavy pounding rattled her front door, shattering the stillness of the night.

The loud banging on the door shattered the silence of the night, waking not just Melissa but her neighbors too. Someone from the neighboring unit yelled, "Who the hell is making all that noise at this hour?"

Melissa realized the knock was coming from her door. Her heart raced as she hurried to the kitchen to grab a knife just in case.

Peeking through the peephole, she saw Michael standing there, his face dark and stormy. Only then did her heart settle back into her chest.

She opened the door, glaring at him. "Seriously, Prof. Moore? Waking up the whole building in the middle of the night. What the hell are you doing?"

Michael's expression was ice-cold, and he radiated an almost suffocating chill. "My mom had stomach problems tonight. Victor and Mia rushed her to the hospital."

Michael's voice dropped to a growl, frustration etched into every word. "Melissa, whatever issues we have between us, don't take them out on Mom. Taking care of her is your responsibility. Ignoring her like this is just plain unfilial."

Melissa couldn't help it and burst out laughing. "Well, well, are you hearing yourself right now? You're a university professor, for God's sake.

"Even the law makes it clear that daughters-in-law have no legal obligation to care for their in-laws. That's your mother. Since you're such a sweet son, why don't you cook her meals and clean up her shit?"

"You—" Michael wanted to talk back, but the words caught in his throat.

He'd always seen Melissa as ignorant, someone who wouldn't dare argue back. Now here she was, quoting laws to him and flipping his logic on its head.

"And don't you have a mistress?" Melissa added, her tone sharp enough to cut. "Since you two are so in love, surely she wouldn't mind looking after your dear mother."

Michael's face flushed with anger, but his eyes darted to the side. He quickly stepped inside and shut the door, lowering his voice so the neighbors wouldn't overhear. "Sara can't do it."

Melissa raised her eyebrows, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Oh? Why not? What makes her so special? Is she a princess, and I'm just a maid?"

"She's pregnant," Michael snapped. "You want a pregnant woman taking care of an elderly person? Are you out of your mind?"

Melissa froze for a moment, caught off guard. She blinked, then let out a bitter laugh and shook her head. "Ah, so that's it."

"No wonder you've been so adamant about not finalizing the divorce. What's next, Michael? You planning to have me look after her while she's giving birth?"

Michael didn't deny it, and he admitted, "I've told you before. Sara's child is your child. You take care of her for a few months, and she'll raise a child who will one day look after you."

Melissa's expression turned icy. "Prof. Moore, do you even hear yourself? How can you say something so shameless? Is there a single ounce of dignity left in you?"

Her voice steadied as she continued, "I'm filing for divorce tomorrow. If you won't agree to a peaceful split, we'll let the courts decide."

"File for divorce?" Michael stared at Melissa, disbelief etched into every feature. He'd never expected Melissa to take things this far.

He muttered internally, 'She is just a housewife. What did she know about courts, lawsuits, or any of this?'

"You're abandoning your family, huh? You're throwing your thirty-year marriage away, right? Melissa, you're unbelievable." He scoffed, his frustration boiling over.

"Fine. You think I can't live without you? I didn't ask for a divorce because I didn't want you to end up old and alone, but if you're so eager to ruin everything, go ahead.

Let's file for divorce tomorrow. Let me make one thing clear—if you regret this later, don't come crying to me. You'll be on your own."

Melissa's voice was calm, almost disinterested. "What happens to me in the future doesn't concern you anymore."

Michael's hands clenched into fists. Her unbothered demeanor only fueled his rage. He snapped, "Good for you, stubborn woman. We'll see who's crying in the end!"

He stormed toward the door, yanked it open, and slammed it shut with enough force to rattle the walls.

Through the door, Melissa could hear his heavy footsteps echoing down the stairs—fast and loud, a clear sign of his temper.

Melissa let out a chuckle and shook her head. She didn't let his tantrum bother her.

The encounter had left her wide awake, though. Instead of tossing and turning in bed, she headed to her study.

Thirty years of her youth, her labor, and her love—those intangible things couldn't be reclaimed. But money? That was tangible, and the Moore family owed her plenty.

Every dime they owed her would be repaid. Not just Michael's earnings over the years, but every cent she'd poured into caring for his family.