CHAPTER 341: A REALIZATION

Melody sat there for a long moment, staring at the open door in a daze. How could this have happened?

A contract marriage?

She could hardly wrap her head around it. That couldn’t be right. Melanie would never agree to something like that... would she? And Adam, no matter how cold he had just been, didn’t strike her as someone who’d fake a marriage for show and for money.

But then again, that woman who had told her about Melanie sleeping with Adam for revenge seemed to be true. So, Adam really had been her brother in law and they had teamed up for revenge against Spencer.

Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself upright, wincing at the sting in her lower back. First thing, she needed to do was look for some medicine. Thankfully, as she opened the drawer next to the bed, she found a pain relief spray. As she did, her gaze fell on the other thing in the drawer. And she frowned. Condoms... If they were in a contract relationship and did not touch each other... why was this here?

She gave one last look at the condoms before closing the drawer. Spraying the medicine, she lay down and once again, her thoughts were a mess, trying to make sense of what to do now that Adam had made such a big revelation. Could he be lying? Or did Melanie and Adam live separate lives and Melanie had another lover?

Once the worst of it dulled, she finally had an idea. Since this was ’her’ room, she could snoop around in peace. Slowly, she sat up and then looked around the room, taking in the vanity table, bookshelves, the dresser near the balcony, etc

Everything was hers. Or rather, Melanie’s.

Melody moved slowly, closed the door to her room and even though her body still felt sore, she was intent on finding out the truth. If there was any lie in Adam’s words, she would find out after she had looked into Melanie’s things.. She walked towards the large wooden wardrobe across the room and carefully opened it, feeling her heart race. What if she was caught snooping?

As she looked back at the door that was closed still, she felt a bit of relief. Even if he did come in, she could just claim that she was taking out some loungewear.

But on opening it, she could only frown. Inside, rows of carefully arranged clothes greeted her. Designer dresses, skirts, silk blouses, all accroding to Melanie’s taste and nothing that she liked.. She touched a few pieces, letting her fingers glide over the fabrics, hoping she’d find something that would confirm what Adam had said was a lie.

But everything inside screamed Melanie. Not a single man’s clothing.

She checked the corners, looking for men’s clothes, an extra toothbrush tucked away, a tie maybe- anything that would hint that Adam had ever stayed in this room aBut there was nothing. Only heels neatly arranged on the bottom rack and matching handbags on the side shelves.

With a small frown, she turned away from the wardrobe and walked over to the vanity. The drawers were filled with makeup, skin creams, and perfume bottles—some used, some unopened—but all unmistakably feminine. No razors, no cologne, no cufflinks.

No Adam.

She checked the dresser next, then the bathroom. Everything inside belonged to Melanie only.

Nothing of Adam’s. Not even a towel that looked like it was his.

Melody sat down on the edge of the bed again, letting the disappointment sink in. So he hadn’t been lying, after all. This really was a contract marriage. A sham. A deal between two people. And for whatever reason, they had chosen to live separate lives while pretending to be the most loving couple in front of the public.

Melody scoffed. These two people deserved an Oscar for the show they were able to put up. No one, not even her, could ever have guessed that Adam who looked at Melanie as if he could not bear to take his eyes off her for a moment, actually hated Melanie in private and looked down on her.

If the marriage was fake... if he never truly touched Melanie... maybe she could be the one to make him want something real. Make him look. Make him want. Make him fall. A smile blossomed on her face. This actually made things easy for her.

She turned her head to look at the nightwear on the side. And smiled.

Melody ran her hand across the delicate lace of a dark red piece and then a short, sheer black robe. Her cheeks heated slightly, but her mind was made up.

She’d make him look twice at her. From what she knew of Melanie and how proud she was, she never would have attempted to seduce him. And he probably hated her for that. Which man did not like a proactive woman?

She picked out a deep emerald green nightdress and held it upto her body, before nodding in approval. The fabric was perfect. It was soft, nearly weightless, with thin straps and a low neckline. It would hug her figure, and it was bold without being desperate. This would do for tonight.

Melody changed quickly. As she slipped into the nightdress and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror again, she tilted her head. Hmm. She looked good. She doubted the real Melanie would ever have worn this...

Melody let her hair down and fluffed it a little, just enough to look effortlessly undone. Then, without bothering to throw on a robe, she stepped out of the room to get some water for herself.

Of course, she didn’t need water. What she needed was for him to see her.

And right on cue, as she walked past the living room, she caught sight of Adam seated on the couch, a file open in his lap, reading.

He looked up absently at the sound of movement and then seemed to freeze.

Melody didn’t slow her steps. She walked right past him, the green silk hugging her every curve, the lace trim catching the faint light of the chandelier above.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw it- his jaw tightened, his fingers clenching the armrest and smiled to herself.