CHAPTER 393: CAN YOU KILL HER FOR ME?

"Goodness!" Aileen let go of Lola, looking at the latter with gleaming eyes. "Gosh. You should walk the runway. You should be there! How could you even be prettier than you already are?"

Lola chuckled. "Haha. I was looking for you since I came in."

"I had a lot of things to do back here — tsk." Aileen clicked her tongue and sighed heavily. Her face then lit up, smiling from ear to ear. "Oh, right. Do you know that Melissa Young was here?"

"Yeah, I saw."

Aileen chuckled as she hooked her arm around Lola’s as they walked away. "It feels good. That woman has never changed. She still thinks she’s better than everyone else. Ugh. Whenever I think about it, it makes me angry!"

Aileen continued on and on, leading Lola away to introduce her to some people. As they walked off, Derek stayed hidden behind one of the pillars. His eyes were wide, and his heart was pounding against his chest.

"Lola?" he breathed out, peeking out and checking where Aileen and Lola were headed. His eyes settled on Lola’s figure, gasping in shock. "That’s really her?"

His eyes shook, remembering all the times he had encountered that woman. First, at the airport. Derek froze as if someone had poured a bucketful of cold water over him. When he first met that woman, that was also the time Lola came back to Novera.

However, back then, Lola didn’t show up. Hence, he threw a huge tantrum because Lola ditched him.

Then, he met her in the hotel where the audition was ongoing. In the same hotel, he had seen Lola in that get-up with the man in a fish headmask. Thinking more about it, his breath hitched. It didn’t cross his mind until now, but the image of Atlas’ face just crossed him right now.

"That guy..." he gasped, his complexion turning pale. "He’s the same guy who..."

For a good minute, Derek just stood there frozen, remembering his first encounter with Atlas and how that man had taken him down. Slowly, his hands balled into tight fists until they trembled, and he clenched his teeth. His heart swelled with nothing but bitterness and dismay, glancing in the same direction Lola and Aileen had left.

"This is all... Melissa’s fault," he breathed out. "All of it is her fault."

Had it not been for Melissa, Derek and Lola’s engagement would’ve been pushed through. It would have been him standing beside Lola, and not Atlas. But Melissa had robbed him of that chance by manipulating him.

"Screw her!"

*****

Meanwhile...

Melissa wept in her car, her makeup already ruined from all the tears that had streamed down her face. Yet, she couldn’t stop herself from crying.

"I hate them..." she hiccuped. "I hate all of them."

But the anger in her chest was nothing compared to the humiliation she had to endure in front of everyone. She shouldn’t have come. Melissa should’ve listened to Jasmine instead of listening to this secret admirer, who turned out to be a bully.

"I hope all of them die."

*

*

*

*

Hours later in the Young Residence...

Jasmine just stepped out of the study when she saw a figure running up the stairs. Turning her head, her brows knitted as she caught Melissa’s figure briefly.

"Melissa, you’re back?" she called out, but like usual, Melissa didn’t answer. A shallow breath escaped her, checking the time.

Jasmine was not sure if Melissa was back too early or whether the event had ended. Thus, she followed Melissa until she reached her daughter’s bedroom. Unfortunately, the door was locked.

"Melissa," she called out once more. "Please, can we talk?"

Jasmine hummed and waited for Melissa’s answer.

"Dear, I know you feel like I was controlling you, but remember that I only have your best interest in mind," she leaned against the door and sighed heavily. "Your mother was born dirt poor with abusive parents, and growing up, I swore to love and cherish my child and not become those good-for-nothings."

She smiled very subtly. "Mom loves you, Melissa. And everything I do, all of it is for you. I know sometimes it sounds a little too much, but you’ll benefit from it anyway."

She waited for another minute, hoping her daughter would open the door for her. But even after a moment, Melissa still hadn’t opened it.

"Fine," Jasmine sighed heavily. "Once you’ve calmed down, then open the door. Though I hoped that the event helped even just a little. I wished for that from the bottom of my heart. Goodnight, sweetheart."

Jasmine reluctantly took a step back, keeping her eyes on the door in the hope that Melissa would open the door before she left. But even if she idled for another minute, there was no sign that Melissa would. Hence, she dragged her feet away, telling herself her daughter would go to her once she calmed down.

Little did Jasmine know, Melissa was just seated on the edge of the bed. Her empty eyes cast downward, and they were barely blinking. Her complexion was pale, and her smudged makeup couldn’t even hide it. Melissa didn’t even hear her mother’s words as her mind was blank from anything else.

"..."

When Melissa finally blinked, she reached for her phone and checked the news. As expected, there was already an article about tonight’s fiasco, and it was quickly picking up traction. But she didn’t even flinch or show any sign that it affected her.

Melissa left the tab and checked her contacts, scrolling through all of them until she finally saw the name she was looking for. Without a second hesitation, she called the number and placed it to her ear.

"Melissa?" came a voice from the other end of the line. "I didn’t know you’d call at this hour. Is everything okay, dear?"

She pursed her lips, listening to the caring voice on the other end of the line. "Uncle Mike."

"Yes, dear? I’m here. Sorry if I haven’t had time to spend some with you. Just a little busy. But don’t worry! I’ll definitely make some time soon! Just for you!"

"..." Melissa listened, but none of that mattered to her. "Uncle Mike, can you pick me up tonight?"

"Huh?"

"I might kill myself if you don’t," she whispered. "Please come... and don’t tell my mother. If you do, I’ll run away and then disappear forever."

*****

Mike hadn’t been that busy, but he was in the middle of something when Melissa called. After hearing her words, he dropped everything and rushed to her. He hadn’t been around for all of Melissa’s life, but whenever he was, he made sure she could rely on him.

When he arrived, Melissa was already outside the house. She jumped in, and he sped off. They drove in heavy silence with Melissa in the front passenger seat.

"I bought some things you like," he said, trying to break the quiet. "Bought them a while ago, but I was busy, so I never gave them to you. Some snacks are in the back. As for the rest, I haven’t sent them to your home yet."

Melissa didn’t answer.

Her silence made him glance at her. "If you don’t want them, do you want to eat somewhere else?"

Still no answer.

"Melissa," he sighed. "I’m worried about you. I can take you away from here so you can relax. But I need to know what’s going on."

For a long minute, she stayed silent. Then she finally looked at him.

"Uncle," she said, her voice weak and hollow. "I want to... end all of this pain."

The words tumbled out, and a tear fell down her cheek. "Everything’s falling apart—my engagement, my career, even our family. My life is ruined."

"The whole world hates me, and everyone who doesn’t know me judges me." She buried her face in her hands and sobbed. "I hate myself. I hate everything. I hate my life."

She cried until Mike began to panic. He slowed the car and pulled over to a safe spot. When they stopped, he turned to Melissa, eyes wide with worry.

"Melissa—" he reached out toward her back, then stopped before his fingers touched her. His mouth opened and closed; he didn’t know how to console her.

Mike might’ve been kind to her, but there were many things he’d never learned—comforting someone was one of them. He wasn’t sure what to do.

"I hate myself!" Melissa shouted through gritted teeth. "I don’t know what to do anymore! Nobody loves me anyway!"

Mike exhaled. "Melissa, that’s not true," he said quietly. "You are my world. You are my favorite. It’s not true that nobody loves you. We love you."

Melissa studied his face. Her lips trembled. "You do?"

"Of course," he said, forcing a smile. "Melissa, is that even a question? You’re like a daughter to me. I’d do anything to make you happy."

"What if someone’s death would make me happy?" To his shock, her next question came fast. Her teary eyes were empty. "Will you kill for me, then, Uncle?"

"Melissa—"

"Lola took everything from me," she whispered. The words made the hairs on his arms rise. "I want her dead, Uncle. Can you... kill her for me?"