Chapter 2

After the divorce agreement was signed, Melanie went to the hospital. On her way there, she stumbled upon Tracy's Instagram post.

It was a picture of an apartment.

On the pale green couch, Tracy had her bare legs resting on Raymond's lap and was flashing a peace sign at the camera.

The caption read, "I want to be part of your past as well."

Melanie was just a college junior when the Strickland family went bankrupt. Her father, Morris Strickland, couldn't accept what had happened and took his own life by jumping off a building.

Her mother, Bethany Adkins, was shoved down the stairs by debt collectors and left in a vegetative state.

In a single night, Melanie found herself abandoned by the world, left wandering the streets with only a few of her belongings.

On her third night sleeping in the hospital corridor, Raymond had a falling out with his family. After selling everything of value he owned, he appeared before her with 18 thousand dollars.

"Melanie, I'm homeless now, just like you. If you feel sorry for me, could you let me stay by your side?"

Melanie froze, then threw herself into Raymond's arms and cried her heart out while calling him a big dummy.

Flustered, Raymond quickly wiped her tears and smiled. "Yeah. When it comes to you, Melanie, I'll always be a big dummy."

They had rented a tiny apartment for six months with eight thousand dollars and used another three thousand dollars to make it feel like home.

Melanie would fumble her way through cooking to make Raymond's favorite spaghetti bolognese, whereas Raymond would grumble before scooping her into his arms, chiding her for walking around barefoot.

Even the proposal happened in that little apartment.

After regaining his status as the Johnson family heir, Raymond twirled Melanie around the room and vowed, "This place will always belong to you, Melanie."

Yet now, he had forgotten everything he had promised just because Tracy said she wanted to be part of his past.

Tears slid down Melanie's cheeks before they were wiped away swiftly.

Taking a deep breath, she left a comment under Tracy's post. "You can keep whatever I don't care for. They suit you just fine."

She refreshed the page, only for the post to disappear.

And just like that, Raymond's call came in, his tone furious and accusatory as he questioned, "Melanie Strickland, what in the world is wrong with you? You made Trace cry!

"I don't care where you are right now. Get over here and apologize to her right this second. If you don't, I won't be paying your mother's hospital bills anymore."

Upon hearing that, Melanie couldn't help scoffing.

Seven years ago, when she refused the Johnson family's help and insisted on paying Bethany's hospital bills herself, Raymond had grabbed her hand, his face red with anger, and exclaimed, "Melanie, she's my mom too!"

But now, just because Tracy had cried, he was threatening to cut off Bethany's medical care.

Holding the phone with a slight tremor, Melanie simply said, "Fine."

"What?" Raymond frowned, thinking he'd misheard.

Melanie drew in a steady breath before speaking calmly but firmly, "I can handle my mom's hospital bills myself."

Throughout her seven years in the Johnson family, Melanie had never stopped working.

Now, she was already a fairly well-known designer in the country. Even without the Johnsons, she could afford the hospital bills.

Raymond could be heard breathing hard on the other end before laughing in anger. "Fine. You've got guts—I'll give you that!"