Chapter 3

The moment Wendy stepped into the office, she saw Zane booking tickets.

She asked quickly, "Where's Caleb? And why are you booking tickets?"

"He's in the lounge. There's an urgent issue at one of the branch offices, and Mr. Hunt needs to go in person to handle it."

Before Zane could finish, Wendy had already taken out her passport and handed it to him.

"Book one for me too. I'm going with him."

Zane blinked, surprised. "What?"

Wendy looked at him like it was obvious. "What's wrong? Will you only do it if I get Caleb to tell you to?"

For the past six months, she followed Caleb wherever he went.

Zane thought about it, then nodded and took her passport. "Alright."

Wendy noticed the opened envelope. Whatever had been inside was already gone.

Her brows furrowed, her eyes sharp with suspicion.

A moment later, Caleb walked out of the lounge in a different suit. He carried his briefcase and headed out without stopping.

The folded resignation letter had been set casually on the edge of the bed. While he was packing, it had slipped to the floor.

-

While Melody was looking up pregnancy precautions online, a financial news alert popped up.

That was how she found out Caleb had gone abroad.

Right before the year-end rush, when the company was at its busiest, Caleb had left work behind and taken Wendy with him.

The media was already speculating. They said the two were about to get married and had gone overseas to prepare.

Over the past six months, there had been endless rumors about them.

Melody had never clicked on a single one because she had been avoiding it. It had been half a year. But a month ago, she still couldn't push Caleb away when she saw him and ended up sleeping with him.

So this time, she stopped avoiding it.

She was leaving anyway. Better to let it hurt now and be done with it.

She opened the article and zoomed in on the photos.

Caleb was dressed in a black suit, holding a pink suitcase. There was also a woman's handbag over his arm.

He stood outside a women's restroom, and it was obvious he was waiting for Wendy.

He was the head of Brighton Group, the eldest son and the sole heir of the Hunt family.

Any one of those titles was enough to make people look up to him.

A man who had never once looked at Melody directly was now waiting for someone outside a women's restroom in public.

Even though the photos were taken secretly, there wasn't a single bad angle.

He had striking features, and every photo of him looked effortlessly refined.

Even through the screen, Melody felt like she could still sense his presence.

She turned off her phone and rested her hand on her lower stomach, her eyes drifting to the small couch across the room.

After she got her marriage certificate with Caleb, she had come back here to pack her things.

She hadn't expected him to come pick her up. She had just finished a shower and was packing her things.

She was dressed lightly, her hair still damp, which made it hard for Caleb to control himself.

Right there, on that couch, they slept together for the second time.

That was the only time here, and the last.

Melody pressed her fingers to her lips and bit down lightly.

Her salary had always been high. Over the years, she had saved a good amount. Even if she didn't work for the next few years, it would be enough for her and the baby.

In the future, she would work hard to give her child a better life.

After waiting a few days, she started to feel restless.

Using work as an excuse, she went to headquarters to ask someone in HR about her resignation process.

But her timing was off. The HR department was in a year-end meeting that wouldn't end until noon.

There was still a pile of work waiting for her at the branch office. She couldn't stay and wait, so she turned to leave.

She had barely taken a step when someone grabbed her wrist.

"My darling sister-in-law! I finally found you!" Yvette Hunt called out softly and pulled her toward the stairwell, where the motion-sensor light flicked on.

Melody looked at the girl who was half a head taller than her and still leaning on her shoulder, acting spoiled.

"I've already divorced Caleb. Don't call me that anymore. We're about the same age, so just call me Mel."

Yvette was Caleb's younger sister, three years younger than him.

She had joined the company a year ago, starting from the bottom. Melody had helped her more than once, both openly and behind the scenes.

Yvette really liked her.

"Even if you're divorced, you're still my sister-in-law! Grandma and Grandpa have been talking about you for so long. Now that I've finally found you, I'm going to take leave and go home with you right now!"

Yvette was absolutely the type to do something like that.

Melody quickly grabbed her. "It's the busiest time of the year. Taking leave now will affect your evaluation."

"Melo— no, Mel, just come back with me, okay? Please?"

Melody couldn't refuse her.

"Then let's go tonight. Okay?"

There was almost nothing wrong with her marriage to Caleb, except that he didn't love her.

Caleb had suggested keeping the marriage private. She had assumed that even the Hunt family wouldn't know.

But right after they got the marriage certificate, he took her straight home.

Caleb's father had been very unhappy with him for making such a major decision without warning, but he didn't say much in the end.

His mother never accepted Melody, but she also never openly made things difficult for her. She simply kept her distance.

As for the elderly couple of the Hunt family, they genuinely liked her.

Every week, they would have a regular family dinner. Melody could always feel their warmth and care.

Now she was leaving, and she likely wouldn't come back again.

Before she left, she wanted to visit the old couple one last time and give them a proper goodbye.

After all, Caleb wouldn't be there.

"Really?" Yvette had called and messaged her many times before, trying to get her to come to the Hunt residence, but Melody had always refused.

"You're not lying to mess with me, right?"

Melody smiled and straightened the bow on Yvette's clothes. "When have I ever lied?"

The words had barely left her mouth when her heart tightened.

She had never lied before.

But she had told a huge lie to Caleb this time, and she would be as good as dead if he ever found out.

"Okay! I'll call Grandpa and Grandma right now!" Yvette said excitedly.

She was innocent and straightforward. It didn't occur to her that Melody going to the Hunt residence was inappropriate now that she and Caleb were divorced.

Maybe it was fine for just this one time.

On the way from headquarters back to her branch office, Melody passed a pastry shop and bought some of the pastries the elderly Hunt couple liked.

At seven in the evening, the city lights came on, and Hunt Manor stood bright and fully illuminated.

Dorothy Smith's furious voice echoed through the entire villa.

"That brat. He had a wife as good as you and didn't appreciate it. I'd like to see how he manages the rest of his life."

After the divorce, Caleb's grandmother Dorothy had already called Melody once just to tear into Caleb.

Now, sitting in Hunt Manor and hearing Dorothy still blame Caleb for everything, Melody felt a little uneasy.

"Grandma, the divorce was my idea," she said quickly.

Before the divorce, the two elders would sternly scold Caleb every time they came back to the manor. Whenever they showed Melody kindness, Caleb's parents would grow unhappy.

Now that they were divorced, the elderly couple was still defending her and scolding Caleb.

"If my brother treated you well, why would you divorce him?" Yvette said as she walked in with a fruit plate, chiming in without hesitation.

Melody shot her a look, trying to get the little troublemaker to quiet down.

Seeing Melody's discomfort, Edward Hunt changed the subject. "Mel, are you getting used to things at the branch office?"

"Yes," Melody nodded. "Grandpa, Grandma, don't worry about me. I'm doing fine."

Dorothy held her hand tightly. "You look thinner. Are you overworking yourself? Should we move you to another position? Same salary as general manager, but half the workload. And during the divorce, why didn't you take half of his assets?"

Anyone who didn't know better would think Dorothy was her real grandmother.

Half of Caleb's assets would have been enough for Melody to live comfortably for several lifetimes.

But the marriage was already over. After cursing Caleb for a bit, the elders shifted to talking about Melody's life, Yvette, and recent family stories.

They were in the middle of a cheerful conversation when the sound of a car engine suddenly came from the yard.

Melody glanced over and saw a familiar Bugatti come into view.