Chapter 5

Melody instinctively tugged at her down jacket, covering her still-flat stomach.

"I did go to work. Maybe I'm just getting older, so I feel the cold more this year."

She walked over and sat down, quickly changing the subject. "Do you need me to use my laptop? I can go get it from the car."

"Use mine."

Caleb pushed his laptop toward her.

The screensaver was an old photo, showing the backs of a man and a woman.

Melody recognized him immediately. The man was Caleb, and the woman's figure resembled Wendy's very much.

She didn't react. She opened a file and started taking notes, her movements steady and mechanical.

At work, Melody and Caleb had always worked well together.

With just a glance from him, she knew which items to highlight for follow-up. With a small gesture, she would signal the speaker to wrap up and move on to the next.

Even after six months apart, that unspoken understanding was still there.

The tight line of Caleb's brows slowly eased.

Before he realized it, his focus shifted from the meeting to Melody.

Without her usual stiff office wear, her face stood out even more. She looked young and beautiful.

Her fingers were slender and pale, and they once tightly gripped the thin blanket...

The room was warm, but she hadn't taken off her jacket. A thin layer of sweat had formed on her smooth forehead. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her lashes fluttered every time she blinked.

Melody was the kind of woman who looked beautiful at first glance, and even more so the longer one looked.

Before he knew it, Caleb found himself staring.

The person on the other end of the meeting had already finished speaking, but he didn't respond.

Melody's fingers paused on the keyboard. She glanced at him briefly and met his eyes.

Her chest tightened, and she quickly lowered her gaze.

After typing the last few words, she adjusted her clothes.

"If you're hot, take it off. This meeting will go on for a while," Caleb said, noticing her small movements before turning his attention back to the screen.

Melody felt uneasy and didn't dare take it off.

"I'm fine. I'm not hot."

Caleb glanced at her again. Under the light, the sweat on her forehead caught a faint shine.

"Continue," he said, not pressing further.

The thin layer of sweat on Melody's forehead slowly turned into droplets, sliding down her cheeks and dampening her hair.

She was hot and hungry. She was starting to feel unwell, her stomach churning with waves of acid reflux.

After what felt like forever, the meeting finally ended.

Melody grabbed her bag and stood up. "I've saved the meeting notes, Mr. Hunt. If there's nothing else, I'll head out."

Before Caleb could respond, she was already out of the study.

At the end of the hallway, a window was slightly open. Cold air slipped in, and she finally felt a bit better.

Her stomach still felt awful, and she couldn't help quickening her pace.

The dining room was a bit of a distance from the entrance. She planned to slip out quietly while no one noticed.

As she passed the living room, the smell of food drifted over.

She used to love fish soup. But today, the familiar scent made her stomach turn.

"Done with the meeting? Mel, come eat before you go!" Yvette spotted her right away and hurried over.

Melody shook her head. But the moment she did, the acid in her stomach surged up violently. She rushed into the restroom on her right and started gagging uncontrollably.

Caleb's voice cut through the sound of hurried footsteps. "Sally, bring some medicine for her stomach."

Back at the orphanage, Melody survived on leftovers and cold meals, eating whenever she could and going hungry when she couldn't. She developed a serious stomach condition, and the Hunt family all knew about it.

Edward had some medical knowledge and had prescribed medicine for her before. It had helped a lot. Usually, a couple of pills would be enough.

But this time, it wasn't her stomach.

It was morning sickness, and she couldn't take the medicine.

Melody quickly rinsed her mouth and was about to say she didn't need it, but the smell of fish soup hit her again.

She bent down and retched once more.

Dorothy had already left the table and came over, gently patting her back.

"Did you go too long without eating? After taking your medicine, have some hot soup before you leave."

"Drink some water." Yvette handed her a cup of warm water.

Melody took it, rinsed her mouth again, then swallowed a small sip to push down the nausea.

"Sorry for interrupting your meal. I just have a mild cold, not a stomach issue. I have medicine at home. I'll take it when I get back."

Everyone in the dining room had turned to look, and Lucy's displeased gaze was the most obvious.

Wendy walked over to Caleb and slipped her arm through his, standing beside him as they both looked at Melody.

Yvette added, "Since when does a cold make you throw up? Your face looks flushed and pale. Let Grandpa examine you."

Edward might not be the best doctor, but he would definitely notice if Melody were pregnant.

Melody's chest tightened. She quickly spoke, her tone more polite than before.

"I really don't want to trouble Grandpa. I'm fine."

She didn't want to ruin the Hunt family's dinner, especially not with Wendy here.

Dorothy understood.

But after two years of knowing Melody, she was practically family. How could she let Melody leave when she was clearly unwell?

"Be good. Let Edward take a look. Just to put my mind at ease, alright?"

Melody subtly shook her head at Dorothy. Even if she weren't pregnant, she still couldn't steal Wendy's attention in this house.

Lucy finally had enough. She stood and walked over. "Are we still eating or not?"

Only Edward and Stefan were still seated at the table.

At this point, no one could keep eating.

And Melody had become the one who ruined the family dinner.

Seeing how uncomfortable she was, Dorothy finally relented. "Are you really okay?"

"I'm really fine." Melody's pale face had a faint yellow tint. She forced a small smile at Dorothy.

"Alright then. Go on. Be careful on your way," Dorothy said, not wanting her to stay and deal with Lucy's attitude.

Melody turned and walked out.

The moment she stepped outside, the cold air hit her. The thin layer of sweat on her forehead turned icy.

Caleb stood inside, watching her retreating figure through the window.

The brightly lit estate surrounded her, yet she didn't look back once. She walked straight toward the dark, cold night beyond the gates.

Her steps were quick, as if something was chasing her.

"Caleb, let's go eat," Wendy said, slipping her arm through his and pulling him toward the dining table.

Caleb turned away and followed her inside, taking his seat.

Lucy let out a cold snort, brushing off the moment as she returned to the table and started chatting warmly with Wendy.

After dinner, Caleb drove Wendy home.

Lucy went upstairs to find Yvette. "Don't see Melody anymore."

"What do you mean?" Yvette asked, even though she already knew. "I can't even be friends with her now?"

Lucy was irritated. "What do you think? Your brother and Wendy are about to get engaged. Melody is off-limits in this family."

Yvette sat up straight. "Is Caleb really getting engaged to Wendy?"

"They grew up together. It's only a matter of time. If you don't listen, you'll regret it," Lucy warned sharply.

She couldn't control the elderly Hunt couple, but she could control Yvette.