Melinda’s POV “Keith….” I whispered, raising my fingers to brush the surface of the cold mirror. I had thought that I would stop missing Keith after rejecting him, but… he still occupied my every thought.Even now, while I was looking at myself, I could only think about Keith, the way he looked at me when I asked him to reject me, his smoldering gaze when I climbed into his lap and kissed him.The good memories hurt because they stirred a deep longing within me and the bad ones hurt because of the stabbed me. A shaky breath left my lips. That is how it was probably going to be for the rest of my life.Drawing in a deep breath, I adjusted my hair and applied a bit of makeup. Today, I was going to compel Kain into rejecting me. But, before that I wanted to do something for him. I could never repay him for the warmth he had shown me, but I wanted to leave him with a pleasant memory.Pulling out my phone, I texted Kain, ‘Meet me at the Pergola in thirty minutes. I have a surprise for you

Melinda’s POV ‘Meet me at the Lotus Pavilion in ten minutes.’ I texted Kramen. ‘It is time to pay for your sins.’This was it. One more rejection and all of it would be over. I had expected to feel at least some kind of relief, but all I felt was a sense of emptiness; as if my soul was stranded in the middle of the infinite universe with nowhere to go.An inadvertent sigh left my lips, and I leaned against the backrest of the chair, my gaze landing on the small pond with large, round leaves. Keith had specially gotten this artificial pond created for me when he found out that I loved lotuses. In a couple of months, it would be summer, and the pond will bloom with flowers. Too bad I wouldn’t be there to see them.The water sparkled with a golden glow as the ripples radiated out slowly in the soft breeze; its tranquility soothing my battered heart.“Why did you call me here?” Kramen’s cold voice sounded behind me. “Is this your way of blackmail me or something?”I turned around; adjus

Melinda’s POV “Melinda…. Oh my God… You finally picked up.” My mother’s anxious voice sounded through the phone. “Are you okay, hun?”“I am fine, mom…”“Then, why in the world was your phone not reachable, Melinda?” Her voice took on a hysterical edge as she continued. “Thirty days, Mellie. I couldn’t reach you for thirty days. Kramen and Kain wouldn’t pick up and every time I tried to talk to Keith, he gave me vague answers.” “Calm down, mom…. I was a bit sick but I am fine now.”“Switch to video call right now.” She said in a suspicious tone. “I want to see you.”“But, mom….”“You said you were alright… Were you lying to me, Mellie?”“No, mom….” I groaned, massaging my forehead. It was just difficult to explain what I was doing in a cave. “I am really doing good.”“Then, why won’t you turn on the video?”I bit my lower lip and shifted from one position to another. This place was a bit too obvious. Mom would sense something was odd with just a glance.Letting out an exhausted sigh

Keith’s POV ‘Does she hate us so much, Keith?’ Jake’s voice sounded like a soft whine. ‘That she won’t even talk to us.’‘Maybe….’ My heart clenched and a sharp wave of agony seared through my chest, as if someone had stabbed me from the inside. Drawing in a shaky breath, I dialled her number her yet again.“Melinda…. Please pick up the phone….” I whispered in a pained voice. “At least let me hear your voice once…. Please, baby…. Once…”The phone rang a few times and beep… disconnected with that ominous sound.‘Why don’t you try calling Kain again?’ Jake suggested in a hesitant voice. ‘Maybe request him to let you talk to Melinda.’“I don’t think he will, Jake….” I blurted out aloud. “Why would he me talk to her when he can have her all to himself.”My mind veered to the day I spoke to him for the last time. Two days had passed since Melinda had rejected me. Driven by the intense need to know what had happened during the rejection, I had called her. Every word spoken by Kain was sti

Melinda’s POV “What in the fucking hell was I thinking?” I muttered as I slid onto the seat next to the window. My gaze drifting around the aisle to find several gazes lifting my way. The girls sitting in the rows across to me drew closer and whispered something to each other; clearly gossiping something about me.Letting out a shaky breath, I shifted in my seat uncomfortably, wondering if I had taken the wrong decision by agreeing to Andrew’s proposal.“Has everyone boarded?” A familiar voice sounded, easing my nerves a bit. “Lauretta, where is your brother?”“He has gone to the washroom, Andrew.” The girl sitting across me stated, her face flushing a little. “I told him to wait…”“That’s okay,” he shrugged before walking over to me and placing his hand on my seat. “This is Melinda Spencer, a girl picked from the streets,”