Chapter 95 Maybe, This Is How Fate Intended It
The whole villa was dead quiet. I eased the front door open, and the hinges let out a tiny creak. Melissa heard it and quickly came out of the living room. Just as I thought, she was the only one at home. When she saw me, her face lit up with a big, happy smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Mrs. Howard, you're finally back! How was your trip? Did you have a blast?" she asked.
As she spoke, she took my luggage and set it aside.
I nodded and pulled out a travel souvenir I had picked up for Melissa from my bag. It was a beautifully handcrafted embroidered handkerchief, decorated with delicate flowers that looked especially lovely in the sunset. Melissa took the handkerchief carefully, holding it like it was a precious treasure. Her fingers gently stroked the embroidery, her eyes full of emotion.
Melissa gently caressed the gift and couldn't help but sigh. The smile on her face slowly faded, replaced by anger and frustration. "Mrs. Howard, you're finally back. You have no idea how overbearing Ms. York has been. She practically treats this place like it's hers!"
Melissa's voice trembled a bit, and her eyes showed a hint of outrage. The more she talked, the angrier she got, and she couldn't help but spit in the direction of the main bedroom.
I held Melissa's hand and gently comforted her. "Don't worry. Once I get through this busy period and settle down, I'll definitely take you away with me."
"What? Mrs. Howard, are you not staying at the villa anymore?" Melissa's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with concern and reluctance.
I nodded. "I've been swamped with work lately, and staying in the city will be more convenient."
Not wanting to worry Melissa, I decided not to tell her about the recent online rumors.
A gentle breeze blew, lightly swaying the curtains and making a soft rustling sound.
"Should I take care of you then?" Melissa asked a bit urgently.
"No, it's not the right time now. I need you to stay here and keep an eye on Edward and Anne for me," I said to Melissa earnestly.
Melissa nodded firmly. "Mrs. Howard, don't worry. As long as you need me, I can stay here. Not only will I gather information, but I'd even be willing to confront Anne face-to-face if necessary." Her tone was filled with anger.
Melissa's words made me laugh. "Haha, Melissa, we're civilized people. We don't fight, okay?" My laughter echoed through the silent villa.
Melissa laughed too. "Alright, we won't fight." Her smile looked especially warm in the sunset.
It was getting late, so I packed my things and got ready to leave. Melissa couldn't help but see me out.
She held a large package in her hands and said, "Mrs. Howard, take care of yourself. I made some food for you to take with you."
Taking the heavy package, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I slowly walked to the car, opened the door, and placed the package on the passenger seat. I turned back to look at Melissa, who was standing there, her eyes full of reluctance and concern.
Even though Melissa and I were just in an employer-employee relationship, her care for me over the years had surpassed even that of my late mother. I got into the car, started the engine, and slowly drove away. Through the rearview mirror, I saw Melissa still waving behind me, her figure growing smaller until it finally disappeared from my sight.
Recently, because of my trip abroad, I hadn't met with my client Alice and didn't know how she was doing. So I decided to visit her.
Alice was hospitalized again, and her condition seemed worse than before. This time, I could only visit her in the hospital room. Alice lay quietly on the bed, her eyes somewhat vacant, as if she had lost the spark of life.
Seeing me, she forced a smile and tried to sit up to greet me, but after saying a few words, she started coughing violently. Her body trembled with each cough, as if she were about to cough up her lungs.
When we talked about the court hearing coming up in a week, Alice's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ms. Cooper, I want to be there in person," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks and leaving marks on the white pillow.
"Of course, you can go," I reassured her. "But you need to get better first."
Alice grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes. "I've been trying so hard to get better. I just want to see Eric one more time, even if it's just for a moment, even if it's in that place."
The nurse adjusted Alice's oxygen machine, and her breathing became a bit steadier.
"We've been together for 20 years. We promised to be together forever, but I'm going to break that promise. In the end, it's my fault." Her lips trembled slightly, each word seeming to come from the deepest part of her heart, filled with endless longing and reluctance. It was as if she were speaking to me, yet also talking to herself. Alice's eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, as if she were reminiscing.
"Maybe this is how fate intended it." Alice sighed softly, her eyes revealing a hint of despair. But deep within that despair, there was still a faint glimmer of hope, a longing for life, and a love for Eric.
I held Alice's hand gently in mine. Her hand was cold and frail, filling me with pity. "You've done well. You've prepared everything for him. I believe Eric will understand."
Despite my comforting words, my heart remained unsettled. If Eric truly loved Alice as she said, how could he not have noticed her serious illness over the past year? Though I thought this, I dared not express it, fearing it would make Alice even more upset.
"Rest well and get ready. I'll see you in court." Not wanting to see Alice cry, I quickly said goodbye and left the room.
The long corridor always gave me a sense of déjà vu. I remembered how Mia had also lain in the hospital before she passed away, with me by her side.
As for Alice, her child was far away abroad, unaware of her illness. Her husband Eric also didn't know about her condition. If one day I were to lie in a hospital bed like this, would Edward be a little worried? Even just a little. Once this thought appeared, it grew like wild grass in my heart. The fear of a negative answer was too painful to confront, so I forced myself to push the unsettling thoughts aside and quickened my pace to leave the hospital.
Back at my small apartment, I heated the food Melissa had prepared for me and ate alone.
The phone rang, and Edward's name appeared on the screen.
For some reason, seeing his name still made my heart flutter. With trembling hands, I answered the call, "Hello, Edward."
"You're back. Why didn't you tell me?" Edward's voice was cold.
Sensing his anger, I quickly tried to appease him. "I wanted to surprise you!"
"Surprise?" Edward's voice remained indifferent. "If you wanted to surprise me, why didn't you stay at the villa? It seems that letting you travel alone has made you yearn for freedom."
Hearing Edward say this, I felt my heart sink. I thought of the gentle Astoria lawyer. If Edward were even a tenth as gentle as him, I wouldn't be so heartbroken.
Noticing that I didn't respond, Edward continued to press, "Where are you?"
"At the apartment," I answered truthfully.
"Alright, I'm coming to see you." Before I could respond, Edward hung up. I sighed.
No matter what would come, I should accept it. This was also something that the lawyer had taught me.
Having not been to the small apartment for a while, I found it still in the same state as when I had last left it. I thoroughly cleaned the place, then took out my computer to organize the lawsuit materials while waiting for Edward.
At that moment, Edward burst into the apartment, frantically punching in the code. After a few failed tries, he started banging on the door.
I opened it, and he rushed in, pinning me against the wall and kissing me like a madman. I was caught off guard and bit down hard on his lip.
Edward winced and pulled back, wiping the blood off his lip with a finger. He let out a cold laugh, his anger practically radiating off him.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?" he demanded, gripping my shoulders.
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