Chapter 434: Nice To Meet You
The woman stood silently, watching as Melanie sipped the soup at her own unhurried pace. There was no gratitude in her movements, no nervousness, no eagerness to please-only calm defiance.
It was not at all what the woman had expected. She had already contacted Adam, confident that he would rush over if he truly wanted to see Melanie again, and indeed, he had agreed. That part of her plan had fallen neatly into place. But she had not anticipated Melanie herself becoming the obstacle.
Just from this so-called "unreasonable" behavior, the woman could already tell-Melanie Collins was not going to be easy to manage. She had underestimated her. A woman who could stay composed after seeing her own husband with another woman, and not collapse into fits of jealousy or rage, was clearly more dangerous than she appeared. This was not a weak girl clinging to Adam’s protection. This was someone who could hold her ground.
Worse still, the fact that Melanie already knew her identity meant Adam had spoken openly about her. That in itself was troubling. If Adam had shared that truth with his wife, then any attempt to create rifts or plant misunderstandings between them would be far more difficult. The usual tricks would not work. This daughter-in-law would not break so easily.
"Mother-in-law," Melanie said suddenly, her tone light but her words sharp. "If you keep staring at me like that, I might just end up with indigestion. If you’re hungry, feel free to join me."
The woman stiffened instantly at the title. Her face hardened, and after a long pause, she finally spoke. "You really have guts, trying to claim a connection with me. I am not your mother-in-law. People like you should know their place. You will address me as Madam."
Melanie lifted the spoon, blew gently on the soup, and then looked up at her with a slow, deliberate smile. "Really? That’s a shame. I thought you’d be grateful for my acknowledgment of Adam’s biological relation to you. Most women would be thrilled to have such recognition. But-" she gave a small shrug, as though the matter hardly concerned her, "if you insist on Madam, I’m afraid I cannot indulge you. You can tell me your name or I can address you as Mrs Collins, in case you’ve kept your ex’s name."
Melanie took another sip, calm as ever, as though the entire conversation was nothing more than background noise to her meal while she seethed! Dam* it!
Ever since she had learnt that Adam was married, she had been trying to think of a way to get rid of Melanie Collins. She’d already investigated and found out that the woman did not lack money, so bribign her was out of the question. She had hoped to use this perfect opportunity to cower her into a divorce but looking at her, that would be impossible too.
Taking a deep calming breath, she narrowed her eye and said," You can call me Madam Pierce."
Melanie smiled then and deliberately said," Mrs Pierce." Then with a smile she continued," I want to add it’s nice to meet you but I am not so sure yet, so please don’t mind."
Emma Pierce clenched her hand and stared at the woman! Dam* it! Melanie Collins really was a piece of work who needed to be brought down a notch.
"For a woman who is essentially imprisoned, I must say you are quite casual and not much worried."
Melanie smiled then," Do I need to be worried? After all, you want to use me to get Adam to acknowledge me. By now, you arleady know that the only way you can end up even getting Adam to talk is by using me. If something were to happen to me then you can kiss your chance with your son, goodbye."
Emma stared at the younger woman for a long moment, her jaw tight. Every instinct in her told her to lash out, to put this insolent girl in her place. But she forced herself to inhale slowly, schooling her face into calm. Anger would gain her nothing. Clearly, confrontation was not the way to deal with Melanie Collins.
She should change tactics. That is when an idea struck her.
With a quiet breath, she moved closer and lowered herself into the chair beside Melanie. Then, she clasped her hands neatly in her lap, her voice softer when she finally spoke.
"You’re right. I won’t deny it. I do want to use you to get closer to Adam. You’re his wife. He listens to you. And if I can’t reach him directly, then... I thought perhaps you could be the bridge."
She looked at Melanie from the corner of her eye and knew the woman was listening so she continued,"I’ve already missed so much. All the years I should have been there for him... his childhood, his youth, even his marriage. They’re gone. Irretrievable. I know I cannot turn back time, and I know I can’t erase the damage that was done. But I am in a hurry, Melanie. I don’t have the luxury of decades to earn back his trust slowly."
She leaned in slightly, her eyes locking with Melanie’s. "I hope you would understand. That you won’t blame me for trying. I am his mother, after all. No matter what’s happened in the past, that will never change. And I was just hoping that you might be willing to help me."
"I don’t ask you to like me. I don’t even expect you to forgive me for what I am doing right now. But I want a chance to stand by my son, to know him, to hear his voice without that coldness. If you stand in my way, I know I cannot succeed. But if you help me... even just a little... then maybe I will have a chance to be part of his life again. So I ask you, Melanie, not as his wife, but as a woman is about to be amother herself, will you help me?"