Chapter 425: Unshocked
Marianne glared down at the photographs in her hand, her lips curving into a vicious smile. So, her instinct had not betrayed her after all. The mask of hate, the act of indifference—it was all nothing but a carefully crafted lie.
Her eyes lingered on the pictures of Melanie and Adam together, caught in moments that were far too intimate to be dismissed as coincidence. There they were, clinging to each other on vacations, arms wrapped around one another as if the world did not exist. There they were again, standing too close, gazes locked in a way that spoke of unspoken promises. Marianne scoffed softly. If these two truly despised each other, if they were as detached as they claimed, then she would gladly sit down and eat iron nails one by one.
Still, she had to give Adam Collins his due. The man was cunning, far more calculating than she had first imagined. He had seen through Melody’s act early on, realized with sharp precision that the woman beside him was not his true wife. But instead of confronting her, instead of demanding the truth, he had chosen a different path—slow, deliberate, and devastating. He had worked quietly and methodically to dismantle her, to destroy her piece by piece. And, Marianne thought with a flash of admiration, he had done it brilliantly. Melody was already broken, her façade cracking more each day.
Yet what fascinated Marianne more was the secret connection between Adam and Melanie. From the footage she had gathered through the surveillance cameras, it was almost laughable how obvious it was. They could barely keep their hands off each other, their closeness constant whether at home or out in public. Even when they were with their adopted son, their bodies always seemed to find their way together, shoulders brushing, hands touching, as if being apart for too long was unbearable. To anyone watching closely, it was clear—they were either masters of pretending to be in love or masters of pretending to be in hate. Either way, it amused her endlessly.
But then came the question of Cadence. Where did he fit into this tangled game? Marianne recalled the sight of finger-shaped bruises circling Melanie’s delicate neck the day before. Cadence had left those marks, of that she was certain. He had reacted with jealousy, raw and uncontrolled, unable to disguise his rage when it came to Melanie. That discovery had made Marianne smile then, and it did again now. The triangle was already messy, but she could make it messier still.
Her thoughts shifted to the possibility that Melanie was pregnant. If it was true, then the real question was whose child she carried. Was it Adam’s? Or Cadence’s? The idea was delicious either way.
To Marianne, the identity of the father mattered little. What truly mattered was how she could use the uncertainty. If she played it right, she could turn both men against Melanie, fuel their jealousy until they tore each other apart. She had already used Cadence once, nudging his emotions until he lost control. Now it was Adam’s turn.
Did Adam know? Did he suspect the pregnancy? Or was he still in the dark. Marianne’s smile widened. It was time to find out. Placing aside the file, she stood up and casually messaged the others, inviting them for dinner together, indicating that she had a special announcement to make.
***
Marianne looked at the people gathered around the table and smiled in satisfaction. Good. All the important characters of tonight’s entertainment were here. Time to begin the performance. She raised her glass in a toast and says, "Thank you for joining me tongiht. If only Melanie and Richard were also here, this would be a complete family reunion." As she said this, she let out a lamenting sigh. It was important to keep up appearances after all.
The table murmured in agreement, though no one dwelled on it.
Marianne let her gaze settle on Cadence, watching him with interest as he busied himself with his plate. She waited until the servants retreated and silence fell again before she leaned forward slightly, her smile gentle, almost sisterly.
"Cadence," she said smoothly, "I was wondering—what are your plans regarding Melody? Do you intend to marry her?"
The question was sharp despite the calmness of her tone. It landed with weight, and for a moment Cadence froze, his fork midway to his lips. He did not answer, only gave the faintest of nods as though acknowledging her words but refusing to elaborate. His silence was thick, stubborn, and unyielding.
Marianne’s eyes gleamed. She was not about to let him slip away with a vague gesture. "Oh come now," she pressed, her voice warmer, coaxing. "Surely by now you must have thought about it. A man cannot keep a woman waiting forever. It would only be proper to fix a date soon, don’t you think?"
Cadence’s jaw tightened. Slowly, he lowered his fork and set it against the plate with deliberate care. His frown was clear, his irritation rising despite his effort to remain calm. "We are not in a hurry," he said at last, his tone clipped.
Beside him, Melanie gave a quick nod, seizing the chance to agree. "Yes," she said softly, almost too quickly. "There is no rush. We have time." But on the inside she could not help but wonder what had gotten into Marianne. Was she really going to push for marriage between her and Cadence?
Marianne tilted her head, feigning dismay as though she could not believe what she had just heard. Her fingers tapped against her glass, then she shook her head, the motion slow and deliberate. "How can there not be a hurry?" she said firmly, her eyes narrowing on Melody now. "You are already pregnant. Why do you think you still have the luxury to wait? Do you intend to have the child out of wedlock. I know all that is modern stuff, but since you are already in a relationship, getting married is the next step. Why wait?"