Chapter 42

“You are like my granddaughter, and I don’t want to see you wasting the next three years of your life as well!” Robert Collins said, his voice heavy with concern. “Don’t get in the middle of this fight for no reason, Melanie! You have already been through enough. Take time to heal. Focus on yourself, your work, and your own well-being instead of throwing yourself into a battle that does not need to be yours. Let the property be divided into three parts.”
Melanie gave him a genuine smile then,” Thank you, then, Grandfather. I hope it’s alright if I call you that. I truly appreciate your concern, and I know you mean well, but I do not fear stepping into the middle of anything.”
“I am not fragile, and I am certainly not someone who needs protecting from my own choices. I know exactly what I’m doing, and I am sure I will be quite happy with Adam. Happier, actually, because this time, I am not stepping into something under the illusion that love is what brought us together and that this strong love will survive everything. There is no deceit, no misplaced hope—just Honesty.”
“And as for Spencer…” Her voice hardened slightly. “He needs to remember that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. I may not crave revenge, but that doesn’t mean I will roll over and play dead, letting him take everything without consequence. I refuse to be the fool in this story. Wasn’t that the role he had chosen for me?”
Robert Collins studied her for a long moment, but Melanie caught the faintest flicker of irritation in his eyes before he scoffed. “So, you’re going to hand everything over to Adam? What utter nonsense! You claim you don’t want revenge, yet isn’t this just revenge in disguise? Giving it a different name doesn’t change what it really is!”
“And what was that you said? That you will ‘try’ to be happy with Adam? What about him? What about his happiness? Or is he simply expected to bear the consequences of his older brother’s foolishness, to shoulder the weight of a fight that was never his to begin with?”
“Inheriting two-thirds of the estate is considered suffering?” Melanie asked calmly but pointed as she locked eyes with the older man. He hesitated, just for a second, and in that silence, she felt something click into place. “Tell me, Grandfather, why are you so against Adam inheriting? Why does it seem to bother you so much? Did you fight for Adam’s rights the way you are fighting for Spencer’s now? When the will was read and you realized that Adam would only receive a little bit? Did you ever stand up for him, push for him to receive what he deserved? Or did you stand by, allowing him to be cast aside?”
“If I sit here any longer, I fear that you might actually insist that I marry Spencer this time—for real. I thought Adam’s troubles were with his grandmother and father, that they were the ones who pushed him out of the house in anger. But now it seems there is much more to this story that I do not know. Neither you nor his mother seem to care for him much. So, tell me grandfather. Why Spencer and not Adam? Whomever I marry, the inheritance stays withing your family, so what is the problem?”
Melanie watched the older man’s stiffen face now. This was a question she had asked Adam too. Not once but twice. The first time, he had evaded the answer. And the second, though he had not said the words, he had clearly implied that Robert Collins would never support him. And looking at it, his conviction seemed correct.
“Do you think I do not care for Adam? That I do not wish to support him?” Robert Collins’ voice rose and while anyone woul dhave been angry, Melanie continued to observe him. There was something fishy… and she was determined to find out, “You know nothing, Melanie! You speak as if you understand everything, but you don’t!”
His expression hardened as he continued, his voice firm. “For the last six years, Adam has not once returned to the estate. Not once! He has not cared to visit anyone—not me, not his mother, not even the people who once stood by him.”
He was the one who cut himself off from ayone, vanished without a backward glance, as if none of us mattered anymore. And yes, I know that he was thrown out by his father, and I will not deny that my wife refused to support him. But tell me this—could he not have come back, even for her funeral? Just for one day? Was that too much to ask? Did you stop to think about it? Despite everything, have I not welcomed him home? And he has lived a rich lifestyle abroad. Did i cut him off? No.”
Robert sighed, ” Don’t judge my actions by through the glasses of your anger, Melanie. I care about Adam and Spencer both, equally. But the truth remains—while Spencer has worked hard. Despite his mistake when handling things with you, Spencer is responsible overall.”
“But, Adam has drifted, seemingly without care or responsibility. And I understand that Adam has always been a free spirit, someone who never wanted to be bound by the expectations of this family, but does that mean he should be handed everything on a silver platter simply because of his last name. This was the reason I never insisted on Adam getting the inheritance.”
“With Spencer at the helm, Adam will lack for nothing. However, if Adam were to gain the rights, there would be nothing left. As for your happiness, take a look at this first before you decide. I know my grandson, Melanie and I have no doubt you would find him attractive but take this into consideration…” With that, he pushed the folder towards her, a glint in his eye.