Chapter 1584
[ 651 words ]
“Please don’t misunderstand.” Melvin immediately turned the fruit knife around, pointing the blade at himself before placing it on the table right in front of Saskia.
He stood tall, his back ramrod straight, and met her gaze with unwavering determination. His tone was dead serious. “When I was pursuing Janet, she asked me a question…”
“She asked how I could be sure my feelings for her were genuine, and not just some fleeting whim.”
Saskia’s tightly strung nerves relaxed a fraction, and she cautiously lowered herself back onto the sofa.
She picked up her cup and took a small sip to steady her racing heart, staring at him intently. “And then?”
“I told her that, aside from the assets I currently possess, I couldn’t offer her any absolute guarantees.”
Melvin’s expression was grim as he spoke with measured slowness. “Anyone can string together sweet words, but proving them takes a lifetime.”
“So I told Janet to let you be her ultimate safety net.”
Melvin’s eyes dropped to the fruit knife. “Keep this somewhere safe. If the day ever comes when I dare to betray Janet, I want you to take this knife and run me through. Stab me three times, six times—make me look like a sieve if you have to.”
“Melvin…” Janet stared at him, her eyes rimmed with red.
Saskia glanced down at the fruit knife, then recalled his words, terrifying images flashing through her mind.
“What kind of nonsense is this?”
Saskia wasn’t about to actually murder anyone. She quickly snatched the knife up and tossed it into the trash can.
“Saskia, I’m completely serious.” Melvin’s eyes were bloodshot as he locked his gaze onto hers. “Don’t worry about the fallout; Shanley will clean it up. If I truly turn out to be a piece of trash, Juniper wouldn’t show me any mercy anyway.”
Saskia sat frozen, unable to force a single sound past her throat.
Even if things did reach that point, what good would killing him do?
More importantly… she could feel the raw sincerity radiating from his tone and expression. She just didn’t know how long an expiration date that love would have.
“Mom.”
Janet stepped forward and dropped to her knees in front of Saskia, looking up at her with tear-soaked eyes. “I didn’t tell you before because Iwas afraid you’d worry and I was even more afraid that Melvin and I didn’t have a future.”
“But after spending all this time with him, I really thought it through.”
Tears slipped down Janet’s cheeks as she spoke. “Whether you call me hopelessly
in love or reckless, whether there’s a cliff or solid ground waiting for me ahead… I want to take that leap.”
“If I end up bruised and battered, I won’t blame anyone else.”
“Mom.”
Janet reached out, gently grasping Saskia’s hand, her voice thick with emotion. “I want to be with Melvin.”
“Janet.”
Melvin turned his head to look at her, his throat tight, moved beyond words.
Saskia stared deeply at her daughter. Her girl had always been timid and excessively cautious.
Yet here she was, willing to fall to her knees for Melvin.
Saskia let out a long sigh, speaking slowly. “Children grow up. Eventually, a mother can’t control them anymore.”
“Mom…” Janet didn’t know what she meant, her heart dropping with uncertainty.
“Back when I decided to be with your father, I was just as impulsive as you are right now.” Saskia looked out the window, recounting the past softly. We disregarded everything, broke through every obstacle, and in the end… we were incredibly happy.”
“But it didn’t last. When your father passed away, I barely survived having to raise you alone.”
“Mr. Steele…”
Saskia paused, looking back at the man across from her, asking seriously, “Does your family know about the two of you dating? Do they approve?”
“My siblings know, and we couldn’t keep it from my parents either.”
Melvin’s husky voice filled the silence. “They all adore Janet. When they found out we were together, every single one of them warned me that am strictly forbidden from ever making her cry.”
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