When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

Clyde had finally come to, though he was still a bit under the weather.

When he came to visit me in the hospital, he wrapped me in a tight embrace.

"Melanie, I'm so sorry. I never should've dragged you into this mess. How's the doc saying you're doing? Is it allergies or what? You okay?"

Lisa and I had our story straight, claiming my fainting spell was due to someone slipping something into my drink.

I gently patted Clyde on the back and comforted him, "I'm fine now, really."

Giving him a thorough once-over to assure myself he was just a bit weak but otherwise alright, I finally relaxed.

"Melanie, are you sure you're okay? You seem thinner. Have you been skipping meals?"

"Heard you've been by my side till you passed out yourself. Didn't your blood sugar drop again?"

He fished out a handful of candies from his pocket and placed them on my nightstand.

"Got these from the nurse. She said they're good for low blood sugar."

"From now on, you're keeping candies with you, okay? I'll be checking.

"

I couldn't argue with him, just nodded in resignation, though holding the candies felt bittersweet.

He lingered around, making sure I was truly fine before he finally seemed to breathe easier.

Then, with gritted teeth, he said, "That bastard Talbot, I'll make him pay for this."

"He will pay, but we need solid proof first."

Clyde was silent for a moment before standing up.

"Rest up here. The doc will look after you. I need to have a word with him."

"If we're going to work on this project together, Garfield owes me an explanation."

I knew he was really steamed this time.

Many had tried to get to Clyde, but Talbot was brazen enough to drug him.

Noticing a shadow outside the door, I gave Clyde a few words of caution before he left.

I lay in bed, pretending to be asleep.

About ten minutes later, the door quietly opened.

As the person approached, I suddenly opened my eyes, brandishing the fruit knife I had been clutching. "Galen?"

Galen's face was half-scarred from burns, the gruesome scars visible even behind a mask.

But his eyes hadn't changed - I had always said Galen had strikingly dark eyes, naturally captivating.

Those eyes were a carbon copy of Geneva's.

Suddenly, my room door swung open again, and he quickly stooped to pick up a dropped tissue, then busied himself with the trash bag.

Talbot, who hadn't noticed anything amiss, just gave me a cold look. "Melanie, where's Clyde?"

"How should I know? Go find him yourself!"

I glared at him, "What, has he decided to drop the partnership now? After what you did, drugging him nearly to death, you think he'd still want to work with you opet you into his family? Dream on!"

My voice rose slightly, intentionally keeping Talbot's attention away from Galen, who was making a discreet exit.

Talbot, clearly irked, ranted about me being a waste of the Patterson family's significant influence.

But his words didn't bother me. I saw Galen toss something into the vase by the door as he left.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Quickly getting out of bed, I shoved Talbot out.

"Don't think just because you're older, I have to defer to you!"

Then, I locked the door behind him.

Talbot lingered in the hallway before storming off, fuming.

I quickly texted Clyde, warning him Talbot was on his way to him.

Then, I retrieved the note hidden among the flowers in the vase.

The scribbled message read: "Be on the rooftop at 11:30 tonight when the cameras reset."

Seeing the handwriting choked me up a bit.

Galen used to have such neat

and thinking of the

burns on his face and hall cont

clenched the note tightly.

I was about to uncover the truth at last.