Chapter 4
Melanie's parents were fleeting, appearing and disappearing just as quickly, and didn't really bring her much trouble.
But I couldn't really complain. Melanie had Owen hanging around her all the time.
Every few days, Owen would just show up and give her hell.
I set up a hidden cam in Melanie's room and captured loads of dirty clips.
I was really curious if Blaise ever found out about the messy side of Melanie, would he still accept her without a care?
Five months passed, and Melanie was obviously pregnant now; her belly was starting to really show.
Owen gradually stopped showing up. Melanie had to go in for prenatal appointments every week.
Pretty soon, just like my previous life, she bumped into the second male lead, Alaric Moss, a young doctor.
Alaric treated her with such care. He'd drive her to the hospital for every appointment, bring her home afterwards, and no matter how busy he was, he'd always make time to help her feed the stray cats.
I was watching the latest video I'd caught on tape. It was pretty juicy.
Alaric leaned over and kissed Melanie. "Melanie, you're so pure and kind—even stray cats tug at your heart. You can't bear to see them go hungry. So how could you bear to let me go on longing for you? Marry me, okay? Don't worry. I'll take care of you and the baby. Once he's born, I'll treat him as my kid."
Melanie replied, "I can take care of the baby myself. I don't love you. I just see you as a friend. Please don't misunderstand."
But even as she said that, Melanie leaned in and kissed Alaric back.
Things started getting pretty intense between them.
But just when things were about to go too far, Alaric managed to stop himself, his voice trembling as he said, "No, we have to stop. This isn't good for the baby."
"I know I can't always control myself, but to me, you're just like a friend. Seriously, don't take it the wrong way," Melanie said, her voice gentle.
"I wish I could treat you as a friend, too, but I just can't. Melanie, it hurts so bad," Alaric admitted, voice thick with emotion.
They lingered over their farewell, neither really wanting to leave.
I clicked off the video, bored out of my mind.
Every week, it was the same soap opera between them.
I was honestly numb to it by now.
Melanie kept shutting Alaric down, constantly throwing out the excuse every chance she got.
But then she'd turn around and passionately respond to him, admitting she couldn't control her feelings.
The two were spinning in torment and longing, tangled up in a whirlwind of pain and confusion.
Every week was a never-ending cycle of romantic chaos and tangled ethics like a soap opera that just wouldn't quit.
But Melanie wasn't living the good life she had in her previous life.
The imported cat food prices went through the roof, and the stray cats in our neighborhood seemed to multiply overnight.
Melanie had to keep working, even though she was pregnant and her belly was huge.
In the mornings, she'd help out at the coffee shop; by afternoon, she was hustling as a waitress at the local diner.
One could see clearly that she was getting skinnier every week.
Every day, Melanie would end up venting to me.
She complained, "The pay at that coffee shop is ridiculous. I stand there running around all morning and only make 20 bucks. The owner keeps telling me I should just quit.
"And the owner's wife at the diner is crazy jealous. She keeps saying my baby is her husband's, slapped him in front of everyone, and then made him fire me.
"The owner fired me, and now the diner owner says my belly's too big and he's worried I'll get hurt, so I got kicked to the kitchen to wash dishes instead."
No matter how hard Melanie sobbed, I wasn't about to feel sorry for her.
Sher was already starting to crack.
But the real tough times hadn't even begun.
Of course, the plot unfolded just like I expected.
Melanie finally crossed paths with Blaise.