I only needed two suitcases.

Only two medium suitcases to collect my things out of Kai’s place. I only owned some clothes and a few personal belongings. Everything else was his.

“Please, rethink your decision,” he begged for the umpteenth time. “Where are you going anyway?”

I didn’t want to ever reply because I knew my voice would crack if I tried to. The situation needed me to be strict, but with every look into his grey eyes, every time hearing him apologise and beg me to stay, a layer of my tough shell peeled.

“Mel, please.”

I finally faced him. He looked miserable with his unshaven beard, hooded eyes, and only ever caring to wear a singlet. His broad shoulders I usually leant on were slumped in defeat. The clue of a sleepless night, and maybe tearing, was under his tired eyes. His hair was messy, complaining of Kai’s hand constantly running through it.

“Ryan helped me find a furnished flat.”

His fists and teeth clenched, an expression of spite quickly passing by his features. “Where?”

I sighed. “I’ll keep it to myself for now, but eventually, I know you will find me.”

“I can’t live away from you anymore. One more night of living in lonely guilt, and I’ll be consumed to ashes, Melanie. Can’t we fix this while you stay?”

I wasn’t going to repeat myself and tell him that was a part of me getting time away from him to make the right decision. Maybe our whole relationship started on a brittle basis, to begin with. So, I merely shook my head. I pulled both suitcases alone to the door. He thought it would stop me if I didn’t get help moving them, but no. They were light enough to be held by a woman. I stopped at the door and faced him. He looked at me with such fragility in his eyes.

“See you soon.”

\

“Well, I’ll go get us some food, Angel,” Ryan announced. “I thought it wouldn’t be tiring to move to a furnished flat, but I was wrong. Been a week of organising. Now I’m hungry.” He chuckled.

I nodded. “Thank you for helping me, Ryan. I will return the favour someday.”

He smiled, but his eyes held a tinge of sadness. “You know what I would like you to do. But take your time.”

I wasn’t ready.

I nodded. The guy left my new place to get food as he promised. I checked the area one more time, proud of our work. Ryan put some genuine effort into it. The rent wasn’t too expensive although the flat was modern and in a good neighbourhood. I could pay it from my salary and have the rest for food and such necessities.

The doorbell rang shortly after. I thought that was fast of Ryan. I opened it with a smile on my face, but the sight of the person behind it washed off the smile.

She stood high and elegant in front of my door: an obnoxious woman who tried to break my relationship apart by bringing his ex-girlfriend back into his life. She was unwelcome, more unwelcome after what she did.

“How did you know where I moved?” I asked without introductions.

She held on to her purse tightly as if to destress. “I just do. Can we talk?”

Talk? She did what she did, stalked my place, then casually said she wanted to talk?

My facial muscles hardened. “No,” I answered as straightforwardly as her. “This is all your fault. You brought Kim back to Kai’s life that way. You fooled me with kindness. I don’t wanna talk to you.”

She was no longer my mother’s employer, so I didn’t have to flatter her or force myself to swallow my bile. I would have had some respect left for her as my boyfriend’s mother, but it wasn’t possible after what she did.

I was about to close the door to her face, but she held a hand against it. “You have to understand I’m a mother! I only want the best for my son!” she yelled.

Best? Massie and Kim were the best for him, so that made me the worst for her to try everything she could do to push me away? The audacity in her speech baffled me. How could someone be confident with such toxic words?

I reopened the door only to reprimand her, “The best? Why are you so insistent on belittling me? Am I just a trash bag for you? Do you think you’re a better breed than me? Wake up, Eleanor Kingston, we’re all human. We all come from damn mud.”

She looked away, tensing. “It’s not like that. You don’t understand the world of business. It’s for his future’s best to expand his business and grow it, or his uncles will eat it up. This is best done if he gets to be with someone as powerful as him.”

Sure, business was important. Yes, money made happiness, but too much of it to the limit I forgot the purpose of life, or forgot to be happy and comfortable, was not what I looked for.

My teeth clenched. “This doesn’t change what I said. You’re too materialistic. Not everything’s about money and business. What if Kai doesn’t care about it all anyway? Have you ever considered your son’s feelings? You could lose him to win some extra cash.”

She glared. “I do consider my son. He loved Kimberlee Morris with all his being. Do you have no dignity after what happened? What else do I need to do for you to realise you need to leave?”

My lip quivered. Those people loved coming at my pride and dignity more than I could handle. They made something as beautiful and pure as loving someone sound filthy and unaccepted. All Kai and I did was feel love for each other, then suddenly hell broke loose.

I held in a cry. “He doesn’t love her anymore. He loves me now.”

Kai loved me; he confessed. That was what he assured me, and I believed it despite our issues. However, he was frozen on the next level: to act up to it and clear the fog around his confession to win back my trust. Love wasn’t just a said word I’d enjoy hearing; it was actions.

“Stop talking about consideration when you were nothing but a gold digger like your mum!”

“Mrs Kingston, I knew you nicer than that,” a third voice said. It was Ryan when I looked at the stairs he came up from. Bags of takeaway occupied his hands. “I will not stand away anymore and watch you humiliate my sister.” His blue eyes narrowed, no longer holding the gentle, assuring glint in them.

Confusion contoured her face. “Sister?” She looked back and forth between us. “You are…” Her gaze lingered on my face.

“Melanie Martinez, and you’re now invading her place, which you could be reported for.”

She frowned. “Ryan, since when do you talk to me like that? You don’t have to lie for her.”

I left the scene. I couldn’t bear to be more humiliated. I let Ryan have the dreadful conversation with Eleanor Kingston and took myself to the kitchen for a glass of water to soothe my dry throat. He joined me inside shortly after, slamming the door with a thud.

“She’s gone,” he reassured me.

I scowled. “You didn’t have to tell her my truth. That defies the point I was trying to get in her head.”

“I just wanted her to stop bullying you. It was painful to watch. And honestly, even if you weren’t my sister, I’d have stood up for you.” He pressed his lips in a tight line. “Because like you said, we’re all human.”

I nodded, impatient to end the dreadful topic. I didn’t have the appetite to eat anymore, but I’d pretend to just to end the conversation.

Ryan added, “I honestly feel like giving Kai some punches in the face, too.”

. . .

More drama next chapter, promise :)

How do you think Mrs Kingston will deal with what she knows?

Do you think Ryan will really punch Kai in the face?

How much more do you think Mel can stay away?

Also... six, long chapters left :) do you think they'll stay together? Will Mel meet her biological father?

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