Chapter 15 Video Call
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On the other end of the video call, Melody watched the scene unfold with thinly veiled satisfaction. She was clearly thrilled, though she managed to feign concern in her voice.
“Jake, tell them to go easy. Ginny just had a miscarriage not long ago. If they hurt her too badly, it could be serious.”
“You hypocrite,” Ginny snapped, her voice sharp and trembling. “It’s laughable. You’re the one who had your brother kidnap me, and now you want to act like some kind of saint?”
She turned her fury on Jake. “Ryan once told me you were smart. Said you had
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principles. Turns out he was wrong. You’re not just spineless-you’re stupid. You’re helping your sister steal someone else’s husband and forcing the wife to sign divorce papers? That’s not loyalty, that’s pathetic.
“If this ever gets out, do you think your family name’s going to survive in California?”
Jake’s expression darkened. He didn’t like what she was saying. In his mind, he wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was just helping his sister reclaim what was rightfully hers.
How had Ginny twisted that into Melody being a homewrecker?
“The person who isn’t loved is the one intruding,” Melody shot back. “Chandler loves me. We’ve been together since college. If you hadn’t forced your way in, we’d be planning our wedding by now. You’re the one who came between us!”
She glared at Ginny, resentment simmering in her eyes.
Ginny caught the rage in her expression and calmly asked, “Did Chandler ever say he loves you? Did he ever say he wants to divorce me and marry you? If not, then everything you just said is pure fantasy. You’ve got no proof. Nothing.”
Melody’s face changed, just for a second. She didn’t want to admit Ginny had a point, but the blow landed.
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After a short silence, she pulled out another phone and began scrolling.
“Fine. I don’t need to say anything more. I’ll just prove it to you. Watch. All I have to do is call Chandler, and he’ll come to
me.”
She dialed. The call connected almost instantly. Her voice softened. “Chandler… I’m not feeling well again. Can you come stay with me for a bit?”
Then she hung up, holding up her phone with smug pride.
“Half an hour. He’ll be here in thirty minutes, tops. Ginny, if you still won’t sign the divorce papers after what
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happens next, then it’s you who’s destroying a happy relationship.”
Ginny sat on the cold ground, expression blank. In that moment, she didn’t know what to say, or what to do. Because deep down, she knew Melody wasn’t bluffing.
In half an hour, Chandler would show at Melody’s place.
She could divorce him. But she didn’t want to be pushed into it.
up
This was the last bit of dignity she could hold onto.
“Melody, how are you feeling?”
His voice came right on cue, gentle and
full of concern. Chandler had arrived, just like she said.
Ginny stared at the screen as he helped Melody sit down with the kind of care she had never once received in five years of marriage.
Melody gave a triumphant smile to the camera-one Chandler couldn’t see. But
when she looked back at him, her voice was once again fragile and sweet.
“I’m a little better now, but I’m afraid it might come back. I feel safer when you’re
here.”
Usually cold and distant, Chandler now appeared endlessly patient. He fetched her water. Draped a towel over her
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shoulders.
When they sat down to watch TV, he even got up to bring her a blanket so she wouldn’t get cold.
Five years. He’d never treated Ginny this way once. The contrast was painfully
clear.
So this is what it means to love someone-
and what it means not to. Ginny, what are you still hoping for?
“He doesn’t love you. Just sign the papers,” Jake said, placing the divorce agreement in front of her again. “Once you do, you’re free to find someone who actually wants you. I guarantee the next man will be better.”
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It wasn’t comfort. He just wanted her out of the picture to make space for his sister.
But truthfully… she wanted out too.
There was no point forcing someone who didn’t care about her to stay. It was exhausting.
“Fine,” Ginny said quietly. “I’ll sign.’
She looked up at Jake.
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He assumed she had finally come to her senses. He ordered someone to untie her wrists, then held out a pen.
But just as he handed it over, Ginny shoved him aside and bolted for the
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warehouse door.
Melody, who’d still been watching the screen, tensed immediately.
“Catch her-!”
The words escaped her mouth before she could stop them.
“Catch who?” Chandler asked, his brow furrowed as he leaned closer, eyes flicking to the phone in her hand.
