As she hailed a taxi, she went through her phone contact thinking of what to do and how she would get to Johnson's ranch.
"Hello David, I need your help. Meet me at the apartment." She called the one person she thought could help her.
After they spoke on the phone she gave her address to the taxi driver.
For a week now she has been thinking about her aunt's advice.
When she got to Edward's, she told her aunt about them. The family her father never let her get close to, hoping her aunt would talk against them but instead she encouraged her to get to know her grandfather, which she stubbornly refused.
With all that was happening in her life, Melissa wished to know more about her father's past life but most importantly she intended to use Edward's finances and influence to get her son from the Johnsons.
….
"Welcome my child." Lucy gave Melissa a warm welcome directing them to the dining area where Mr. Edward was waiting. From what she understood, Lucy was like the mother of the family.
She had been working for Edward since her father was born. Always watching after them even after their mother died.
"Thank you." Smiling back, Melissa walked beside David to the dining hall.
At the head of the table with ten chairs around it, Mr. Edward sat patiently waiting for their arrival.
"Welcome!" After exchanging a few pleasantries, he happily invited Melissa to sit beside him with the hope that she would finally accept him as her grandfather.
"I see your precious little granddaughter has finally come home, dad." Luke Edward joined them as David pulled a chair for Melissa turning the warm room cold.
"How nice of you to join us, son." Mr. Edward said to him, looking more tired than he was.
"Can we have a peaceful dinner? Please." David looked at the two with a straight face, his bright smile long gone.
Seated next to Mr Edward, Melissa quietly studied the three men on the table as the maid served dinner. From the little she understood, her uncle threatened Mr. Stevens into his dirty business, and because of what he did her parents lost everything.
"Don't mind him." David smiled at her, assuring her that everything was okay. Taking a deep breath, Melissa smiled back, acting as if nothing got to her.
"So Melissa, are you joining the family business too?" Her uncle asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin interrupting the silent dinner.
"I've not thought about it." She responded leaning back and placing a fork down.
"What is there to think about? With Mr. Johnson gone, you need another financier. Isn't that why you came." He looked her straight in the eyes trying to intimidate her.
"Well, uncle has read my mind." She grinned, staring back at him, not relenting. "You ruined my father's company and my life. Why else would I sit at the same table with you, if not to use your family power and money to get what I want?" She stood up to him. Something no one did, not even David.
"I see you took after your father. Headstrong and stubborn. How disenchanted it must be for you dad? You expected a polite innocent girl." He laughed, mocking his father.
"Enough Luke, show some respect." Mr. Edward slapped the table ending their bickering.
"Why dad? I have always been here with you. When Peter left, I stayed and took over the business despite what I thought of it. You turned me into this man I can hardly recognize, and now you're bringing Peter's children showing them how unworthy I am. You know what, it's true I used Mr. Stevens to run down White Transport Company. And I did it so I would force my brother to come back home for you dad. You couldn't stop looking at your favorite son's picture, always asking how they were. Watching your granddaughter from afar. It was pathetic and painful for me to watch you beg someone who didn't want you in his life. So I thought of a way to bring him back and it worked..."
"Did you kill them? Did you get rid of my mother and father so they would get out of your way?" Melissa stood dropping the napkin on the table, surprising everyone.
"No, despite everything I loved my brother. That's why I protect you to date." He said sitting leaning back on his chair.
Just then one of his men came and whispered into his ear. "Thank you for the lovely dinner." He placed his napkin on the table, looked at his father briefly then walked out.
"Wait! Luke, we have to talk." Mr Edward called after him but he left anyway.
Luke's words left everyone speechless.
Melissa sat thinking of his last statement. I protect you to date he had said. She had seen the man talking to him just now watching her, following her several times. If her uncle was protecting her then who sent the people to kidnap her and who sent the note about her parents being killed?
"Melissa, are you okay?" David's voice brought her from her thoughts.
"Yes, I'm fine. Where's Mr. Edward?" She asked, looking around.
"He's waiting in the garden. I noticed you didn't follow us, so I came back to get you. Are you sure you are okay? You looked lost just now." He looked at her with concern.
"I'm fine, let's not keep the old man waiting." She smiled at him getting up as the maids cleared the table.
"He's your grandfather. It will make him happy if you can call him grandfather." David said then laughed as she rolled her eyes.
Mr. Edward sat watching the sky with a cup of steaming tea in his hands. "This was Isabella's favorite place. Every night after dinner she sat here watching the boys run around." He spoke, staring at the now beautiful garden. "I should have loved her more when she was still here." He said more to himself with regret in his voice.
"What happened to her?" Melissa inquire, taking a seat beside him.