"Oh wow." Diana uttered when she saw the magazine's cover picture. "I would love to see your face Melissa. Haha, how does it feel to lose the love of your life?" She laughed holding Melissa's picture. Sasha had finally managed to get what she wanted. With Mark out of the picture, Diana planned to get Melissa. She had a perfect plan to catch her prey.
"Ma'am, we have a problem. Luke Edward has been snooping around our territory asking about the supplier. What should we do?" Her assistant walked in breathless.
"Why spoil my happy moment?" She asked, turning around. "Do something to keep him busy in his own company so that way he will leave my business alone." Since the organization broke up, Luke Edward ordered his people to stop all illegal transactions but Diana gathered some customers and went on with the supply. She had made her factory under the Edward's. For years she had been supplying without Luke Edward's knowledge.
After closing her casinos for two months, they were opened and operational. With more young girls coming in, the business was back and even bigger than it was before.
"I'm the queen, I'll get everything I want. Watch out Melissa, I'm coming for you and the Edward's can't save you from me." She laughed, tracing Melissa's face with her gun. "This time I will come for you myself."
.....
At the ranch, Mark sat out in the garden with his laptop watching the videos he took on their family trip. Every day he missed Melissa deeply. Seeing her playing around with Tommy by the seashore and her sweet face when she woke up beside him, ease the ache in his heart.
"I know you still love her." Joining him, his mother said when he quickly closed the laptop.
"I don't understand what you're talking about mother." He tried to cover up but she was not easily persuaded.
"Son, I'm the one who doesn't understand why you're turning your back on your wife. I know you love her." She touched his arm making him look at her. "Son, I may not agree with you but I will always support your every decision." She sighed, taking a seat beside him. "But first I need to tell you a story." Holding the old photo album she had carried out, she told him about his uncle's first marriage.
Richard's family had chosen a young lady from a wealthy family for him to marry but when he met his new secretary after taking over his father's company, he fell in love with her and they secretly got married. "You see, father was against it. He had made a promise to his best friend to take good care of his son and make sure he got married to the chosen girl from a wealthy and well known family. But Richard was head over heels in love with his wife, he refused to let her go. Insisting for months after the birth of their son, your grandfather agreed to the marriage. Your uncle was happy with her, the happiest I have ever seen him until that fateful day. We planned a big feast at the mansion to welcome his wife and son to the family but they didn't show up. We waited for hours only to hear about the accident on the news. That accident changed Richard's life. It took him and his son away from his wife. They were both on the verge of death so we had to transfer them to a better hospital. And it took months for Richard to recover. When he healed, he was too traumatized to go back." She told him the painful story.
"I heard his wife died. How did she die?" Mark asked, sitting straight to listen to the story that was almost similar to his.
"They said due to depression she hanged herself to death. Neighbors found her dead in her house, something Richard didn't believe until they showed him the grave. He mourned for years. I believe he still mourns for her. His wife was very beautiful much like Melissa and still is." She said showing Mark a picture of Richard and young Betty.
"This, she is uncle Richard's wife? How come?" He questioned, staring at the picture.
"When Mary told me at first I didn't believe it. Until she sent me Betty's picture. I didn't understand how she was alive. We thought she faked her death leaving her small son behind but after what has been happening to you these couple of months, I think someone played a trick to keep them apart."
Mark shook his head remembering what Melissa had told him. "Who could have made up such a lie? Do dad and uncle Richard know that she is alive?" He asked, thinking of every detail from his mum.
"No, only Mary and I know about it. I want you to find out who planned to keep them apart before we can break the news to them." She said closing the album.
"Okay let's keep it that way for now. I have to make this right mother. Betty has been living in pain thinking her husband and son died in the accident yet uncle Richard and Robert are still alive."
"I trust you know what you're doing son. I don't want anyone to get hurt, especially you, my son. Fight for your marriage, don't let Tommy grow up deprived of a mother's love. When you face your grandfather and explain how you feel he will understand. Make him end the rivalry with Mr Edward so you can unite your family." She tapped his shoulder getting back to her work.
With the party coming up she was busy organizing it with Sasha's help.
"Did she see it?" Moments later Mark asked Robert as he sat beside him.
"Yes, Lisa called me thirty minutes ago just as you expected. Are you sure this is worth it?" Robert asked, looking at him.
"It is, make sure they get here on time and bring her aunt along."
"Why don't you call and explain everything to Melissa, man? I bet she will understand instead of making her suffer this much." Robert persuaded him.
"I'm doing this for the whole family. You will understand once they get here." Robert offered his hand to help him up but he rebuffed it. "I can do it on my own." He said supporting himself on the walking stick as he went to rest in his room.
"What were you and Mark discussing?" Sasha pulled Robert to the backyard.
"Whatever we discuss is none of your business Sasha, get your hands off me." She didn't budge no matter how hard Robert pushed her away.
"I know you love me Robert and you would love to see my engagement to Mark canceled." She played with his tie getting closer to him. "Don't you dare tell him anything that will ruin my day." She warned smoothing his tie as she stepped back from him.
Holding her by the waist, Robert pushed her against the wall. "What are you so afraid of Sasha?" Leaning closer he caressed her cheek. "Mark will never love you, no matter what you do he will only think of Melissa. She is the woman for him." His face a breath from hers, he grinned staring deep into her eyes.
"What are you doing?" She asked, placing her palm on his chest feeling the sizzling muscles under his white shirt.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" He stared at her slightly parted red lips. Looking at her smooth spotless face, he saw the anticipation in her eyes as she ran her tongue along her lips to moisturize them.
"You disgust me." He whispered into her ear as he stepped away letting her go.
Tempting as she was, he walked away from her.
Seeing Sasha's reaction to him reminded him of the one woman his heart belonged to.