Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law-Chapter 307: A Meeting

"When are you going to let me meet him?"

"Meet who?" Melody looked up from her soup with a frown.

"Adam, who else?" Marianne asked, looking directly at her daughter with a seriousness that made it clear she wasn’t joking.

Melody sighed inwardly. She still hadn’t finalised an actor to play Adam, despite the looming deadline of her mother’s eagerness. A few portfolios had come in from the casting agency, but none had quite fit what she had in mind. Or rather, none matched up to the charm and looks of the real Adam. She thought back to him now- his quiet, unreadable expression, the steady way he observed people, and the unintentional weight he carried into every room, making it impossible for anyone to turn their gaze away form him. She shook her head at the thought, which only prompted a deeper frown from Marianne.

"What is it? Did you have a fight with him?" her mother asked, part teasing, part genuinely concerned.

Melody opened her mouth to say no, but then paused. The goal was to end this fake relationship eventually, and blaming it on fights was the easiest, least suspicious way out. So she nodded slowly. "Yes, Mom. We had an argument."

Marianne let out a disapproving tsk tsk and shook her head. "Why are you always fighting? You need to change your ways, Melody. Given your job, one would think you’d be good at listening and patient. After all you are a teacher. But no, you are always arguing and being stubborn."

Melody raised her brows. "Why do you assume it was me who started the fight? Couldn’t it have been him?"

Marianne gave her a knowing smile and reached out to pat her cheek. "Hmm, of course it could’ve been his fault. But if it was, you’d be fuming right now and parading your moral high ground until your beau came crawling with an apology."

Melody gave a short laugh and rolled her eyes. "Mom! You know me too well." Then she added arrogantly and even though it might have a different context when she answered, Melody’s voice rang truthfully, "Doesn’t matter whose fault it is. Adam will come to me eventually."

Marianne just shook her head, though the corners of her mouth lifted. She caught Melody’s hand across the table and said gently, "At least show us what he looks like. I want to see a picture of the two of you together. I’ve never seen you like this for anyone else."

Melody felt herself tense. The smile slipped from her face.

How could she show a picture?

Her brain scrambled for an excuse, any excuse—but Marianne, oblivious, pressed on, her voice soft with nostalgia. "You used to be so open. Every time you liked someone, you couldn’t wait to show him off. And now you’re being so secretive—as if your old mother might run off with him."

Melody managed a small smile, but her thoughts were spiralling. How could she explain that the person she’d been dating when she first mentioned "Adam" wasn’t Adam at all? That the real man had done something unspeakable. She could still remember the way things had ended—she shuddered.

No. She couldn’t let her thoughts go there. Even thinking of that person felt dangerous. It was as if summoning his memory might bring him right back into her life.

Marianne was still watching her, clearly puzzled by the shift in her expression. And just when Melody thought she’d have to say something, anything, her phone buzzed on the table—an oddly well-timed rescue.

They both glanced at the screen.

Marianne’s eyes lit up at the name flashing across it. Adam. Her expression turned smug. "Invite him for lunch as soon as possible, and don’t fight anymore, okay?" she said, rising from her seat. "I’ll go check on the laundry. I’m giving you five minutes of privacy."

She walked away with a triumphant look, and Melody stared at the ringing phone.

A flutter rose in her stomach. Was he calling about Melanie again? Or something else? It didn’t matter. At least she would get to listen to his voice.

Her hand hovered for a second before she finally answered. "Hello, Adam. How are you?"

Her voice dropped, soft enough that it wouldn’t carry in case her mother hovered nearby. She didn’t need Marianne overhearing anything that might reveal the truth—that Adam wasn’t her boyfriend, but her ’brother-in-law.’

"Miss Melody," his voice came through, calm as ever. "I was wondering if your parents would be willing to meet me."

She blinked, momentarily stunned. "You mean—meet you?"

"Yes."

"Not... not Melanie?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

There was a pause. "I believe it would make more sense for them to meet me first."

Her heart sank. That was the one thing she didn’t want. "Actually, I was thinking..." she tried to sound casual, "...maybe it would be better if you meet Melanie first? They’re looking forward to that. And they don’t even know about you. They might not..."

"I understand," he replied. "But I think it’s important that I meet them directly. I’d like to speak to them face to face before anything else

She frowned, the knot in her chest tightening as she thought of this problem. She had rather hoped that Adam would not meet her parents. Only Melanie. That is what she had planned.. "Adam, they don’t know about you and if they find out so suddenly, they’re going to start asking questions. And I just—I don’t want things to get tangled up."

"They already are tangled," he said evenly. "That’s why I want to come. Let’s not delay it anymore. What you have given me are vague answers about the reason that your grandmother would kidnap Melanie. I want exact answers before Melanie is dragged into this. And those answers can only be given by your parents.

Melody closed her eyes for a second. He wasn’t wrong. But still- having him sit across the table from Marianne, it would make her suspisious. How could she and Melanie have boyfriends with the same name? Even though Adam was a very common name, it was too much of a coincidence for her mother to not suspect.

"I’ll talk to them," she said finally, trying to sound firm while thinking carefully what coudl be done to prevent that. "I’ll see what they’re comfortable with."

There was a beat of silence on his end, then a quiet, "Alright. Then I will wait."

She hung up slowly and placed the phone down. Her eyes drifted toward the hallway where her mother had disappeared.

She pressed her fingertips to her temple and muttered under her breath, "What now?"

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