Chapter 6
Walter was the guy who never let work slide, not even when I was in surgery for an ectopic
pregnancy. I had to take leave all by myself.
Right then, Calvin gave him a ring.
“We’ve got a partnership on the line here. What’s the rush?”
Walter pulled into the airport parking lot, looking all kinds of troubled.,
“Melissa has left the country.”
“To seal the deal on the partnership?” Calvin sounded confused, but he could not shake off
a sinking feeling.
“Is this about what you guys warned me about before? My vibe with Janet? That we’re too cozy?”
After Walter let that out, all he got back was a quiet hum on the other end.
Was there anything left unclear? It hit him that he was the only one who had not seen the
truth.
“I blame myself. Ever since Janet returned, I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to take care
of her like we were kids again.
“She leans on me so much. She needs me there to do just about anything right.
“I should’ve put distance between us a long time ago.
“I don’t want to divorce Melissa, but I’ve let her down too many times.”
Walter found his breaking point, and tears streamed down his face without restraint.
“Then… then you go.”
By then, I had made it to Lyndon without a hitch.
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The professor and some seniors were there at the airport to welcome me.
It had been ages since I last visited, and those times were always too hurried to catch up with anyone.
At this moment, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. From that point forward, I was living for myself.
Walter? He would probably never seek me out again.
“Melissa, you finally said yes! Let’s go check it out,” said the professor, thrilled that I had agreed to join his lab.
Back in college, I was the star pupil he had always bragged about. However, after graduation, I had gone to work for Walter’s company, leaving the lab behind. The professor had been disappointed, giving me that ‘you could have been so much more‘ look. Even my senior, James Carter, had teased me for being too caught up in romance.
“Melissa, if you ever want to come back to the lab, just let me know. Girls are meant to fly high,” he had said.
It was not too late for me to stop the bleed.
I was there, at last.
“The divorce is in James‘ hands. He was the one who recommended the lawyer,” said the professor with a sigh.
I turned to James. “Looks like I’ll be leaning on you quite a bit from here on out, James!”
I greeted him with a smile that did not betray the years we had been apart.
“First stop, the lab.”
I had hoped for some quiet in my life, but Walter had other plans, tracking me down way
too soon.
Day one at the lab, and there he was, lurking downstairs like a bad habit.
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I scrunched my eyebrows, my gaze heavy with annoyance. Seriously, that guy just would not take a hint.
He looked like he had not slept in days, standing all alone under a tree, his eyes glued to the lab like it held all the answers.
Then he spotted me, and like a shot, he was at my side.
“Melissa, I messed up big time!
“Look, I always treated Janet like a little sister. I looked after her, sure, but it was all old times‘ sake. She needed me, and I guess I liked feeling important.
“But she’s not the one I want. It’s always been you.”
I bit my lip, watching his phony spiel unfold.
He kept at it, tears and all.
J
“You’ve gotten so amazing over the years, and I… I just felt like a loser next to you. I couldn’t handle it, so I stuck with her out of habit.
“You’re so together, I thought you didn’t need me like I needed you.
“And Janet, she was just the girl next door. Nothing was ever going to happen!
“Melissa, don’t give up on us. Let’s not end this. Think about all the good times! Can’t you forgive me just once more?”
He finished his plea, tears streaming down his face.
Internally, I was as calm as a still lake.
This was the man I had trusted blindly, the man I had loved with all my heart.
He was the cheater, the betrayer, and he had the nerve to blame my success for his insecurities.
The things I loved about him had turned into the very things he used to stab me in the back.
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Yeah, he was the worst.
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“Cheating is cheating. I’ve never heard of someone cozying up in bed with their own sister.
“And don’t you dare tarnish the word ‘sister‘. I won’t forgive you, either.
“It’s over between us. Now, please leave.”
With those final words, I headed straight for the lab building.
He did not come after me, just stood there watching me.
He knew me all too well.
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