Chapter 17
Melanie started burning up as soon as she arrived at her hotel room. All those memories she had sealed away came crashing over her again, making her suffocate.
Jeremy had been attentively taking care of her all this time.
When she shivered uncontrollably in the middle of the night, he would change the warm towel on her
forehead.
If she felt thirsty in the morning, she would always find a glass of water at the perfect temperature placed on the bedside table.
Three days later, her fever was finally gone.
Holding a glass of warm milk, Jeremy touched her forehead and asked, “How do you feel?”
Melanie feebly put on a faint smile. “I’m fine.”
Despite hearing that, Jeremy knew she was having a hard time.
In the past six months, he had never probed into her personal affairs. It wasn’t until Zachary showed up the day before that Jeremy finally found out she had kept so many things to herself.
Jeremy had his subordinates look into Melanie’s past. The more he discovered, the more terrified he felt.
Four years ago, Melanie had married the Fullers’ son, Zachary, in place of her stepsister.
Recently, Yasmin had returned to the country, and Zachary eventually betrayed Melanie.
Jeremy pulled himself together and handed a document to Melanie.
“Zachary seemed to have used heavy-handed means to take over Lloyd Group in just a few months. Now, he wants to give the company to you.”
“No! I don’t want it!” Melanie’s face contorted when she heard Zachary’s name, and she shoved the
document aside.
Jeremy frowned slightly at her reaction.
Over the past few days, while Melanie was running a fever, he would hear her murmur in her sleep.
She would mumble, “Save me! It wasn’t me.”
Jeremy knew that her traumatic past was haunting her.
She hid herself and stayed away from those memories, but she had never recovered from the pain.
“Okay. Don’t sign it, then.” Jeremy retrieved the document once more. “If you reject this offer, Lloyd Group will fall into Zachary’s hands. It’s your family business. Are you sure you want to hand it over to someone
else?”
Chapter 17
273
Jeremy’s words snapped Melanie back to her senses. Her dazed eyes gradually focused again.
“Jeremy, could you do me a favor?”
“Tell me.”
Melanie sat up and said solemnly, “Zachary is extremely powerful in Jenvil. I don’t want him to show up around me anymore.”
Jeremy instantly grasped the meaning behind her words. “Do you want me to destroy him?”
Melanie nodded.
Her mother had once told her that nearly everyone from wealthy families was cruel.
Back then, before she was married to Zachary, she had even gone to her mother’s grave and said she had
met her fated match.
Melanie had been certain that Zachary would never betray her.
In the end, Zachary had given her a fake marriage certificate, playing her for a fool.
Four years of sincere effort hadn’t earned her a place in his heart. Instead, she had been hurt terribly by
him.
Melanie clutched the covers tightly. She hated Zachary to the core, but she also despised how foolish she
had been.
“I can help you,” Jeremy replied slowly. “But on one condition.”
Melanie was taken aback.
Just as she was worried Jeremy would ask her to offer herself to him, he patted her head and gently said,
“My only condition is that you won’t always keep to yourself when you’re sad.
“As a friend, I can share your burden.”
After that day, Melanie didn’t see Jeremy for a long time.
He would always leave early in the morning and come back late at night. In short, he seemed really busy.
Melanie dared not board the ship again, for she was worried that Zachary might have sent his men there.
Half a month went by, and Melanie suddenly received a late-night call from Jeremy’s assistant, Terry Gardner.
Terry sounded anxious. “Ms. Lloyd, Mr. Holt is in trouble. Could you come over?”
Melanie sat up immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s hard to explain the situation over the phone. I’ll send you the address.”
Chapter 17
3/3
After ending the call, Melanie swiftly got changed and headed to the location.
The sky outside was pitch black, and the car eventually stopped in front of a villa on the outskirts of the
city.
From a distance, Melanie could see a dozen men dressed in black. They were guarding the place and
looked intimidating.
As soon as Melanie got out of the car, Terry rushed toward her and nervously said, “Ms. Lloyd, Zachary has taken Mr. Holt hostage. He said if you refused to see him, he would-”
“Where’s Jeremy?” Melanie asked anxiously.
“He’s in the villa.” Terry gasped for breath. “Mr. Holt has been targeting Zachary’s businesses these days and has taken down many companies under Fuller Group. As such, Zachary hates Mr. Holt.
“Ms. Lloyd, Mr. Holt warned me to keep you away, but I’m really worried about his safety.”
Upon hearing that, Melanie replied without hesitation, “Don’t worry. I won’t let Zachary hurt him.”
She strode toward the men in black and said coldly, “Tell Zachary to let Jeremy go. I’ll follow you in once I
see Jeremy.”
Soon, the villa doors were opened. A tall and burly figure staggered out of the villa.
Under the soft glow of the moonlight, Melanie could see Jeremy’s pale face. He was clutching his abdomen with one h
