When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

Clyde seemed stunned by my indifference, his eyes filled with confusion as they met mine.

It used to be me chasing after him, and then, all of a sudden, declaring I didn't need him anymore must have been a shock. But maybe he didn't understand that my change of heart wasn't so sudden.

Suddenly, he became agitated, pinning me against the bathroom counter. "Don't need me anymore? What's that supposed to mean? You know Mrs. Patterson has a flurry of social events to attend. How can you 'not need'?"

I looked at him coldly, devoid of any emotion in my gaze. When I needed him the most, he wasn't there. And he insisted on offering himself when I'd moved past that need?

"What are you smirking about?" His frown deepened.

I pursed my lips, letting out a soft sigh. "Clyde, why bother? If you're looking for a presentable Mrs. Patterson, why not go with Kayla? A necklace of tens of thousands, the latest designer handbags, and your affection, she's the most presentable. She's the perfect Mrs. Patterson, isn't she?"

I pushed him away, annoyed, and returned to the dining table. There was no point in arguing any further. I was past the age of wanting to argue with him. In just three years, I felt like I had aged thirty. I was tired of fighting.

Clyde followed, sitting down with a huff.

Lucia looked at me with a forced smile. “Melanie, how long have you been feeling nauseous? Have you been vomiting a lot?"Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Evelyn appeared concerned as well. "Are your periods regular?"

I knew what they were insinuating. They thought I was pregnant, which was laughable.

Before I could respond, Merritt slapped the table with enthusiasm. “Well, well, looks like the Patterson family might be expecting! It must be. It must be so!"

Seeing his joy, I didn't have the heart to shatter his illusion. But perhaps it was better to know some things sooner than later to save from greater disappointment.

I sipped my red wine under the astonished gazes of the ladies and slowly spoke up, "No, I've just been having some stomach issues, not pregnant." Lucia visibly relaxed, leaning back in her chair with a lazy posture. "I thought as much. After all these years without news, I thought the hen would finally lay an egg."

Laird coughed loudly, silencing her.

Evelyn chuckled awkwardly. "No worries. You're both young. You're quite thin, which might make it difficult to conceive. You need to take better care, and in time, it will happen."

In reality, both families would like to see me remain barren forever.

If Clyde had no heirs, the Patterson family would eventually be theirs.

I understood that, and so did Merritt.

Merritt

slammed

his fork down on

the table, giving me a stern look. "Melanie, know you're strong-willed, but you have to consider the future of the Patterson family. I only have Clyde as a grandson. You know your responsibility is significant

Merritt was like that, clear about what mattered most, and not unkind to me, but deeply traditional. Once, I would have been willing to bear Clyde's child. But at the time, even if I could, I wouldn't want to.

Seeing I remained silent, Merritt was about to erupt when Clyde suddenly spoke up. "Grandpa, please. Melanie and I are both busy, in the prime of our careers. Having a child now would indeed be disruptive."

He grasped my hand tightly, preventing my escape. Before his family, I had to maintain his dignity, so I stopped resisting. But his following words chilled me to the bone.

"Besides, I'm not ready for children just yet. I don't have plans for that."

I looked down, unwilling to see the reactions of others. Was it just about not wanting children or not wanting them with me? I still remember how disgusted he was accusing me of taking off with some rich guy from another country. How could he ever want a child with me?

Tears welled up in my eyes, unnoticed.

When we first got together, I had talked about wanting a happy family of three. Back then, he was an orphan without a family, feeling something was missing.

I once said I wanted to be his family, and our child could be his closest kin. But he had hesitated. We had argued about it, and I felt he didn't love me enough.

Then, one day, he took me to a mall where we tried a labor pain simulation. Hearing him scream, I was terrified. Then, pale and sweating, he hugged me tightly.

He finally spoke, teeth clenched in pain. "How can it hurt this much?"

I embraced him, whispering, "But I still want a child with you, our child, sharing our blood."

We hugged silently for a long time.

In the end, he cried. "Maybe we could do a C-section under general anesthesia. I'll take care of the child. Just one, no more."

I couldn't help but laugh through tears at his words.

The dinner ended without further

conversation to the car ride home, neither of us spoke. I had no idea what he was thinking. All I could think of was my mother's face..

Cancerran high in my family

couldn't take the risk. When we loved each other, I couldn't bear to harm him or our child. Now that his love was gone, the thought was unbearable.

Back home, I closed the door, silently watching his weary figure.

Thinking of the Patterson family's true colors, I swallowed hard and softly said, "Clyde, let's get a divorce."