The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride
Chapter 222: Opportunists (2)

Chapter 222: Opportunists (2)

"I didn’t hide anything from you. I told you that the girls wouldn’t be coming to visit anymore because there was a small issue," Melanie said.

Lewis didn’t believe it. "Do you take me for a fool, Melanie? I don’t recall you mentioning this to me because I would have made you explain all of it. Tell me the truth now. I want to hear it from you," he said, giving Melanie a chance.

Lewis thought Melanie was doing well. She wasn’t close to Alessandra, but Melanie seemed to be doing her best with the children.

What could have possibly ruined this?

"I have heard it," Luke spoke up.

"Son," Lewis raised his voice. "I ask that you stop speaking. Your mother can speak for herself."

"Penelope and her sisters came for a visit, like I told you. It was after what was said about her and the young lady who died. I mentioned her mother for a moment, and Penelope snapped at me. She didn’t make it far into our home before she decided to leave," Melanie said.

"That is all?" Lewis asked, not believing Melanie. "Why would they leave over something so small? What did you say about Alessandra?"

Lewis knew how protective the girls were with their mother, and there was nothing wrong with that in his eyes. He didn’t know the full story as yet, but Lewis was certain Melanie said something out of line.

"I don’t recall what was said. It felt like so long ago," Melanie spoke honestly.

Since Lewis wasn’t getting anywhere with Melanie, he turned to Melody.

"What do you know?" Lewis questioned his daughter.

"We were so lucky to cross paths with Penelope in town, so I suggested we sit with her. Our talk didn’t go well because mother refused to see Penelope’s side. Penelope feels like my mother has been whispering bad things about Alessandra to her and her siblings," Melody revealed.

"I have not!" Melanie argued, denying the accusations. "I worry for all my children. When I heard the mess Penelope found herself in, I only wanted to know that Alessandra was taking care of the matter well. Why was it allowed for Penelope to be said to be cursed?"

"Allowed?" Melody repeated, in disbelief. "Do you truly think Alessandra can control what the town says?"

"Her husband certainly acts like he controls the town. Neither one of them appeared to be acting as parents. Penelope never should have been in that mess, and then she runs off with the prince in the middle of the night. The prince is just like the duke," Melanie said, venting her frustrations.

Melanie continued, "I warned Alessandra about the duke, but she ignored me. Now, Penelope is tied to the palace with the prince who has threatened me. If I speak about Penelope, he will hurt all of you to get at me."

Luke’s eyes widened. He didn’t want to be at odds with anyone from the palace, especially the prince. His ties to Edgar worked out perfectly for his work, and now, he got to say that his niece was the wife of Prince Tyrion Castro.

"M-Mother," Luke said with a shaky voice. "You should be careful with what you say to the prince. Was he there when you sat with Penelope?"

"He was," Melody answered in place of his mother. "I don’t like to hear of you being threatened, but the prince was protecting his wife. There is more to be said. I asked mother-"

"Melody!" Melanie yelled, moving to grab Melody’s arm. "Do not speak."

Lewis stood up, tired of how sidetracked they got. "Let her speak."

"I asked my mother if she thinks of Alessandra as her daughter. Despite what happened with Desmond, if she ever came to love Alessandra and see her as her daughter. She said no," Melody revealed, her right hand trembling.

This wasn’t something Melody could keep from her family, and Melanie should have expected it was going to be shared.

Melody kept looking at her mother despite how Melanie stared right back at her with a look of betrayal. It was expected that Melody would be on her mother’s side, but while Melody loved her mother, she also loved her sister, nieces, and nephew.

It was a difficult position to be in, but Melody had to stand for what was right. If Alessandra did something wrong, then Melody could speak with her, but Melody was forced to be careful when it came to her mother.

Melody looked to her siblings for support, but Luke was looking down at the food before him, and Claire gave her an apologetic look.

"You," Melody said, surprised they weren’t upset.

Only Lewis was the one to not take the news well.

"I understand your frustration and how terrible it sounds, but I cannot get upset with my mother for how she feels. I have to put myself in her shoes and think about how she feels. She was forced to have a child. I cannot imagine the pain and betrayal she endured," Claire said, feeling sorry for her mother.

Melanie smiled. It was good to see that two of her children acknowledged her feelings.

"I have never once not felt sorry for what she endured, but Alessandra is her daughter. You must see her as your daughter," Melody said, facing her mother. "Then you went and shared this with Penelope."

"I didn’t want to sit with Penelope and her husband, but you forced me to go there. There was plenty said, and my emotions got the best of me. I don’t like how I acted then, but I will be honest. You have asked me to connect with someone I don’t see as part of me," Melanie said, her focus on Lewis.

Lewis looked away from Melanie. They had their private talks, but not once did Melanie share this was how she felt. She always spoke of how she thought Alessandra had been well taken care of or how she would try her best to get close to Alessandra.

Why was this only coming up now?

"I brought Alessandra into this world solely because it was her father’s wish. I do not harbour the same love I hold for my daughters as I do for Alessandra. It does not feel like she came from me, therefore I cannot love her as you all want me to," Melanie said, hoping Lewis would understand.

Melody clenched her fist. "You didn’t give birth to Luke, yet you love him dearly. You and Alessandra both suffered at the hands of your husband. That should be enough for you to hold some love for her."

"Melody, it is not your place to tell me how to feel. It wasn’t your experience," Melanie snapped.

Melody turned to her siblings for help once more, but they were silent. They were silent now, but when they needed help to make their way up in Lockwood, they were quite loud since they needed Alessandra.

"All of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Now that you have gotten where you wanted to be, is it time to move on?" Melody asked.