"Mellie, I'm sorry if I was rude. I only wanted you to go out and relax, but not go back looking sad like
that. Let's play two games first, just two. Then we'll go back."
Like persuading a little kid, Jonas lowered his voice and spoke to Melinda softly. He scanned around
and found an ice cream stand not far away. He went to buy her a sugar cone, and he chose vanilla
flavor, which Melinda liked most.
"Mellie, have a rest and enjoy some ice cream first. Then we will go to play,"
Jonas ordered, walking her to the side to sit on a bench. Many sharp-eyed business people appeared
to sell their products. As long as anyone praised Melinda, Jonas would buy their goods in bulk.
His simple ways of pampering made Melinda a little uncomfortable.
During the entire day tour, Melinda felt flattered with Jonas's undivided attention, since he had always
been indifferent towards her. She even tried many times to ignore him.
As a man with high self-esteem, Jonas had challenged his bottom line several times to play up to
Melinda. However, she did not respond, which made him feel very embarrassed.
This proved true, especially when they met someone they knew halfway. Even though Melinda was
cooperative, any wise person could see through her.
The two returned home silently. They were not as happy as they had been from this morning before the
tour started. Instead, their expressions now had become more unpleasant.
Unclear as to why they looked gloomy, Nelson thought the two of them quarreled, so he warned Jonas.
Jonas didn't know what to say. He could tell how inferior his position had grown in the family.
For a long time now, Yulia had remained grounded. At first, she yelled in her room, but now she was
quiet and kept her opinions to herself. She witnessed the changes in the family.
"Melinda, I have been learning how to compose prose recently, but there are many things I don't know.
Can you teach me?"
Yulia, wearing a light blue denim skirt, tied up her locks into a high ponytail. The thin bangs made her
face look even more beautiful. She held a collection of prose in her hands, which made her more
attractive.
"I don't know much about prose. You can search for it on the Internet and read some prose works."
Melinda could hardly believe it. After a long while, she pointed at the selection of prose in Yulia's hand
and gave some helpful suggestions.
Yulia had asked her for some pointers. She worried that there wouldn't be much conversation, and
silence would eat up the air between them.
The smile on the corner of Yulia's mouth appeared somewhat forced. She finally made up her mind to
communicate with Melinda slowly. She chose this topic since Melinda liked writing and literature. She
didn't expect to come up with such an awkward arrangement.
Melinda was a little flustered but kept on smiling in discomfort. She recommended a few prose works
for Yulia to check out.
"I don't get it. Can I ask you if I still encounter phrases that I don't understand?"
"Yes, you can."
After listening to Yulia's words, Melinda felt a little baffled. But then she thought about it. If they had to
live under the same roof, their relationship should be warm and friendly.
Momo had become the new master of the Gu's mansion recently. Yulia had to be kind to the cat since
she wanted to get along with its owner.
The next day, Yulia went to Melinda to have a small chat about the cat. She tried her best to find a
subject to discuss and develop the budding relationship between her and Melinda.
"Melinda, I also want to raise a cat so I won't be too bored when I'm alone. Will you accompany me to
the pet store tomorrow?"
Yulia tried her best to be friendly to Momo, but the cat didn't like her. It sat next to Melinda, staring at
Yulia with its bright eyes as if it would rip her face apart.
"My grandfather gave Momo to me as a surprise gift, so I have no experience in picking cats. If you
want to keep a cat, you can ask Gavin for help."
Melinda crouched down, stroked Momo's head, and smiled at Yulia. The latter smiled in discomfort and
said, "How about this? I'll request Gavin to buy one for me so that my cat can play with Momo in the
future."
"Okay."
Melinda didn't think that Momo needed a company at all. The cat was lazy, but if it went out to play, it
was hard to find it. If Yulia kept a cat, it would be an expensive purebred cat. However, a native hybrid
cat was different from a purebred feline.
The two of them were disconcerted. For the very first time, Melinda had found out that Yulia was not
good in making conversations.
Momo needed a quiet environment if it lingered in one place. When Yulia kept on talking, Momo
became restless and started meowing while walking in circles around Melinda's leg.
"I have something else to do so I'll leave first."
As Melinda spoke, Momo automatically plunged into her arms, and they disappeared in Yulia's sight.
"Mellie, are you going somewhere with Momo?"
Melinda walked over to the junction, and the mansion was on the right side. She came across Nelson,
who just walked out of the main villa. Nelson was in high spirits, and he patted Momo's head with his
finger. With a "meow", Momo expressed its dissatisfaction.
"No, I'm going to take it back to my place."
"Since I have something to take up with Jonas, let's go together."
Melinda put Momo down and let it walk by itself. Then she held Nelson's arm. The main residence was
not far from her villa, so they conversed on the way and soon arrived at the small villa.
Momo had already run ahead and curled atop the stone table under the tree. Hearing the cat's purr,
Jonas knew that Melinda had come back.
"Grandpa, what brings you here?"
"I have something to discuss with you two."
Nelson sat down on the stone bench and put his cane beside him. Melinda grew curious. Nelson said
he wanted to see Jonas, but she didn't expect him to come for her too.
The two of them stood beside each other. Jonas tried to hook Melinda's fingers with his and clasped
them tightly without warning, so forceful that she couldn't resist at all.
"You two may have been remarried for a long time, but I haven't seen your marriage certificate at all."
Their servant, Mary, brought them fruit tea. After pouring a cup for Nelson, Mary stepped aside. Nelson
took a small sip and opened his mouth, pretending not to say something relevant. However, they were
both startled with their eyes wide open.
Melinda thought carefully about the marriage contract and remembered that she only signed it, and she
had no idea whether they had the certificate or not.
Jonas's face went pale. Back then, he fixed his focus on getting back his right to the inheritance, but
nothing else took place after contract signing. He didn't expect that Nelson would bring it up.
For a moment, the three looked at each other in silence.
"Grandpa, why did you suddenly ask about the marriage certificate?"
Melinda tried to get some information from Nelson, but he just smiled and said, "I just want to look. I
didn't provide a witness for your registration. Now I feel a little sorry."
A gentle breeze came along with the faint rustling of the leaves. Melinda's heart sank with the incident.
"Grandpa, why didn't you say it in advance? We have to figure out first where we put it,"
Jonas said at once. Nelson gave him a sidelong glance as if he was saying, "If I told you about it in
advance, then you two will prepare for it. Right?"
Nelson's sudden request indicated that he doubted the marriage between Jonas and Melinda was a
sham.
"Yes, Grandpa, since that happened a long time ago."
Melinda looked flustered, waiting for Jonas to resolve the issue correctly.
Jonas frowned and didn't know what to say.
"It's only been a few months since you got married. How could you forget such an important document?
!"
Nelson snorted. He puffed at Jonas, who stroked his nose innocently and then turned to look at
Melinda.
Melinda looked shocked, and her eyes searched Jonas's face, calculating his actions.
"Grandpa, I don't know where the marriage certificate is. I'm sure Mellie kept it."
As soon as Jonas spoke those words, Melinda reached out her hand to his waist and pinched it hard.
'Damn Jonas. You made me get into a tough situation alone at this critical moment. At the same time,
you've cleaned yourself completely.'
Melinda glared at Jonas, her eyes full of rage.
"Mellie, can you recall where you last put it?"
Nelson urged Melinda while looking at her. She seemed tense since she had no clue where it was,
except for the divorce papers.
"Grandpa, Mellie is busy writing a recent novel. She can't figure it out for now. Please don't pressure
her. Give her some time to think about it,"
said Jonas. As Melinda lowered her head and thought hard about it, she tried to squeeze Jonas's waist
again but realized that his muscles were too firm.
"Jonas, you were also there when I hid it. Can you help me think back on where I stashed it?"
Melinda said in a sweet voice, like a spoiled child. Hearing her soft and clingy words, Jonas couldn't
help but smile. He pampered her well as she looked so smart.
She wanted to get caught together with Jonas.
"I remember you told me that you hid it in the safe."
"Well... Really?"
Melinda tried hard to recall what she had deposited in the safe, and then she thought she didn't have a
safe at home. Those inside the study were all Jonas's.
"What happened to your memory?"
Jonas stretched out a finger and gently poked Melinda's head, saying in a smug tone. The smile at the
corner of his mouth made Melinda feel colder.
"Mellie, you can't be so careless with such a crucial matter."
"Grandpa, it's my fault. I'll be more careful next time," Melinda apologized sincerely but felt wronged.
There was no marriage certificate. However, Jonas forced her to handle this thing and wanted her to
come to terms with Nelson.
"This is not to blame you. Well, go and get it now."
Hearing her grievance, Nelson thought he had been too harsh, so he hurried to make up with her.
Melinda nodded, her cheeks looking a little pale. She raised her head to look at Jonas with contempt in
her eyes. There was no marriage certificate at all, so she didn't know where to find it.
Also, Jonas's behavior disheartened her. The disappointment in Melinda's eyes was undisguised, and
Jonas was a little worried, seeming to recognize that he had done something wrong.
"I'll go with you, honey."
Jonas caressed Melinda's head and held her hand tightly with his. They left together in a hurry.
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