Chapter 8
Melody snapped her head up, locking her gaze on Graham, eyes burning.
“He’s a drunk, a gambler, and an abuser–a complete waste of a man. You know Olive’s illness, her failing health, it was all because of him…”
“I know,” Graham said quietly.
There was a flicker of guilt in his eyes, but he pressed on. “But he’s Elaine’s biological father. He’s always treated Elaine well.”
In that instant, Melody felt as if she’d been plunged into an icy abyss.
With just a few words, Graham dismissed 18 years of violence and misery that man had inflicted on her and Olive.
Graham wanted her to save the very person who had destroyed Olive’s life.
“I won’t save him. No one deserves to die more than he does.”
Melody tried to yank her hand free, but he wouldn’t let go.
A metallic taste rose in her throat, the pain sharp and overwhelming.
Her vision blurred, and before she knew it, she collapsed. Graham caught her just in time, pulling her into his arms.
Through the haze, she saw Graham’s face go ashen with panic as he scooped her up and rushed back inside, calling her name over and over.
He almost looked like he cared.
When she woke again, she was in a hospital bed. Graham was sitting at
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her side.
Melody tried to sit up, but he pressed her gently back down.
“Don’t move. You just had a liver transplant. You need to rest and recover.”
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With trembling fingers, she lifted her hospital gown. The gauze covering
her surgical wound was stained with small spots of blood.
It felt like a knife had pierced straight through her heart.
Olive was dead.
And she had been forced to save the very man responsible.
The pain was so deep that Melody couldn’t even cry.
“They all say I stole everything from Elaine, but I’ve never understood- what did I ever take from her?”
Graham frowned. “If it weren’t for you, she would have-”
He stopped, suddenly realizing that what Elaine had lost was never truly hers to begin with.
“Graham, what did I do wrong? What gives you all the right to treat me this way?”
Her voice was soft, but it struck him like a blow to the chest.
“I’ll make it up to you. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”
For the first time, a flicker of life returned to Melody’s empty eyes. “Anything at all?”
He nodded. Melody asked for two blank sheets of printer paper and had
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Chapter 8
him sign his name on both.
Graham didn’t hesitate–he signed them both.
“I promise I’ll never let anyone hurt you again. If you really can’t stand Elaine, in a few days, I’ll have her move on
Melody took the two sheets, lowered her gaze, and said nothing.
Graham pressed his lips together, feeling a strange sense of unease. He was about to say something more when Elaine called:
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
He took a few steps toward the door, then paused, covering the phone’s mic. “Melody, stay in the hospital a few more days and focus on getting better. I’ll tell Elaine you’re staying with the Rosmere family to rest. I’ve already let your parents know.
“Elaine doesn’t know the liver was yours. She’d feel guilty if she found out.”
At that moment, Melody felt nothing but numbness.
“Fine. I won’t go back.”
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A strange look flickered across Graham’s face, as if he wanted to say more, but Elaine’s impatient voice echoed through the phone. He pushed down whatever he was feeling and left.
Melody was too weak to leave, so she stayed in the hospital for three more days.
No one came to visit. The only thing that filled her phone was dozens of messages from Elaine.
The first day, Elaine gushed about how Graham drove three hours just to
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buy her ravioli.
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How he waited on her hand and foot, playing the dutiful son–in–law at her bedside.
The second day, he gave her expensive jewelry to cheer her up.
Both families sat together, chatting and laughing like one big, happy family.
***
The last message read, “Melody, my dad loves to drink. I’m worried his liver might have more problems. Graham promised me he’s already found a stable donor.”
After reading that final message, Melody felt nothing at all.
She didn’t even bother with the discharge paperwork–she left the hospital and went straight to the courthouse. Half an hour later, those two sheets of paper, now filled out as divorce agreements, were exchanged for two divorce certificates.
She bought a plane ticket at random. Just as she was about to board, a message from Graham popped up.
“Melody, I’ll come by tonight. We can visit Olive together, and I’ll pay the rest of her medical bills.”
No need. There was nothing left to pay for.
Melody powered off her phone, snapped her SIM card in half, and tossed it in the trash.
She strode toward the boarding gate without a single glance back.
From that moment on, Graham would never again be a part of her life.
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She would do as Olive wished–live well, and start over.
