When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

Clyde's gaze shifted as he eyed me, a storm brewing beneath the surface.

But Kayla, standing beside him, reacted with lightning speed, snatching the divorce papers from the table.

"Clyde." She looked at him, eyes brimming with a pitiful plea. "Since Melanie has decided..."

"Get out!" In a fit of rage, Clyde tore the divorce agreement to shreds, his eyes bulging with fury as he stared at me. "Melanie! You've got some nerve!"

I smiled at him, having anticipated his reaction. Silently, I reached into my bag and pulled out another copy of the agreement. "It's okay. I printed several copies. Tear them up to your heart's content before you read."

As I was about to hand over the document, I noticed the janitor giving me a weary look. I silently retracted the papers, opting not to cause more trouble.

"Melanie, did you plan on divorcing me from the start? I knew it. How could Vinson just suddenly return? You two must have been in touch all this time!" Clyde yelled, "He's been after you since our school days, and he's still not over you. So, you want a divorce for him? You want to leave me because of him!"

Clyde's gaze was so malicious that it looked like he wanted to tear me apart.

Vinson immediately stood before me, shielding me from Clyde's wrath. "Clyde, you're being unreasonable! Do you think everyone's like you? Cheating in marriage, having affairs, and shamelessly bringing them to your wife's attention? If you were a man, you wouldn't shift the blame onto your wife!"

It was the first time I had seen Vinson so angry, and I couldn't help but stare at him in surprise.

He turned to me with a gentle smile. "Don't worry. Everything's going to be okay."

I nodded subconsciously.

"Melanie, come here!" Clyde pointed at me menacingly and tried to grab me, but Vinson quickly stepped in and grabbed his wrist.

That was when the police intervened, unable to stand by any longer. "What's this? About to get physical? You're going to hit your wife?" Kayla quickly clung to Clyde's arm. "Clyde, don't be angry. Let it go."

"Melanie, can't you say something for your husband? Are you not his wife? Are you going to stand there and watch Clyde get beaten up?" Kayla looked at me with such a sense of injustice, as if I was the one bullying them.

I was genuinely impressed by her audacity. Even then, she showed no embarrassment. "Kayla, whose wife are you again? Why are you here?"

I intended to provoke her into silence, but instead, she became infuriated. "Melanie, don't you know who am I with? huh?"

"You clung to Clyde, desperate to marry him, and now, you're just as desperate to divorce him, all to get Clyde's attention? You two have no love left. Why can't you let him go?"

I shoved the divorce papers into her hands. "If you can speak for Clyde, you sign."

Then I turned to the police and said, "Enough, officer. There's nothing to mediate here. Just arrest him."

Vinson nodded in agreement, "Yes, the other side doesn't seem inclined to apologize."

"Dream on if you think I'm apologizing!" Clyde tried to lunge at us again, but Kayla and the police held him back.

"Clyde, are

Are yeady to be arrested? stubbornly meeting my gasovel

Are you sure?" I looked at him coldly,

and he suddenly fell silent,

I sighed. "Or just pay up. It's your choice."

At the mention of money, Clyde glared at me, teeth gritted, but eventually spat out, "Fine, I'll pay!"

At last, Clyde compensated with ten thousand dollars and settled the matter.

Ten thousand dollars wasn't much but it was a matter of pride for Clyde, clearly not pleased. An

vel.n

apology from Clyde was t

so Kayla apologized on his behalf.

Always the gentleman, Vinson looked at Kayla with disdain. "Miss, you can't speak for him. But I won't pursue it further. I don't want to

waste my time with such

Cheating within a marriage means you leave with nothing. Be mindful of that."

Humiliated by his words, Kayla was red-faced and speechless.

I didn't even glance at them, my focus solely on Vinson. "Vinson, let me give you a ride. I drove here."

He smiled and nodded, following me.

But as we left, Clyde suddenly ran out, blocking our path. "Melanie, where are you going? Why won't you come home with me?"

His face seemed flushed, but it was hard to tell with all the bruises.

In her high heels, Kayla struggled to keep up. "Clyde." Her voice was weak, pitiful even. "Clyde, let's go home. I'm cold."

I gave Clyde a cold look and said, "You take her home; we're leaving."

Kayla tried to grab his hand but he swiftly shook her off.

Clyde's gaze hardened as he faced me, "No, I want you to come home with me. You're not going anywhere."

"Clyde!" Kayla's voice cracked, panic clear in her eyes.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

If Clyde went home with me, where would that leave her?

That was clear to both of us.

I looked at Clyde without emotion, "You should take her home. That's not my home anymore, and I won't be returning."

Vinson had opened the car door for me. I quickly got in, not giving Clyde another glance.