Not knowing that her family drama was being viewed live by the guests in the banquet hall, Melanie stared at her birth parents, who were running towards her in joy and relief.
Surprisingly, the couple didn't look at Sandra. Instead, their attention was all on her- their biological daughter. Rushing towards her in joy, her mother pulled her in for a hug.
"Daughter, is it you? Are you my daughter? Are you my real daughter?" the woman asked, pulling back for a moment before hugging her again while her eyes welled up.
"I..." Melanie was speechless. Not knowing how to handle the situation she was in, she stared at the man who was standing behind her mother, only to blink helplessly. She noticed how the man's eyes had turned red as he discreetly wiped his tears.
At first, she hadn't noticed, for she had been too astounded to see her real parents. Now that she took a good look, she found the man, her real father, quite familiar. But she couldn't fathom who he was.
"Daughter, I'm so sorry. Please forgive us for losing you," the woman said, pulling back again as tears rolled down her cheeks. She looked visibly exhausted and in despair. Yet, the exhaustion and tears couldn't hide her delicate beauty. She didn't look a year older than forty. Also, there was an innate innocence in her that made her seem angelic.
"Lannie... may we call you Lannie?" the man asked hopefully, and Melanie saw how his face lit up when she nodded. "Please forgive us, dear," the man said, patting her head lovingly.
Melanie didn't know why, but her heart quivered and tears filled her eyes instantly. She had never been devoid of love. Since her birth, her parents and relatives had showered her with care. But it was at this moment that she felt a sense of belonging, a sense of being treasured.
'Perhaps, it's because they are my birth parents,' Melanie thought, sniffling lightly.
Trying hard to suppress her tears, she lowered her head to look at her mother, who at that moment was a crying mess. Melanie didn't know whether she should laugh or cry. She had never expected her mother to be so cute and a... crybaby.
"Please don't cry." Softening her voice as much as possible, she wiped her cheeks, trying to be as gentle as possible. She still couldn't bring herself to call her Mom. Though she felt the family connection and love, she needed time to accept them.
Her words were meant to calm her mother. Yet, it only made it worse, and her mother was close to bawling.
Not knowing what to do, she glanced at her father, who shook his head helplessly. "Give her a few minutes. She'll come around gradually."
Melanie smiled and patted the woman's back to comfort her, and slowly but surely, the woman stopped crying, much to her relief.
"Lannie, let me introduce your family to you," the man said, bringing everyone's attention to him.
"I am Stefan Hayes, your father. This is your mother, Camilla, and these are your elder brothers, Ezra and Declan, and your younger brother, Castiel.
It was only then that Melanie noticed the three men standing behind her father. Unlike her parents, the three men showed no signs of excitement. Instead, they remained calm and silent. But never once did they stop scrutinizing Melanie.
When Melanie's eyes drifted towards her brothers, Declan and Castiel showed no signs of acknowledging her. Ezra too didn't say anything. But he nodded at her lightly, which she returned with a smile.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Melanie. I'll be under your care from now onwards." Melanie didn't know what else to say. It was utterly awkward for her to meet her birth parents all of a sudden, that too in front of her adoptive parents.
Right at that moment, Liam pushed open the door and entered the room, gaining everyone's attention.
While the Hayes family didn't say anything, choosing to remain silent in the presence of a stranger, Melanie noticed Sandra's eyes light up instantly. Her gaze followed the man as though she was smitten by him.
But what surprised Melanie was that Liam's eyes also veered towards Sandra briefly. Though he was quick to stabilize himself, Melanie noticed the small interaction between the two, and her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
'When did these two become familiar with each other?'
Suspicions sprouted in her mind. Not just her parents, even Liam knew Sandra before she did. What was happening here?
"Mel, what's happening here? Who are they?" Liam asked as if he had no idea who they were.
"Liam, let me explain." Howard stepped forward to explain the truth, fearing that Melanie would say something that would put the Gilroy family in a fix.
While Liam already knew the truth, he didn't show it on his face as he listened to everything Howard had to say.
"Mel, what have you thought of doing next?" Liam asked, looking at the woman's absent-minded eyes.
"I..." Melanie had no idea. What was she supposed to do?
"Since you have found your family, there's no need for you to stay at the Gilroy mansion anymore," Nadia declared immediately, and Howard nodded.
They had already raised Melanie for twenty-five years. Now that they knew she wasn't their daughter, there was no need for her to continue being a Gilroy. They were that keen on accepting someone who didn't carry their blood.
The Gilroy couple ignored the fact that it was Melanie's wedding day. Even if she were their daughter, she wouldn't be staying with them after she got married.
"Got it. I'll move out of the mansion tonight itself." Melanie too wasn't willing to stay at a place where she wasn't welcomed. "I have a few IDs and documents at the mansion. I'll retrieve them tomorrow."
She said to no one in particular, but it was meant for the Gilroy family as well as to her parents.
Letting out a deep sigh, Melanie stepped forward, leaving her parents to watch her back. "Liam, now that I'm no longer a Gilroy, do you still want to marry me?" she asked, allowing him to choose. She would then decide what to do based on his choice.
"Absolutely. I absolutely want to marry you," Liam said without hesitation, and instantly, Melanie looked at Sandra from the corner of her eyes, only to find her staring at Liam with unwillingness and yearning.
"But I think we should take some time," he added, glancing at her birth parents behind her. "You have just met your family. You need to spend some time with them first."
Melanie's brows shot up for a moment. But she wasn't surprised. Instead, she had expected such an outcome.
"Why don't we put off the wedding for now? You should spend time with your family, get to know them, and create good memories. They must be desperate to spend time with you as well," Liam explained, maintaining a gentle smile on his face.
Again, Melanie discreetly glanced at Sandra, whose eyes lit up with obvious delight. Suppressing a smile, she nodded, agreeing with Liam's suggestion.
"You are right. Since I've only just learned about my real parents today, I guess we should postpone the wedding for a few weeks. Let me get to know them well. We can always marry after I've received their love."
Nadia scoffed lightly. But that didn't stop Melanie from smiling at her parents, who were close to tearing up again.
'Looks like not just my mother, my father is a crybaby as well,' she thought, glancing at her brothers, who, unlike their parents, remained poker-faced. She couldn't read them whatsoever.
Melanie didn't know how to address her adoptive parents. Since she was forbidden from calling them "Dad" and "Mom," she stuck to following it. "Mr. Gilroy, Mrs. Gilroy, thank you for taking care of me all these years. I'll always be grateful for everything you've done for me. I'll be leaving now. Please take care of your health and...."
It was difficult for her. The Gilroy couple had been her parents for twenty-five years. It wasn't easy for her to forget their bond suddenly. Yet, she couldn't continue to stick to them either. The Gilroy couple themselves didn't want to have anything to do with her. Moreover, it would be unjust for her birth parents.
In the end, she let out a deep breath and smiled faintly. "Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Gilroy. Thank you for everything."
With that, she walked back to her parents, held their arms, and led them out of the bride's room and the banquet hall.