"This is our house." Camilla brought Melanie inside their house and stared at her expectantly. It wasn't as lavish as the Gilroy mansion, but it wasn't bad either. So, she silently prayed that her daughter liked it.
Melanie ran her eyes around the place. Although she had yet to explore the house and had only seen the living room and the dining hall, she liked what she was seeing. It was cozy and filled with warmth. It felt more welcoming than the Gilroy mansion.
"I like it. The place is beautiful," she said sincerely.
Camilla's nervousness vanished, and her lips stretched into a relieved smile. Even Stefan's tense shoulders relaxed- an action that didn't go unnoticed by Melanie. She knew that her family, especially her parents, were nervous and edgy. They were hopeful and excited and were accommodating to all her wishes.
What perturbed her was that they were on tenterhooks since they met. She couldn't fathom their tense behavior around her.
"Come, let me show you around," Camilla said and pulled her inside, leading her to her room first.
While her father followed the two women, the three brothers remained in the living room as they observed Melanie silently.
"She isn't what I thought her to be." Declan was the first to break the silence.
Ezra hummed and poured a glass of water for himself.
"Do you think she's putting up an act before us?" Castiel asked, swirling the ring of the keychain on his index finger.
"I don't think so. There isn't a need for her to act in front of us. She will gain nothing out of it," Ezra reasoned, taking a seat on the couch. "I'm more inclined to believe that she has accepted the truth about her birth and is making efforts to open up for us.
"Do you believe her?" Castiel wasn't that convinced. He remained suspicious of her actions. "Sandra grew up with us. Mom and Dad loved her dearly, more than they did us. But what happened in the end?"
Castiel was filled with anger, his eyes blazing with resentment. His blood boiled every time he recalled how Sandra had made their parents cry.
"How vain she turned out to be in the end? Melanie grew up in a rich household. Moreover, the Gilroys are richer than we were. Even when Hayes Group was functioning well, we couldn't beat them. Why do you think that a pampered princess will accept her current predicament easily?"
Castiel had a point. Ezra and Declan had nothing to say to counter his reasons. When Sandra could turn out to be so condescending and spiteful, even after growing up with them, what could they expect from someone who didn't grow up with them?
Castiel plopped heavily on the single-seater chair and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I don't give a damn about her. She can act all she wants. But she better not hurt our parents. Otherwise, I won't let her go."
Ezra smiled bleakly when he recalled the day Sandra had quarreled with their parents for the first time. It was the time when their company was facing losses, eventually forcing their father to sell it to someone else. From that day, their lives changed, and it was then that they saw their sister's true face.
Sandra had gone from a gentle lady to being unsatisfied with everything. She had thrown such a huge tantrum, not realizing how devastated their parents already were due to the company matters.
Although her words stung them, it was still bearable. But she showed how crooked and vicious she was when she threw the DNA report on their parents' faces three days ago and insulted them. Calling them thieves and whatnot, she accused them of being wicked and taking her away from her family.
Sandra conveniently forgot all the love and affection she had received from their parents all these years. She disregarded all that they had done for her, their sacrifices, and even how their parents had ensured she had everything, even after they lost everything. Once she learned about her rich parents, she didn't hesitate for a moment to end her relationship with them.
'Selfish and self-centered,' Ezra thought, shaking his head in defeat. 'Hopefully, Melanie isn't like her. Otherwise, Mom and Dad won't be able to bear it.'
While Castiel and Ezra were thinking about Melanie, Declan's thoughts were running on a different track altogether.
"Ezra, Cas, do you think Sandra's up to something?" he asked, his mind gears spinning at top speed.
"What do you mean?" Ezra's gaze changed, and he looked at his brother, waiting for him to clarify.
"She knew she wasn't a Hayes long back. Why didn't she inform us about Melanie then? Why now?" Declan asked, tapping his fingers on his thighs. "Don't you find it fishy that the truth came before us and Melanie on the day of her wedding?"
"Now that you said it, it does feel strange," Ezra analyzed, his eyes flashing with a strange glint. "Do you think it's Sandra's plan?"
Nobody answered. The three brothers remained deep in thought until their parents returned with Melanie.
"I love the room. Thank you."
They heard Melanie say, followed by their mother's happy voice. Immediately, the three brothers composed themselves and looked towards the stairs. Instantly, their eyes fell on Melanie, who was walking beside their mother with their father behind them.
None of the three men disregarded how akin Melanie was to their mother. It was as if they were carved from the same mold. Also, Melanie was beautiful, something they hadn't felt when Sandra was around. Coupled with her white wedding gown, she looked absolutely stunning. For a moment, the three men couldn't help but marvel in awe at seeing her.
"Ummm...." Melanie hesitated, not knowing how to convey their thoughts. She had come directly from the banquet hall. She neither had any clothes to change into nor any money to buy them.
On seeing her embarrassed expression, Ezra raised his brows in wonder.
"May I borrow some money?" she asked no one in particular. "I don't have any comfortable clothes to change into."
"Look at the forgetful me." Camilla smacked her forehead immediately, making Melanie jump in fright while Stefan chortled in amusement.
"I bought a few sets of clothes. I didn't have time to arrange them in your wardrobe. Let me fetch them for you."
Camilla didn't wait for Melanie. She turned back and climbed the stairs, and a few minutes later returned with a few paper bags.
"They are new. I hope they are comfortable." Melanie smiled at her, choosing to remain silent. Although her parents were trying their best to welcome her, an awkward air lingered between them. It would take some time for both sides to accept each other wholeheartedly.
Melanie wanted to ask something else. Before she could even open her mouth, her stomach rumbled loudly and her cheeks heated up, flustered to have found herself in such a plight.
This time, not just Stefan, even Camilla burst out laughing while Ezra stifled a smile. Though he was doubtful about Melanie's intentions, he couldn't help but find her cute.
"Someone seems to be quite hungry," Stefan teased, trying to ease his daughter's embarrassment. "Lannie, get changed. The dinner's almost ready. We just need to heat the food."
Melanie was too abashed to say anything. She turned on her heels and returned to her room, while Camilla went to the kitchen to heat the food.
"Well, she does make Mom and Dad smile," Declan remarked, his eyes following his mother. For the first time in three days, she was smiling happily, and that alone was enough for Declan to have a better opinion of his sister.
"I hope this is the true her. Otherwise, I don't know what I'll do," Castiel said, putting a leash on his dubious thoughts for the time being.
"I don't think she has any ill intentions towards us." Ezra's gaze was fixed on the stairs as he waited for Melanie to return.
"She better not," Castiel growled, his anger getting the best of him. He could tolerate anything, even being in the worst sort of pain. But if someone were to hurt his family, even if she was his biological sibling, he vowed to destroy her for even thinking about it.