After locking herself in the villa for a day, Melinda started feeling antsy and probably needed a change of scenery. She felt as if everything was closing in on her and her thoughts were being suppressed by something that she had no control over.

As soon as Jonas got home from work, the scene that greeted him through the window, was Melinda pacing nervously in the living room, holding an animated conversation with herself as if she was trying to give herself a pep talk or chastising herself. She looked beautiful wearing a simple long white shirt and a pair of white slippers, a tight frown permanently plastered on her face.

Her hair stuck to both sides of her temples, probably from the light sweat she had worked up, due to her nervous pacing. Her fingers looked delicate and beautiful, wrapped around a pen that she would occasionally nibble whenever she was in deep thought. The scene was quite alluring for Jonas as he tried to gulp in air feeling as if his lungs were being pressed by a metal band.

'Damn it! How can this girl look so tempting today?'

Completely ignorant of the salacious looks and thoughts that Jonas had been throwing her way, Melinda briskly turned around and bumped into a wall of flesh. She rubbed her head, and then looked up in confusion. Her eyes immediately met Jonas's deep set glacial blue eyes that were dancing with mischief and unrestrained heat, clearly reflecting his naughty thoughts.

"It's you... What are you doing here?"

Clenching the pen in her hand like a shield, Melinda looked at Jonas cautiously. They had been married for five years and she was familiar with the way he always looked at her with disgust. But the look in his eyes was different this time. She couldn't pin what had changed, and all she knew was that he was making her feel weird.

"All of a sudden, I want to bury myself deep inside you."

Jonas grinned crudely, in a playful yet serious manner. Once Melinda heard his words, she uncontrollably checked out the offensive body part that was being referred to.

She swallowed nervously, and quickly jumped back like a frightened rabbit, and made a sharp turn, as she instantly changed their topic of discussion. "Grandpa asked us to have dinner with him tonight. I have to change my clothes first."

Melinda then disappeared in a flash. Hearing her words, Jonas burst into hearty laughter in a deep and cheerful voice. His attitude also baffled him, since he was having too much fun at Melinda's expense.

Melinda wore a silk dress which hugged her body like a glove, peppering soft sensual kisses on her body with every step she made. Her hair was braided in classy little buns and then delicately piled in an intricate up do. She looked very different and slightly maturer than before. Jonas was still looking dapper in a suit although he hadn't put much effort. They went to the main villa together walking side by side giving the impression that they were a couple intimately in love. Nelson was patiently waiting for them.

When they walked in they saw Yulia also sitting at the table. Her mood instantly changed as soon as she saw Melinda. Melinda pursed her lips as if trying to control her emotions and silently sat at the farthest position from Yulia.

As Jonas looked at Melinda's careful movements, moving around silently like a caged animal, the cold and hard corners of his mouth softened.

The meal was a little dull and tense with everyone absorbed in their own thoughts, although Melinda tried to make sure that everyone was getting along harmoniously. She even went as far as possible to take care of Yulia, cordially passing anything that she needed, and putting bits of food in her plate whenever her plate was empty although their relationship was a little awkward.

At the table, Nelson scolded Jonas as usual, complaining that he was busy working too much. He had even forgotten how to take care of a woman and wasn't giving Melinda the necessary care that she needed.

Early the next morning, when Melinda sleepily walked into the living room, she was shocked to see someone sitting in the living room. She rubbed her eyes, thinking that maybe she was still dreaming, but when she opened her eyes again, he was still there. "Didn't you go to work?"

"I'll be staying home with you today."

Jonas had thought of how pretty and tempting Melinda looked the day before in the living room, and felt that what Nelson said made sense. He needed to pay more attention to her, so he decided to take a holiday to keep Melinda company for the day.

"I don't need your company, I am perfectly fine on my own."

Melinda was not trying to act out or play coy, she was actually t

did not refuse. He went along with her schemes. She booked a romantic dinner for the first night, prepared a full film screening for the second night and went jewelry shopping accompanied by Jonas for the third date. The paparazzi and gossip media were on fire with every minute detail of their dates.

Jonas's schedule was quite busy; he was either slaving away at the company or spending more and more time with Emily, and rarely went back home most of the time. Therefore, he seldom saw or talked with Melinda. Emily was finally getting more comfortable and bold considering that he wasn't mentioning Melinda so much anymore.

The phone in the Gu's mansion was instantly connected to William, which was right on time like clockwork. William was cornered and his fancy excuses no longer worked.

"This stupid boy claims to be too busy to come home and yet he has enough time to hang out with those nonsensical people."

Nelson was livid with rage and spewing every despicable name he could think of with reference to his grandson as he leaned on his crutches for support. He had reduced Jonas's workload so that Jonas could spend more time with Melinda and build their relationship, yet the boy was busy gallivanting around town with another girl on his arm.

Jonas had been spending a lot of time with Emily, which annoyed Nelson to no end.

The next day, Emily called to make an appointment with Jonas as usual, but William answered the phone. William gently informed her that Mr. Gu was very busy at that moment and didn't want to be disturbed by idlers.

Jonas did not complain about the sudden heavy workload. He took it up in stride although he was sure that Nelson was behind the sudden increase in responsibilities.

Melinda still lived her usual reclusive life like an old person. She lived in her own villa with a very predictable schedule which included, waking up, writing and reading. She didn't care about what was happening outside her little world although she had been hearing a few rumors and gossip here and there.

If it was in the past, she would have been very hurt but now she really wasn't affected much. She touched her chest and it still felt a little heavy although now the pain was very minimal and much bearable than before.

Melinda stared at the screen of the computer she was working on. The insert cursor on the computer screen kept acting up and flickering, and she couldn't type a word. In the end, she gave up and closed the computer silently.

Jonas had been very busy of late, attending endless meetings and signing mountains of documents that needed his personal attention. William as his secretary had to keep him company and clock in a lot of overtime since he was just as busy. He secretly hated Emily arguing that if the woman hadn't pestered Jonas, demanding so much of his time, Nelson wouldn't have been so furious with his boss, and wouldn't have increased their workload, pulling William into their mess.

By the time the light in the office was dimmed, it was already twelve o'clock in the night. Jonas exhausted, rubbed his eyebrows and forced a bitter smile.