Mel
"That's the report on your wife," Sheldon informed me in a neutral tone.
"In the end, he chose her," I murmured, my heart in pieces, feeling how every word broke on my lips.
Sheldon remained silent, and his silence was the confirmation I needed.
"It will always be her, won't it?" I whispered, my eyes brimming with tears. "If you had chosen me… if only…" —I bit my lip— "There are so many things I wanted to show you, so many things you never got to know about me… and I about you." —I clenched my fists in frustration— "But not in this life. I hope, with any luck, it will be in the next."
I swallowed hard and took a deep breath to keep myself from breaking.
"I just wanted to know that she was okay," I continued softly. "I never intended to follow her or spy on her. My only intention was to make sure nothing happened to her because she hadn't gone out for days. And unintentionally… I found out that you chose her."
I stayed silent for a few seconds, feeling the ache in my chest, and even with that pain, I knew I had only one thing to do.
"It's time to speak with my grandfather. Sheldon, please, ask Robert to tell him I'll be coming today…"
"Your grandfather is already here," he interrupted.
"What? Sheldon, why did you call him without my consent?" I looked at him, annoyed, trying to maintain my composure.
"I'm sorry, Mel," he apologized, leaving the room quickly.
My grandfather arrived shortly after, full of his usual energy, smiling from ear to ear.
"Mel!" he greeted me with a kiss on my cheek. "But what are you doing here, darling? You should be with your wife, not in the office. I have everything under control, so go back with…"
"I'm going to divorce Judith," I interrupted abruptly, without thinking too much.
The expression on his face changed instantly; confusion and bewilderment appeared in his eyes.
"What are you talking about? Why would you say that?" he asked, raising his voice. "Have you forgotten that…?"
"I know what you can do, Grandfather," I interrupted firmly. "But this time, you'll have to accept that I will divorce her because…"
"Why would you do that?" he bellowed, cutting me off again.
"Because I fell in love with my wife," I finally said, my soul torn. "But she already loves someone else. And you put me in this situation. It's not the same as you and my grandmother," I raised my voice, almost breaking.
My grandfather looked at me silently, and slowly, his expression softened.
"If that's the problem, you don't need to worry about that. She won't leave your side," he assured me, trying to convince me.
I shook my head, holding back tears.
"No, Grandfather. You won't force her. I would never be with her if it were out of obligation. At least you could understand that it would be even more painful than it already is now."
My grandfather lowered his gaze, distressed. It was the first time I had seen him like this, admitting he had done something wrong. He clenched his fists, powerless.
"Mel… are you sure about this?" he asked, a trace of hope in his voice. "Have you spoken to her?"
"I have," I replied almost in a whisper. "And she chose him. It will always be him, Grandfather."
I felt my words breaking, dragging with them the little air left in my chest.
Tears began to fall down my face; I could no longer hold them back. I felt my chest burning, as if each sob tore a piece of the little that remained of me.
"I've never asked you for anything," I said, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. "I've always been and done what you asked… and just this once, could you make me divorce her and return the company to her family?" I pleaded, my voice trembling.
My grandfather's silence was not a good sign. I knew him too well; that fixed gaze, that tense jaw… it meant he wouldn't accept my request. I felt a knot in my stomach, but I still had one last card. I had nothing to lose. Perhaps, with any luck, I could gain something if I managed to fall in love later with whoever he chose for me.
"Grandfather, if you do this for me, I promise I will accept any arranged marriage you plan in the future. But just make sure it's someone who doesn't already have anyone. I won't put up any obstacles or resist. I'll marry that person and continue doing what you ask," I offered coldly, though inside I was falling apart.
I didn't expect my grandfather to look at me with that expression of bewilderment. Perhaps he thought I was lying, but I wasn't. I had already accepted my fate. At least I knew what it meant to love, I thought with a crooked, bitter but real smile.
"I give you my word, Grandfather, that it will be so," I assured him with unwavering determination.
He sighed deeply, almost in resignation.
"All right, Mel Castle. You will divorce Judith, and I will return everything to the Prestons," he finally agreed.
"Thank you, Grandfather," I said, my voice mixing relief and melancholy. "Could I tell them myself tomorrow that you're returning everything?" I asked cautiously.
"No, Mel, you won't," he replied firmly. "Tomorrow I'll tell them the company is back in their hands and hand over the divorce papers. You'll also have to go to the Hawaii branch for a while, to calm the board about your divorce. Then you'll return to resume the presidency. And after a few months, when you take command again, you…" —he paused for a few seconds before concluding— "you'll announce your new engagement, which you will no longer be able to break."
"Yes, Grandfather," I responded resignedly. "If you don't mind, I'll leave for Hawaii today. I'll notify my parents when I'm there. I don't want questions right now," I said, exhausted, almost breathless.
"All right," he agreed, understandingly, though I saw a trace of sadness in his eyes.
With everything said, he left. Minutes later, I did too, straight to the airport. The silence in the car was my only company, as I tried not to think of her… but every thought brought me back to her smile.
So, just as my grandfather promised, he returned everything to the Prestons and also gave Judith the divorce papers. Nothing connected us anymore. She could continue with Amber, and I… well, I accepted my fate: to marry a complete stranger.
The only problem now was the board. They were extremely upset and demanded that I face them, but my grandfather made sure to tell them I was going through a very difficult divorce. In a way, it wasn't a lie, because I felt terrible.
And, to be honest, the pain didn't lessen. Every day that passed, I missed her more. My grandfather literally sent Sheldon to take care of me, and a few days later, Sara joined him.
"I'd forgotten how good alcohol tastes," I slurred, taking my second bottle, trying to let the burn in my throat replace the one in my heart.
"It doesn't taste good, Mel. Please, we really need to go," Sheldon pleaded, visibly tired, looking at me with a mixture of concern and exasperation.
"I'm here," Sara arrived by my side.
"Mel, again," she scolded, exhausted. "Sheldon, I asked you to watch her, not let her drink again."
"I just went to the bathroom at the restaurant and then she disappeared… I looked everywhere until I found her here," Sheldon excused himself, calm but nervous.
I couldn't listen to their argument any longer. Everything blurred, and I lost consciousness, letting the last three months of my life flash before my eyes in an instant: drinking in different cities across the country, accompanied only by Sheldon and Sara, trying to forget, trying not to think of Judith.
At least that way, I didn't have to think of her. I knew it wasn't healthy, but I was truly suffering; I missed her more than I ever thought possible.
Those days of emotional chaos came to an end when my parents finally found me. They scolded me; they felt the problems I hadn't given them as a teenager, I was now giving them as an adult. I just clenched my fists and, with a lump in my throat, said:
"I'm only doing this because I miss her," my tears falling uncontrollably.
My parents understood why, but they didn't know how to help me. They simply comforted me and made sure I wasn't alone. I spent two more months with them, like a small vacation, trying to recover. During all that time, I hadn't seen my grandfather.
He must have been busy with the company and looking for a candidate —I thought, my stomach turning at the thought. Hours later, my grandfather called to tell me that I would have to resume the presidency tomorrow.
So soon —I thought, but didn't say aloud—. Apparently, there were some issues, so I just said yes.
My parents weren't in agreement. My father called my grandfather, and I don't know what he said, but he also accepted my return. Apparently, they needed all of us.
That same night we returned to the city; it was around eleven. The moment I saw my grandfather, I noticed he was tired, exhausted. Without much preamble, he explained the situation.
"The Preston company is giving us a commercial beating," he commented gravely. "Since Judith took over as CEO, she has been doing everything possible to destroy us."
A chill ran down my spine. Reality hit me. I was stunned; that wasn't Judith. She wasn't like that.
"She isn't like that," I whispered, incredulous, running my trembling hands over my face.
"The numbers are there for a reason, Mel," my grandfather scolded firmly.
I reviewed them, and it was clear: she was destroying us. But… why? We had ended things amicably, she was back with Amber, and I could even swear she should be happier than ever now.
"Grandfather, did you say anything when you returned the company?" I asked cautiously, fearing the answer.
My mind searched for an explanation: had my grandfather threatened them to act this way?
"No, Mel. I just told them we were going to be rivals like before, even enemies. But I didn't threaten them," he said, looking annoyed.
"It doesn't make sense," my mother said, equally puzzled. "Look at these numbers; it's as if…"
"They wanted to sink us," my father finished the sentence, and a chill ran through my body.
Everything pointed to that. Had she secretly harbored resentment all along? Was everything we lived through just so I would return everything to her? I shook my head forcefully, desperate: no, she wasn't like that.
My grandfather was already giving orders: my parents would divide between two branches, he would go to another, and I would stay as president to handle the problems and rumors about Judith. If anyone spread any malicious rumors, the board would think Judith had manipulated us to extract information from the company, and that's why we were in the worst financial state of the century.
I stayed reviewing all the papers: numbers, accounts, finances, marketing… absolutely everything, with Sheldon by my side. My parents and grandfather had already left, leaving a heavy silence, broken only by the ticking clock marking seven in the morning.
"Sheldon, do you think she deceived me?" I asked while going over the balance sheets.
"Everything indicates she did," he nodded. "I'd tell you that as your assistant. But if you ask me personally, I'd say she's killing herself to get your attention."
I looked up from the papers, stunned by the craziness of his words.
"Why would she want my attention?" I asked, though a thought crossed my mind. "Are you saying she wants me to pay for what happened between her and me?" I spoke, frightened.
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "That's why I told you to meet her that time she came to see you," he reminded me, and the weight of uncertainty crushed me for a moment.
The day she sought me out, I couldn't see her. I knew that if I did, I wouldn't let her go… and that would mean I would do everything possible to make her stay by my side, no matter what.
"It's time to go," Sheldon warned, interrupting my thoughts.
I didn't even have time to change. I had to go to the company in the same clothes I arrived in. Both Sheldon and I looked like zombies, with deep dark circles and pale faces, but there was no time for excuses or showing weakness. The meeting began, and most of the board was visibly upset. Without much hesitation, I took the floor:
"I'll resolve it. I just need a little time," I said, determined, though my voice sounded cold and cutting.
"We're out of time," an annoyed partner spoke, crossing her arms impatiently.
"I've never failed you, and I never will…" I tried to remain calm.
"There's never been an infiltrator in our company, and worse, from a direct rival company, which is currently destroying us," another partner bellowed, his voice loaded with accusation.
"Are you implying that I gave all our secrets to…?" I asked, alarmed.
"Your ex-wife, yes, exactly," he said, irritated.
"I never did that," I defended myself, standing up firmly.
"Then she just deceived you and left, now harming us," another partner continued, his tone accusatory.
"That's enough!" I raised my voice, letting the fire in my eyes speak for me. "In case you've forgotten, this is my family's company. I would never do anything to harm it. If you want to believe me, fine; if not, you know where the door is. I don't need people who complain without offering solutions. And in case you didn't know, the Preston daughter has also prepared her whole life to be CEO of the rival company, and even though she's my ex-wife, it won't stop us from being rivals as we always have been," my words burned as fury coursed through every line of my body.
Everyone fell silent until the senior partner of the board spoke, her voice calm but firm:
"Mel, I trust you." She supported me with a sympathetic glance. "I consider this meeting adjourned, since no one here is going to provide solutions," she concluded.
Some left grumbling, and all I could do was clench my fists, powerless.
The senior partner approached me once everyone had gone and left me with words that made my heart ache deeply:
"I'm sorry, darling. Your divorce… it's clear you love her, but I hope one day you find another girl to whom you can give your heart again." She gently stroked my arm and left.
My eyes grew glassy, but I held back my tears. I rubbed my eyes hard; it was time to work and face all the problems piling up in the company. I knew it would be hard, because I was literally going to face a genius.
Weeks went by in which I barely remembered what the streets looked like in the morning, since I arrived at the office very early and left almost at dawn. Every day was an endless battle, where strategies, numbers, and meetings collided without pause.
And, just as I had predicted, facing Judith was going to be a headache… and also a pain in the ass. It was like a constant war: I attacked with full force, and she counterattacked with equal intensity.
"Damn it, I don't know what she wants," I murmured frustratedly, lightly tapping the table with my fingers. "We could easily be equal in sales, but she always wants more," I complained.
Sheldon looked exhausted. For his bad luck, he had to help me. All he kept saying was that he didn't want to take another vacation if it meant working afterward on this horrible schedule.
"Don't you think it's time to talk to her?" Sheldon said, with a hint of eloquence.
"Sheldon, you always give me good ideas, but this is the first time you've given me a terrible one," I responded, exhausted.
"She must just be upset because you didn't see her, boss. So go and talk to her," he urged, tired.
"Sheldon, I know you're exhausted. If you want, go rest, but I'm not going to talk to her," I said, feeling the weight of fatigue in every word.
"Why not?" he asked, annoyed.
"What do you want me to say?" I muttered, rubbing my temple. "'Judith, could you stop fighting me on business matters because I'm tired?' Or, 'Judith, are you upset because I didn't see you? Here I am, let's talk, but let me rest from this pointless fight.'"
"That's a good idea," Sheldon affirmed. "Mel, you know very well that you have to talk to her, if only to let her tell you that she used you… which I doubt, because if that were the case, why would she have called me over thirty times on my cell? And if not more, it's because you told me to change my number," he reminded me, with a hint of reproach. "Of course she's furious. You left, didn't talk to her, and disappeared for almost half a year. No, wait, for her, you're still disappeared."
"Go rest, Sheldon," I ordered.
I returned to focus on the papers and numbers awaiting me, trying to ignore the knot in my chest and the tension Judith provoked even from a distance.
"You're so stubborn, boss! Just like her," Sheldon muttered as he left, arms crossed and frowning.
Alone in my office, I spent several minutes thinking about what Sheldon had told me about my immature behavior. What Judith was planning was another matter; the important thing was to understand what she wanted. If her intention was to destroy us, I needed to know to be prepared and work toward a point of equilibrium, although, honestly, I found it a bit difficult.
So I decided: I would go see Judith the next day at her company, just to have her confirm what was so obvious: that she wanted to take down Castle Enterprises.
At nine in the morning, I headed to Judith's company. I wasn't sure if she would see me without an appointment, but if she didn't, at least I could schedule one for another day. I greeted the receptionist, who seemed a little hostile upon hearing my name; still, she called Judith's secretary and, after a few minutes, indicated I could come in, with a small malicious smile that sent a shiver down my spine.
I arrived where Judith's secretary was, along with her assistant, both looking almost as exhausted as I felt.
"Good morning," the assistant greeted. "I'm Mrs. Judith's assistant. She's expecting you," she informed me neutrally.
"Yes, thank you," I replied, trying to control my nervousness.
"Georgina, where's my cousin? She can't keep giving me more work, I'm going to collapse or die from so much work," complained a girl.
It was Judith's cousin; I had never seen her before, but she looked as worn out as everyone else I had seen on the way up.
"Mrs. Judith is busy right now, Miss Margot," said the secretary, looking at me.
Judith's cousin stared at me for a few seconds before smiling:
"You're Mel Castle?" she asked, curious.
"Good morning, yes, that's me," I replied.
"Wow, you're even prettier in person than in the photos they take of you," he smiled mischievously. "By the way, if my cousin doesn't kill you in there, I will," he added, turning around and walking away.
I swallowed hard. What was that? Judith's assistant almost imperceptibly pushed me forward, forcing me to enter her boss's office. Every step I took made my heart beat faster, fully aware that what I was about to face wouldn't be easy.
I entered a little scared, but quickly told myself: what are you afraid of? She's not going to scold you, it's not like we're anything. Besides, her assistant said "Mrs. Judith," which must mean she was married again, this time to Amber.
I clenched my fists and walked firmly toward her, seeing her sitting with her back to me. The only thing she could do was threaten me, I thought before speaking.
"Good morning, Judith," I greeted without hesitation.
"I thought you'd never come in, preferring to chat with my cousin," she said, annoyed.
She turned in her chair, and although I didn't want to admit it, my heart started pounding in my chest. She looked beautiful… maybe even more so; apparently, her marriage to Amber made her glow more than ever.
She suddenly stood up, approaching me with firm steps, then grabbed my shirt with both hands.
"Do you know how long it's been, Mel Castle?" she demanded, gripping my shirt in fury.
............
Narrator
What Mel didn't know was that, just as Sheldon had said, Judith was doing all of this to get her attention. It took over six months for Mel to come looking for her, because she had never received her. Judith was so desperate that she enlisted her whole family for help, without exception; even her cousins cooperated when they saw how hopelessly in love she was with Mel.
Deep down, everyone recognized that Judith seemed more in love than when she was with Amber, so they decided to support her in the company as well, to make sure Mel returned, at least to help her grandfather.
Judith didn't just seek family support; she reached out to her friends, those she had distanced herself from or pushed away. She contacted them, telling them everything that had happened, and Georgina and Rosaline—now her secretary and assistant—helped her not only emotionally but also in managing the company, so she could make Mel come back.
However, no one anticipated that it would take more than six months before Mel returned. Everyone was exhausted, ready to give up, but seeing Judith's determination, they couldn't leave her alone.
None of this would have happened if Mel had spoken to Judith earlier, or if Grandpa Castle hadn't intervened.
Months ago, he had approached Mel thinking he was delivering good news, thinking of forming a family with Judith. However, her divorce request left him confused. What he didn't understand was that during the holidays, they seemed like two teenage girls in love, and then suddenly Mel told him:
"Because I fell in love with my wife, who already has someone she loves, and you put me in this situation. She's not the same as you and my grandmother"—and everything painfully made sense.
The only thought that crossed patriarch Castle's mind was: I should have guessed it when Sheldon called, saying he needed to talk to Mel about something important.
It was never his intention to see his granddaughter so devastated as he was now, but what destroyed him was her offer. In short, she was sacrificing herself so that the woman she loved could have everything back and be happy. Something had broken inside his granddaughter; she wasn't the type to marry without love, just for convenience. Yet, she was willing to do it just to see Judith happy.
The patriarch knew he had to act. He decided to speak to the Preston daughter, hand her the divorce papers, and ask her never to appear in front of his granddaughter again.
The next day, he went to the Preston house, and they had to call Judith to come. Patriarch Castle only thought she should be with Amber, since, according to Nicholas's report, she hadn't slept at the mansion. The patriarch's blood boiled. Without further ado, he began to speak:
"I'm returning the company to the Prestons," he said firmly and decisively.
The Prestons were stunned; they didn't understand what was happening.
"I'm doing this because my granddaughter asked me to. So, from now on, if our companies were eternal rivals, now we will be enemies," he declared, leaving everyone in shock.
Amid those words, Judith arrived, sensing the tension in the air. The patriarch looked at her and stepped forward with Robert, who extended the divorce papers.
Judith, not understanding, took the papers Robert offered her.
"These are the divorce papers. Sign them, and this will all be over, both for you and for Mel," Rupert warned.
Judith was in shock, thinking: is Mel asking me for a divorce?
Robert offered her a pen to sign, but Judith, still stunned, didn't take it and handed the papers back to Robert.
"I will not sign anything," she said firmly.
"I've already returned everything to your family. If that was your concern or your obstacle to signing the papers, it's no longer a problem," the patriarch replied angrily.
"I will not sign until I speak with Mel," Judith responded determinedly, not lowering her gaze.
Grandpa stepped closer, his voice full of authority and anger:
"That's enough! The damage you caused my granddaughter is beyond words. Sign the papers and then forget what happened. I won't do anything if you never appear in my granddaughter's life again."
Judith, caught between a rock and a hard place, took the pen and signed the papers, but not with her real signature. She needed to buy time to talk to Mel, and this was the only solution she found in that entire situation.
As soon as Mel's grandfather left, she tried calling her, but there was no answer. She tried Sheldon, who didn't answer either. The next day, Sheldon changed his number; through some contacts, she learned that Mel was in Hawaii and went to where she was, but Mel didn't see her. The following day, Sheldon told her that Mel had left—a cruel lie he told her—before rushing off, explaining he was late to deliver some important papers.
After Mel left for Hawaii, Judith lost all trace of her. As a last resort, she sought her friend Sara, who, unfortunately, wasn't working because she was on vacation. For several nights of crying and anguish, Judith decided she was going to make Mel talk to her, by force if necessary. She had already tried it kindly; now it would be by compulsion.
She worked tirelessly so that Mel would have no other choice but to return to the presidency. She did this for several months. When the receptionist informed her that Mel wanted to see her, Judith felt that all her efforts had been worth it. A small tear of happiness slipped from her eye, and without hesitation, she asked to be let in.
The waiting that Mel had made her endure by avoiding her would now be repaid tenfold.
Judith wasn't the only one who wanted to make Mel pay. Everyone at Preston Enterprises was frustrated because they had worked almost from sunrise to sunset just to bring Mel back to Judith. That's why, when they recognized her going up to the office, they looked at her annoyed, though somewhat relieved, knowing that if Mel returned, they would stop working like slaves.
Judith's excitement overflowed. She rose from her chair, but before taking a step, she heard Mel greeting her cousin with the same calm and peaceful voice she always used. This irritated her. While she had been working herself to exhaustion to get her attention, Mel was completely calm, as if… she swallowed the bitter thought before finishing it… as if she didn't care.
More than angry, she was furious. When Mel entered, she couldn't help but approach her with firm steps and grab her by the shirt, showing all her frustration. In her mind, she couldn't understand how Mel remained so calm while she had almost enslaved her employees just to get a little of her attention.