A Ruling Passion – Chapter 1778

Melanie drew a deep breath. “Well, then, Arianne. Do you actually believe that all a man needs to do to make a woman stay is to gift her a car, some fancy jewelry, some chic designer bags, what-have-you? Is that all what love amounts to? Oh, no... No. Men do that so that you’d wanna stay with them. Once you’ve gotten all pleased and charmed by their bait, he’ll revert to how he’s always been. Why? Because you’re just an objective, and he’s achieved it. Why even waste energy coddling you now? Don’t you see? There’s not a scintilla of genuine affection in it.

“I can tell, you know, if he loves me or not. I’m not seduced by all these materialistic trappings. I only ever wanted him, as a human being-be it Alejandro or Ethan. And yet, it doesn’t matter who he is, he simply isn’t mine. You don’t know the half of all those days and nights I’ve spent since I was bound to him by marriage, do you? I have had suitors-throngs of them, and I’ve never needed to lower myself to such submission, never needed to walk on tiptoes around any man. I’ve done so much for him. So, so much... So why is it that, at the end of the day, I’m still not in his heart?

“He just wants me to stay for the sake of his daughter. This is why the last ember of my hope has long died, Arianne. So, spare me all the platitudes of a spokesperson, you shouldn’t have.”

Even if Arianne were a master debater, Melanie’s reply had effectively hamstrung her arguments. At the end of the day, Arianne was never Melanie Lark; she had never lived a day with Alejandro, and she held no profound understanding about him.

“Are you absolutely, seriously — like, without a doubt — sure he’s never told you he likes you? Does he really hold nothing that could make you miss him when he’s gone?” Arianne asked finally.