Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law

Chapter 323: Fear

Melody felt a shiver of fear creep down her spine. Ever since last night,since the moment she’d opened her eyes and found Adam sitting silently beside her bed, she hadn’t let herself think things through too deeply. She hadn’t dared to. But as the night wore on and the room darkened around her, her thoughts began to settle and slip back into place. Reality returned in fragments, and with it came unease. noveldrama

She had dozed off briefly, only to be dragged back into consciousness by a nightmare. In it, the nurse had unwrapped the package and inside were the clothes. Her clothes in front of Adam. Who had immediately recognised them to not be Melanie’s and questioned her about her whereabouts.

A full-body jolt had snapped her awake, heart hammering. Thankfully, she hadn’t cried out. She had only jerked, her body stiffening in panic- but even that had been enough to catch Adam’s attention. He had been there, just as before, alert, watching her. The moment her eyes had fluttered open, he was already by her side, calm and composed, gently helping her lie back down. His touch had been careful and reassuring. She shuddered to think what could have happened if she had called out in her sleep.

After that, she hadn’t dared close her eyes again.

Could she really be this lucky? To have escaped Cadence’s people and ended up here, in Adam’s arms? The thought unsettled her because luck like this didn’t come twice. And she was now living through her second stroke of it.

Eventually, exhaustion had taken over, and sleep had crept up on her. But it hadn’t lasted long. She’d barely drifted off when Adam’s voice cut through the fog in her mind, pulling her up from rest once again. He’d told her her parents could come meet her.

That was what had brought the fear rushing back.

She clenched her hands under the blanket, staring at the door like it might swing open any moment. She wanted to bar it. Block it. Keep them out. All of them. But Adam had already gone—off to get breakfast, or so he’d said—and she knew what that meant. He wouldn’t be returning alone. He would be bringing food, yes, but also her parents.

Meeting them would be like walking a tightrope. One wrong step and it would all fall apart.

On the surface, she had little to fear. Her parents were eager to see "Melanie," and because they hadn’t seen her in years, they didn’t know her habits well. It was a gap in knowledge that Melody could use to her advantage.

As long as she played the part, stayed within the lines, smiled when expected, nodded when spoken to and answered basic questions, everything could go smoothly. Her father, Richard Thomas, was not a threat. Loving, yes, but not the most observant man when it came to his daughter. He had never paid attention to the subtle changes, never watched closely enough to spot anything wrong.

But her mother was another story.

Marianne Thomas had always been sharp. Shrewd. Too perceptive for comfort. She had known Melody inside out, seen through her moods. Even when Melody hadn’t said a word, Marianne could read her like an open book. That hadn’t changed. And now, if Melody slipped even once-if she said the wrong thing, hesitated too long, smiled too brightly—Marianne would see it. She would sense something off, something not quite Melanie.

And that was the danger.

Melody’s jaw tightened. She wasn’t ready. She needed more time, more space to breathe, to prepare. But the clock was already ticking, and the door could open at any moment. When it did, she had no choice but to play the role of a lifetime and hope she would be able to fool her mother.

Just then, the door creaked open.

Melody’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes snapping to the entrance. For a split second, her heart threatened to leap out of her chest—until she saw it was only Adam. Alone.

She barely let herself exhale.

He stepped inside quietly, shutting the door behind him as he smiled at her," I got you your favourite Mango-rice for breakfast."

She smiled and extended her hand to take the bag," Thank you,Adam.". But then almost dropped it when he continued," Melon. Robert and Marianne Thomas wanted to see you. I agreed on your behalf. They will be here soon."

Melody nodded slowly, not moving as the fear surged back but she forced herself to keep her face still. She heard him sigh and then walk to her, holding her hand carefully," I didn’t ask you. For that, I am sorry. I just thought that it might be comforting to them. With Melody missing... to at least be close to one daughter should be a little less painful. And since you were open to meeting them..."

Melody swallowed, her throat dry. It was coming. She had no choice now. But this was always going to happen-whether she was ready or not. And maybe, if she got through today, it would buy her more time.

"I’d like to meet them," she said at last in a soft voice. "I want to see my mother and father." With that, she hurriedly opened the bag and started to eat the food that Adam brought.

But Adam stared at her.

Not for a second or two—but long enough to make her uneasy as she felt his gaze on her after a few bites of her rice..He didn’t look to be accusing her but his gaze was just... focused. Quietly studying her face, as if maybe searching for something he couldn’t quite put into words.

Melody shifted under the blanket and raised her hand, patting her cheek awkwardly, trying to play it off with a faint smile. "What?" she asked, forcing a lightness into her voice. "Is something on my face?"

Adam blinked and gave a slight shake of his head, but his expression didn’t change. "No," he said after a pause. "I was about to ask you the same thing."

She tilted her head, puzzled. "The same thing?"

"If you’re okay."

The question caught her off-guard, and for a second, Melody forgot how to answer. Her fingers tightened slightly around the breakfast bag in her lap.

"I’m fine," she said quickly. "Why?"

Adam didn’t speak right away. He stood by the edge of her bed, arms crossed loosely now, his weight shifting as he studied her again.

"You just seem... different," he said, voice quiet but deliberate. "I can’t explain it. You look like you, sound like you—but something’s off."

A jolt of panic flared in her chest.

Different. That word rang in her ears like an alarm bell. Her smile froze for a second too long before she forced herself to laugh, but it sounded wrong even to her own ears.

"It’s because of the accident," she said hurriedly, eyes widening slightly. "I’m just... still shaken up. That’s all."

Before she could say anything else—before she could offer a safer excuse or redirect the conversation—a knock landed on the door, firmer this time. The handle turned without waiting for a reply.

Then they entered.

Richard and Marianne Thomas and even though she knew that the next few minutes of her life going to be extremely difficult, she breathed a sigh of relief that she had escaped his suspicion.