Love at the Door
Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Taking a deep breath, Melina entered the house. The first floor was empty. Even Dorothy wasn’t around.

Melina took the fish into the kitchen before wondering if she should sneak off as quietly as she’d arrived. However, she recalled her luggage. It was still in Andrew’s room, so she had to pack it up at least. Thus, she steeled herself and went upstairs.

During this hour of the day, if Andrew were home, he would be either downstairs or in

his bedroom.

Melina hadn’t lived with Andrew for long, but she was fairly familiar with his daily routine. For example, she knew that he rarely ever ate breakfast and usually spent the mornings sleeping in.

When she got upstairs, all was quiet. She walked to the bedroom and was about to

knock on the door when she hesitated.

If she saw Andrew, what should she say to him? He’d left with Linda yesterday.

“Would I end up seeing Linda if I opened the door?” Melina wondered to herself. The last time she wanted to leave Oakread, Andrew’s attitude had changed somewhat Would it change again now that she wanted to leave once more?

All sorts of thoughts raced through Melina’s mind. She retracted her hand, but moments later, she raised it again. Shaking her head, she murmured to herself, “Oh, Melina! What’s wrong with you? You’re not even afraid of wild animals, so why are you afraid of Andrew?”

And with that, she knocked on the bedroom door.

“You’re here.” Andrew’s raspy voice rang out behind Melina, who jumped in fright and hastily swiveled her head around.

Andrew wasn’t in his bedroom after all. He’d come out from his study. He was still dressed in yesterday’s clothes. It was as if he hadn’t slept a wink last night. His bloodshot eyes only served to make his gaze seem even more menacing.

Melina’s nervousness turned to shock. “What’s going on with you, Andrew?”

Instead of replying, Andrew asked, “Do you harbor resentment in your heart, Melina?”

Melina felt perplexed by the abrupt question. She assumed Andrew was talking about how he didn’t save her when she fell into the water yesterday. While she was upset about it, she didn’t resent him for it.

Just as she was about to respond with that, Andrew continued, “Do you resent your parents and all those relatives who refused to help you? What about those villagers who kicked you while you were down?”

Frowning, Melina asked, “Andrew, did you look into me? What are you trying to say?”

“Do you hate those who refused to help Joe Clay?”

Gaze sharpening, Melina snapped, “Andrew!

She was furious now. She could disregard her father’s abandonment, her extended family’s disdain, and the other people’s callousness in piling on to her misery. She didn’t let the fickleness of human compassion get to her, but Andrew should never have mentioned Joe.

Andrew could tell that she was angry, but he kept staring at her as asked once more, Do you resent them?”

Like a man possessed by his own demons, he seemed determined to unearth the demons in Melina’s heart too. He refused to believe that someone who’d gone through so much could still maintain a heart of joy and hope.

Melina’s expression was grim..“Andrew, have you never learned how to show any respect to another person? Since you looked into my past, you should know just how important Mr. Clay was to me. Yet, you insist on bringing him up and asking me if I harbor resentment for what happened. You’re vile.”

Andrew continued to stare into Melina’s eyes. He wanted to see resentment in them -and he got what he wanted.