Chapter 494
Melanie had been eating quietly until Reny called out to her.
She looked up. “What’s the matter?”
Reny smiled and said, “We were just discussing the participation quota for this year’s summit. We still think you should go, Melanie, I wanted to ask you about it that day, but I was too busy and didn’t have time.
“If you plan to stay in this industry, you need the necessary professional know–how. This is a good opportunity for you!”
Melanie did not expect her to bring up this topic again. She lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. This time, she did not reject her offer immediately. “It would be nice if I could participate.”
Oliver said, “If you want to go, we’ll make it happen.”
Melanie said nothing. She still had Dylan and Viola to worry about.
They moved on from the topic. Once the meal was over, Melanie was about to go to the study to work overtime when Xander called out to her.
She turned around and saw Xander frowning as he stood there looking at her. His voice was low. “I’m not a slavemaster. You don’t have to work so hard.”
It took Melanie a moment to realize what Xander meant.
She stopped in her tracks and turned back to him. “Oops. Did I tarnish your good reputation, Boss?”
Her tone was light and teasing. Xander’s eyebrows lifted and he chuckled. “Shall we go out for a walk? The rain has stopped. The air outside is fresh and clean.”
It had just rained, but the drainage system around the villa was well–maintained.
There was a bit of mud on the lawn but there were no other puddles on either side of the road.
Melanie took a deep breath of fresh air and felt her fatigue dissipate. She turned to Xander. ” Happy birthday.”
Xander asked, “Did Yvonne tell you about that?”
Melanie said, “I didn’t know before, so I didn’t prepare a gift for you.”
“There’s no need for that. It’s been a long time since I last celebrated my birthday.” Xander’s tone was calm, and there was no emotion on his face.
Melanie thought for a moment, then took out her phone and bought him a digital gift card. “ Check your phone.”
Xander raised his eyebrows when he saw the notification. “You didn’t have to.”
“Every birthday should come with a gift, no matter how small.” Melanie gazed at a street lamp in the distance. Her voice was gentle. “My grandfather taught me that.”
Xander paused for a moment and no longer refused the gift card. There was a ripple of
imperceptible warmth in his calm eyes.
He did not tell Melanie that the person who was supposed to celebrate his birthday never once remembered it after he turned seventeen.
That was why he did not want to celebrate his birthday anymore.
Two days later, Melanie worked overtime to amend Carla’s plan, then she went to the detention center with Stephen.
Only this time, they paid a visit to George instead of Dylan.
George had a wound on his forehead. Apparently, he sustained it after refusing to cooperate with a police officer on guard.
When he saw Melanie, his eyes were filled with poison. He glared at her viciously. “What are you doing here?”
Melanie raised her hand and rapped on the table, getting straight to the point. “Did you know that Viola went to see Dylan?”
“I know.” George snorted. There was a hint of shrewdness in his cloudy eyes. “I knew you would come to me about that. That idiot Dylan is still speaking up for that little bitch, right?”
Melanie’s face darkened. “So you do know.”
George had lost some weight since he was incarcerated. However, prison time did not dull his vicious edge in the slightest. Instead, he seemed even more sly and cunning.
His shifty eyes studied Melanie for a moment. Finally, he threw his hands up and said, “I know what you want to ask. I still have the evidence. Do you want it?”
