Love Across Borders: Melinda’s Story - Season 1 Episode 12

Stanley used to not take any female partners along with him no matter what the occasion was, which was how he had steered clear of any rumors.
“Do you look unpresentable by any means?” he asked.
That immediately made the woman stare at him with her beautiful eyes.
Seeing this, he stated in a softer tone, “It is not like you are a mistress. You are legally Mrs. Fox. It is only a matter of time before you are known to the public.”
He was serious when he said this.
“But this is a contract marriage!” Melinda knew that no one would benefit from it if they made a big deal out of it.
“You are not only Mrs. Fox in name, though. The agreement is just to help you adapt to your new role. I don’t like forcing people.”
Melinda was speechless once again.
“Choose one.” Stanley took a quick glance at her. “Let me see what your taste is like.”
She knew that she had to do as he told her and appease him if she wanted to keep seeing the children.
“I can prove my taste just by picking something, huh? I am sure that the dresses that made it here aren’t just any ordinary dress.”
And so, Melinda carefully went through the dresses. When she saw a familiar-looking white dress with a unique and modern skirt, she pointed at it and stated, “I’ll go with this one.”
“You have great taste, Mrs. Fox.” The servant who took the dress couldn’t help but compliment her. “This is the latest piece by the famous designer, Emma. It is called Esmeralda.”
“It is not the latest one. This was from the last season,” Melinda corrected her.
The servant appeared somewhat embarrassed at that, but Stanley froze before he looked at Melinda with a curious gaze. However, he collected himself soon enough and instructed the servant to keep the dress aside.
“Yes, Mr. Fox.”
Melinda watched the servant push the rack away and to her surprise, she saw Stanley looking at her when she turned back around.
The way he stared at her made her nervous when their eyes met.
Right then, Gael gathered all the servants to the living room, and everyone stood in a row. Melinda felt her chest tighten out of nerves. What is he up to this time?
“She is my wife from now on. She is also the birth mother of Samuel and Pamela,” Stanley calmly announced with his hands behind his back as he stood there. “We have gotten our marriage certificate and we are in the midst of preparing for the grand wedding.”
“Pleased to meet your acquaintance, Mrs. Fox!”
Embarrassed, Melinda was quiet at first upon being stared at by so many pairs of eyes. “Hello, everyone. I’m Melinda Paisley,” she eventually replied. “It is… my pleasure.”
After that, Stanley headed off to the company, whereas Melinda went upstairs to look for the children.
As the Lamborghini drove to the Fox Group, Stanley, who was sitting in the back seat of the car, started feeling rather perplexed when he recalled a detail from just now.
Why would a woman helping the poor in a village know who Emma is?
Indeed, that dress was from the last season.
The ringing of his phone quickly pulled back his thoughts, and he lowered his eyes and looked at it before accepting the call.
“Stanley.” Monica was in a pleasant mood as she extended him an invitation. “I am back in the country. Should we attend the mayor’s daughter’s birthday banquet this afternoon together?”
“Don’t you know where the venue is?” he slowly asked in return.
“I do.”
“Then, why do you want to go together?” His attitude was distant as he continued, “I am bringing a partner. You should get someone else.”
He immediately ended the call after saying that.
…
The mayor’s daughter, Jessica Skarsgard, held the banquet for her 20th birthday in the beautiful and bright banquet hall of Hotel Victoria later that afternoon.
With the exquisite pastries, expensive red wine, live violin performances by famous Iternian musicians, and handsome waiters who shuffled through the crowd, this banquet was particularly grand.
There were also many luxury cars outside the hall.
The wives and ladies who had arrived chatted about flower arrangements, music, and art, and they would sometimes make a toast with each other.
“I heard that Mr. Fox is on the guest list tonight.”
“I have heard about it as well. Jessica confirmed it when I asked her.”
“Jessica sure is reputable to be able to get him to come.”
“Mr. Fox and the mayor are friends. It is nothing surprising for him to come attend the event.”
A Lamborghini soon stopped outside the hall before Stanley got out of the car. His every movement was somehow dripping with charm.
He only had one intention for bringing his wife and children with him today—he wanted to blow this matter up so badly that it made the headlines and also got his mother’s attention.
Melinda had an amazing body with feminine curves that were further accentuated by the beautiful dress on her. Not only did it make her appear slimmer than she was, but it also highlighted her astonishing beauty.
Stanley automatically draped his arm over her shoulders as the family of four entered the banquet hall.
The children were also dressed up as they happily marched along behind their parents with the bodyguards keeping them safe.
“Wow! Look at that! Mr. Fox brought a female companion!”
“Which noble family is that lady from? How lucky she is!”
“They are a match made in heaven! How gorgeous!”
“Are those children walking behind them? Why are they there?”
Melinda didn’t shrink back at all even though she heard the ongoing discussion around her. She was calm but for some reason, she started feeling awkward when she saw the photograph and name on the big poster in the venue.
It’s Jessica’s birthday?
Jessica had even called Melinda to invite her to the banquet just yesterday, but she had rejected the invitation because she was in an irritable mood.
But here she was, attending the very same banquet with Stanley.
Jessica was as dazzling and beautiful as a jewel in her red dress as she stood at the corner of the stairs. However, the moment she saw Melinda, she was more ecstatic than seeing Stanley. She hurried downstairs, holding her skirt in her hands.
“Be careful, Miss Skarsgard! Please don’t run!”
Jessica was so happy she immediately blurted out, “Melinda, why did you come? Is this your surprise for me?!” As Jessica stood still, her eyes widened in disbelief again when she saw Stanley’s hand over Melinda’s shoulder.
“What’s with the two of you?” Jessica was completely shell-shocked. There was no one on earth who didn’t know how Stanley stayed away from women.
“Daddy, Mommy!” Samuel perked up and waved at Jessica. “Hi, Jessi!”
“Samuel! Pamela!” Jessica then shrieked, “What did you just call them?!”
“Daddy and Mommy, of course! What’s wrong?”
The entire hall immediately fell silent. Every guest was dumbfounded by the news.