Love Across Borders: Melinda’s Story - Season 1 Episode 9

“This is not a negotiation. I am announcing this. There is zero chance of you taking the children with you. The law will definitely give them to me. You can try if you don’t believe me.” Despite Stanley’s emotionless words, his tone was awe-inspiring without him having to get angry.
Just as he expected, Melinda’s expression began to change.
Still, she tried her best to stay calm. Her opponent was Stanley Fox, after all. There was nothing a man of his influence and power in Riverdale couldn’t do.
She started panicking when she realized that she had no control over how this was going to end.
“You can give it some thought.” His gaze suddenly deepened as he murmured, “But I should remind you that there is nothing I want that I can’t have.”
A speechless Melinda suddenly felt like a deflated balloon the moment she heard those words.
It felt as though time had stopped for a few seconds.
Taking the agreement from him, she lifted her eyes to look into his. “Why are you trying to get married so badly?”
“Because I can’t hide the fact that I have children for long,” he confessed. “I don’t want the public to talk about how I am someone with a messy private life.” This was something Stanley was sensitive about because of his father.
“But a loveless marriage that is only kept because of an agreement can only last so long!” Melinda wanted to talk him into giving up on his idea.
His aloof, handsome face turned frigid that instant. “How are you planning to pay me back for the seven years you kept the birth of our children from me?”
She was slightly apprehensive by his overall demeanor. Hence, she had no choice but to compromise so that she didn’t anger the man if she wanted to see the children.
With that, she started reading through the agreement in front of his very eyes.
1. Must be home before 7.00PM.
2. Must play the part of parents who are in love in front of the children.
3. Prohibited from having close contact with the opposite sex. In case of reputation damage upon being caught by the media, a divorce will ensue, and Melinda Paisley will lose all rights to see the children.
4. Must announce to the public that Stanley Fox and Melinda Paisley have been secretly married for seven years.
…
Melinda had a small frown on her face by the time she finished going through the agreement. “Isn’t all this to tie me down? What about you? Can you do as the agreement says?”
“Yes.”
Once again, time seemed to have stopped when their eyes met.
Boom!
The sound of thunder came from the clouds before a glaring bolt of lightning flashed outside the window.
It was still raining cats and dogs.
Even though Melinda was reluctant, she eventually gave in for the children’s sake.
Stanley then passed her a pen as he knew that she would sign the agreement.
After she took the pen from him, she was in a daze throughout the entire process she placed her signature on the paper.
“Daddy! Mommy!”
When Melinda heard that, she immediately turned around and saw Samuel walking into the study while holding Pamela’s hand. Overwhelmed by emotions, she lowered herself to their height and reached out to pull them into a hug.
“Daddy said that the both of you are married.” Samuel’s eyes were gleaming with excitement as he asked, “Is it true, Mommy?”
On the other hand, Pamela was twirling the locks of Melinda’s hair around her fingers as she asked in her childishly sweet voice, “Mommy, our family of four won’t ever have to part from now on, right?”
The children’s eagerness broke Melinda’s heart. They must have waited day and night throughout six years for this day…
“That’s right. We won’t be apart anymore.” She was filled with all sorts of emotions now. She felt that she owed the children too much of what they deserved.
“Yay!”
Samuel was so ecstatic that he hopped around.
Meanwhile, Stanley was looking at this when he frowned, his gaze deepening.
He only wanted to take on his responsibility as a father. He didn’t want to be chased around by the media and have them make him feel like he was a scumbag like his father was.
“Mommy, I am sleepy.” The boy looked up at Melinda while in her arms. “Ms. Veronica prepared a super pretty children’s room for us! Would you like to come and take a look?”
“Let’s go!” Pamela tugged Melinda toward the door. “And there is a big wind chime that sings!”
With that, the children led her to the children’s room, which was indeed carefully decorated.
Melinda felt relieved upon seeing how happy her children were. There was nothing in this world that was more important to her than her children.
It was worth it even if she had to sacrifice her happiness to make it up to the children.
“Mommy, you have to sleep with Daddy tonight!” Samuel mentioned before sensibly adding, “You haven’t seen each other for seven years. I am sure you have a lot to say to one another.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Melinda caressed her son’s head.
Pamela then looked up as she echoed, “Mommy, you have to sleep together since you are married. There aren’t any extra rooms here!”
These brats are even worrying about our sleeping arrangements?
“Mommy, let me take you to Daddy’s room!” Samuel happily grabbed Melinda’s hand again before he pushed her into the master bedroom.
Stanley was still standing in the same spot with his hands in his pockets, his face and aura cold.
After the children let go of Melinda, they turned around and left, not forgetting to close the bedroom door out of consideration. Melinda felt her heart jump the moment the door closed.
Under the bright light of the room, the eyes of the two adults met.
Melinda was instantly overwhelmed by embarrassment as she never even thought of throwing herself at Stanley.
“Since we are married, and it is obviously stated in the agreement that we have to act like we are in love in front of the children…” His sexy lips parted as he purred, “It is only a matter of time before we sleep together.”
He turned around and left for the bathroom right after he threw that out.
Melinda only recovered when she heard the sound of running water. For some reason, she suddenly felt nervous as she looked in the direction of the bathroom.
Because of a marriage agreement, she was entangled with the man she had been hiding from for the past seven years.
She feared she might never get away from him again in this lifetime.
The only way she could get divorced was by bringing shame to the Fox Family. However, she would never see her children again if that were to happen.
Stanley soon finished his shower and came back into the room with only a towel around his waist.
“Ah!” The sight startled Melinda so much that she quickly covered her eyes and turned around, her heart pounding as if horses were galloping in her chest.