Chapter 64
Melina was startled, as those stairs were steep. If she fell, she’d definitely get hurt. And getting hurt would cost money to see a doctor or buy medicine.
In the split second before the fall, her mind was flooded with thoughts of expenses.
But the pain she expected never came. Someone caught her, and it was Andrew.
Melina froze and looked at Andrew. She was reminded of her childhood, of a jujube tree in the mountains where the kids would climb and play.
Parents would always stand below the tree with arms outstretched and ready to catch any child who might fall, except for her.
No matter how many times she fell or how hard she hit the ground, there was never anyone there to catch her. She learned to pick herself up and never expected to be
caught.
But now, Melina seemed to have returned to her childhood, falling from the jujube tree like other children, and for once, someone had caught her.
She gazed at Andrew a bit dazed. “Andrew, you…”
Melina wanted to ask Andrew something about their relationship, about what they really meant to each other.
“Andrew, are you okay? Please be careful!” Linda rushed over and looked at Andrew
with concern.
Melina swallowed her question and held it in.
Andrew gently set Melina back on her feet, like he was putting down a soft pillow. His fingers curled slightly, almost reluctant to let go.
He quickly composed himself and said in a distant tone, “Let’s go. The banquet’s starting.”
Linda and Andrew stood side by side.
Only then did it dawn on Melina that Linda had been picking out a gown for the same event. It seemed Andrew had intended for all three of them to go together.
Melina felt out of place at this moment.
Linda turned to her with a caring smile. “Ms. Crowford, be careful now. The gown so expensive, and it’d be a shame if anything happened to it.”
is
Andrew’s gaze settled on Melina’s gown.
With a hint of jealousy mixed in with her pout, Linda said, “Andrew, I wanted to help Ms. Crowford pick her dress, but you arranged for her to get something from the second floor. I’m so envious she gets to wear something so beautiful.
Gowns from the second floor were priced at least in the millions of dollars and were
reserved for those with status and wealth.
Andrew hasn’t been convinced of Melina till now. In his eyes, Melina wasn’t worth such an extravagant dress. His brow furrowed slightly. “I didn’t arrange that gown for
Melina.”
Melina froze. How could it not be Andrew’s going?
Linda’s eyes lit up as she jumped in. “Those gowns from the second floor are incredibly expensive, and they’re definitely not for just anyone. Could it be that Ms. Crowford met someone wealthy at Oakread?”
Her tone accused Melina of cozying up to a rich man.
Melina was also confused.
A gown worth millions! How could she ever wear something that costly without worrying about ruining it? And aside from Andrew, she didn’t know anyone else who could afford it.
“Who gave you that dress?”
The words seemed to echo her thoughts, but they came from Andrew, his deep and magnetic voice with an undercurrent of something darker, like a predator watching his prey.
Melina could feel the intensity, like a threat lurking beneath the surface, as though danger was only a breath away.
Instinctively, Melina stepped back.
Not because she feared him but because she knew things might escalate if she
didn’t retreat.
When Melina sensed danger, her first impulse was always to fight back. But she didn’t want to raise a hand to Andrew, so she backed off.
Melina shook her head with her lips pressed together. “I don’t know who gave me the
dress.”
