CHAPTER 378: HOW COULD LOVE TURN INTO HATE?

Tears streamed down Derek’s face as he drove away from the Young residence. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, sniffing hard, his chest tight with so many emotions he could no longer name.

Was he angry?

Insulted?

Sad?

Disappointed?

Or did he just feel pathetic after hearing everything Melissa had said?

He couldn’t tell which came first. All he knew was that every emotion—named and unnamed—had crumpled together into one gigantic knot inside him, ready to burst.

"All this time... was that all I was to her?" he muttered. "Just a Lancaster she could leech on?"

He should have asked that when he had the chance, but he’d been too stunned by her words and actions. That hateful look on her face—as if she had never loved him—hurt more than anything he could put into words.

Again, he questioned every word and every action she had shown him over the years.

The words he once believed in. The actions he once thought were true.

This time, he couldn’t justify or make excuses for her. The truth was clearer than daylight, and she had left him no room for doubt. Had he not heard her with his own ears, had she not said everything she did, maybe—just maybe—he would’ve had something to hold on to.

Maybe he would’ve forgiven her for not being honest. Maybe he would’ve given their relationship another chance.

After all, Melissa and Derek rarely fought. Even when problems arose, they always made up quickly. This was their first real fight, and deep in his heart, he’d hoped they would make it through.

That they would survive this—stronger, together, hand in hand.

Love conquers all, doesn’t it?

"I hate you," he hissed as more tears spilled down his face. He felt suffocated, her words replaying in his mind, that look of disgust burned into his memory.

Every memory of her cracked, then shattered. Her sweet words echoed in his mind; her promises turned hollow. The flutter of her lashes, her smile, her warm hands whenever she held him. Everything suffocated him now as each memory cut deeper than the last.

Melissa hadn’t just let him down slowly. She had smashed his heart into pieces without warning.

Derek slammed his foot on the pedal, speeding down the road, his vision blurred with tears.

"I..." he gasped between sobs. "...hate her."

*****

Meanwhile, Melissa sobbed into her pillow, her face buried deep in it. Jasmine stood by the doorway, watching her daughter cry. Just moments ago, Melissa had seemed fine—recovering, even, with renewed motivation. But now, she was back where she’d been after the failed engagement party.

"Goodness," Jasmine sighed under her breath as she stepped inside.

She wanted to scold her daughter, to tell her that her actions were wrong. Even if Melissa didn’t want to be with Derek anymore, maintaining a good relationship with the Lancaster family was still important. From Jasmine’s experience, Melissa and Derek might not end up together because of the family’s disapproval, but the two had known each other for years.

Surely, they could still remain friends.

Derek would still care for Melissa even if only as a friend. He would help her. Support her.

But Melissa had let her emotions consume her. She hadn’t thought about the long game.

"Melissa," Jasmine said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. She reached out to rub her daughter’s back. "My baby."

"Leave me alone, Mom!" Melissa screamed, lifting her tear-streaked face from the pillow. "If you’re just going to scold me, I don’t want to hear it! I hate Derek! I hate him to the core! You have no idea how much he suffocates me and how alone I’ve felt in this relationship!"

Her voice broke as she turned away, crying harder. Every word she said earlier, she had meant it, and even now, she was being honest.

"Why do you keep pushing me toward him?! All my life, I listened to you! You said if I wanted a good life, I should marry him! So, I did my best! I woke up every single day trying to please him!" she cried. "But it was suffocating! Pleasing him always came before me! And one single mistake, and he turns his back on me!"

"I hate him so much, I hope he dies!" she shouted before collapsing into sobs again.

Jasmine’s breath hitched. Her eyes widened at her daughter’s words.

"Melissa, please don’t say that—"

"Go away, Mom!" Melissa snapped, springing up and glaring at her mother. "It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t pushed me to him, I wouldn’t have to live like this! You told me to be perfect for him—you promised everything would go well if I just stayed by his side! But you never once asked what I really wanted!"

Whether it was anger or heartbreak, Melissa didn’t know. But deep down, she believed it. It was all her mother’s fault.

"All of this is your fault," she shouted. "If you hadn’t forced me, or at least asked me once what I truly wanted, this wouldn’t have happened! I don’t want to see you!"

"Melissa—"

"Go away!"

Melissa fell back onto the bed, pulling the blanket over her head. Jasmine tried to speak again, but her daughter refused to answer. If Melissa did, it would only be to tell her to leave.

Helpless, Jasmine stood still for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Fine," she whispered. "I’ll leave you alone for now, Melissa. I’ll come back when you’ve calmed down."

She stood and quietly walked out. Before closing the door, she looked back one last time, then sighed and left.

Melissa didn’t move. Tears slipped down her face in frustration, until slowly, regret began to creep into her chest.

DING!

Her brows furrowed as her phone lit up beside her. Reaching for it, she bit her trembling lip as she read a message from her secret admirer. Desperate, she had ended up venting to him again.

DING!

[From: My Secret Admirer

I’ll be back in Novera tomorrow. Why don’t you come with me to an event? It might help take your mind off things.]