Chapter 332: Caught
Melody’s breath caught in her throat.
The words hung heavy in the air, and for a second she could barely process them. Why are you pretending to be Melanie, Melody?
Her mind spun. How? How could her mother know? Had she slipped somewhere? Missed something obvious? Had she stood differently? Spoken too warmly? Her thoughts were racing—searching for the answer, desperate to regain control.
No. No, maybe it was a guess. A bluff.
She swallowed hard and forced herself to breathe, her face tightening as she tried to control her heart rate and lied through her teeth. "I... I’m Melanie. Are you mistaken about something?" she said quickly in a voice firmer than she felt inside. "You said so yourself... I called you Mom, didn’t I? I understand why you might want me to be Melody. After all, you have raised her and loved her for all these years...."
Melody tapered off as Marianne didn’t flinch or react and gave her a long, calm look, then slowly got up. Without saying a word, she walked over to the door, turned the lock with a soft click, and then returned to the stool beside the bed.
Melody tensed.
From her purse, Marianne pulled out a small zip pouch and opened it. "Let me tell you something about your mother, Melanie" she said in a quiet. "She has always loved peanuts. Especially the spicy kind."
Melody watched in silence, every nerve in her body on edge as Marianne unzipped the pouch and tipped it upside down into her palm. A small pile of roasted peanuts slid into her hand.
"But what a fool I am," Marianne added lightly, glancing at the empty pouch. "I forgot my EpiPen today."