Chapter 333: Crazy
Marianne held her daughter close for a few more moments. Melody’s sobs had quietened to hiccupping breaths, her body drained from the weight of everything she’d just said. Her head still rested in her mother’s lap, eyes closed, as if the world might go away if she didn’t open them. Melody kept on apologizing continuously, even though Marianne repeatedly assured her that it was not her fault.
Finally, when Melody’s sobs had quietened, Marianne stopped stroking her hair and helped her sit straight. Looking at her bloodshot eyes she gently patted her face and said," I think you should close your eyes and rest some more. I’ll be right back. Today you’re going to be discharged and we might have to make some changes in what is going to happen. I’ll be back soon."
Melodu looked up at her mother in confusion? "Mama? What changes woudl you need to make regarding my discharge? Where are you going?"
But Marianne didn’t meet her eyes right away. She picked up her purse, dusted her skirt as if trying to shake something off, then finally turned to her daughter.
"I’m going to tell Adam. He should be able to look for Melanie quietly. Also, the discharge, since you are not Melanie, you must come back with us to your home. Not Melanie’s home, He deserves to know the truth. And once he understands that Melanie will be back soon, I am sure he will not blame you either."
Melody’s breath caught again. She pushed herself up on the bed as panic flared within her as Marianne walked towards the door.. "No. No, Mama, please-you can’t tell him!"
Marianne froze by the door, her hand just inches from the handle. She turned back slowly.
"Melody," she said firmly, "his wife is missing. Disappeared for almost four days now. And you’ve been pretending to be her while he does not even know that the woman he loves is not you. How can I not tell him? Are you worried he’ll blame you? I’ll explain it all. I’ll make him understand. But hiding it from him is wrong."
Melody shook her head wildly, her hands clutching the blanket like a child. "No, Mama. You don’t understand. Please don’t tell him. Please!"
"I don’t understand?" Marianne took a step closer, her expression tightening. "Melody, this man’s wife is missing. He should be searching for her. And you’re asking me to keep quiet? To let him believe she’s still with him, when she’s not? Adam is a powerful man. He will be able to find Melanie! You don’t worry. Just tell me the name of the person who did this to yuo. Made you so scared."
"I just need time, Mama. Just a little more time. I’ll explain it to him myself, I promise. But not now. Not yet. In fact, I’ll do it the moment Melanie returns. I promise."
Marianne’s eyes narrowed slightly, and as she stared at her daughter’s face, something shifted in her.. She took another step forward and muttered in a low voice, "You said... you said your boyfriend’s name was Adam."