Chapter 299: Truly A Shame
Meanwhile...
"Thank you for taking me home." Melissa smiled at the member of the production crew who had given her a lift after no one answered her calls.
"Take care, Melissa!" the person in the front passenger seat flashed her a bright smile. "See you at the next filming."
"Mhm." Melissa waved, watching the old van drive away. As it grew smaller in the distance, her smile faded.
The crew had been kind to stop when they saw her on the roadside. However, the van was old and overcrowded with props and people—they were packed in like sardines. To make matters worse, the air conditioning wasn’t working, so all the windows had been rolled down. Melissa had to keep it together with a smile despite the wind, the crowded seats, and the smell of alcohol reeking from their breaths.
It was the absolute worst!
"I can’t believe Derek actually left me in there. Now, I smell like smoke and sweat," She clicked her tongue, turning quickly toward the residence. All she wanted now was a nice shower to wash it off.
Melissa jogged to the entrance, only to stop when the front door opened from the inside. Her brows knitted as a middle‑aged man stepped out.
"Uncle Mike?" she called, her face lighting up. "Uncle Mike, I didn’t know you’d be here today! Are you leaving now?"
The man wore a simple shirt and pants under a jacket. He was tall, with a bulky build, and despite his age, he looked strong and fit. Surprise was clear on his face before a smile replaced it.
Mike smiled warmly at her. "Melissa, wow! Look at our little celebrity! I didn’t think I’d see you today. Your mother told me it’s your first day of filming. How was it?"
"Uncle Mike. It did well, thankfully." She chuckled. "Had I known you were here, I would’ve rushed home."
"Don’t mention it. I just dropped by because I was in the area." His eyes gleamed with affection as he reached out to stroke her head. "You’ve really grown, Melissa. From a pretty little girl into a fine young woman. I’m really happy to see you."
Her cheeks flushed pink. "Uncle Mike, why are you leaving now? Don’t you want to stay? Mom wouldn’t mind."
"No, no. I have some things to do." He shook his head. "Don’t worry. I’ll contact you when I’m free. I’m a busy person, as you can tell."
She puckered her lips with a faint frown but nodded in understanding. They exchanged smiles before Mike reluctantly bid her farewell. Melissa watched him go with a heavy sigh.
"I hope he comes back when I’m off work," she murmured. "It’d be nice to catch up with him."
Mike was her favorite relative on her mother’s side—well, her only known relative. Jasmine had been estranged from her family since she was a teen, but she’d maintained a good relationship with Mike, her distant cousin.
Melissa didn’t think much about it. Mike came and went in their lives, but whenever she needed him, he always made time. Heading inside, she handed her bag to the house helper.
"Where’s my mother?" she asked.
"The Madam is in your father’s study, Young Miss," the helper replied politely.
Melissa’s brows rose. "Did he finally come home?" she wondered.
Curious, she waved the helper off and went to the study. Leaning against the door, she heard silence inside. She knocked. When there was no answer, she carefully opened the door and peeked in.
"Mom?" she called, catching Jasmine seated behind the desk. Deep lines formed on her face as she stepped inside. "Mom, I thought Dad came home."
Jasmine’s expression was grim, but she softened it for her daughter. "He will come home, Melissa. Your dad... he’s just busy."
"Is he still angry at you?"
"No, Melissa. Your father is going to be fine." Jasmine rose and walked over, offering her daughter a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry about him and me. Your father and I have been through a lot. This is just another one of those times."
She cupped Melissa’s cheek. "My daughter, you just came home from your first day of work. Why don’t you wash up? I’ll reheat the dinner I prepared for you."
Melissa pursed her lips. No matter what, she loved her father and had always been grateful to him. She didn’t want her parents to separate—just like any child.
"Okay," she muttered, walking out with Jasmine beside her. "Mom, by the way, I bumped into Uncle Mike on my way home. I didn’t know he was in the country."
Jasmine smiled. "He just arrived. He has some business to settle here."
"Should we invite him on my day off?"
"Of course." Jasmine chuckled, opening the door for her daughter. "But not now. Your Uncle Mike is still very busy. Once he’s settled, I’ll arrange it."
A wide smile spread across Melissa’s face as she nodded.
"Go now," Jasmine urged. "Come down when you’re ready."
"Okay."
Melissa headed upstairs to her room. Jasmine, meanwhile, watched her daughter reach the stairs before returning to the study. Approaching the desk, her eyes fell on the family picture at the side.
She had been staring at this photo since Mike left. Picking it up, she gazed at it again. It had been taken a few years ago: Lawrence, Jasmine, and their beautiful daughter, Melissa. Jasmine kept this picture everywhere as a reminder that those hurdles in her life were behind her. They were all out of the picture.
"Lawrence," she whispered, stroking his image with her thumb. "I take pride in this photo. It’s a symbol of a complete, happy family."
And anyone who saw it would agree. They looked perfect—a loving, devoted husband, a dedicated wife, and their pampered daughter.
"Don’t push me to my limits," she added under her breath, focusing on Lawrence. "Otherwise, I might need a new family portrait with just two people in it."
Don’t make me take you out of the picture too, honey. Because... that would...
A glint flickered across her eyes, putting the photo down.
"... that would be a shame, Lawrence," she muttered as she walked away from the study. "Truly a shame... just like that woman, Loren."