Chapter 9 What Do You Take Me For?

• Meanwhile, inside the apartment, Melanie, who had taken a shower, checked her phone while lying in bed only to fix her gaze on the missed calls. Gradually, the light in her eyes turned colder by the second as the events of the evening flashed through her mind. With that, she blocked the number decisively.
• Alas, just as she was about to turn the lights off and go to sleep, someone knocked on her door, making her frown. It's already so late at night…
• So, she put on a jacket and walked out of her bedroom. However, she didn't answer the door immediately but asked, "Who is it?"
• "It's me. Open the door."
• Melanie's face turned stone cold at once. "What do you want?"
• "Melanie, open the door." Benjamin's voice had become noticeably displeased this time.
• Nonetheless, when Melanie heard the commanding tone in his voice, she merely pursed her lips and said indifferently, "I won't open the door if it isn't important. I'm already turning in."
• However, Benjamin rapped the door noisily right as she turned around, making her jump. She widened her eyes at once, seemingly wanting to see through the large wood panel.
• "What are you, crazy?"
• However, Benjamin didn't answer her this time but only rapped the door harder. It seemed that he would only stop when she yielded and opened the door for him.
• The sound reverberated throughout the quiet old building. Sure enough, the commotion brought the neighbor across from her out and glared angrily at Benjamin, reproaching, "What is wrong with you? Don't you know it's disturbing to make so much noise this late? This unit has been vacant for a long time."
• However, Benjamin ignored the neighbor, pretending to not have heard them, and continued to knock on the door calmly, seemingly certain that the person inside would answer the door.
• And he was right. Melanie worried his behavior would disturb others. It was in her nature not to trouble or inconvenience anyone.
• The complaints from outside the door continued, so she reluctantly opened the door and she glared daggers at him with gnashed teeth.
• "What do you want?" she demanded. Then, she quickly apologized to the neighbors in the same breath, "Sorry for disturbing you." With that, she dragged Benjamin into the apartment and closed the door with a bang.
• Benjamin lowered his gaze and looked at the hand holding his arm. He was just about to curl his lips into a smile when she flung his arm forcefully and disdainfully away, leaving him stunned.
• "What are you here for?" Melanie questioned impassively. But the man merely fixed his unblinking gaze on her. His gaze was dark and profound, seemingly wanting to swallow her up.
• What am I here for?! I haven't come here to just look at that cold and disdainful face!
• Melanie had no idea what he was thinking. Still, she felt slightly unnerved by his intense gaze. So, she clenched her teeth and said, "Please leave if you have nothing important to say. Also, I've already made it very clear to you that we will be strangers from this day hence. There's no reason for us to contact each other anymore other than going to the City Hall. So, please leave."
• With that, she turned around and headed into her room, no longer having the patience to entertain him. Alas, her arm was forcefully pulled back, causing her to cry out in pain. "Ow, what is wrong with you?! Let go of me!"
• Benjamin looked far from happy. At the thought that he deliberately came to see her, he dragged her into his arms, gripping her wrist with his right hand and holding her slim waist with the other while inching close to her face, which was filled with resistance and aversion.
• "Are all you women so fickle, obtaining whatever you want and discarding them as soon as you're done with them, hmm?"
• Although it was an accusation directed at her, Melanie thought she had caught the hidden implication behind his words. A sneer escaped her lips and she retorted, "Who are you talking about?"
• However, Benjamin didn't think too deeply about it and only growled at her, "Whom do you think I'm talking about? Who was the one who dictated this marriage and divorce? What do you take me for, Melanie Davis?"
• Unfortunately, she had nothing but contempt as frost glazed her heart while she stared at the man before her, who was restraining his anger, and oh, how she wanted to ask him, 'And what about you? What do you take me for?' But her dwindling self-esteem wouldn't allow her to do so.
• Hence, she smirked, tiptoed, and inched closer to his face.
• Benjamin was taken aback, seemingly distracted, as he looked at her alluring face, his Adam's apple bobbing subtly. He had been away on a business trip for over a week and had expected to be greeted by his dear wife's warm embrace. Lo and behold, he got a divorce agreement instead. At this moment, he couldn't help but be moved as he looked at the person right before him, for he had to admit that their bodies were truly compatible.
• But all he could hear was her mocking laughter in his ears, "If I remember correctly, you said you would never fall in love with me. Are you having second thoughts now, Mr. Moore? Have you come to make amends?"