Chapter 3. "I'm not into oldies"

The most awaited day finally arrived, Quincy sternly told Mellisa to smile even though she was not happy. Mellisa sat at the dinner table with her future in-laws, her head bowed and her eyes filled with tears. She was trying her best to maintain her composure, but she could feel the overwhelming sense of dread and despair weighing heavily on her chest. Everyone around her was cheerful and happy, but she was anything but.

The conversation was filled with jokes and laughter, Mellisa felt like she was in a living nightmare. She wanted to cry out and say no, that she would not be forced into this marriage, but she was too afraid to speak up. She knew that if she did, she would be disowned and shunned by her family.

Mellisa forced a smile onto her face, even though she felt like her heart was breaking. She knew that the only way out was to sacrifice her own happiness, and so she did her best to appear happy and content. As the dinner came to a close, Mellisa was relieved, but she couldn't help but feel like she was already in a prison of her own making.

" Grandma, when Will this be over?" Zick whispered with gritted teeth. " I can't take it anymore, this room is suffocating me, I want to go home!!! ." He forced a smile.

"Shut up!!!."

"Grandma!!." Zick pleaded

Riya threw a deadly glare, Zick could only sit there helplessly. At least his mother and father did not agree with the idea of him marrying a poor girl.

" Now that everything is settled, we will take Mellisa with us because our son has decided not to host any wedding. Now that they have signed the marriage papers everything is good," Liala flashed an awkward smile looking at everyone's shocked expression. " We will ask Mellisa for her opinions on this matter too. " She added.

" How is that possible!!!!?.... " Harry could not finish his sentence because Quincy took words out of his mouth in less than seconds.

" You can take her with you. We have no problems at all. I'm sure Melissa will agree to this. Right, Melissa? " She threw a don't you dare refuse glare at Melissa knowing that she won't refuse anything she says

" I- I have no problems at all….anything you decide is fine with me. " Melissa said, trying to sound as fine as possible, only God knows what was In her heart.

" Melissa!!! Have you lost it or not? We aren't chasing you out of this house, we want to send you to your in-laws in a respectable manner. " Michelle fumed as her blood was boiling in irritation. " Listen to me, you all !!! " Her small finger pointed at everyone in the room." I want Mellisa to have a white wedding like everyone else on this planet, just because she is an orphan doesn't mean that you should take advantage of her and not give her rights. You will all do that over my dead body do you understand!!! " Michelle exclaimed her tone full of hostility.

Zick rolled his eyes full of arrogance looking at Michelle. " I'm sorry but I can't give this old hag a white wedding, " I sighed at the paper because I was forced."Zick flashed a disgusted smirk." But I can't give her a white wedding that would be asking too much from me. "

" Zick, do you have a death wish??? "Riya demanded, glaring at Zick. " How can you be so insensitive, you are not even trying to understand Mellisa's feelings. You should be ashamed of yourself!!!! "

" Whatever grandma, I have better things to do than dealing with this nonsense. "Zick rose off the chair." Don't forget to bring your daughter-in-law, I'm sure she likes you already because she looks old like you, I'm not into oldies ." He said and left

Mellisa's heart broke into a million pieces as she looked at Zick's back leaving the room. Tears streamed down her face as she watched her new husband walking away. She felt like she was being abandoned yet again and she didn't understand why it happened. She felt so sad and alone, she wanted to scream and cry out loud but she held it in. She curled up in a ball and started sobbing uncontrollably. She felt like she had nothing left and that no one cared. She wanted to give up, to just forget everything and never look back. But she knew she couldn't do that. She had to keep going, even though her heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

"Oh!!! Mellisa, please don't cry." Michelle rushed to her side and hugged her tightly. " Everything is gonna be fine."

" My niece isn't going to go anywhere with you, clearly your son doesn't love her at all and I can't compromise her happiness !!"Harry said angrily.

" It's too late for that, she had already sighed the marriage paper. She has to come with us now. Thank you for your hospitality. " Riya rose off the chair." Come on let's go. "

Harry opened his mouth to say something , but he stopped himself. He realized that it wasn't the right time or the right place to say what was on his mind. He reluctantly decided to remain silent, knowing that it

was the best thing to do in the situation.

Though she was feeling pain in her heart, Mellisa broke away from the hug and wiping her tears, she put on a brave face and smiled, she knew that one days her life would change and she was dermired to stay strong. " Michelle, please take care of Auntie and uncle. And don't forget to take care of your self OK, I will call every day to check on everyone. Don't worry about me OK." Mellisa smiled and followed Riya and her family.

Michelle burst into tears as she watched Melissa walking away, she knew that her life was going to be misarable. She wished to help her but she was helpless.

Quincy flashed a evil smirk as she watch Mellisa leaving her house , she had been waiting for the day she would leave like this..

Harry felt sad and guilty because he had done something that he knew was wrong and hurt someone he cared about. He felt like he had let them down and he felt like he had failed to do the right thing. He was remorseful and regretful, and he wished he could take it back and make things right.