Dealing With Solevan

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DEALING WITH SOLEVAN

COPYRIGHT 2018 © JOESLINE

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

My hands figured the bottles of skincare products that I had brought along. Eyes noticing the spaces on the dressing table as I planned the arrangement. Melissa had followed me closely the minute I entered the Solevan Mansion. After Jayden had walked out of the apartment, I felt the void in my heart that scares me. I needed company, but I couldn't return home. With the paparazzi following, my return would only bring harassment and pestering to my parents' peaceful life. My only next best option was the Solevan Mansion. Considering the tall gates and the high security, it was the only place that I could seek shelter.

She uttered at the luggage and the placement of my skincare products, "You are going to... stay here?"

I frowned, "You are not welcoming me?"

"That's not what I meant" She shook her head, "I have told you that you can always find me for help. Besides, it's just emptying another room in this big mansion. Ever since my mother was hospitalized, I am already left alone in this big mansion with just the servants and guards. You cannot imagine how happy I am to have you here. But..."

"But what?"

Her eyes filled with worries, "If Jayden were to find out that you move in here, I can't imagine what he will do. He was already unhappy with our numerous meet up..."

I smirked, "He wouldn't"

"Annie..."

"Trust me, he wouldn't" This time round, I am not the one who left.

Melissa let out a soft sigh, "Just what exactly happen? I saw the news that you were meeting a guy in a cafeteria. Then you came here with your luggage shortly. Did you have a fight with Jayden because of that?"

I laughed at my pathetic situation. If Jayden is not going to marry me, that would mean I have no rights to stay in this mansion. Even if I were to move out of that apartment, I am still putting up myself under his radar.

She continued, "Just few days ago, you still seemed fine with him. Why all of the sudden, things had changed?"

Then her eyes widened as she looked at me. Melissa leaned over, "Was that guy the private investigator I had recommended you? Did you find out something about Anna's plan?"

I shook my head, feeling sour about the unexpected lunch as she reminded. Only what Jayden said counts. Only he could con me into meeting Anna but I was not allowed to do my checking. I smirked at the heartless words he had threw at me. Just like what I wanted? I am free now? Am I?

My hands held Melissa's hands as I turned to her with pleading eyes, "Mel, I have no one to turn to. You are the only person I can ask for help..."

She patted my hands, drawing a smile on her face as she assured me, "I told you that you can count on me."

"Then help me keep the secret that I am here."

She stared at me, "How? If the paparazzi follows you, they will know that you are last seen here. And..."

"Just made someone wear my clothes and leave the mansion." I held out the set of outfit that I had just worn, "If anyone ask you about my whereabouts, just say you don't know."

"But how long are you going to stay here?"

"As long as you allowed me to" As long as I can figure out about what I should do next.

We sat by the fireplace later at night. Melissa took out a huge bulk of photo albums from the Library of the Solevan Mansion. She flipped open one of them, reminiscing the old photos that were safely kept in the albums. I took one of them and flipped open as well. There were a few yellowish photos of a woman and a boy in various settings. They were taken by the beach, in a garden or what seemed like the entrance of a school. 

The boy must be Jayden but the woman was... "These are photos of Jayden and..."

Melissa pointed at the woman, "That's his mother, Alice."

"Alice..." The woman had a slender figure with a long wavy blond hair. Her eyes were so beautiful. I smiled as I noticed the similarity. Jayden had the eyes from his mother. "She is so pretty"

Melissa nodded, "I heard she was a famous hostess before she met my father"

"A hostess?" Is that why Jayden had a liking of Anna in the past?

"Yeah." She sat alongside as she talked, "The old maids said Jayden and his mother spent most of the time together. She always made sure that all of his meals were prepared by herself. She was a loving mother to Jayden."

No wonder, her death would strike so hard on Jayden.

"What about Old Solevan?"

"He was always busy with his business." Melissa let out a sigh, "But after Jayden's mother had passed away, my father stopped caring about the business that led to the company declaring bankruptcy."

She continued, "This mansion was at the risk for auctioning because of that"

I widened my eyes in disbelief, "Then how did it got saved?"

"My father visited many banks for loan to save the mansion. But because of his bad credit, none of the banks was willing to give him the loan. And it was during those visits, my mother met my father and fall in love with him very quickly. When she came to know about his situation, she decided to help him save the mansion in exchange of him marrying her"

"And he did?"

"I guess so", Melissa chuckled, "Otherwise how will I exist?"

"True. But what I knew, Jayden's empire was built from scratch, not inherited. How did he..."

She did a nod, "After Jayden's mother had passed away, my father felt the regrets of not spending enough time with his family. So, he decided to discontinued the business and just find a job to work. So, Jayden did really build his business from scratch, without any penny from our father."

"After father had passed away, Jayden took over the responsibility of maintaining the mansion." She smiled, "Maybe it's because this place holds the memories of his mother. But beside that, he also extended the financial support to me and my mother."

I did a slight nod, "Even how much he says he hates you, he still has a soft side for family..."

Melissa's eyes lit up, "So... will you forgive him?"

"Me?"

"Yeah" She held my hands, "My brother might have said things out of anger but I am sure that's not what he meant. What matters is what he does. Look at the effort he had made. You can see where his heart lies."

Melissa continued as she emphasized, "And I told you before to check up on Anna, but I didn't ask you to doubt him."

Her hand placed on my chest, "Look deep in your heart, and ask yourselves. Do you love him?"