Chapter 189
At Lancaster Ancestral Mansion
“Everything’s been sorted out now, so you don’t need to worry,” Rock reassured Melanie, lowering his phone after finishing a call.
Melanie let out a deep sigh of relief. “I’m glad to hear that, but… Dina… knowing her, she won’t stop. She’ll just wait for another chance to go after Rain p>
“Come, let’s sit,” Rock said, leading Melanie to the balcony.
Once they were seated, Melanie looked at him and then bowed slightly. “Thank you so much for supporting my niece all this time. I’m truly grateful. Rain deserves a family that accepts her and treats her with love.” Her voice cracked, and Rock could tell she was fighting back tears.
“Rain is already part of our family,” he said gently, “which means you are too p>
Melanie blinked at him, momentarily stunned. Rock smiled as he explained, “I know my son well. He’ll work quickly to secure your freedom, knowing how much you mean to Rain. And,” he added, glancing up with a playful glint in his eye, “I have a feeling you might be joining our family officially soon p>
Just then, Ben came out onto the balcony, beaming as he brought over a tray. “Fresh juice and snacks!” he announced, setting everything on the table.
Rock winked at Melanie, adding with a grin, “Ben may not be my blood, but he’s like a brother to me, and I’d be honored to call you my sister-in-law one day p>
Melanie’s cheeks flushed, and Ben noticed immediately, chuckling. “Sir Rock! Don’t tease her!” he scolded good-naturedly.
Rock shook his head, smiling. “You’re doing a great job of ensuring Melanie puts on some weight p>
“Oh, yes,” Ben agreed. “I’ll make sure she’s well-fed while she’s here! She’s too thin, probably because those Claytons hardly cared for her.” His expression hardened. “I still can’t believe Melanie and Rain came from that family p>
Rock chuckled, watching his usually quiet friend become unexpectedly talkative.
Melanie’s shoulders slumped as she remarked, “Not every family is blessed with good relationships… like this one. Honestly, my brother wasn’t always like this. He only changed after Lydia’s death p>
Rock nodded thoughtfully. “I know about Lydia’s story, but that’s no excuse for him to mistreat you and Rain p>
“He wasn’t this strict with me before,” Melanie admitted, “but I couldn’t stand how Sylvia and Dina were treating me. And he just sat by and let them bully Rain. So, I tried to take Rain and leave. That’s when he tightened his grip—he even filed for full guardianship over me so I couldn’t manage my own finances p>
“Rain is still his daughter, his own blood, regardless of who her mother was. Was it because of the rumour that Lydia died because of Rain’s mother p>
Melanie’s face turned pale, and she went silent.
Rock’s eyes softened with regret. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up p>
“No, it’s alright,” Melanie replied, her voice steady. “Maybe it’s time to clear that up. Lydia died by suicide. She chose to end her life, and I don’t believe it was Kaila’s fault. Lydia simply couldn’t move on after having her heart broken p>
Rock nodded solemnly. He was well aware of the tangled history between the Cartiers and Claytons, especially after Lydia.
Lydia and Arlan Cartier had once been involved in a secret relationship at Lydia’s insistence, fearing her brother Tim’s strict nature. Then Lydia suddenly broke up with Arlan for an unknown reason.
Arlan went along with his parents’ arranged marriage plan with the Watson family, eventually falling in love with Summer Watson. This left Lydia devastated when she discovered his feelings for Summer were genuine.
“Lydia was the one who first let go of Arlan because of your brother, Tim. If only she had told Arlan the truth sooner… things might have turned out differently,” Rock remarked quietly.
When Arlan was already engaged to Summer and their relationship was strong, Lydia confronted him, revealing the real reason for their breakup. She explained that something had happened between her and Tim, who she had recently discovered wasn’t her biological brother—Lydia was adopted. She admitted she had been confused at the time, and it was Tim’s possessiveness that had driven her to distance herself from Arlan.
But Arlan, deeply in love with Summer by then, turned down Lydia’s plea to rekindle their past relationship, leaving her heartbroken.
“I agree. My brother couldn’t accept that Lydia took her own life over losing Arlan, so he created his own version of her death. They wanted everyone, including Rain, to believe that Lydia died because of her mother, Kayla. It’s the story they’ve woven for years,” Melanie admitted, her voice tight with emotion.
“Does Rain know the truth now?” Rock asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Yes, I told her everything when she turned twelve. But she still continues to visit Lydia’s grave each year, just as Tim insists. She says that, in the end, her mother’s actions played a part in Lydia and Arlan’s relationship falling apart,” Melanie explained.
Rock’s brow furrowed. “What exactly happened p>
“Tim bribed Kayla to arrange for Lydia to catch her and Arlan together, making it look like they were kissing. That’s how he planted doubt in Lydia’s mind, poisoning her against Arlan… so he could have her to himself,” Melanie confessed, her voice breaking as she recalled learning this from Kayla after Lydia’s death.
Rock shook his head, though he wasn’t entirely shocked. Tim’s manipulation ran deep; he could only imagine the damage it had left behind.
“I feel so bad for Rain,” Melanie murmured, her voice filled with sorrow. “Sylvia treats her horribly, punishing her just because she’s the daughter of another woman. Tim does nothing to stop it, and Dina… she’s always envious, always trying to tear Rain down despite the fact that Rain had nothing to begin with p>
Rock nodded thoughtfully. “It’s a shame. Rain deserves better, especially after everything she’s been through. She’s had to carry the weight of Tim’s twisted family dynamics and endure the resentment of those who should be supporting her p>
Melanie sighed. “That’s why I’m grateful she has you and Alexander now. Rain deserves a family that sees her worth. She’s resilient, but even the strongest need someone to lean on p>
Rock placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “As long as she’s with us, she’ll have a family that values her. And as for the others… well, they’ll see soon enough what she’s truly capable of p>