When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

"No, you're not just a stand-in."

At that moment, my mind raced. If she was a stand-in, it meant I was dying any minute.

I tried to convince Kayla. "Since I married Clyde, he's always had a parade of women, but you..."

"But I was the one who looked most like you, right? York said so, too." Kayla circled me, my hands trapped, head spinning, unable to muster my strength. "I used to be a whore. After my baby was born, and I couldn't find a decent job, I returned to that life."

Kayla continued, "York, always acting all high and mighty, had a thing for naive college girls. He took one look at me and was totally smitten."

Before I knew it, Kayla had a switchblade in her hand, gesturing with it as she spoke. "Then, he placed me close to Clyde. At that time, I thought Clyde had fallen for me. You had no idea how happy I was. I thought I'd hit the jackpot."

"I thought the Patterson family all liked someone like me, that Clyde was head over heels, showering me with gifts. He spent a fortune on a pair of sandals, something I couldn't imagine!" She went on about how Clyde doted on her and how she went from a club girl to his princess.

I knew Clyde could be like that, spoiling a girl rotten when he was in love. But his affection for Kayla didn't last because he never slept with her.

"I used to think he was so pure, in love with my soul since he was married. But then you showed up at the company, and the moment I saw you, I almost puked!" Kayla slid the knife back and forth across my neck. "You were so skinny, a ghost of yourself, but I could see the resemblance, especially after I did my makeup, even more so."

Kayla kept talking. "That's why York said Clyde would like me. That's why York chose me. It all made sense! I looked like you in a white dress. York showed me your picture, and it was uncanny. Clyde never touched me. I drugged him twice, but all he did was call out for you! Melanie! Melanie!" While feeling the sharp blade trace a line of blood on my neck, my nerves tensed. In this condition, any infection could be a death sentence. Caught up in her emotions, Kayla rambled on about her love for Clyde and how he didn't return her feelings.

Then, she looked at me. "I was carrying York's child, and he told me to pin it on Clyde. My child, just like me, is unwanted and unloved! So, he's gone. He's gone!"

For the first time, I saw genuine sorrow in Kayla, her chest heaving with pain.

I closed my eyes. "You know your child's fate wasn't my doing."

She knew it deep down. If the child were York's, it would never be born. York's wife was a force to be reckoned with. There was no way she'd allow a bastard child to come into the world. Not to mention, there were Merritt and Clyde to consider.

"I know it was the Patterson child, but what does it matter now?" She wiped her tears away forcefully. "Clyde's after me. So is the police. Now, I only want the money and to leave the country." Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.

She grabbed my collar forcefully. "You're my ticket out. What's this?"

Perhaps due to her tugging, my shirt buttons came undone, revealing scars beneath. Without hesitation, Kayla tore open my shirt further, slicing through my undergarment.

The next second, she gasped, "What's this? Is this surgery?"

The horror in her eyes suddenly turned to amusement.

Holding the knife, Kayla laughed like crazy. Clutching her stomach, she stared at me. "So, that's how it is. That's how it is!"