Graham had previously ventured to life's edge for Penelope and had been willing to risk everything to coerce me into a relationship with him.
When it came time for him to sign the paperwork for the students' transfer, he hesitated.
I seized the moment when he was intoxicated to obtain his signature on the documents.
Half-asleep, he whispered, “Melinda, from now on, I'll take even better care of you.”
“No one will be able to hurt you.” Words that once might have moved me, now only left me feeling cold.
With the signed documents in hand, I left. The following day, the Huntington family received the dissolution contract I mailed and subsequently chose to disappear without a trace.
Graham's phone calls increased after I left, his voice coming through, “Melinda, where are you?”
As my fingers lightly touched the weighty deed of inheritance, I solemnly announced my decision to Graham over the phone, “Graham, after careful consideration...”
“I do not foresee a future together with you.”
“Let's part ways here.”
Following a brief silence on the line, Graham's voice, tinged with anxiety and confusion, came through, “Mimi... where are you now... just tell me, I'll come to you—”
I pressed the end call button and, with Lawyer Hudson as my witness, signed the inheritance documents. From that moment, the ancestral business and wealth became mine, even if it meant restructuring internally and ending cooperation with the Huntington family, leading to potential difficulties for the company.
Lawyer Hudson offered a resigned smile, “Miss Taylor, from now on, you'll need to be even stronger and smarter to guide this company back to prosperity.”
At 28, I felt as if I had shed long-standing constraints, ready to embrace a life full of challenges but authentic to myself. As Lawyer Hudson and I parted ways with a smile, he said, “Miss Taylor, I wish you a bright and dazzling future.”
I responded gratefully, “Thank you.”
After the Huntington family's financial chain collapsed, leaving them buried in debt, Graham and his family had to keep a low profile, carefully avoiding further turmoil.
Graham himself underwent a dramatic transformation; the once vibrant professor now appeared to be plagued by illness, frequently absent from class.
On a chilly winter day, Graham suddenly confronted me on campus, “Melinda, you seem even more slender.”
Just recovered from a severe cold and slight depression, I replied with a residual fear, “Thanks to Professor Huntington, that relationship nearly cost me my life. I’m relieved our association has ended.”
A profound pain appeared on Graham’s face, “Melinda, how can you be so merciless?”
Calmly facing him, I said, “You have your own family now. Make the right choice for Harley Huntington and your future.”
That night, Penelope called, frantic, “Why is Graham avoiding me?”
I casually asked in return, “Miss Davis, do you find the taste of usurping others’ efforts addictive?”
Caught off guard by my retort, her voice halted abruptly, “What... what are you talking about?”
“There's no need to play dumb. You know exactly how you took advantage while I was hospitalized. Let me be clear,”
I warned sharply, “if you dare harass me again, I’ll make sure the media gets a glimpse of your true face.”
My words seemed to serve as a wake-up call for Penelope; she ceased bothering me for a considerable time.
Then, a photo of Graham and Penelope sharing an intimate kiss at the stargazing platform under the moonlight went viral, sparking lively discussions and fan celebrations, “Finally, Melinda Taylor steps aside.”
“Is this their public declaration of love?”
“Best wishes to you both!”
This unexpected reunion seemed to add a touch of warmth to the cold end of the year.
However, the students had differing opinions, murmuring among themselves, “Professor Huntington's choices are baffling.” “Penelope’s tactics are all too clear.”
On the Christmas Eve, I invited my students over, their faces beaming with unprecedented brightness, overflowing with gratitude, “Professor Taylor, thank you for your guidance and support!” “With your help, we feel more confident to push forward!”
Laughter and the cozy aroma of turkey filled the room, making it the warmest festival I'd experienced since my grandfather's death.
It dawned on me that the Christmas Eve was not just an excuse for work, contrary to Graham, who always used it as a reason not to come home. This year, due to the heavy snow, some students chose to stay over, making my home unusually warm and lively.
Amidst the home's joyous atmosphere, Penelope attempted to affect my mood with a text, “Melinda, thank you for letting him return to me.”
With a presumptuous air, “Perhaps he doesn’t like me just because of the past, so there's no need for you to be so hostile.”
While nibbling on an apple, I replied nonchalantly, “Oh, then I should call Professor Huntington.”
Her tone filled with scorn, “What would that achieve?”
I smiled and shot back, “At least, I’m not as despicable as you.”
