Chapter 115

Her body froze instantly. Melanie subconsciously wanted to break free, but Frank's voice rang in her ears: "Do you like it here?"

His accent was slightly unusual, but it reminded Melanie of his identity and that she could not offend him. She stiffened, letting him hold her without daring to move. Her neck rigid, she nodded. "O-of course, I do."

"Do you want to have it all?" Frank asked again. This time, Melanie responded much smoother and faster, "Yes, of course, I do!" "What a dream that would be!" she thought.

Her only desire was to ascend to the upper echelons of society, to be a wealthy wife, pampered and lauded, never again to know pain. Melanie believed her social circle determined her class, and Nathaniel was the only person she could realistically leverage. She considered him a sound investment, certain of his eventual success. She had witnessed MN Inc.'s gradual expansion, its award wins and growing industry recognition, feeling herself drawing closer to her dreams. Even though Nathaniel was still with Lily, Melanie believed she held the upper hand. She had bided her time, patiently working with Mr. Hall, and everything seemed to be progressing favorably.

However, the essential oil issue had a severe impact on both her and MN Inc. It made her realize that the grass wasn't always greener. MN Inc., despite its size, was surprisingly vulnerable; a minor incident like the essential oil problem could severely damage it. It lacked the resilience and influence of truly large corporations, the difference being insurmountable.

Furthermore, Nathaniel relied on Lily and his mother during crises. Since he had fallen out with his mother, what good was that?

As for the future Melanie had once yearned for it, but she no longer dared to contemplate it. She realized a fundamental difference existed between herself and the true nobility, the genuine upper class. She and Nathaniel could never bridge such an immeasurable gap, no matter how hard they worked.