ed sharply to

frame that was complemented well by his broad shoulders and tapered waist. His

d as he peered at the grou

linked in

e, Derek Willis. What was he do

question made a beeline for her. In one fluid motion, he

must look utterly disheveled. "Tha

felt inexplicably warm. It had been so long since som

after expressing her gratitude, carefully st

k," he said, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Why are you back?

d the most powerful and most feared member of the Willis family. Even Ashton hi

his eyes on Melanie. "Was Ashton

f a summer breeze. That, coupled with the tender

. She had hardly even seen Derek before. Why

inking that it would be best to

Derek was still Ashton's uncle. They were family, tied b

d was that she needed to get ou

and met Derek's. "I just want to leave," she sai

d her and stepped aside, ef

grabbed her suitcase and a

to follow her outside,

it a momen

y, and turned around. She did her best to ke

nt intervention had caught her

and tried to sound unper

r Ashton's behavior," he said sincerely. "He is definitely in the wrong, and as his elde

rds, they only sounded l

s suit jacket off her shoulde

his expression morphing from baffled t

need your

clothes and turned on her heel, walk

from sight. Only then did he snap back to r

he overheard Jenifer and Stacey going o

elanie! She's

er, I'll be sure t

e instantly

ed over the two women. "What right do y

e authority, and what followed w

vous glance, their usual arrogance

one. "I was only trying to keep the peace, Uncle. Melanie was be

espect her decision. Melanie is set on leaving, so just leave her be. Don't even think about

e into Ashton's soul, and his threa

as he hated it, he had no choice b

ld agreement. "Derek, you promised that Ashton would take over all

stipulated that you must treat Melanie well, didn't I? Tell me, have you upheld your end o

red speechless, their face

llis. As such, he had adopted a strict and traditional outlook in

rt his position, but he had to admit

lanie's talk of a divorce was n

ems into this tricky predicament. What he ne