Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 185

Quinlan was stubborn and didn't want to cause me any trouble. "Melinda, no way! I've completely fallen out with Ms. Grey. She won't let me off the hook. If she finds out I'm staying with you, she'll definitely tell my parents. If my parents find out we're in contact, they'll cling to you and never let go."

"I've already troubled you enough. I can't add more to your plate. You've finally got a peaceful life, and I don't want to ruin it." Even in this situation, Quinlan was still thinking about me.

I reassured her, "I live in a gated community with excellent security. Even if they come looking, they won't get past the main gate. They won't bother me, so don't worry."

Quinlan wanted to say more, but I patted her shoulder. She met my gaze and finally stayed silent.

Seeing Quinlan's swollen face, I stopped by a pharmacy on the way back and bought ice packs and anti-inflammatory medicine. Then, I drove straight to the villa.

As we approached his house, I apologized, "Thank you, Mr. Collins, for accompanying me on this trip."

Even though he insisted on coming along, it was still considerate of him.

Now that I had calmed down and he had spoken up for me earlier, I didn't hold a grudge against him because of Marlowe.

Liking someone wasn't wrong. It was just that the person he liked had a questionable character. He might suffer for it in the future.

Why should I hold it against him?

Christopher glanced at me and suddenly asked, "Do you really dislike Marlowe?"

"Why would I? She's the editor-in-chief of a magazine, a capable person. Why would I dislike her?"

I didn't tell the truth because Marlowe was someone he liked. I didn't want to be the malicious woman badmouthing her, as if trying to break them up.

But honestly, when I saw Quinlan's swollen face, I really wanted to slap Marlowe. If it weren't for being at the police station, Quinlan's forgiving nature, and Christopher's presence, I might not have been able to hold back.

Christopher didn't dwell on the topic. Instead, he looked at Quinlan and smiled, "I didn't know you had such a close cousin."

When my parents passed away, no one from my family came.

Christopher saw that when he came, so he probably thought I had no close family left. His question wasn't surprising.

"She's my blood relative, and she's a good person. I can't help but care for her when I see her."

I genuinely felt for her. Even though I knew my abilities were limited, I was determined to protect her as much as I could. "As long as it's within my power, I want to keep her safe and not let anyone hurt her."

Because of Lawrence, I had been lonely for years. Paula was the only person I could confide in. In the short time I'd spent with Quinlan, I had grown fond of her.

And we shared the same blood. That bond made me feel closer to her, different from my friendship with Paula.

If she stayed with me, I could take better care of her, and I'd have a close cousin to confide in.

Speaking of family, I had never met Christopher's relatives.

I remembered Ophelia mentioning Christopher's family twice when she threatened me, implying they looked down on my status. Although she misunderstood my relationship with Christopher, I was still curious.

Was it true that wealthy families only accepted those of equal status and looked down on others?

I asked, "What about you? I've always thought you were very busy. How do you balance work and family?"

"I don't need to worry about that."

So, his family relationships weren't a concern for him.

That made me even more curious about what kind of family dynamics allowed him to say that so confidently.

But it was his private matter, so I didn't press further. We had arrived at his house.

He gave me a deep, unreadable look before getting out of the car.

He was always a mysterious person, hard to read.

I drove home, parked the car, and carefully applied medicine to Quinlan's face.

She had been through a lot today—scared, bullied, and seemingly drunk. While I applied the medicine, she quietly endured the pain without making a sound.

After finishing, I softly said in her ear, "Quinlan, you can be yourself here. Don't be so cautious. If you're hungry, say so. If you're thirsty, drink water. If it hurts, cry out. If you're sad... cry if you need to."

I looked at her with concern and patted her head.

That gentle touch broke down her last emotional barrier.

She couldn't hold back and threw herself into my arms, crying.

I didn't stop her. I let her hug me and release all the pent-up emotions, occasionally patting her back to comfort her.

After a long while, her crying subsided. She felt a bit embarrassed, quickly wiping her tears and apologizing for wetting my clothes. "Melinda, I'm sorry for dirtying your clothes. Let me wash them for you."

"You've been through enough. Just get some rest. The laundry room is fully equipped. You don't need to do anything. Go to sleep," I deliberately put on a stern face and ordered her.

Quinlan saw I meant well and obediently nodded, pulling up the covers.

Strangely, she should have been exhausted and fallen asleep immediately, but after releasing her emotions, she seemed more alert and wanted to share.

Her eyes, still misty from crying, looked at me with a clear, clean gaze. She suddenly smiled, "Melinda, I'm so lucky to have a cousin like you."

Her words made me happy too. "And I'm lucky to have such a sweet cousin."

I continued, "Life is unpredictable. When I was in college, I never imagined going through so much—being deceived, losing my beloved family. But life moves forward. I've met great friends and people who care about me."

"So, Quinlan, your life is just beginning. It's not set in stone. Anything is possible. No matter what happens, don't give up easily. Remember this: save yourself from countless crises. And you're not alone. You have me. If anything happens, tell me. We'll figure it out together."

This was my heartfelt advice, born from my experiences and my concern for Quinlan.

Of course, such advice needed to be understood and accepted by the listener.

Fortunately, Quinlan was thoughtful and quickly understood.

She nodded. "Melinda, don't worry. I get it. I have many things I want to do and still have the chance to do them. I'll work hard and slowly achieve what I want."

"What do you want to do? Tell me." I was curious.

Quinlan's eyes sparkled as she talked about her dreams.