Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 576

Hilltop Manor.

Melisande Edwards lounged in the sunken bath while a young man in his early twenties poured her a glass of red wine, his hands gently massaging her shoulders.

"Melisande..." The therapist was striking—young, with broad shoulders, a lean waist, and long legs that suggested he was likely still a college student. "Do you need me to help you properly relax?"

A smirk played on her lips as she reached up to tilt his chin. "Have you been behaving lately?"

The young man smiled. "I'm on break. I can stay here and keep you company for a while."

Taking a sip of her wine, Melisande hooked an arm around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.

Right before their lips met, her phone rang.

She pushed him away, wading across the warm water to glance at the screen.

"Hello?"

She turned her back to the young man as she answered.

"Miss Edwards, Susanna has officially entered the core department at White Corporation. From the looks of it, Clayton Holloway truly trusts her and treats her exceptionally well." The caller had been keeping a close eye on both Susanna and Clayton.

Her smirk widened into a deeply calculating smile.

At the edge of the bath, the young man watched her. He discreetly pulled out his own phone, tapped out a quick message, deleted the chat history, and set the device aside.

"And what's the situation with Easton and Pamela?"

The young man walked back over, placing a slim cigarette between her lips and lighting it for her.

Melisande took a long drag, her eyes narrowing as she slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"They're already picking out wedding dresses. The exact date hasn't been set, but Chairman Edwards wants it done as soon as possible—preferably by the beginning of next month."

Melisande scoffed. "Of course. He always puts his biological daughter first."

She knew perfectly well that the Edwards family's apparent kindness toward her was entirely for show. As an adopted daughter, she was merely a shield, a pawn brought in to serve a purpose. To Sampson Edwards, she was nothing more than a weapon.

Clayton Holloway was her hidden trump card. They shared a childhood bond; he had always been good to her back then, secretly sneaking her his favorite snacks and candies. She always assumed that the young Clayton had a crush on her.

But then came the poisoning incident at the orphanage, and the fallout that led her to steal the opportunity to be adopted...

She wasn't entirely sure what kind of lingering feelings he still harbored for her now.

That was why she chose to watch from the sidelines. She had allowed Natalia to plant an imposter by his side, waiting to gauge his true feelings. Once she saw his devotion, she would reveal her true identity and expose the fake. That way, he would treasure her all the more, making him much easier to manipulate.

After all, his position at White Corporation was incredibly powerful.

She could use Clayton to wrest control of the company from Alicia Shelton, while using Natalia to lay claim to Lynch Corporation.

She had endured years of hell to get to where she was today. She intended to climb to the absolute top, standing high above the rest, perched comfortably at the apex of the corporate food chain.

"Jude..." Melisande reached out, taking the young man's hand. "Did that hurt? I didn't mean to burn you on purpose."

The boy named Jude nodded, flashing a sweet, compliant smile. "I know, Melisande. I was an orphan. You took me in all those years ago. My life belongs to you. You can do whatever you want with me..."