Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law

"Going somewhere?"

Melody froze mid-flight, her momentum cut short by the person who appeared in front of her out of the blue. She stepped back from the main door and back into the house in horror, as Melanie came through the main door of the house, her presence filling the space and blocking any chance of slipping past.

"You… you…" The words stumbled out of Melody's mouth, her shock making it hard to breathe and even making her forget that she had accidentally revealed her voice. Her mind struggled to keep up with what she was seeing. How could Melanie be here? She had just stabbed her in the bedroom… where she had been sleeping peacefully. Yet here she was, walking in as if nothing had happened.

Melody's feet moved without thought, carrying her backward into the house. Her eyes stayed locked on Melanie, unable to look away. Melanie kept advancing, her steps unbroken, each one bringing her closer and forcing Melody farther from the door, deeper into the place she had been so desperate to escape.

"Why don't you take off the mask, Melody? Its not like I don't know who you are. You've already been revealed."

Melody's breath hitched. Her hands twitched at her sides, as she tried to a way to get out of this but before she could respond, movement behind Melanie caught her attention. Adam stepped into view, his eyes fixed on her. In that instant, it all clicked-he was the one who had caught her earlier. The one who had said that the knife was probably stuck in bones...

Suddenly she felt a bit of hope. He had not tried to intervene or save Melanie... Her fingers went to the mask, pulling it off in one quick motion. She didn't think more and, just moved, rushing toward him. "Adam, you have to save me. I was only trying to help you… I swear."

"Melanie? What is going on?" Adam asked in confusion as he pushed at the woman who was trying to hug him but Melody responded," Adam. Adam. Don't push me. I am Melody and not Melanie."

Adam's brows lifted. His eyes widened as if the words had stunned him and he could not fathom that she was not Melanie.""You're Melody?" he said slowly, looking from her to Melanie and back again. "Then… who is she? Isn't she Melody? I know because she was wearing these clothes just a few hours ago.

Melody shook her head hard and her hands around his arm tightened,.""No. She isn't, Melody.. I lied," she said in a rushed voice. "I am Melody. When the kidnappers took Melanie away, I thought it was my chance. My chance to get close to you."

She looked straight at him. her eyes mirroring her desperation as she explained between short panting breaths. "I like you, Adam. I've always liked you. You were devoted to your wife, so I thought… if I became her, you wouldn't push me away."

Her hands moved as she spoke, her words tumbling faster as she tried once again to shake him, "But then I found out the truth. That you hate her. That you can't stand her. And by then it was too late to stop. I was already in too deep, pretending to be Melanie."

Her eyes darted to Melanie, standing silent, blocking the door and her voice dropped lower. "I had thought that when she came back thing. Now she's back and everything is messed up again. She's pretending to be me. Taking my place. Flirting with you. Trying to turn you against me. She knows you hate her. Hate that she was with your brother earlier. So, she is using my name to get close to you."

Melody's breath came faster. Her fingers curled into fists. "I know you hate her, Adam. I know you don't want her here. I was only trying to help you. I was trying to help us. That's why I wanted to get rid of her. For you. For me."

Adam's eyes stayed on her. His voice was calm, but there was weight in it. "So… after the kidnapping attempt, it's been you all this time? Melody? Melanie was the one who was kidnapped?"

"Yes," Melody said quickly. "It was me. I took her place because I wanted you to see me. To know me. To want me. And now she's ruining everything."

Her voice trembled, but she continued firmly, "I know what you need, Adam. I can give it to you. She can't. And I don't want her to fool you."

Adam tilted his head slightly. "And stabbing her… was that your idea of fixing things?"

Melody's mouth tightened. "I wasn't trying to kill her. I just wanted her gone. If she's gone, there's nothing in the way. No one to interfere. No one to take you from me."

Her voice turned sharp as she looked at Melanie again. "She's the one who lied. She's the one who played games. I've told you the truth now. Everything. I did it for you and for me. Once Melanie is gone, then you and I can be together. I know you cannot divorce her for another year. So...

Adam didn't speak. He just looked at her. The silence stretched, pressing down on the room.

Melody stepped closer. "You have to believe me. You have to choose me. Don't let her steal what I've built with you."

Her voice cracked. "I am Melody. I've been here with you. Not her."

She reached out toward him, searching his face for a sign and then, almost smiled in relief when he reached toward her and asked her," You are not Melanie? And you have been with me all this while?"

Melody looked up at him with hope. Yes. She had guessed it right. Adam would side with her. As she felt his hands on her shoulders, she gave him a hopeful smile and nodded...expecting him to hug her in acceptance and relief.