Chapter 9 " Shut up ! " Bethany snapped coldly , " Simon got what he deserved . What does that have to do with the Fulton family ? Warren did the right thing . " Winona stared at her in disbelief . " Bethany ! Simon is your real grandson ! How can you say that ? He got beaten up , and you don't even care ? " " Just because he is my grandson , does he think he can speak for me ? " Bethany said flatly . " I'm still standing here , and he dares to say he'll kick Mel out . Does he think he calls the shot in the Rasmussen family ? " Winona shot back , " What did Simon do wrong ? Melanie is the one who caused all this . If she and Warren were together , why didn't she say so from the start ? She acted all noble , giving up the engagement to Esty . Since she gave it up , she should have kept her distance from Warren . " Winona glared at Melanie , who stayed silent on stage . " But what about her ? She stole Esty's fiancé in front of so many people . How is Esty supposed to face people after that ? Simon loves Esty the most . He couldn't stand seeing her hurt , so he stood up for her . What's wrong with that ? " " That's wrong , " Bethany said bluntly . " Mel is his sister , but he sided with someone else . " " You're being unreasonable ! " Winona snapped . " Melanie just came back . Esty grew up with Simon . Of course , he's closer to her . " Warren glanced at Winona , his voice cold . " So , my girlfriend is the real daughter of the Rasmussen family . Yet , she wasn't welcome here ? " Melanie was kind of speechless . She shifted on her feet again . She really wanted to kick him out . His girlfriend ? It was his ex - girlfriend ! Winona wanted to yell , " Yeah , she isn't welcome . Why should she come back and take everything from Esty ? " But she didn't dare say this . She was afraid Warren would go crazy again . Estelle noticed Warren's upset expression . Afraid he might do something impulsive , she quickly explained , " Warren , you've misunderstood . We don't hate Melanie . She has just returned and isn't close to us yet . Don't blame Simon . He just stood up for me . " Estelle looked at Melanie and said , " If Melanie had told us earlier that you were her boyfriend , I wouldn't have agreed to this engagement . This whole mess could have been avoided . " Warren didn't even look at her . His voice was ice . " I warned you . You're ugly . Don't show your face in front of me again . " Estelle's smile froze , but she forced it to stay . " Got it . " She walked up to Melanie and said softly , " Melanie , I'm sorry . I really didn't know . Since you and Warren love each other , I'll step aside . " But her heart was heavy with sorrow . 09:28 4.1 % < Chapter 9 She didn't want to give up on this engagement . But with things like this , if she insisted on marrying Warren , it would only get worse . She could tell Warren was completely hooked on Melanie . He hadn't spared her a glance . Melanie must've learned some tricks from that escort . She clearly knew how to seduce men . So Estelle would bide her time . No one could take what was hers , whether it was people or things . Melanie glanced at her coolly . " Step aside ? Please . Who do you think you are ? Like I need your charity . " " Mel always gets what she wants first . Anyone else can step aside - if they're even worthy . " Warren walked up , put his arm around Melanie , and swept a cold gaze across the room . Finally , he looked at the Rasmussen family . " Since you don't want Mel , then write a letter cutting ties . She doesn't need you . I'll take care of her myself . " Winona's face turned pale . This was a public slap to the Rasmussen family . Estelle's expression shifted , but she could only force a smile . What else could she say ? With Warren backing Melanie , anything she said would only humiliate her more . Bethany frowned at Warren . " Mel doesn't need you to take care of her . She hasn't agreed to marry you yet . " Menu Warren tilted his head and looked at his beloved woman . " Mel , stop it . I didn't cheat . We're already engaged . Why not make it official today ? " Once they were engaged , she would be his . She would never get away . Melanie looked at him calmly . Then , just as Warren looked hopeful , she kicked him aside and said , " Get lost . I don't get back with my exes . " Then she walked away . Warren was furious and ran after her . " Still trying to run ? " Melanie and Warren ran out one after the other , leaving everyone in the hall stunned . Araceli cleared her throat , looking embarrassed . " Bethany , it was our fault today . I didn't know Warren and Melanie already knew each other . If I had , this misunderstanding wouldn't have happened . " Bethany sighed . Not to mention Araceli , she didn't know either . Yesterday , Bethany noticed Melanie's reaction to Warren's name was strange , as if she was avoiding something toxic . She never expected them to have this kind of history . " It's not your fault , " Bethany said . " But let's put the engagement on hold for now . I don't think Mel wants it . We can't force her . It took me so long to find her . I don't want her to suffer . " . 09:28 AD Kelly Support genuine reading Pare Ithe princess of the Mafia empire , now hides like a stray dog . 4.1 % View now > < Chapter 9 Menu " I understand , " Araceli said , patting her hand . " Let's not talk about engagement for now . Let the kids decide . If Mel changes her mind one day , we'll revisit it . " " Alright . " Araceli and Bethany chatted and laughed like nothing had happened . Winona and Estelle didn't look happy at all . Winona was so embarrassed that she couldn't stay . She didn't even say goodbye to Araceli and dragged Estelle away . The other Rasmussen relatives exchanged awkward glances and followed suit . Only Evander stood there , mouth wide open from the moment Warren asked Melanie why she broke up with him . Even after everyone left , he was still frozen until Bethany slapped his forehead . " Oh my god ! " he finally blurted . " Melanie is amazing ! She slept with Warren and then dumped him ! That's legendary ! " Bethany glared at him . " And you just stood there like a coward while she was being bullied . Why didn't you stand up for her ? " Evander scratched his head awkwardly . " I was just too shocked to react ... " Then he jumped up . " Wait . Warren is a psycho ! What if he hits her ? I have to go save Melanie ! " With that , Evander ran off .