Melody is just relaxing on the chair when she hears her mother and sister conversing in almost inaudible voices and she turns around.

" What are you both talking about that you may say loudly?" She asks, looking from one person to the other.

Her mother raises her eyebrow at Bella before she sips from her cup of tea and Melody can't help but huff.

" Okay, if it has to do with me, maybe you guys should say something. " She says. " I really don't appreciate you guys talking behind my back. "

Her mother and sister still exchange glances and she can't take it anymore. She stands up and starts to walk away.

"Hey, come on. " Her mother calls her back. " It's not that serious, you don't have to leave. "

" You guys are obviously keeping something from me, what's it about?" She asks them.

"Okay, fine. " Her mother sighs. " We were just talking about the fact that you called Taylor to speak to the bank manager to give you the loan."

" I can't believe that your poor husband made you do that. " Bella screws her face in disgust and shakes her head. " He pushed you to beg Taylor and for what? So that he would take all the glory?"

Melody is transfixed at a point and her jaw has dropped to the floor. She is so shocked by what they have just said that she can't even utter a word.

"Wait, what?" She finally finds her voice.

" Taylor told papa. " Bella gestures. " Duke was a fuck for making you do that and Taylor was a sweetheart for helping. "

" Why won't you leave that church rat already?"Her mother wonders. " He doesn't have anything to offer and you can't take him out to events, what will people say?"

"Is it the sex?" Her sister asks. " Is he so good at it that you choose to suffer in poverty just because a man fucks you well?"

Melody shakes her head to get her thoughts together and she almost yells at both of them.

"Woo, wait a second. " She tells them. " What the hell are you guys talking about?"

Her sister shrugs at her mother.

" What part are you referring to exactly?" Her mother inquires. " The part about your "husband " Being dead poor or the sex part?"

" First of all, Duke is not poor, we are doing fine. " She corrects. " And the sex – it's gross that you guys are talking about it – but sex is fine with Duke. "

Melody walks closer to them and stands directly in front of them and with the biggest frown on her face, she tells them.

" And Taylor didn't help us get the money, we got it by our effort. Why would he lie about that?"

Her mother and sister don't look like they believe what she is saying so she just shakes her head.

They are not who she is supposed to talk to, she is going to have to speak to Taylor. How dare he?

" You know what?" She picks up her phone from the chair and starts to head out. " I am out of here. "

She leaves heading downstairs and she doesn't stop even when her mum calls for her to come back.

****

Duke is trying his best to keep his cool. He has been known for how violently he reacts when he is angry and he found a way to channel that to good use in the army, but he isn't in a military setting here.

What's going to happen if he beats this man up so badly that he has to be rushed to the ICU? Won't that be terrifying to Melody? He doesn't want to scare her. He already beat someone up at the bank, he doesn't want to do that again.

He flexes his fits and stretches his fingers and smiles, it's a dangerous kind of smile.

Taylor and Mister Jimmy seem not to understand because they look at him and laugh.

" Let me get this straight. " Duke folds his hands. " You, Taylor, called the bank manager and told him to give us the loan? Because Melody told you to do so?"

" Exactly. " Taylor affirms. " The pride in his voice can't be missed. " Melody is such a dear friend that I wouldn't hesitate to help. "

Duke smirks and looks away, he can't imagine that a man would lie with such confidence.

He has just opened his mouth to say something to him when Melody rushes down the stairs with an angry look on her face.

They have been married for just a few days but Duke knows his wife very well.

Taylor is smiling at her, but the instant that she almost charges at him, he holds her back, she might strike him.

" Just how do you think you are, huh?" She fires at him.

She almost walks into his damn face with the intent of leaving him a slap but she is caught by her husband.

Her grandfather is not pleased at all. He stands up and gives her a cold glare, warning her, but she is too mad to listen to him.

" How dare you come here and lie to my family? " She accuses him. " When did I ever call you and ask you to put in a word for me with the manager?"

Taylor breaks into sweat from the embarrassment. He laughs nervously and adjusts his suit.

" Come on, Melody. " He teases. " It's not that big of a deal. "

" It is when you discredit my husband and me just to make yourself appear to be a hero that you are not. "

Mister Jimmy lets out a snort from his mouth. His confusion adds to the wrinkles on his face and he looks at them all.

" Melody, what are you talking about?" He asks. " What are you saying?"

" What Melody is trying to say is that Taylor here is a liar. " Duke speaks for her. " No one called him, no one asked for his help and the reason I met your criteria is not because of him."

" You disgust me, I swear. " Melody spits at him.

" Taylor, what are they talking about?" Mister Jimmy demands to know.

Taylor scratches the back of his head and looks down at his feet.

" Mister Jimmy, I think this is just one big misunderstanding. " He laughs. " I know that Melody is trying to protect Duke's ego, he is a man and I understand. "

" Are you fucking serious right now?!" Melody yells. " Why the hell do you keep lying and lying?"

" Sweetheart, I am not lying. " Taylor grins at her.

" Don't call me that. " She warns him fiercely. " That's so disrespectful of you. "

Duke is keeping his calm even though he knows that he can silence his man with a swing of his fist.

He will leave him bloody and his brain foggy and maybe that would leave some sense in his head too.

Even though Melody looks like she is going to hit him herself, he knows that she can't stand the sight of blood.

" Enough. " Mister Jimmy rubs his head. " You guys are being very childish right now, but what am I expecting? You guys are kids. "

" Call him. " Duke says and everyone turns around to look at him.

" Excuse me?" Taylor says. " You want me to call the manager to confirm that I was the one who influenced the loan you guys got?"

" That's about it, that's what I'm expecting you to do. " Duke nods.

Taylor gibbers and looks around, looking for an excuse not to call the manager, but everyone is looking at him.

He didn't even notice that Bella and Melody's mother are by the stairs witnessing the drama.

Mister Jimmy is not objecting too and that means that he too wants to see him call the manager.

He has no other option. He clears his throat and takes out his phone. He dials the manager's number and places it against his head.

All eyes are fixed on him as the phone rings, everywhere is as silent as a graveyard.

The phone rings and rings again, but the manager doesn't pick up. Taylor tries again and again, but he doesn't get any answer.

Finally, he sighs and drops the phone on the table, and shrugs, turning to all of them.

" He didn't pick up. I don't know why he is not answering his phone. " Taylor looks like he is relieved. " He is definitely going to call me back and you all will know that I am not lying. "

Duke snorts and gives him a look.

"How is the Manager supposed to pick up the call when he is in jail?"