ROCKY - Operation Vengeance

Chapter 2- Quality time

Rocky watched as his mother-in-law, Elizabeth, rained blow after blow on Melissa. He wanted to stop it. He should’ve stopped it. But his feet refused to move. His voice remained trapped in his throat.

It was hell.

Not just for Melissa—but for him too.

Because this was his fault.

Every slap, every kick, every curse that left Elizabeth’s mouth was because of him.

And yet, Melissa didn’t say a word.

Not even when the pain became unbearable. Not even when her lips cracked, and her fragile body trembled with the effort of staying conscious.

She took it. All of it.

Four minutes had passed since Elizabeth finally stopped.

She hadn’t stopped because of guilt. Or exhaustion. No, the only reason the beating ended was because time was running out. The coronation was that evening, and Elizabeth couldn’t afford to be late.

With a final glare at Melissa, she huffed, fixed her dress, and stormed out of the house.

Jonathan followed without a word.

And then there was silence.

Rocky let out a shaky breath.

Melissa lay curled up on the bed, her body stiff with pain. Her breathing was shallow, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to disappear.

Rocky grabbed a towel and a bowl of hot water. He wasn’t good at this. Never had been. But he had to do something.

He dipped the towel in the steaming water, wrung it out, and pressed it gently against her bruises.

She flinched.

Her skin was too thin, too weak to take this kind of punishment.

Rocky’s jaw clenched. He shouldn’t have taken that money. It wasn’t worth this.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Melissa didn’t look at him.

Instead, she turned her face to the wall, her swollen lips pressing into a thin line.

Rocky swallowed.

She didn’t want his pity.

He knew that.

But that still didn’t explain why she had taken the blame.

Why?

Why had she protected him?

Rocky wrung the towel again and gently dabbed at a cut on her cheek. The water dripped, rolling down her face like tears she refused to shed.

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

Then, finally, Melissa broke the silence.

“I didn’t do it for you.”

Rocky froze.

Her voice was hoarse, barely there, but it was sharp enough to cut.

“I didn’t do it because I care,” she murmured, her words slow, deliberate. “I did it… because if she knew you took it, she wouldn’t have stopped at me.”

Rocky’s breath hitched.

Melissa exhaled shakily. “She would’ve killed you.”

The words settled between them, heavy and unshakable.

Rocky clenched his fists.

So that was it.

She hadn’t protected him out of kindness.

She had done it because, deep down, she knew—if Elizabeth found out the truth, Rocky wouldn’t have walked away alive.

And no matter how much she hated him, no matter how much she resented him for the life they were forced into…

She still didn’t want him dead.

Rocky pulled back, staring at her bruised face.

The weight in his chest grew heavier.

Melissa’s breathing steadied.

And then, just as quietly as before, she said something that made his blood run cold.

“Next time…”

She shifted slightly, her tired eyes flickering open.

“Don’t get caught.”

Rocky’s grip on the towel tightened. He didn’t know what to say. What could he say?

Melissa had saved his life—despite everything.

His throat felt dry, but somehow, he forced the words out.

“…Thanks.”

Melissa didn’t react. She had already turned her face back to the wall, as if he wasn’t even there.

Rocky hesitated for a second longer, then stood up. He couldn’t stay. Not now.

He stepped out of the room and into the dimly lit hallway. His mind was still reeling, his chest too tight to breathe properly.

But then—

Something caught his eye.

A small, elegant card sat on the living room table.

The invitation.

Rocky’s brows furrowed.

Had they… left it behind?

He picked it up, running his fingers over the smooth edges. Without this, how were they supposed to attend the coronation?

Should he take it to them?

His jaw tightened. He didn’t owe them anything. After what Elizabeth had just done, he had every reason to toss the damn thing in the fireplace.

But if they got turned away at the gates…

Rocky exhaled sharply.

“Damn it.”

Without another word, he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.