The door slammed shut behind their mother with a sharp clap.
She wore a suit far too elegant for the hour, chin held high, eyes already full of reproach. Her mere presence immediately thickened the atmosphere.
"Eh well…" she said, sweeping the room with a glance. "Looks like I'm coming at a bad time."
Julia sighed discreetly.
"Hello, Mom."
Mel remained silent. She knew that look — that mixture of judgment and self-interest.
"You're not saying anything?" their mother continued, placing her bag on the table. "Do we no longer greet our mother?"
"Hello," Mel replied coldly.
The woman sat down without being invited.
"So… how's the great lady doing? Married to a rich man, living in a villa… You must be living the high life."
Mel crossed her arms.
"If you came to make comments, you can leave."
"Oh, don't be so touchy," her mother replied with a fake smile. "I'm your mother. I have the right to worry… and to ask for a little help."
Julia frowned.
"Help with what, exactly?"
Her mother's gaze landed on Mel.
"I need money. Quickly. I've met someone… a very nice man, very rich. But you know how it works — you have to keep up a certain lifestyle. And your father is struggling."
Mel let out a short, humorless laugh.
"So you want me to pay for your new lifestyle? You and Dad just waste money recklessly."
"Don't be vulgar," her mother snapped. "Remember, without me, you wouldn't be here."
"And without my husband, you wouldn't be sitting here asking me for money," Mel shot back.
The tone escalated.
"You have money now," her mother insisted. "It's normal to help your family."
"No," Mel said firmly. "I'm married. I have a husband. You've had several too. So focus on yours, as I focus on mine."
A heavy silence fell.
Julia looked at Mel in astonishment. She had never seen her speak like this.
"You've changed," their mother said, her pride wounded.
"Maybe. Or maybe I finally realized I don't owe you my life."
Her mother's gaze hardened.
"Very well. Don't forget that choices always have consequences."
She grabbed her bag and left without another word.
The door slammed.
Julia turned to her sister.
"Mel… be careful. You're attracting a lot of enemies right now."
Mel took a deep breath.
"I know. But for once… I don't want to back down."
Meanwhile — at Andrew's office
Ethan was sitting behind his desk, jaw clenched. He had been rereading the same document for ten minutes without really seeing it.
The door opened without knocking.
"So… is it true?" a familiar voice asked.
Ethan looked up. His longtime friend Elias — the one who had known everything about him for years, after Evan of course — had just entered.
"What are you doing here?" Ethan asked.
"I was passing by. And I heard a rather interesting rumor," Elias replied, sitting across from him. "Your stepmother is joining the company?"
Ethan sighed.
"My father has already decided. She'll be my deputy director."
"And that bothers you as much as it seems? You remain the main director."
Ethan hesitated.
"It's not just that… There's something strange."
"Strange how?"
Ethan leaned slightly forward.
"I've noticed an ambiguity between Mel… and Antoine. He never says anything about her."
His friend raised an eyebrow.
"Antoine? Seriously? They've known each other a long time, right? Studied together, always close."
"Yes, I know," Ethan replied. "But this… this is different. There's something in the air between them. Tension. And I can't put my finger on it."
Elias stared at him for a moment.
"Why does it interest you so much?"
Ethan stayed silent.
"I don't know," he finally said. "Maybe because it's all happening at once. Her arrival in the company. Reactions at home. Antoine who's never really far from her…"
"You think something's going on?"
"I have no proof. Just an intuition."
Elias stood up.
"Then keep your eyes open. But be careful, Ethan. Things like this… can explode very quickly."
Ethan nodded.
"Exactly. And I feel this is only the beginning."
He sat back, gaze dark, aware that the decisions made that morning would disrupt far more than just the company's balance.
The office fell silent once Elias left.
Ethan stayed still for a few seconds, staring out the window at the city. His friend's words echoed in his mind. It can explode very quickly.
He stood, took a few steps, then grabbed his phone. An unsent message remained on the screen. He finally locked it, irritated.
"Calm down…" he murmured.
At the villa, Mel had just returned.
The door closed softly behind her. The house was eerily quiet. Too quiet. She set down her bag, took off her shoes, and stepped into the living room. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the sliding glass doors.
Antoine was there.
Sitting on the arm of the sofa, jacket open, phone in hand. When he looked up and met her gaze, something passed between them. A brief, dangerous spark.
"You're back already?" he asked.
"Yes… I needed to come home," she replied. "Are you alone?"
She set her bag down slowly, as if every move was calculated. She felt his gaze on her. She loved it. She hated it.
"Yes, everyone else is out. Is your sister okay?" Antoine added.
"Yes. As well as possible," she said.
A silence settled. Dense. Charged.
"You know," he finally said, "this morning… in front of the others…"
"I know," Mel cut him off. "I know what they think."
"And it doesn't affect you?"
She shrugged.
"A little. But I don't want to justify myself anymore. I made a choice."
Antoine stared at her for a long moment.
"You're incredible, Mel."
"Maybe I'm just starting to be honest."
He gave a subtle smile.
"Honest with who?"
She didn't answer.
A little later, in her bedroom, Mel changed slowly. She chose a simple outfit, but one that highlighted her silhouette. Standing in front of the mirror, she studied herself long and hard.
You're playing with fire, she thought.
But she didn't back down.
Late afternoon, Andrew called.
"Everything okay at home?" he asked.
"Yes," Mel replied. "All quiet."
"We'll talk tonight. About the company. About everything."
"Okay."
She hung up, heart heavy. Everything… That word weighed on her.
Night fell slowly over the villa. Lights flickered on one by one. Maëlys and Henri hadn't returned yet. Antoine wandered through the house, restless. Mel could feel it, even without seeing him.
She stepped onto the terrace.
He joined her a few seconds later.
"You know you complicate everything," he said bluntly.
"I'm not doing anything," she replied calmly.
"I'm letting things happen on their own."
"You know very well what you do when you look at me like that."
She turned to him.
"And you know very well that you could leave… but you stay."
Silence fell. Their eyes locked.
"Tell me to stop," Antoine murmured. "And I will."
Mel felt her heart beat faster.
"I can't," she admitted.
He took a step closer. Not more.
"Then be careful, Mel. Because if I ever cross the line… I'm not sure I could go back."
She didn't step back.
"Neither could I."
Footsteps echoed inside. The door opened.
Andrew had arrived.
They separated immediately.
"I'm here," he announced.
Mel took a deep breath and turned to her husband.
She knew the evening would be decisive. That the truths, held back until now, were starting to seek an outcome.
And in the shadow of the villa, tensions, desires, and suspicions continued to intertwine… ready to explode.