Chapter 277: Letting go (2)
Edgar’s laughter soon filled the room.
Melanie and her family were more foolish than he thought if they believed Alessandra would hand over responsibility to Melanie.
"Melanie should be the one to decide? For her to give only the children she cares for? Including the son who is not her blood son?" Edgar asked, knowing how this would end.
It was obvious to Edgar what would happen should Alessandra allow her mother to take over.
"I also do not trust that she would share it out evenly. Surely, Luke would get money, though he is not entitled to it. Claire and I have been sharing with Luke over the years so he doesn’t feel excluded," Melody revealed.
"He is not related to the Cromwells’ family by blood," said Edgar, not caring about Luke being included. "Is that all that was said?"
"Some feel like you give plenty to your children, though they do not need it. It was only a suggestion amongst the family, but I would not be surprised if they tried to fight you for your share of the mines," said Melody.
At this point, Melody wouldn’t put anything past her siblings or mother. Her father was the only one she could trust.
Edgar looked at Alessandra, who appeared to be in deep thought. "You have been far too generous by giving them more than what your grandmother wanted you to," he said.
"What?" Melody said, confused as to what Edgar meant.
"Wilma wasn’t pleased with her daughter, who ran off and not only didn’t write to her, but also to Alessandra. There was money left to you since you are Melanie’s daughter, but you have long received it. The rest was for Alessandra," Edgar revealed.
It was a decision Alessandra didn’t like, but her now deceased grandmother, Wilma Cromwell, wanted to do something good for her and left all that she had to Alessandra instead of Melanie.
It was Wilma’s last gift to Alessandra.
"Your mother turned her back on more than just your sister," said Edgar.
"I didn’t know of this," Melody said, partially surprised.
Melody met her grandmother a little after her first time coming to Lockwood, but it wasn’t very often. It was hard for Melanie to face her parents despite her father knocking on death’s door.
"It wasn’t only our grandmother," Alessandra clarified before Melody misunderstood. "The Cromwells didn’t like that our mother seemingly turned her back on them. I didn’t think it was fair for you and Claire to be ousted because of our mother, so I have given you some of my share."
"Grandmother loved you," Alessandra assured Melody. "She spoke highly of you in our letters and during the time that I visited her. Sometimes anger is misplaced, and that was one of those moments."
Melody smiled through her sadness. "It is fine for her to feel as she did since I didn’t visit her unless she was in Lockwood. I have also made some mistakes that I must live with. It is too late to become closer to her now that she has passed."
"I don’t need the jewels from the mines. It is not every day they are lucky enough to find jewels. I don’t need a large sum of money to get by since I am always moving with young ladies I am employed to teach. Do not send anymore to me," said Melody.
Melody had received plenty from Alessandra, and since she didn’t have anything to offer in return, she didn’t want to keep taking.
Melody continued to say, "It is up to you to decide if you wish to keep giving to Claire and our mother, but from what was said, you do not need to. I don’t think you should. Do not let them use your name or the prince’s as well," she said to Penelope.
Melody knew Luke was most excited that Penelope had become a princess since it opened new doors for him.
"When was the last time you saw your uncle Luke?" Melody asked, curious if Luke had at least visited.
Penelope tried to think of it when she saw her uncle. She looked to Lily for help.
"It was near our last birthday when we visited our grandmother for our gifts," Lily answered.
Lily remembered her aunt Claire was there along with her cousins.
"What has he been using our name for?" Tyrion questioned, now curious about Penelope’s family.
Penelope’s aunt and uncle weren’t on Tyrion’s list of people to keep an eye on, but now they were. How could a man Tyrion couldn’t recall ever meeting go around the town using his name?
"It is for all kinds of business. He sometimes claims to have the same cloth the duke used to have his clothes made with or the king, since Alessandra is close to the queen. I am unable to keep up with it since I am not always in Lockwood," Melody answered.
"I urge each one of you to be cautious when around them. I see them all as users. Myself included," Melody said, unable to shake the thought she had used Alessandra. "I must speak to you and the duke in private now."
Melody had done her part in warning Alessandra’s family. Once she shared what Melanie said to Alessandra and Edgar, Melody was leaving to go back to her work.
Melody stood up along with Alessandra and walked out of the room with Edgar not far behind them.
Penelope looked to her siblings and said, "We should have spoken about how we felt long ago. We could have long cut ties. It is unfortunate since I still cared for our aunt and uncle."
"All this while, they had been upset about the mines," Lily said, disappointed the rift was growing.
"I feel most sorry for my mother. She put so much effort into us getting to know our grandmother and her siblings, all for it to end like this. I am sorry you are being pulled into this," Penelope apologised to Tyrion.
"Don’t be sorry since I am entertained. I want to meet your uncle and hear about how he has ties with me. I must visit him," Tyrion said, considering it.
Tyrion could spare a portion of his time to speak with Penelope’s family. He already enjoyed the talk he had with Melanie.
"Being seen with you is what our uncle would want," said Lily.
Tyrion flashed a smile full of mischief. "Your uncle will not speak of me after we meet. Will you join me, Elijah?"
Elijah nodded, agreeing to go.
Elijah wanted to get to the bottom of what was discussed about his mother and the mines. As the oldest, the responsibility of sharing out what was sent from the mines would one day be passed onto him, so what did his aunt, uncle, and grandmother think of this fact?