When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

The cops had all the needed evidence, and Kayla was at a loss for words.

After all, the Patterson Group was currently using designs that Jade had created. It was an undeniable fact, supported by Kayla's previous collaborators, who could vouch for those submitted designs.

Kayla wept pitifully in the police station, but I remained expressionless.

Clyde was extremely restless, frantically calling the Patterson Group's lawyer to try and get Kayla bailed out.

After hanging up, he glared at me, seething, "Melanie, how can you be so cruel?"

"No crueler than your mistress stealing trade secrets." I rolled my eyes at him, then grabbed Jade, who was about to explode. Arguing with Clyde in the police station was the last thing we needed.

Massaging his temples, Clyde didn't argue back, seemingly conceding Kayla might indeed be capable of such a deed. His thought process baffled me. Having been in the industry for so long, he was well aware of the taboos. How could he let Kayla off the hook like that?

I looked away, letting him rant until the cops intervened.

"Sir, your assistant has indeed stolen trade secrets. I would advise against threatening the complainant," one officer warned him, adding, "Especially since she's your wife."

It seemed our frequent visits had made our story well-known among the police.

A mistress copying the designs of the legit wife's friend sounded less like business trouble and more like a messy love triangle.

I faced Clyde with a stoic expression. "Jade is the victim here. These are her designs, not her company's. You might want to get Kayla to come clean. After all, confessing might lighten her sentence."

If Kayla was convicted, she was looking at time behind bars. It wasn't a minor issue. Though discarded by Jade, the designs could still be valued at millions on the market, enough to put Kayla into prison for years.

The awkwardness was palpable when Clyde's lawyer arrived, but he still accompanied Clyde to talk to the police bravely.

I wasn't privy to what they discussed, but the police hoped for a resolution.

Once in the interrogation room, Kayla's tears flowed freely, yet her gaze at me was thick with resentment. "I had no idea. Hank said those were his designs. I merely bought some blueprints for the company. Clyde, someone's jealous of us and is framing me. Please, don't believe her."

She was such a clever girl, avoiding

the topic of the designs and focusing on a supposed romantic

dispute. Such a heartbreaking tale of a woman sacrificing everything for love, only to be suppressed and framed by the legit wife.

"We've also sued Hank. Let's see what he has to say. Anyway, we have evidence." I cut off Kayla's sob story. "The tech department can read lips from that video, right? If you think I'm framing you, sue me. Cut the drama."

I was tired of Kayla's act, so I pulled Jade out of the room. Since they weren't interested in settling, we

didn't want to linger. On his part

Hank detailed everything. It was all Kayla's doing. He even recorded every meeting with her.

With undeniable evidence, Kayla had no room to argue, resorting to pleading with Clyde.

As Clyde approached us, visibly upset but still standing up for his mistress, he said, "Melanie, Jade, can we talk?"

"Melanie, are you okay?" Somehow aware of the situation, Vinson rushed over, stepping before Clyde. "What's the plan, Mr. Patterson? Trying to throw your weight around here?"

Clyde clenched his fists but eventually let go. His gaze returned to me. "Making a big deal out of this helps no one. If Jade sues the Patterson Group, it could ruin her career."

"Clyde, are you admitting you had Kayla do this?" My voice was sharp, my body trembling.

If it were him, a divorce would be the least of his worries.

Clyde met my gaze without flinching, almost pityingly. "Do you think so?"

His demeanor reassured me. If our marriage ended in total ruin, I would be devastated.

He softened his tone, whispering, "But the project did use Jade's designs. I'll take responsibility. I owe Jade an apology."

"How will you take responsibility? Jade has lost her job and designs. You think an apology can fix everything?"

Clyde was always good at apologizing, having written me countless letters of regret during college.

He inhaled deeply, reluctantly looking at Jade. "We'll buy the designs at market value and throw in an extra 10% as compensation."

Jade and I remained unmoved. Letting Kayla off easy wasn't an option!

Seeing our silence, Clyde finally said through gritted teeth, "Jade can join the Patterson Group, heading Design Department III."