<h4>Chapter 340: Cold Horror</h4>


    The car ride was entirely silent and Melody felt herself tense up all over again as they pulled up in front of the house. Why was he not saying anything? Did Mnie and him not talk when they were alone? As many thoughts gathered in her head again, the car stopped and the driver stepped out again and circled around to open her door.


    She turned her head to look at him, but Adam was already out. Without a word, he walked past her side of the car, not sparing her a nce, heading straight toward the front steps of the house.


    Melody blinked at his retreating figure, lips parting in disbelief. Was he really going to leave her like this? But then, her n to find out about Mnie’s room and other things would go to waste!


    She shifted slightly and the pain in her back hit again. Her voice came out breathless but sharp and louder than she intended.


    "Adam!"


    He paused.


    "I can’t move," she said, with a touch of desperation. "Can you... help me to my room?" Unfortunately, though this had been her n, at this moment, she really found herself unable to move.


    For a second, he didn’t turn and she thought that he was really going to abandon her. Then, slowly, he nced back at the driver, who was standing awkwardly nearby. And then, a secondter, Adam walked back to the car and leaned down toward her.


    Before she could say another word, his arms were around her.


    She barely had time to react before he lifted her off the seat and into his arms. Just like she’d imagined. Her heart skipped, then fluttered wildly in her chest even though the position only made her back ache more. But it was enough. He was carrying her. Bridal style into his home.


    She wrapped her arms lightly around his neck, careful not to make it too obvious, and dared to look up at his face. It was unreadable and expressionless, as if this meant nothing. But she didn’t mind.


    He carried her across the threshold and into the house, making sure not to jostle her too much. Every inch of her ached, but it was worth it. This was what she had wanted. This closeness. This intimacy.


    She allowed herself a small smile.


    But the smile didn’tst long As soon as they entered her room, Adam walked straight to the bed and without warning, dropped her onto the bed like a sack of potatoes


    Shended with a loud thud and a sharp yelp of pain. "Ow-!" she winced, her hand shooting to her lower back as Adam stood over her, jaw clenched, eyes as cold as ever.


    "You’re in your room now," he said tly. Then he turned around and walked out, leaving the door open behind him.


    Melodyy there, stunned, the ache in her spine burning and called out, "Adam! What is the meaning of this? Where are you going?"


    Adam stopped and turned around to stare at her,"I am going to my room. Where else?"


    Shey there, stunned and sore, staring at him as his words echoed in her mind-I’m going to my room.


    Her brows furrowed. His room? What did he mean by that? Did he and Mnie not share a room? No no. Adir had always mentioned... No... As she thought back, Adir only ever mentioned Adam and Mnie together in the kitchen or the living room. And he even said that Adam had slept with him a few times.


    She thought back to what Hallie had told her that Adam and Mnie had never really been in love but been together to harm Mnie’s ex.


    Still, she asked, "What do you mean by your room?"


    There was a beat of silence, and then he gave a short, sarcastic snort.


    "Did you lose your memory in that ident, Melon?" His tone was biting. "Why would I not have my own room? Do you expect me to live with you?"


    He stepped back into the room now, and continued coldly, "And don’t think I haven’t noticed. The way you’ve been acting the past few days. Hovering around me, clinging to my sleeve like some damsel in distress. You think I don’t see through all that?"


    Melody’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. Her mind raced, trying to control the chaos that bubbled inside her head as she felt a hollow realisation. Mnie and Adam were a couple in name only. Adam loved Mnie in public but seemed to hate her in private....


    Even as she came to this realiasation, Adam shook his head, and spoke in a warnign tone, "Let me remind you,since you seem so conveniently forgetful, this is a contract marriage. You and I are just a loving couple on paper. A well-packaged lie. That’s all. The moment the purpose is served, this ends."


    He leaned forward slightly, arms crossing over his chest. "So don’t try these petty tricks on me again to lure me close to you. I have no interest in sleeping with Spencer’s leftovers."


    Melody stared at him, her heart pounding. Her lips trembled for a second before she forced them still. He really did hate Mnie. For a moment, she wondered if she should confess that she was not Mnie. Then she would not have to see the disdain in his eyes.


    But something stopped her from confessing. Even if Adam hated Mnie, he was at least married to her. It was better if he didn’t love her, was’t it? Then she had a better chance of getting him to fall for her. With this thought in mind, her voice, when it came, was quiet. "I wasn’t trying to trick you."


    "Oh?" he shot back, raising a brow. "So the fall just happened to almost make yound you in my arms? The helpless damsel act, was that part of your discharge instructions?"


    She looked away, cheeks burning.


    He scoffed. "Exactly what I thought."


    Melody gripped the nket beneath her. The ache in her back throbbed, but the pain in her chest burned hotter.


    "I didn’t n it... I was really in pain," she muttered under her breath but it was useless because Adam had already walked away.