Serendipity's Secret (Melanie) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23 

“Just keep the bankbook for yourself. After all, it’s your hard–earned money from these past years. I’ve got enough for the shop, so you don’t need to worry about it,” Melanie said timely, refusing to take the bankbook 

Edward looked surprised. Typically, when a woman saw her man hand over his paycheck, she would be over the moon. So why was Melanie different? 

“Are you sure you don’t want it?” he asked again, unable to hide his curiosity. 

“I don’t need it. I haven’t even touched the wedding gift you gave me. If I need money down the road, I’ll let you know,” she replied, calculating her expenses 

With rent and inventory, she figured 2,000 dollars would cover it. She was only planning to open a small shop, so it wouldn’t break the bank. 

Since she insisted, Edward didn’t press the issue any further. He tucked the bankbook into a drawer, leaving it out of sight but not out of mind. 

“Tomorrow, I’ll take you somewhere fun. I’m heading back to work the day after, and I won’t have much free time after that,” he said, settling down on the edge of the bed, his voice gentle. 

Melanie thought about how little there was to do for fun. Tomorrow, she planned to scout a shop location, and if she found a suitable place, she would want to sign the lease immediately. Having Edward tag along might just complicate things. 

“I’ll go out by myself tomorrow. You don’t need to come with me just focus on your own stuff,” she replied. 

Then, a thought struck her. “By the way, can you help me find a bicycle? I’d like to ride one when I go out.” 

Edward frowned at her request. “You can’t ride a bicycle when you’re pregnant. It’s too bumpy. If you fall, it could really hurt you. You’re still carrying babies no matter how strong you look.” 

“I’ll be fine. I’m not that delicate. I’ll be careful,” Melanie insisted, though she harbored her own secret plans. 

If something happened and she lost the babies, it would solve her problems without her needing to make excuses. 

But deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be that easy. After all, she had been carrying these two little lives for three months. 

The thought of losing the babies made her uneasy, especially since Edward had been so good to her. 

Edward couldn’t figure out what was going on in her mind. She seemed lost in thought, frowning one moment and sighing the next, and he found it somewhat amusing. 

“What are your plans for tomorrow? I can drive you there. If that doesn’t work, I’ll figure something out. I’ll see if i can get you a car. Then, you’ll have to learn how to drive so you can drive yourself around,” he offered. 

Edward wanted to support her in running her own business without worrying about her riding a bicycle. With few cars on the road, driving would be safer. But a decent car was quite an expense–typically costing several thousand dollars. 

Melanie’s eyes widened at the thought. This wasn’t just any man. He was her husband. 

How much did a cat cost? He must be serious about spending. She felt a rush of excitement and leaned closer, talding his hand in hers with a touch of charm. 

“Really? Those cars on the street? Aren’t those pretty expensive? Do we have enough money for that?” she asked, her enthusiasm apparent. 

Seeing her traction, Edward couldn’t help but smirk slightly. 

“It’s not like we have that much money.”