"Haven’t you done this to me enough? Threatening to end our marriage when you want me to do as you want. It has to stop. I am tired of it," said Melanie.
"I am tired of all the fights we have within our family. It is either about money or you not being a mother. Do you know that Melody worries that you could walk away from us, and I cannot confidently tell her that you wouldn’t?"
Melanie stepped away from Lewis. "I cannot believe you would say this to me, or she would think of such a thing."
Lewis’s brows were knitted as he couldn’t believe Melanie thought it was strange. "You cannot believe our daughter would worry about her mother, who spoke nothing of her first family for years, would leave her? You question why I cannot say you wouldn’t do it?"
"If not for the people who came looking for you, I would have never known you had a daughter, let alone that you had married a baron. I wouldn’t have known that it wasn’t you who had trouble with your family, but you simply decided to abandon your family," Lewis argued.
Lewis took a deep breath. "I tried to be understanding because of all that you told me. I couldn’t change what you feel when it came to how Alessandra was brought into this world. However, you made promises to me and to our children."
"Enough of this!" Melanie turned away from Lewis. "We’ve both decided we don’t want to be mother and daughter."
"It’s not about that!" Lewis yelled, his last bit of restraint vanishing. "I’ve accepted that you two wouldn’t be close. The issue is that I cannot trust you. There’s always a feeling that there’s something you’re hiding, and as of late, there is always something I am last to know."
"You didn’t think it would be respectful to speak to me about Luke’s plans to go to the court. You didn’t think to tell me you would replace Luke and be the one to fight because you think it gives you a better chance of winning. What am I to you?" Lewis asked.
"You sound upset that I love your son and want the best for him. You have no idea how little women would accept other children," said Melanie.
Melanie loved Luke like she was the one to give birth to him.
"I should be happy that you loved him so much. It was always a concern that he would miss out on what it feels like to have a mother. Yet, I cannot stop thinking of how your daughter feels to know you could raise someone else and not give her a chance. She looks so much like you-"
"Enough!" Melanie covered her ears.
"Deny it all you want, but you take one look at the duchess, and she is every bit of you. Not her father. I think that is rather fortunate for her. I won’t threaten you with this anymore. I will simply leave," Lewis announced.
"Our marriage being on the line should have never been the reason you chose to stay near your daughter. That was a mistake on my part. I love you, and I always will, but I cannot stay . I don’t like what has become of us," said Lewis.
"Lewis," Melanie whispered. "You shouldn’t joke . I am not in the mood for this kind of humour. You won’t get me ."
Lewis smiled, apologetic that it would end . "I am serious this time, Melanie. It is not a threat. I am going home, but before that, I am going to try talking sense into my children. They are grown, so if they don’t listen to me, there’s nothing I can do."
"Lockwood never was a town that suited me, but I moved my life here because you had a life here. Still, we didn’t get close to the people who missed you. Since Alessandra lost her father, I thought I could fill that void, but I was a coward," Lewis agreed with Edgar.
"I have two children yearning for what wasn’t handed to them and a daughter who will not come home. This family is too focused on money to realise how we have grown away from each other. I have to do something now before it is too late," Lewis decided.
Lewis walked away from Melanie.
Someone in this family had to fix the mess, and it had to be Lewis all along, but he never stepped up.
"You are going to leave me? You’re going to end the many years of marriage we have for this? I can get Luke to stop asking about the mines, but there is much you don’t know. He survives on what he receives. What will he do without it?" Melanie asked, worried about Luke.
"Work just like I have done. A man must provide for his family, not sit around waiting for someone to help him. He’s had an easy life since coming here, and now, it is time for him to get to work. I am going to see Luke and Claire now," Lewis said, searching for his coat as he spoke.
"Lewis! Our marriage will not end . I told you that I can have Luke stop going to the court. I can fix all of this if you would let me," Melanie pleaded.
Lewis ignored Melanie and continued to search for his coat. "It should never come to you wanting to save our marriage to decide to do what was right. You go on and on about how men with titles are dangerous, but you wish to pick fights with the duke. Do you not realise who he sat with?"
Lewis found his coat behind the bedroom door and started to put it on. "Not for our marriage, but for our children’s sake, you should join me to talk sense into them before they die. Our grandchildren shouldn’t grow up without parents, all because of money."
"If I help you now, what becomes of our marriage? Is it still over even if the fight with the duke ends?" Melanie asked, leaning on the door as she watched Lewis get dressed.
"The mere fact that you have to ask before you get dressed and join me tells me that I am making the right choice. It is just as you said. You should be happy to have a husband who accepts your past. All I asked was for this family to stand together. Excuse me," Lewis said, placing his hat on his head. "I have to go."