“He thinks he can buy us!” I exclaimed in between peals of laughter.Mel looked angry and she was starting to turn red, so I put a hand on her arm ...o get her attention. I gave her a comforting look and she bit her tongue. I looked at her father.“Mr. Carmichael, you don’t have the financial resources to convince me to abandon Melody. You can get out your checkbook and write a fat pay-off, but your offer is going to be pathetic.”“We can do this the easy way,” her father said, his voice taking on. Don't you?"Masha nodded, a grin spreading across her face. It wasn't exactly a pleasant grin. It was the grin of a woman who, having found herself used, was contemplating revenge. Thule didn't like the element of randomness such an attitude would engender, but he empathized with the sentiment. Putting his attache case down again, he said, "Tell me."Jake woke with an awareness of grass against his face. Even before he was sure of where he should be waking up, he knew this wasn't it. Slowly. After Sandra had gathered her things, she gave them to Frederik and whispered in his ear, "Whatever happens, don't interfere! Okay?"Frederik looked flabbergasted at Sandra, but when he saw how she looked back at him, showing no distress or worries about what was going to happen to her, he answered, "Okay." Just try to enjoy the show!" Sandra whispered and winked at him.Frederik tried to give Sandra a comforting smile, but it was obvious to Sandra that he was worrying about her. He could already. She seemed to both pity and fear her sister, seemed to have both concern and apology on her face. I couldn't tell whether DJ felt bad for stealing me away from Dawn, or if she was worried Dawn would steal me back.Now that I thought about it, probably both."I still want him back," Dawn stated quietly but firmly."He chose me," DJ replied evenly."Only because you're pregnant. Without that baby, he'd still be mine." Not true. We got together as a couple first." As a placeholder. To keep his bed.