Marcus didn't say anything. He just held her tightly.

After spending what seemed like an eternity in his arms, Melissa said in a slightly hoarse voice, “Frankly, I don't hate you. On the contrary, I'm very grateful to you, because you were really nice to me. I know you must be wondering why even though I say I don't hate you, I still refuse to be with you.

Actually, Violette is not the main reason for my refusal to be with you.

As far as I'm concerned, if it wasn't her, someone else would have become Mrs. Fowler."

Then she turned in his arms and her eyes looked like they had tears in them. "It's because I don't want to push myself this hard," she went on in a soft voice. "Yes, what you offer is so good. But for someone of my origin, there's no way I can really enter into your world, and I don't want to force myself to struggle so hard. That's all."