From SuspireWiki

December 1980

Anne Marlowe marries James Blackwell-Finch. It’s a match manipulated and encouraged by both sets of parents, with Anne’s pushing it the most. An alliance with the Blackwell family brings much needed financial assistance to Anne’s family’s struggling business whereas the Blackwells benefit from extended society ties you only get from marrying old money.

July 1981

Anne Marlowe is introduced to Johnathan Kreisler at a charity gala. Kreisler is there as a photographer but immediately starts pursuing Anne despite her higher circles and her marriage. Anne holds out for two months before beginning a secret and sporadic affair with Kreisler.

March 1982

With both sets of grandparents start pushing for grandchildren, James Blackwell-Finch surrenders to the pressure and starts taking out the lack on Anne. Relations between the two disintegrate in private but the pair continues to put on a good face for society functions. Anne makes a habit of sneaking away during the day to “go shopping” to meet Johnathan.

May 1984

After trying for two years for a child, and two years of James blaming her for the absence, Anne decides to pay him back in an especially underhanded method. She starts to meet with Johnathan daily with the express purposes of getting pregnant. Johnathan remains unaware of her plans but wary of the change in behavior nonetheless.

December 1984

Anne announces her pregnancy to her family. Both sets of grandparents rejoice, both in the baby and in the fact that their dynastic plans continue apace – little do they know the child isn’t James’. Johnathan, having suspected Anne’s goals, have them confirmed at the announcement. He breaks off the affair immediately due to fear of familial repercussions and blackmail.

May 1985

Melanie Marlowe Blackwell-Finch is born after a lively five month long debate about her name. Anne receives her first blackmail note about the child. She finds it puzzling as the blackmailer has no interest in money but instead displays a desire to visit the child.

March 1987

Josephine visits a young Melanie Marlowe Blackwell-Finch for the first time. Her visits become yearly events during which she just observes the child.

April 1988

Anne has a second child, a son, much to the family’s delight and Anne’s silent bemusement. The child resembles James Blackwell-Finch strongly.

September 1989

Melanie is enrolled in an elite private school on Hawthorne Island at the insistence of the Blackwell family, citing that every Blackwell had gone to Westfield Academy since it was established. The Marlowes argue for a private tutor but are overwhelmed and outvoted. This would set a trend for all decisions regarding Melanie’s upbringing. Little did the Marlowes know that the Blackwell’s declarations came from a higher power than themselves.

January 1992

Anne has a third child, another son, which could be a twin to his brother. The family marvels at how the boys take after their father and the only girl – Melanie – takes after her mother so strongly.

July 1994

Nine year old Melanie receives her first (known) visit from her invisible benefactor and manipulator. The conversation centers on the woman, Josephine, asking about Melaine’s studies, her friends and her hobbies; Melanie confesses a love of language and finds out two days later that a private language tutor has been engaged for her. It’ll be years before the two speak again.

May 1997

Melanie comes home from a friend’s birthday party and detours by her parents’ room to announce her arrival. She overhears shouting and then the sound of flesh against flesh. James found Anne’s journal in which she details her affair with Johnathan and her certainty that Melanie is Johnathan’s daughter. Relations between the married couple return to their icy state.

July 2000

Fifteen year old Melanie calls an ambulance when she finds her mother passed out on the floor. The young Melanie thinks she’s dead, but she’s just dead drunk. In exchange for her efforts, she’s grounded for a month due to “bringing scandal onto the family.” Her only visitors during this month are her maid, delivery meals, and almost nightly visits from Josephine. Having not seen the former for six years, Melanie at first thinks she’s hallucinating. The two discuss every thing from fashion to politics to religion.

August 2002

Melanie continues to watch her home life disintegrate and takes a strong interest in her two younger brothers to make up for the lack of interest from James and Anne. Her Marlowe grandparents note the eerie symmetry in Melanie’s life compared to her aunt Josephine and begin to take more of an interest in the child’s life, certain that such coincidence can only be foreshadowing.

February 2003

The Marlowe grandparents begin to meddle fearsomely in Melanie’s life. They begin dictating where she may go, who she may see, and often send people to watch her actions. Melanie rebels against the influence as most teenagers would. When they learn that Melanie intends to go to Hawthorne University, they put up a fight and start to pull strings to see that she cannot get in.

April 2003

The two elder Marlowes are found dead on their yacht after a particularly nasty storm off the Atlantic coast. People assume they went out boating despite the advisements to stay on shore.

July 2003

Hawthrone University accepts Melanie’s late admission, citing that the death of the elder Marlowes was a hardship.

November 2005

Melanie is visited again by Josephine; this time Melanie is convinced that Josephine is a hallucination or a manifestation of a psychological disorder. She debates seeking counseling but instead throws herself back into her studies.

May 2006

Melanie graduates near the top of her class with a dual degree in Romance Languages and History. Her parents are thrilled with her success. There are tentative talks of sending her overseas to pursue a diplomatic career but they dwindle and disappear once the elder Blackwells hear of it.

June 2006

After meeting a man at one of the clubs in Ecclesia, Melanie agrees to go home with him, although it’s not something she would normally do. They retire to a penthouse on the top floor of the Red Dragon casino and barely make it through the door before they’re groping at each other’s clothes. Melanie passes out in his arms and awakes on the floor and unknown about of time later. Marco had embraced her. Josephine steps out of the shadows and Melanie feels the beast for the first time. It’s only due to Marco grabbing her that she doesn’t sprint away.