A skilled pediatrician, Melissa Mustard is the niece of Colonel Michael
Mustard.  Born in San Diego, California in 1982, Melissa excelled in
school and decided to pursue a career as a doctor.  In California, she was
employed at a Los Angeles-area hospital where she met and fell in love with
professional surfer, Ryder Turchese.  Melissa and Ryder's relationship was
always volatile, with Ryder growing increasingly jealous of Melissa's
relationship with her colleague, Dr. Justin Olive.  Ryder even accused
Melissa of having a sexual relationship with the handsome Dr. Olive.  One 
night after working late at the hosital, Melissa came home to find a drunk 
Ryder waiting for her.  After a heated arguement, Ryder hit Melissa, giving
her a black eye.  The abuse continued for months, with Ryder always 
apologizing to Melissa and promising that it would never happen again.
Melissa in the meantime, began to lean more and more on Dr. Olive for 
support, and when Ryder found them embracing at the hospital, he snapped.
Melissa, however did not back down this time and told a shocked Ryder that
she was hugging Justin because she had just shared the news with him that she
was pregnant.  Ryder did not have the reaction to the news that he was about to
become a father the way Melissa had hoped he would.  Instead of being excited,
the pregnancy only fueled Ryder's suspicion that Olive and Melissa were indeed
sleeping together, and he wondered if Olive was the father of Melissa's child.
On what would be her last night in California, Melissa learned that Ryder had
beaten up Justin, threatening to kill him.  Ryder found Melissa packed and 
ready to leave.  Melissa told Ryder that she was going to visit her ill uncle, but
Ryder didn't believe her.  Letting her leave, Ryder vowed to find her, where
ever she went.