You know..... I read this English translated on Wednesday, like literally last week so it’s weird to me why it takes others so long to put this out.
Regarding this guy, provided he is in fact Melon’s dad, I’m going to guess two scenarios.
1: Melon was always a twisted pear, like with killing his classmates and such, and it was his perspective that made him see his mother in a negative light, despite her positive feelings towards Melon mixed with her obvious physical appearance. This meaning he was never in any danger with her, and stuff like the bath were just her being motherly and such wanting to bond, etc. hence her commenting on Melon’s look with glee, but he saw her as a threat through his mind.
2: Parents were a normal couple, but societal stigma of a H/C relationship was super taboo back then so it caused a rift in their relationship, or they separated for the sake of Melon’s well being and in both cases, the lie/rumor of her eating him spawned and with her never going out, this due to depression, anxiety and so on aided in never deflecting the claims.
In both cases the parents were in good standing, hence him sending money for them to live and so on, but for the well-being of Melon, they opted for separation. Maybe even the father working overseas or pursuing something important, all Hohenheim-like.
@ oddvanguard
The translation I read last week had her about “good boy”, which is in relation to chapter 157, when he asked her to say that, by which point he declared he’d have beaten Melon.