Melody Strikes Back by Myra Walker (Chapters 411, 412, 413, 414, and 415)

Chapter 411

“Really?” Wendell’s face lit up with excitement but quickly shifted to doubt. “How can you be sure she’s not just another con artist?”

Ulric gave Wendell a cold look. “Only someone like you would fall for that. The scammer on the forum? It’s because of you I even took them seriously.”

Wendell tried to explain. “Well, uh, but the nine-line acupuncture mentioned in the forum-it’s legit.”

“Enough with that!” Ulric interrupted. “Jennie says no one practices nine-line acupuncture anymore. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.”

Wendell, looking uneasy, asked, “But how do you know Jennie’s the real deal?”

Ulric chuckled and said, “Do you know who Jennie is?”

“No, who?” Wendell asked, puzzled.

“She’s the youngest daughter of the Taylor family from Silverlake. She got kicked out over ten years ago for being a so-called ‘malicious doctor.”

Wendell’s eyes widened. “You really contacted someone with that kind of background?”

“Who else could fix my leg? I refuse to spend my life as a cripple. If Jennie can help, I’ll work with her, even if she’s from Hell itself,” Ulric said firmly.

Wendell hesitated. “So, what’s she asking from us?”

“She wants us to help revive another malicious doctor and deal with Melody.”

“What? Isn’t that going to put us at odds with Halcyon? And how does Melody fit into this?”

Ulric cut him off, clearly annoyed. “Stop wasting time. Why are you really here?”

Wendell snapped back to the main issue. “I came to talk about Melody. She pretended to be the one who saved Sean at the cocktail party, and now Sean’s chasing me out of the hospital!”

Ulric eyed the bump on Wendell’s forehead and asked, “Did she give you that too?”

“Yeah,” Wendell said, his eyes drooping.

“You’re just a useless piece of trash. You keep going on about Melody, but you’re no better!” Ulric snapped.

Wendell gritted his teeth and said, “Just say the word, and I’ll make her disappear for good!”

“Forget it. She’s not as easy to deal with as you think. I’ve got my own plans,” Ulric replied.

“But-” Wendell started.

Ulric cut him off, “If something’s fake, it’s fake. It won’t change just because she wants it to. Sean’s too sharp to be easily tricked. Just keep an eye on Cadence and make sure

she keeps Kevin on a leash. Kevin’s Sean’s weak spot, so as long as he’s involved, Sean will eventually come around to our side.”

“Understood,” Wendell said, nodding.

“Good. You’re dismissed.” Ulric flopped onto the leather sofa, casually flicking a lighter.

‘Melody, let’s see what you’ve really got,’ he thought to himself.

Previously, Ulric had subtly put Melody in trouble, but he was still interested in bringing her on board, so he didn’t push too hard. That was then.

Now, though, with Jennie in his corner and Melody’s medical skills no longer a factor, he was done with Melody. Good was out, evil was in.

A short time later, two attractive women strolled in, one on each side of Ulric.

“Mr. Swanson, let us take care of your legs,” a woman said, her voice sultry.

Ulric glanced at them, but his mind wandered to Mabel’s refined face. Compared to her, these two were just too flashy.

He gave a curt nod, and the women began to massage his stiff, weak legs with practiced ease, their hands gradually moving upward.

Ulric could definitely feel the difference. While he had been numb to touch before, Jennie’s skills made him feel every touch of the women’s massage.

This improvement was enough to make him smile, so he let them continue their work without interruption.

He leaned against the sofa with his eyes closed, completely immersed in the soothing massage.

Meanwhile, Wendell was still fuming after leaving the manor. “Damn it, nothing’s going right lately!” he grumbled.

As he cursed, he remembered the liar from the forum. “How dare they mess with me!” he thought.

Wendell shot off a private message to the forum admin, planning to get the black market boss involved. He wanted to find out who the liar was and make them pay for their deceit.

At the same time, Melody arrived at Serenity Villa

She got out of the car and saw Susan waiting for her with a big smile.

Obviously, Ken had informed Susan in advance.

Clearly, Ken had given her a heads-up. Susan greeted her warmly, “Hey, Melody! With the weather heating up, I prepared some chilled fruit for you. It’s perfect for cooling down.”

Melody felt a bit uneasy with Susan’s over-the-top

friendliness, partly because Susan thought she was Ken’s special someone.

She gave a small, awkward laugh and replied, “Oh, Susan, you really didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”

Susan shrugged, still smiling, “It’s no big deal. I don’t have much else to do.” She then smoothly shifted the conversation to Hattie Meyer.

Melody smiled and said, “Hattie’s doing well. She’s back in her hometown with my grandma, enjoying the beautiful scenery there. It’s a great place to relax.”

“I see.” Susan’s expression shifted to one of loneliness. “I thought she might come back. Looks like I’ll be on my own again.”

As Susan spoke, his eyes lit up again.

Then Susan’s eyes lit up. “Oh, right! You’re moving in soon, aren’t you? Since you and Mr. Swanson are married, it only makes sense for you two to live together.”

Melody nearly choked on her fruit and quickly grabbed a napkin.

Susan beat her to it, grabbing a rag and wiping the table. With a grin, she said, “Don’t be shy about it. Mr. Swanson told me everything mentioned you two are already married and asked me to look after you.”

Melody’s eyes went wide. “Ken told you? When?”

Susan, still smiling, replied, “He called me just now to let me know you were coming over. I’m surprised you didn’t mention it! When’s the party?”

Melody was left speechless by Susan’s rapid-fire questions. After taking a moment to collect herself, she said, “I need to use the toilet.”

“Alright, take your time,” Susan said.

As soon as Melody was in the toilet, she called Ken.

Ken picked up almost immediately. “Hey, you’re there?”

Melody cut to the chase. “Why did you tell Susan about our marriage registration? We’re planning to get a divorce soon! How are we supposed to explain this?”

Chapter 412

The line went quiet for a moment before Ken’s slow voice came through. “You don’t need to worry about explaining. I’m not in a rush for the divorce.”

“Yeah, but I am!” Melody replied, feeling frustrated.

Ken fell silent again, then he asked, “Melody, do you hate me that much?”

Melody sighed. “It’s not that I hate you. It’s just that our marriage isn’t based on love. And we’re supposed to be getting a divorce anyway.”

Ken’s voice softened. “Just answer one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Do you… hate me?”

Melody paused before answering, “No, I don’t.”

“That’s all I needed to know,” he replied.

Melody was left puzzled. “What do you mean, that’s all you needed to know?”

Ken didn’t really address her confusion. Instead, he said, “The stylist and the others will be there soon. Don’t worry about Susan. Just let them dress you however you like. I’m not fussed about it. Just do whatever makes you happy.”

And with that, he ended the call before Melody could ask anything more.

Melody stared at her phone, feeling a bit unsettled. ‘Why does Ken’s response feel so odd?’

Normally, she would wonder if there was more to it, but with Ken, it felt different. She wasn’t one to read too much into things, especially with someone like him.

With a sigh, Melody tried to shake off her frustration.

At that moment, Susan’s voice called from outside. “Madam, are you done? The stylist and makeup artist are here.”

The word “Madam” was already starting to give Melody a headache.

She rubbed her temples, trying to shake off the annoyance. After a quick wash to freshen up, she walked out.

The same stylist and makeup artist team from before were there.

The makeup artist gave her a friendly smile and said, “Hey, Miss Fox. How can I help today?”

Melody waved her hand. “No need for makeup today. I’m just going to a class reunion. I just need help with my hair and clothes.”

When the makeup artist heard Melody’s reluctance, she was curious. “Miss Fox, why not go for some makeup? You’ll look fantastic! We’re from Swanson Universal

Entertainment, and our team’s known for turning heads. I promise you, you will look stunning!”

Melody was taken aback and asked, “Wait, you’re from Swanson Universal Entertainment? I didn’t know.”

This team was really famous. Lately, they’ve been behind a bunch of popular looks for artists.

Moreover, they were known for working only with Swanson Universal Entertainment and rarely took on anyone else. It felt like overkill for a simple class reunion.

Not picking up on Melody’s thoughts, the makeup artist persisted. “Yes, we’re from Swanson Universal

Entertainment. Please, let me do your makeup! I’d love to show you what we can do.”

The makeup artist loved transforming a plain nobody into a diva. Seeing someone like Melody go from ordinary to stunning would be a huge win for her.

Melody smiled and shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m really not into makeup. By the way, did Ken say where the class reunion is?”

The makeup artist’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly, but she still answered, “He mentioned it’s at the Swanson villa.”

Melody nodded, knowing that the Swanson villa was known for its high-class parties. It was a fancy area where every building had its own unique design. Booking a night there cost a fortune, but it was always packed.

She glanced at the clothes the team had brought and picked out a black dress that looked quite plain.

“I’ll go with this one,” Melody said.

The makeup artist looked surprised. “Are you sure? I didn’t even want to bring this because it’s so plain. For the Swanson villa, I’d recommend something more eye-catching.”

“No, this is perfect. I want to keep it low-key,” Melody replied, taking the dress and heading to the guest room to change.

Since she wasn’t planning on wearing makeup, a fancy dress would feel out of place. An ordinary dress would help her blend in and avoid drawing attention.

When Melody came out, the effect was exactly what she wanted- She easily faded into the background, even in the middle of the living room.

The stylist and makeup artist were a bit let down. They saw Melody as a diamond that didn’t need any extra polish, but she wasn’t interested in their help.

Just then, Ken called. He sounded unsure as he said on the phone, “I might not be able to make it with you. I’ll have the driver pick you up instead.”

Melody sensed something was off and asked, “Is everything okay? Did something happen?”

Ken explained, “Janet called. She’s been in a car accident, and it looks like the person who hit her might be connected to Ulric. I need to check it out.”

Melody’s heart sank, feeling like a heavy weight was pressing down on her.

Ken quickly added, “I’ll see what’s happening and if it’s not too bad, I’ll pick you up later.”

“No need,” Melody said. “It’s almost time. I’ll head over and wait for you.” She ended the call before Ken could say more.

The call ended, and Melody’s face grew cold, a hint of sarcasm in her smirk.

Janet just happened to have an accident with Ulric’s car? Too coincidental.’

Melody never believed in coincidences. The only logical explanation was that Janet did it on purpose.

She didn’t care if Ken joined her or not. What concerned Melody was the possibility that Janet and Ulric were working together.

If that were true, it could spell trouble. Janet knew too much about Ken’s dealings with Ulric and the Swanson family. If she spilled those secrets, it would be disastrous for Ken.

Then, Melody said goodbye to Susan with a serious look and headed out.

Sensing something was off, Susan quickly called Ken as soon as Melody left. “Sir, did you and Madam have a fight? She seemed really upset.”

Ken, about to drive to the accident site, paused and asked, “She seemed upset?”

“Yes, after talking to you, she looked pretty unhappy,” Susan confirmed.

Ken’s heart skipped a beat, a hint of joy surfacing. Gripping the phone, he said, “Got it. Keep her there. I’ll be back soon.”

He turned the car around and sped back to Serenity Villa. While driving, he called Sid and briefly said, “Janet’s had a car accident near York Building. Go there!”

Sid responded, “York Building? That’s like five minutes from you. You’ll get there faster than I can.”

Chapter 413

The York Building, an Internet company’s headquarters, was right in Silverlake’s Central Business District, just a couple of turns from Swanson Universal Entertainment.

Sid lived in the area, but it would still take him over ten minutes to drive there, unlike Ken, who was much closer.

“I’ve got more important things to handle,” Ken said calmly, hanging up before Sid could question him further.

Sid stared at his phone, puzzled about what could be more urgent than a friend’s accident. But he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He rushed out and headed to the York Building.

Soon enough, Sid arrived at the York Building. The road was a mess, jammed with traffic and honking cars.

Sid ditched his car and ran towards the accident scene.

As he got closer, he saw a man gripping Janet’s arm, saying arrogantly, “You can’t afford to pay for this car. But your pretty face might cover the cost. Spend a night with me, and we’ll call it even.”

“In your dreams!” Janet shouted, her eyes scanning the crowd.

‘Ken should’ve been here by now. It’s been ‘over ten minutes!’ she thought anxiously. She knew the traffic police would arrive any moment.

Just as she was about to lose hope, a man’s voice rang out, “Let go of her, or you’ll regret it!”

‘That voice… Janet turned and saw Sid rushing towards her.

She quickly looked past him, but all she saw were curious onlookers. Ken was nowhere in sight.

Janet’s heart sank. ‘Where’s Ken?’

While she was confused, Sid had already punched the middle-aged man in the face.

“Argh!!” The man screamed in pain, clutching his bleeding nose.

Sid quickly pulled Janet behind him and glared at the man. “Janet, are you alright?”

“No…” Janet replied, looking at the man with a mix of emotions. She asked hesitantly, “Where’s Ken?”

“Ken had something important to deal with, so he sent me.”

Janet’s expression darkened. “Something important? What could be more important than this?”

“I don’t know… Let’s focus on dealing with this guy first.” Sid turned his attention back to the middle-aged man. “If you’ve got a problem, take it up with me!”

“You!” The middle-aged man bit his lower lip and wiped the blood from his nose. He looked ready to escalate things but stopped when Janet, standing behind Sid, shook her head subtly.

He hesitated before backing down and said, “My car is expensive. Pay up!”

“How much?” Sid, unconcerned about money, signed a check for 2 million dollars and tossed it at the man. “Is this enough?”

The man immediately smiled at the amount. “More than enough. Sorry about earlier. I’ll handle the repairs myself. Goodbye!”

With that, he grabbed the check and drove off.

Sid watched him go, puzzled. Janet wasn’t lacking money; she could’ve handled this coward easily.

However, he shrugged off the thought, assuming she was just too shaken to deal with it this time.

Sid turned around and asked, “Are you hurt?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Janet replied. “Just the headlights got hit. It’s alright. Let’s head to the reunion. We shouldn’t be late since we were class committees.”

She started toward her car, and Sid quickly followed. “Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe you should get checked out at the hospital. Internal injuries can be tricky.”

“No need, I’m good. I know my body,” she answered.

Seeing no visible injuries, Sid nodded. “Alright, but let’s get your car fixed. I’ll have my guys handle it. You can ride with me.”

“Sure,” Janet agreed, hopping into Sid’s car.

On the way, Janet’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the message, her heart tightening.

When she saw the message, her heart tightened and she subconsciously looked at Sid in the driver’s seat. She looked over at Sid in the driver’s seat, relieved to see him focused on the road.

She dimmed the screen and read the message: [Miss Murphy, why didn’t you follow the original plan?]

Janet’s expression turned serious as she pressed her lips together, quickly deleting it without responding.

*****

Meanwhile, back at Serenity Villa, Melody was about to leave when she heard Susan scream from inside.

She rushed in to find Susan on the floor, grimacing in pain.

“Susan!” Melody exclaimed, running over. “What happened?”

“I slipped on some water,” Susan said through clenched teeth. “I think I might have cracked a bone.”

“Let me take a look,” Melody offered, kneeling beside her.

Melody immediately checked Susan’s bones and sighed with relief. “Your bones seem fine. It’s probably your tendons that are hurt. I’ll apply some medicinal oil.”

She helped Susan onto the sofa and went to grab the medicinal oil from the first aid kit. Melody was too busy to notice Susan’s sly smile.

After applying the oil for a while, Susan winced at the burning sensation and finally said, “I think I’m good now.”

When she felt it was enough, Melody stopped and gave Susan a few reminders on what to watch out for.

Just then, the screech of tires caught Melody’s attention. She looked toward the entrance and saw Ken striding in, dressed in a black suit.

“Ken?” Melody said, surprised. “Aren’t you supposed to be handling the car accident?”

Ken said, keeping his expression neutral, “I sent Sid instead. He was closer to the scene.”

“Okay,” Melody said, feeling a huge weight lift off her shoulders.

Susan took the chance to say, “I’m going to head to my room and rest. You two catch up.”

With that, she practically skipped off to her room, showing no sign of injury.

Melody, always sharp, noticed something was off. She shot Ken a suspicious look. “Did you have Susan fake an injury?”

Ken played innocent. “What? I don’t know anything about that. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

Melody considered it for a moment but then waved it off. “Fine. But why aren’t you heading to the class reunion yet?”

Ken said, “I came back to change. Since you’re still here, let’s head out together.”

Melody nodded absentmindedly. “Sure.”

A few minutes later, Ken came downstairs in a sharp black suit, just like before.

As he walked down, he noticed Melody watching him with a curious tilt of her head.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Ken fidgeted, unsure where to put his hands.

Chapter 414

“Ahem,” Ken cleared his throat and playfully frowned. “What’s with the stare?”

Melody gave him another once-over and said, “You changed clothes, but it looks pretty much the same as before.”

Ken realized she was only focused on his outfit and not anything else. He was a bit put off. “All my clothes are pretty similar. It saves time. I don’t want to waste time picking out outfits.”

Melody couldn’t help but point out, “You don’t really look like you’re heading to a class reunion. You look more like you’re off to a business meeting.”

Ken shrugged and said, “It’s kind of both. What’s the difference?”

Melody shook her head. “Well, for a reunion, you don’t want to come off as too stiff. You might miss out on making some connections if people think you’re unapproachable. How about we stop by the mall on the way to the Swanson villa? You can pick up something more relaxed.”

Ken was about to refuse, but when he saw the look Melody gave him, he couldn’t bring himself to say no. He just muttered, “Okay.”

So, they headed out together to the mall.

As they drove, Melody brought up Janet. “Aren’t you worried about Miss Murphy? You mentioned she had an accident with Ulric’s guys. What if Ulric makes it difficult for her?”

Ken barely blinked as he replied, “Don’t worry about Sid. He may seem unreliable, but the Quant family reputation speaks for itself.”

Melody couldn’t help but frown. She wanted to point out that Janet’s accident with Ulric’s guys seemed way too coincidental, but she knew Ken wasn’t interested in hearing that theory.

She sighed quietly, deciding not to press further. After all, she had no solid proof, maybe it was just a coincidence.

When they got to the mall, Melody noticed Ken usually went for black and decided to pick out a more relaxed blue outfit for him.

Blue had a soothing effect, and sure enough, when Ken stepped out in the new outfit, his usual serious demeanor seemed to soften.

“That looks great,” Melody said, turning to the sales assistant. “We will take this. Can you pack up the clothes he changed out of?”

“Of course,” the sales assistant said, though she was clearly puzzled. The pair looked like they belonged together, but their styles were so different. She couldn’t help but think, ‘She must be loaded!’

As the assistant went to pack the clothes, Melody and Ken noticed her curious look.

Ken chuckled quietly and said, “Looks like I might be mistaken for a kept man with a rich partner.”

Melody gave him a playful nudge. “Oh, stop it. I’m too broke for you. Just go pay the bill so we can head out.”

Ken chuckled and refused, “Since you’re the one who suggested buying new clothes, I think you should cover the bill.”

Melody shot him a mock glare. “Seriously? This is all because of your social connections.”

Ken shrugged, a playful smirk on his face. “If you’re not paying, I’m not buying.”

Melody, remembering how much she owed him, reluctantly handed over her card.

The sales clerk, seeing the interaction, confirmed her earlier hunch and looked at Ken with a bit of pity. ‘Too bad, such a handsome guy…

Ken noticed her glance but took it in stride, enjoying the moment.

About ten minutes later, they arrived at the Swanson villa. Ken had booked Villa Number 1, and since the parking lot was a bit of a walk, Melody got out of the car first.

As soon as Melody arrived at the entrance of Villa No. 1, she saw Sid and Janet chatting with a few people.

One of them asked, “I heard Ken is married now. Is that true? I haven’t heard anything about it. You two are close to him, right? Is his wife pretty?”

Janet, catching a glimpse of Melody out of the corner of her eye, played it cool and replied with a smirk, “I can’t say if she’s pretty or not, but she’s coming over today. You’ll see for yourself.”

“So, he is married! She must be super gorgeous then,” the other person said.

Janet’s smile turned a bit mocking. “Maybe!”

Sid, looking a bit uncomfortable, chimed in, “Looks aren’t everything. Ken is not that superficial.”

Since Sid’s recent check-up showed high blood pressure, his view of Melody had shifted a bit.

Even though he knew the real story of their marriage, he felt uneasy thinking about how Melody might be judged solely on her looks.

Then, Sid spotted Melody and quickly called out, “Melody!”

The people at the door turned their attention to her. Melody’s appearance, with her red, bumpy skin, caused some startled reactions.

“Who is this?” One guy scrunched up his face and said, “Sid, no offense, but is this your idea of a date? Bringing someone like her? It’s like you’re trying to disgust us and ruin the vibe.”

Sid’s face darkened, but Janet cut in before he could respond. “What are you talking about? She’s Ken’s wife.”

The crowd was taken aback. “Seriously? You’re not kidding, are you?”

Janet enjoyed the surprise on their faces and grinned. “Guys, I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

She then waved at Melody, calling out with feigned warmth, “Melody, come over here!”

Melody’s hearing was sharp, so she caught the tail end of their conversation. When Janet greeted her with fake enthusiasm, Melody chose to ignore her and just gave Sid a nod.

Janet, on the other hand, was pleased to see Melody’s cold shoulder.

Even if Ken had feelings for Melody, Janet figured he wouldn’t be dumb enough to stay with someone everyone else thought was so unattractive.

Sid, noticing Melody’s greeting, asked with a smile, “Where’s Ken?”

“He’s parking,” Melody replied.

“I see then. I thought he was just running late,” Sid said. “He mentioned he had something urgent to deal with before handling Janet’s accident. Any clue what’s up?”

“Something urgent?” Melody asked, looking confused. “He didn’t mention anything to me.”

When Janet saw this, a dark look crossed her face. It was clear to her now: Ken’s top priority was picking up Melody.

Melody was acting clueless about it, and Janet found it disgusting.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms without her even noticing.

Chapter 415

Janet quickly put on a forced smile and said, “Melody, this is probably your first time meeting our classmates, right? So, let me introduce you.”

She did not wait for Melody’s response and raised her voice to address everyone. “Hey, attention all, this is Melody Fox, Ken’s wife. She grew up in the countryside. If any of you are interested in visiting the mountains, I believe she can recommend some great spots, so just ask her.”

The crowd’s mood shifted noticeably. They exchanged skeptical looks, clearly unimpressed.

Not only was she unattractive, but Melody also came from a rural background.

They were all wondering what an outstanding guy like Ken doing with someone like her.

Then, a girl who had been close to Janet in college scoffed and said, “Miss Fox, you must have something special to catch Ken’s eye. But I can’t seem to see what it is. Can anyone else?”

Her voice was so soft, but the underlying sarcasm was crystal clear.

Hearing that, Melody just chuckled and shot back, “Maybe you are blind.”

“You!” The girl’s face twisted with annoyance.

Janet intervened smoothly. “Nana, that’s enough. Please give Ken some respect, will you? Let’s go inside. Don’t just stand here chatting.”

The girl who was called Nana finally held it back, but she still glared at Melody before following Janet inside.

Once they were in, she whispered to Janet, “Janet, what’s the deal? We haven’t seen each other for a few months, and now this ugly girl has taken Ken from you?”

Everyone knew Janet had a long-standing crush on Ken. They were very close back then, and everyone assumed Ken would eventually end up marrying Janet. The two were a perfect match in every aspect. So, Ken marrying someone like Melody was a shock.

Janet sighed, looking downcast as she said, “You know Ken is very devoted to his family, right? Melody saved his grandma’s life, and it’s impossible for him to go against his parents’ wishes.”

“Oh, that explains it all!” Nana quickly pieced together a dramatic story in her mind. “I knew it. There’s no way Ken would fall for someone ugly like her!”

“Shh!” Janet made a shushing motion. “Keep it down. She’s someone Ken’s grandma cares about a lot. If she hears you, it will cause problems for sure.”

When Nana heard this, she felt even more furious for Janet. “You and Ken are obviously meant to be together. Why is she even in the picture? Don’t worry, Janet. I’ll show that arrogant woman where her place is and how she does not deserve someone like Ken!”

Janet put on a worried look and said, “You better not. I’m afraid Ken will take it out on me.”

Nana patted Janet’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, even if she tattles on you, I won’t let you take the fall. Besides, Ken doesn’t have any feelings for her. He only married her because of his parents. If he sees me messing with her, he’ll definitely side with us, his old friends.”

Janet sighed, feigning concern as she said, “She is actually pretty nice. You don’t really have to do this.”

Nana looked at Janet sympathetically while responding, “Janet, you used to be so strong. What happened? It’s all because of her, right? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely help you put her in her place!”

Janet stopped talking, but there was a subtle, satisfied smirk on her beautiful face.

Now, she figured out that she didn’t have to lift a finger to deal with Melody. A few words were all it took to have others do the dirty work for her.

Meanwhile, Nana was already rallying a few close classmates to figure out how to embarrass Melody.

Seeing this, Janet’s lips curled into a sly smile. ‘Seems like this reunion is about to get interesting,’ she said to herself.

Back at the entrance area, Sid turned to Melody, looking apologetic, and said, “I’m sorry about them. They don’t usually act like this. I think they just don’t know you yet.”

Melody smiled calmly and said, “It’s fine, really. I expected this would happen before I even came here.”

She had been looked down upon and targeted more times than she could count, in both her past and present lives. It did not faze her anymore.

Sid watched her, feeling a strange mix of emotions. He used to be near pretty girls who were praised and admired by everyone, not someone like Melody who had faced so much adversity. It was a new experience for him, and it made him feel a bit uneasy.

He was not sure whether his feelings were just sympathy or something else, but Sid quickly pushed the thought aside as he said, “I’ll go in with you. There’s some cool stuff inside, like that new VR game.”

Melody, who had initially planned to wait for Ken outside, could not turn down his offer and said, “Alright.”

“Let’s go then!” Sid quickly returned to his usual carefree self, eagerly showing Melody around as if the Swanson villa was his own.

Sid had plenty of fans back in college. Inside, a few girls who had big crushes on him noticed his enthusiasm for Melody and shot her some pretty hostile looks.

“Who is she? What the hell is Sid thinking by bringing an ugly duckling like that to the reunion?”

Nana overheard them and immediately joined the gossip, eagerly spreading rumors about Melody.

Since then, everyone was treating Melody like she was up to no good.

“She is so ugly, there’s got to be something shady going on! Geez, I can’t believe Sid fell for her!”

Even if they were not interested in Sid, the girls were united in making Melody their public enemy.

At that moment, Melody felt the cold, dagger-like stares

and frowned. ‘I haven’t done anything to deserve this,’ she thought. ‘Janet must be behind it all, no doubt.’

So, she turned to Sid and said, “Why don’t you go mingle with your friends? I will just chill here on the sofa for a bit.”

Coincidentally, a few guys called Sid over for a drink, and he glanced at Melody on the sofa before nodding. “Okay, Ken should be here any minute now. I’ll go say hi to them.”

“Okay,” Melody replied, brushing off the cold looks. She settled onto the sofa and enjoyed some dessert without a care.

Just then…

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