Melody Strikes Back by Myra Walker (Chapters 526, 527, 528, 529, and 530) 

Chapter 526

Melody kept walking and thinking, unable to pinpoint why she felt so unsettled.

When she saw Ken’s name on her phone screen, an instinctive fear gripped her, as if Ken’s name had morphed into something terrifying she couldn’t see.

She hesitated for a long time but eventually let the call go unanswered.

At that moment, a taxi approached. Just as Melody was about to hail it, a bodyguard emerged from the shadows and approached her.

“Miss Fox, Mr. Swanson is looking for you,” the bodyguard said, extending a hand with a phone already connected to a call.

Melody frowned, realizing she had forgotten about the many people Ken had placed around her. Even if she didn’t answer his call, he could still track her movements.

This realization made her uncomfortable. It felt like being stripped naked with nowhere to hide in front of Ken.

Taking a deep breath, she pressed the phone to her ear, suppressing her anger. “Hello?”

“I’m on my way to pick you up,” Ken commanded. “Stay where you are.”

Melody replied, “I don’t need-“

“Melody!” Ken’s tone was stern. “Whatever you’re upset about, don’t hurt yourself.”

Melody retorted, “When did I ever hurt myself? And I’m not mad at you.”

Ken replied, “Not hurting yourself? You walked from Herbathrive to the outskirts for three hours, and you’re saying you’re not hurting yourself?”

Melody was momentarily speechless, and her irritation rose again. “Tell your people to stop following me. I’m a person, and I need privacy.”

Ken was silent for two seconds before he spoke with a softer tone. “Wait for me there. We’ll talk in person, okay?”

The taxi had long since driven away. Melody looked down without responding. Ken took her silence as agreement and hung up, accelerating his car.

Within five minutes, a black sports car pulled up in front of Melody.

The door opened, and Ken quickly stepped out. His handsome face was filled with worry. Seeing Melody, he visibly relaxed, the anxiety on his face dissipating.

He asked, “Get in the car? Or… shall I walk back with you?”

Melody didn’t answer, instead opening the back door and getting in. Despite the appearance of a choice, there was only one real option.

She couldn’t make Ken walk three hours back to Herbathrive with her. Even if he didn’t mind, she certainly did.

Seeing Melody get into the back seat, the bodyguard said, “Mr. Swanson, I’ll drive.”

“No need. I’ll do it,” Ken replied, walking around to the driver’s seat.

The bodyguard was stunned. They had never seen Ken drive for anyone else. It seemed Melody was indeed special to Ken.

However, the “special one” didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.

By the time Ken got into the car, Melody had already composed herself.

Regardless of her erratic behavior today, she still had to do what needed to be done and maintain relationships as required. As for exposing Janet, she had to find the right moment.

She couldn’t help but wonder how Ken would feel when the truth came out. No matter what his feelings, they certainly wouldn’t be happy ones.

Melody looked at Ken, who had stepped on the accelerator, and suddenly felt sorry for him.

His trusted friends, old classmates, and business partners had been lying to him all along. They had even caused the death of the person he liked when he first fell in love. This was undoubtedly a huge blow.

Ken glanced at the rearview mirror and happened to meet Melody’s gaze.

He smiled and asked, “Have you calmed down a little?”

Melody was puzzled. “Why do you think I’m angry?”

Ken raised his eyebrows and said with one hand on the steering wheel, “Because I asked you to treat people you don’t like.”

Melody thought, “That’s what he meant.

On the contrary, she was the least angry about this.

She did not want to continue this topic. If she became too emotional, she would only disrupt her path to revenge. She would not allow a situation like today to happen again.

Melody changed the topic. “I let Nana to work in Herbathrive.”

“Okay.” Ken nodded without any change in expression.

Melody could not help but ask in confusion, “You’re not surprised?”

Ken replied, “There’s nothing to be surprised about. Turning an enemy into a friend is the same as defeating them. And I trust your judgment. If Nana isn’t worthy of your trust now, you won’t keep her.”

Melody smiled bitterly and said, “You’re wrong about that. My judgment has never been good.”

Otherwise, she would not have died at the hands of Ulric in her previous life.

She suddenly became curious about Ken’s romantic history.

She couldn’t help but ask, “I want to ask you something.”

Ken replied, “Go ahead. I’ll tell you anything.”

Melody paused for a moment. She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but it seemed like Ken was becoming easier to talk to. Ken was now a completely different person from the one she first met on the cruise ship. It made her wonder if he had been replaced by someone else entirely.

Taking a deep breath, she asked, “Have you ever… liked someone?”

“In the past or now?”

“Obviously in the past. I’ve been around you for months now. I’d know if you liked someone currently.”

Ken glanced meaningfully at the rearview mirror and calmly replied, “If you’re talking about the past, then no. I haven’t.”

Melody’s eyes widened in surprise, thinking, ‘If he had never liked anyone, then who was the girl Nana mentioned?’

Nana now had every reason to hate Janet. Since Nana was staying at Herbathrive, she didn’t have to make something up to deceive Melody. So, the one lying must be Ken.

Melody pressed her lips together and gently probed, “You’re not young anymore, and you’ve never liked anyone before? That doesn’t seem possible…”

Ken replied, “Why not? I never focused on that sort of thing. The only woman who was even remotely close to me was Janet, and she and I have always been just friends.”

Melody’s eyes flickered with thought as she smiled. “Having liked someone isn’t something to be ashamed of. Why not just admit it?”

“I haven’t liked anyone,” Ken said, his expression calm, showing no signs of dishonesty.

A complicated emotion passed through Melody’s eyes. Since Ken had made his stance clear, it would be impolite to press further. Just then, the car arrived at Herbathrive.

Sensing it was time to change the subject, Melody said, “Thanks for driving me back. I’ll head in now.”

“Wait.” Ken turned to look at her. “Today… you were acting strange because of Janet, right?”

Melody wasn’t even sure herself, but she didn’t feel like making up an excuse. So, she nodded. “That’s right.”

Ken nodded. “I understand. From now on, I won’t let you handle anything involving her. I’m sorry for today.”

Chapter 527

Melody shrugged and said, “No need to apologize. Even if you hadn’t said anything, I would have saved her.”

Janet was the rival of her two lifetimes.

Melody was competitive and wouldn’t take advantage of Janet while she was unconscious. She wanted to defeat her fair and square. Besides, Janet only slit her wrist. It was nothing like Sid’s injuries that affected his internal organs.

Melody got out of the car. As she closed the door, she suddenly remembered something. “Tomorrow, I plan to visit Wendell. If anything happens at the hospital, let me know right away.”

Things had been piling up on Wendell’s end because of her recent matters, delaying things for quite a while.

Since Sid hadn’t woken up yet and she had nothing urgent to deal with, Melody decided to visit the Hunter family tomorrow.

She was curious about what illness Wendell’s daughter had that could make him turn to Ulric’s side, which caused Ken to be transferred by Ramon from the Swanson Group headquarters to Swanson Universal Entertainment.

“Alright.” Ken nodded.

Before Ken had taken the cruise back to Silverlake from Insterimond, he had no intention of inheriting the Swanson Group. He only wanted to reclaim Pearly Antiques, which had belonged to his mother.

But now, with all the dirty deeds Ulric had done, he was beginning to reconsider his thoughts about the heir position.

He didn’t care about the Swanson Group’s ownership. But now, he couldn’t let Ulric take that position even if he didn’t want it.

“If you need any help, just let me know anytime,” Ken said.

“Okay.” Melody nodded and stepped into Herbathrive.

“Wait…” Ken’s voice sounded again. “Once Zara leaves tomorrow, you should return to Serenity Villa, right?”

Melody paused briefly and said, “We’ll see when the time comes.” Then, she quickened her pace to enter the door.

Ken watched as Melody disappeared into the entrance of Herbathrive, his eyes gradually deepening.

He dialed James’s number and asked expressionlessly, “Have you ever mentioned anything about Mango to Melody?”

“Mango?” James hesitated for a moment before realizing that Ken was referring to Mango, not the fruit.

He quickly replied, “No, I haven’t. Why would I bring that up with Miss Fox? Besides, Miss Mango has been out of touch for so many years. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve almost forgotten about her…”

Ken connected the call to the car’s Bluetooth, pressing his temples in frustration. He said, “If it wasn’t you, it could only be Sid.”

Janet and Melody didn’t get along, so she definitely wouldn’t have mentioned Mango to Melody.

James asked in confusion, “What happened to Miss Mango? Has she returned after all this time?”

Ken replied, “No.”

Ken paused. He hadn’t wanted to bring up this matter with James, but recalling Melody’s unusual behavior today, he couldn’t help but ask, “Did you all misunderstand my relationship with Mango back then?”

“You and Miss Mango…” James stammered, and Ken’s voice grew cold as he said, “Tell me the truth!”

James had no choice but to tell the truth. “There was a time when you were frequently going out on dates alone with Miss Mango, so we all assumed that the two of you were together.”

“In a relationship?” Ken frowned.

James added, “But when they asked Miss Mango, she didn’t confirm it. So, we thought you two were still in a flirtatious stage but not far from officially being together. We were surprised when Miss Mango suddenly disappeared after leaving a letter. We didn’t bring her up before you, fearing it might upset you. But why did you suddenly remember this today?”

Curious, James mustered the courage to ask the question that had been on his mind.

“It’s nothing. It crossed my mind. That’s all,” Ken replied, giving some instructions regarding Sid’s safety before hanging up the phone.

The car fell silent, and Ken was lost in thought.

His feelings for Mango were different from those for Janet. Besides being friends, he also saw Mango as a sister.

As for those so-called “dates,” they were actually him helping Mango with something. But that matter was a secret, and he couldn’t tell anyone about it.

Ken closed his eyes, silently vowing that once Sid recovered, he would give him a good beating.

*****

The next day came in no time.

Melody had slept well and woke up immediately at the slightest noise outside.

After washing up and stepping out, she discovered that the noise came from the kitchen in the back courtyard.

Nana and Talia were conversing.

“Mom, I didn’t know you could still use a wood stove!” Nana said in surprise.

Talia sighed and said, “Before I married your father, I lived through some hard times too.”

“You’ve been through so much, Mom…”

“What are you saying, silly child? Miss Fox gave us an opportunity, so I have to seize it. I can tell she’s not an ordinary person. She might even help us get revenge in the future! You should follow her closely. You might even achieve more than your dad did. Make him regret and beg us to come back.”

“Mom… even if he begged us, I wouldn’t want to. I used to think he loved me more than you did, but now I know you’re the one who truly cares for me.”

Nana’s expression was complicated as she silently vowed to work hard and prove herself to those two-faced friends and relatives.

“Alright, let’s not talk about those unhappy things. Help me cut these vegetables…” As Talia spoke, she noticed Melody approaching them.

The mother and daughter immediately greeted her respectfully, “Miss Fox…”

Talia added, “Breakfast will be ready soon. Please wait a little longer.”

“Alright, thank you.” Melody nodded slightly, then turned to see Zara coming out, having just woken up.

“Why not rest a bit longer?” Melody asked as she took Zara’s wrist to check her pulse.

After the treatment with traditional medicine and yesterday’s rest, Zara’s condition improved significantly.

“I lay down for too long yesterday, and I’m used to waking up early. I don’t want to sleep anymore…” Zara said, then asked, “Am I well enough now? Can I return to the film set?”

Melody smiled wryly. “You’re really eager to get back to work, aren’t you?”

Zara sheepishly stuck out her tongue and said, “When I first entered the entertainment industry, I had no roles at all. Now that I finally have something, I don’t want to waste a single day…”

Melody replied, “Having ambition is good, but your health is more important. How about this, you rest for the morning, and I’ll let you return to the set in the afternoon.”

“Alright.” Zara reluctantly agreed.

Breakfast was soon ready.

Many dishes were prepared, and even the orange juice was freshly made, filling the air with its aroma from afar.

Herbathrive staff began arriving one after another. They were drawn by the smell. After tasting the food, they didn’t hold back their praise for Talia’s cooking skills.

Talia was delighted, feeling she was finally being of some use.

However, just as everyone enjoyed their meal, unexpected guests arrived at the clinic.

Chapter 528

“Miss Fox…” David held half of a cinnamon roll in his mouth and walked into the kitchen in a panic.

Melody asked in confusion, “What happened?”

“Out… outside…” David stammered, pointing in a direction. He couldn’t manage to get out a full sentence.

Melody put down her fork, not waiting for him to finish speaking, and headed straight for the clinic’s main hall. The others quickly followed, including Zara, who instinctively joined them.

In just a few seconds, Melody arrived at the main hall. It was only 7 am, and the clinic hadn’t opened yet, but two people were standing in the hall.

Melody looked at the visitors and immediately understood why David was so nervous.

It was the couple who had previously pretended to die at the clinic in an attempt to blackmail them. That incident had nearly driven David to despair.

David, who had followed Melody into the hall, pointed at the couple. His voice was filled with anger and fear. “What… what are you doing here again? You’re not welcome here!”

“David…” Melody gave him a calm look and then turned to the couple. “Considering the timing, it’s about right for you to be back.”

David was confused. “Miss Fox, you knew they would return?”

Melody raised an eyebrow and looked at the couple again. The staff at Herbathrive didn’t welcome them. Knowing they were in the wrong, the couple hesitated to speak.

Seeing this, Melody addressed the staff. “There’s no need to gather here. Go have your breakfast, and be ready to open the clinic for patients afterward.”

The staff were now accustomed to following Melody’s instructions without question. They quickly dispersed, leaving only Nana, David, and Zara behind.

With most people gone, the couple began to plead.

“Miss Fox, please save me…

“We know we were wrong. Please save my husband!”

David’s mouth twitched. He was dumbfounded by this situation.

Melody explained, “If my diagnosis was correct, your husband hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in days, right? Palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, nausea… The lingering effects of that ‘near-death experience’ must be quite uncomfortable.”

The couple’s faces grew even more panicked. The man begged in a tearful tone. “You’re right! I’ve been suffering these past few days, especially at night! No matter how I lie down, I feel like… I’m about to die at any moment… Please, I’m begging you to forgive me and save my life!”

Melody’s expression remained unchanged, her voice cold as she said, “It’s a bit late for regret. I told you before, if you want to live, you’d better reveal who was behind you. Otherwise, whether or not I would save your life would depend on my mood. Unfortunately, I’m not in a good mood today.”

The man’s face drained of color, leaving him pale and visibly terrified. “Miss Fox, I know I was wrong! I’ll do anything you ask. Just save my life!”

The woman quickly added, “Yes! You wanted us to reveal who was behind us, right? We can tell you now!”

“Hold on…” Melody made a “pause” gesture. “There’s no need for that anymore. I’ve lost interest in knowing. No matter who is behind you, I can handle it. Now… please leave Herbathrive immediately, or I’ll have to call the police.”

The couple had initially planned to seek treatment and extort some money from Melody.

But now, seeing their last bargaining chip turn worthless, they were at a loss.

“Still not leaving?” Melody narrowed her eyes, clearly losing patience.

“Miss Fox! Please, don’t chase us away! I don’t want to die!” The man, now utterly desperate, broke down in tears.

The woman also began to plead. “Please, save my husband! We are willing to do anything for you!”

She added, “The person who instructed us is also a doctor. We don’t know his name… but we know where he lives! He lives on the eleventh floor of the West Bridge Hotel on West Bridge South Road! The eleventh floor is filled with his people!”

Melody silently noted the location, the West Bridge Hotel, eleventh floor.

She took a deep breath, feigning impatience. “As I said, I don’t care who he is or where he lives. But since this is a clinic, we don’t turn away business. Come back at eight when we open. I’m off duty now!”

With that, Melody signaled to David to escort the couple out.

David wanted to kick them out, but he restrained his anger to avoid causing trouble for Herbathrive or Melody. He ushered the couple out, closing the clinic doors with a loud “bang,” leaving the couple outside with complex expressions.

“Did she mean she’ll treat me?” The man hesitated.

The woman, equally uncertain, replied, “It seems so. If she didn’t intend to treat you, she wouldn’t have told us to come back at eight.”

“That’s good… that’s good…” The man sighed in relief and sat on the ground, planning to return at eight for treatment immediately.

The woman’s eyes darted back and forth, whispered, “Dear, I accidentally gave away that address. Do you think… since she agreed to treat us, should we warn them?”

“What are you thinking?” The man glared at her. “Didn’t you hear what she said? She’s arrogant! She doesn’t care about who’s after her. Warning them would be pointless, and it might just cause them unnecessary panic. Besides, we came here without telling them. If we inform them, they might turn on us later!”

“Yeah… you’re right. We better keep this to ourselves. They know where we live. If they find out, we’re done for. They have so many people, we wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Exactly!”

Meanwhile, inside Herbathrive, Melody returned to her room and called in Ken’s men stationed around her. She instructed them to investigate the couple’s claims about the West Bridge Hotel.

Ken’s people worked swiftly and returned with the information in no time.

A bodyguard reported, “Miss Fox, we’ve confirmed it. On the eleventh floor of the West Bridge Hotel, there’s a man named Michael Hudson staying there, along with over a dozen others he took from Herbathrive.”

Melody nodded slightly, dismissed the bodyguard, and dialed Ken’s number. “Ken, I need your help with a personal matter…”

Chapter 529

Ken paused mid-contract review, covering his phone with one hand as he addressed the room. “I need to take this call. You all continue.”

With that, he set down his pen and strode out of the meeting room, leaving the group at the table exchanging puzzled looks.

Ken, though new to Swanson Universal Entertainment, was known for his unyielding seriousness. He had never left a meeting halfway through to answer a call.

During a previous meeting, a senior executive had forgotten to silence his phone. When it rang, Ken’s expression had left a lasting impression on everyone, making them uneasy to this day.

Now, they wondered who was on the other end of this call.

“What happened?” a bold executive whispered to the person next to them.

The other executive mumbled, “Could it be Zara…”

“Who?” Someone nearby, with keen ears, caught the name. “Zara?”

The first executive quickly faked a cough. “What? I was just saying how hot it is here. I need to turn on the AC.”

His colleague looked puzzled. He was sure he’d heard Zara’s name. Recently, there have been rumors within the company suggesting that Zara had caught Ken’s eye.

The room was filled with seasoned and keen professionals. They silently noted Zara’s name in their minds.

Meanwhile, outside the conference room. Although holding the phone close to keep his voice down, Ken couldn’t prevent Melody from hearing his words.

She quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, am I interrupting your meeting? I can call back later.”

This wasn’t the first time she’d accidentally disturbed Ken during a meeting, and it happened again this time.

But Ken’s voice came through the phone, calm and reassuring. “No problem, just a Monday briefing. It doesn’t matter if I’m there or not. Go ahead, what’s up?”

Hearing his relaxed tone, Melody hesitated for a moment, then decided not to be overly polite. She explained the situation with the couple who had previously tried to scam Herbathrive and how they had returned. She also mentioned Michael was now staying at the West Bridge Hotel.

Ken listened intently and then asked, “Do you want me to send someone to arrest him now, or would you prefer we keep a low profile and monitor them?”

“I was thinking we should monitor them first,” Melody replied. “Even though the operation to eliminate the malicious doctors was intense back then, many of them escaped capture, going underground and changing their identities. Michael wasn’t a prominent figure among them, and he stayed well-hidden, so he didn’t even bother changing his name.”

She continued, “There’s a chance that after leaving Herbathrive, he might reconnect with other remnants of the malicious doctors or attempt to rebuild their faction. I’d rather we keep an eye on them for now and see if we can catch something bigger.”

Ken responded, “I was thinking the same. Plus, there’s been a recent post on the black market forum from someone claiming to be a malicious doctor…”

Melody’s interest was piqued as she confirmed with Ken that the post he mentioned was the one she had seen earlier.

The post brazenly advertised the poster’s identity as a malicious doctor, inviting those in need of certain drugs to contact him.

No one would dare to impersonate a malicious doctor unless they were extremely well-connected or incredibly reckless. Melody believed it was the latter.

Pausing briefly, Melody said, “I used a new email address to contact them. I haven’t checked for a reply in the past two days. Give me a moment. I’ll log in and see.”

“Go ahead,” Ken replied, leaning against the wall with one leg slightly bent, exuding a patient demeanor.

Within ten seconds, Melody had logged into her email. Her eyes widened as she saw the response, gripping her phone tightly. “Ken, guess what I just found out?”

Ken smiled as he asked, “Don’t tell me. Michael is the one who posted that ad.”

“Exactly! And the address he provided is a cafe near the West Bridge Hotel,” Melody exclaimed, both surprised and amused. “He is an idiot! He’s practically inviting trouble.”

Ken raised an eyebrow and commented, “He might be reckless, but not entirely foolish. He’s using an overseas ID that I can’t trace, so he’s covered his tracks to some extent. I guess he’s desperate for money and trying to cash in on his status as a malicious doctor.”

“That makes sense.” Melody agreed. “The pay at Herbathrive isn’t great, and he’s been spending lavishly, plus supporting the group he took from the clinic. His expenses must be enormous, so he probably came up with this scheme.”

“I’ll send someone to the cafe to scout the area and gather evidence of his activities as a malicious doctor. We’ll have it on hand if we need to act sooner.”

“Good idea. I’ll deal with the couple here, then head over to Owen’s place. Tell me the update when I get back.”

“Alright.” Ken paused briefly before adding, “You handled things well today.”

Melody was momentarily confused. “What do you mean?”

He was referring to her decision to reach out to him for help, but instead, Ken said, “I meant the way you handled Michael. You didn’t act impulsively. That’s good.”

“Oh, I see… I’ll call you when I’m done. Talk to you later.” Melody didn’t dwell on his words, hanging up before dialing Colin.

Since Michael had come from Colin’s clinic, Melody felt it was her duty to inform him of the situation. Colin was livid upon hearing what had happened.

He snapped, “That bastard! How dare he openly declare himself a malicious doctor and sell their drugs! Does he think he can escape the law? And that incident with the scam… I’m not letting him get away with it!”

Despite his anger, Colin managed to keep his cool and said, “I understand. I’ll follow your and Mr. Swanson’s lead and won’t do anything rash.”

Melody said, “Good. How is Beverly’s recovery going? I haven’t had time to visit her lately, sorry…”

“Don’t apologize. You’ve been a tremendous help at Herbathrive. That’s more important than visiting. Don’t worry, Beverly is recovering well.

She’s still weak, so it’s slower than usual. But with the treatment plan you provided, she should be fully recovered and ready to leave the hospital in a couple of weeks.”

“That’s a relief. I’ll come by to check her pulse when I get the chance and see if the prescription needs any adjustments.”

“Sure thing!”

Melody gave Colin a few more reminders. He chuckled and said, “Melody, don’t forget, I am a doctor too.”

Melody finally stopped her nagging and ended the call. When she returned to the clinic’s main hall, it was just about opening time.

She gave David a look, signaling him to open the door. As soon as the door was slightly ajar, the couple from earlier squeezed through, eager to be first in line.

Chapter 530

“Doctor…”

“Miss Fox…”

The couple rushed over to Melody. They had ingratiating smiles as if desperate to show they were here for treatment.

David observed their obsequious behavior and finally felt a sense of satisfaction.

He secretly hoped Melody would be a bit harsh, perhaps not completely curing the man’s condition, so they wouldn’t harm others again.

After all, if Melody hadn’t exposed them in time, he might have been dead, and Herbathrive would likely have been shut down.

With this in mind, David tried to signal Melody with his eyes. Being as perceptive as she was, Melody understood David’s intentions immediately.

However, the man wasn’t sick at all. The symptoms he displayed were intentionally induced by Melody through acupuncture while he was feigning his death.

Moreover, she needed to keep the couple under control to ensure that Michael wouldn’t notice anything amiss.

Melody said, “You’re quite eager today. You should have foreseen the consequences before scamming us.”

“Yes! It was all my greed. I swear I’ll never do it again!” The man vowed earnestly, with the woman eagerly agreeing.

Melody put on an air of superiority as she led them to the consultation room and ordered, “Hold out your hand.”

The man obediently extended his hand, and after a mock examination, Melody wrote out a prescription.

Melody said, “Follow this prescription to get the medicine.”

The man took the prescription and asked, “How long do I have to take this before I’m better?”

Melody responded calmly, “The toxin that nearly killed you has spread throughout your body. This prescription is only for initial detoxification. After a week, your dizziness and nausea should ease up a bit. Come back after a week, and I’ll adjust the prescription based on how well your body is detoxifying.”

The woman anxiously asked, “How many times will we have to come back before he’s fully cured?”

Melody thought for a moment and said, “At least two months. During that time, he can’t drink or smoke and must run two hours every morning to help expel the toxins faster.”

“Running for two hours…” The overweight man’s calves began to tremble at the thought.

Melody raised an eyebrow and said, “You can choose not to run and just sit at home waiting to die. At least that way, you can save some money for a coffin.”

The man was scarred, and he quickly agreed. “I’ll run for two hours every day. I promise!”

“That’s more like it. I don’t take patients who won’t cooperate.” As she spoke, Melody pulled a small ceramic bottle from her pocket and tossed it to the man.

“What’s this?” the man asked, confused.

Melody replied, “This is to be taken along with the prescription, a secret remedy from Herbathrive. It’s for detoxification and strengthening your body. Only take one pill a week, no more. If you overdo it, it could cause other cardiovascular issues.”

The man hurriedly and carefully stored the porcelain bottle away.

“Alright, go get your medicine and leave.” Melody waved them off. The couple quickly stood up, thanked her profusely, and rushed to get their prescription filled.

As she watched them leave, Melody smiled meaningfully.

The acupuncture had created the illusion of illness, but its effects wouldn’t last long. However, the pills she gave them would maintain the symptoms.

The prescription she provided was designed to protect the heart, preventing any severe damage from prolonged use of the pills.

By having them return weekly for new prescriptions, she ensured they would stay under control and wouldn’t dare to betray her until they were “cured.”

David couldn’t help but grumble, “Miss Fox, you shouldn’t be treating people like them! They brought this on themselves!”

“True, but…” Melody acknowledged that while the couple was despicable, they didn’t deserve to die. The suffering they’d endure over the next few months would be enough to make up for the trouble they caused Herbathrive.

However, she kept these thoughts to herself. David knew a little about Michael’s involvement with malicious doctors, but it was better to keep such details limited.

Melody paused before saying, “We’re a clinic. If they’re not here to cause trouble, we have to treat them.”

David still felt resentful. “But they nearly caused Herbathrive to shut down!”

Melody’s face turned stern. “Haven’t you studied ‘A Doctor’s Code’? It teaches that when someone comes seeking help for an illness, we must not inquire about their status or wealth… We must treat everyone equally, with the same care as we would our dearest kin.”

This was a text her mentor had made her memorize since she was young, emphasizing the core ethics of being a doctor.

Even if that couple were unforgivable, Melody wouldn’t use her medical skills to harm them. She’d find another way to deal with them. Otherwise, she would be no different from the malicious doctors everyone despised.

This was also one of the reasons she had intervened to save Janet the previous day.

David lowered his gaze, feeling ashamed.

Seeing this, Melody calmed down and said, “If you want to be a really good doctor, your temperament still needs to be honed more. However, it’s understandable that you think this way. Everyone has temperament. However, since you’re studying medicine with me, I still have to punish you. After work tonight, go back and copy ‘A Doctor’s Code’ ten times. Leave it to me tomorrow.”

“Yes…” David nodded quickly, not daring to argue. But when he looked up again, his eyes shone with admiration for Melody.

He was convinced that studying under someone like her would teach him a great deal, and he resolved to learn as much as he could.

He clenched his fists with determination. Melody didn’t notice David’s resolve. She stood up and said, “I have to go out for a bit, and I’m not sure when I’ll be back. The usual rules apply. Call me immediately if anything happens, and try not to disturb Mr. Herbert.”

“Understood!” David straightened up and responded firmly.

As Melody left the consultation room, her phone rang. It was Owen.

He said, “Dr. Knowles, you mentioned yesterday that you’d have time to come by today?”

Melody replied, “That’s right. I’m just about to head out.”

“Well, there’s a bit of a situation…” Owen hesitated before continuing, “My father came to Silverlake to visit my daughter, and he brought another doctor with him. The doctor is also supposed to come by today… I’m really sorry about this! Maybe you could come tomorrow instead? My father is very stubborn, and I couldn’t convince him otherwise…”

Melody could sense Owen’s discomfort. Scheduling another doctor after already arranging with her made him feel awkward and apologetic. But Owen was considerate enough to inform her ahead of time. It showed he was a decent person.

“No problem,” Melody said as she walked towards the courtyard. “I haven’t seen your daughter’s condition yet, so I can’t guarantee that I can cure her. Since your father has also found a doctor, we can all take a look at her together. A second opinion might bring more treatment options.”

Owen was even more grateful and apologetic after hearing her response.

“I apologize, Dr. Knowles… I should’ve planned this better. Let me make it up to you by taking you out to dinner tonight.”

“That’s fine,” Melody replied.

After finalizing the time with Owen, Melody ended the call and opened Zara’s door.

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