Melody Strikes Back by Myra Walker (Chapters 571, 572, 573, 574, and 575) 

Chapter 571

Pressing this spot worked every time and its effect was comparable to a tranquilizer. However, this time, this method was useless.

‘How could this be?’ Melody tried her best to maintain her composure on the surface, but her heart was drowned by waves of panic.

Ken inadvertently turned to look at Melody and saw that her face was pale. He could not help but be shocked. “No need to report. Just continue to keep an eye there.” He interrupted Seventeen and ordered him to leave. Then, he asked anxiously, “Melody, are you alright?”

“Nothing, I just ate in a hurry just now. My stomach is a little full.” Melody shook her head and answered, but her eyes subconsciously avoided Ken’s gaze.

She knew what was wrong with her. Her heart was throbbing. However, she could not say it, let alone let Ken notice the change in her mind. ‘If he knows it, he will definitely find me disgusting, right?’

“That’s good.” Ken let out a sigh of relief.

Melody did not reply. She just took a deep breath and forced herself to take these things off her mind. She changed the topic and said, “Do you have any plans later? If not, I want to go back and rest first.”

“I still have to go to Sid,” He said in a low tone.

Melody’s back stiffened and she laughed mockingly. ‘Not to see Sid, but to see Janet, right?”

She did not believe that a smart man like Ken would not suspect Janet. However, he did not reveal any doubts about Janet. The reason could only be that he trusted her too much.

Melody’s mood turned bad without warning because she thought she was just lying to herself. “Then I’ll go back first.”

“Come with me.” Ken’s tone was unquestionable. “Wendell must be watching you now. You can’t be separated from me.”

“I…-” She tried to refuse but got interrupted.

“If you don’t want to get out, then wait for me in the car. I’ll be back soon.”

Melody lowered her eyes silently. After a moment, she said, “I’ll go with you to see Sid.”

Ken did not think too much about it and nodded. “Okay.”

Soon, the driver changed to Seventeen. Seeing that Melody was also in the car, he was surprised for a moment. “Miss Fox, are you injured?”

“No.” She shook her head.

When Seventeen heard the coldness in Melody’s voice, he was very puzzled, but he did not dare to ask further. Then he drove to the hospital where Sid was.

At the same time, in the Hunter family, Wendell hugged Cadence’s cooled body as he howled and screamed in tears.

The bodyguards around all kept quiet out of fear. They lowered their heads and did not dare to make a sound, afraid that they would be implicated.

After a long time, Wendell suddenly fell silent.

His eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed the bodyguard closest to him

and questioned with a ferocious expression, “Where’s Ulric? Where’s Ulric? Why isn’t he here yet?”

The bodyguard replied with a trembling voice, “I’ve already informed Mr. Swanson. He should still be on his way here.”

“He’ll only take half an hour at most to get here. It’s been more than an hour now. He should be here now even if he’s crawling!” As soon as he finished speaking, the living room seemed to have suddenly fallen into a dead silence. Wendell felt a chill run down his spine. He had a bad premonition. ‘Could it be…

He turned his head stiffly and saw Ulric sitting in a wheelchair, looking at him with a faint smile. The moment he saw who it was, Wendell’s pupils quickly shrank to a point, and goosebumps appeared all over his body. “When did you come here…”

The smile on Ulric’s lips deepened as he said in an ambiguous tone, “When you said I’m crawling.”

Wendell’s legs went weak and he fell heavily to the ground with a bang. ‘Oh no…’

He was just getting emotional and anxious to find an outlet to vent his anger. Unexpectedly, Ulric arrived just when he was cursing.

Wendell was scared out of his wits. He wanted to stand up, but his feet were trembling violently. The sound of the wheelchair was getting closer and closer. Wendell did not dare to look up. His forehead was covered in cold sweat. “Mr. Swanson, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that! I-I was just too angry. Please forgive me!” As he spoke, he threw away all his dignity and bowed hard towards Ulric.

Ulric stood up with the help of the mechanical leg and walked towards Wendell. He looked down at the person kneeling on the ground.

At this moment, Wendell was so scared that his legs were trembling even more violently and his face turned colorless.

Ulric sneered. In the end, he could not be bothered to argue with a fool like Wendell. He averted his gaze and looked at the dead Cadence with disdain. He mocked coldly in his heart, ‘So stupid.’

Wendell was stupid and Cadence was even more. She even thought that she could get rid of Melody alone so easily. If Melody was so easy to deal with, then he had no need to go to such lengths to set up the incident in the youth center.

No wonder Melody had locked her up in the mental hospital. If he had known that Cadence was so stupid, he would not have pulled her out.

Wendell did not know what Ulric was thinking as he silently observed him when Ulric was looking at Cadence. His eyes lit up. Suddenly, he mustered his courage and grabbed Ulric’s pants. “Ulric, Cadence died when dealing with Melody. You have to avenge her! You grew up together and she is the closest to you. You can’t just watch Melody kill her and not do anything…”

Ulric kicked Wendell away as if he was kicking away a dirty rat. “She’s courting death herself. She deserves it.”

Wendell was stunned and looked at Ulric in disbelief.

He thought that Ulric would treat Cadence differently, but this truth was so shocking. “Ulric…”

“Don’t fucking say my name!” Ulric said coldly with a dark face, “Idiot, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Killing Melody was the mission I gave you. Do you want to throw it back to me? Do you think I’m as stupid as you?”

Wendell trembled when his thoughts were exposed. He explained awkwardly in fear, “No, no, that’s not what I meant…”

Ulric closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He tried his best to control his emotions and said, “Now that Cadence is dead, so be it. If you don’t want to push the blame on us, don’t let the police pursue this matter anymore.”

He did not come here to mourn Cadence but to let Wendell know that it was about time to stop.

Wendell subconsciously refused. “Then Cadence died in vain, right? It was Melody who killed her. Why can’t the police continue to pursue the matter?”

Ulric massaged his temples in frustration.

When Daniel, Ulric’s trusted aide, saw this, he lowered his head and played a recording on his phone.

Cadence and Wendell’s voices instantly sounded in the living room.

“Dad, don’t worry. It’s just about killing Melody, right? Not a big deal. Just leave it to me.” In the audio, Cadence’s voice was so arrogant.

“Don’t be stupid. Killing Melody isn’t as bad as Janet. We have to come up with a detailed plan before we can take action.” Wendell was more careful.

“She’s just an ugly girl from the countryside. Don’t worry about it. Leave this matter to me. I’ll let her suffer and die in despair today!” Cadence was so confident when she was alive.

Chapter 572

“But what if the plan fails and tips him off? Ulric will definitely kill me!”

“Ulric won’t do that. Just leave it to me.”

The voices came from a surveillance recording, clearly showing Cadence discussing with Wendell how to take Melody out of the picture.

If this video ever got out, not only would Cadence die a disgraceful death, but she would also be forever branded as a venomous woman.

More importantly, the video mentioned Ulric by name. If it leaked, even though he wasn’t implicated in the murder, his carefully crafted image would be utterly destroyed, and the damage would be immense.

“How… how did you…?” Wendell’s face was filled with terror.

The video had been sent to him by someone working for Ken, and the message was crystal clear.

No matter what, he had to keep his mouth shut and stop pointing fingers at Melody.

‘How did Ulric find out about something I kept from him?’ Wendell wondered.

He looked around, realizing with a sinking feeling that more than half of the people around him were likely Ulric’s spies, watching his every move.

A cold sweat broke out across his skin, and dizziness washed over him in waves.

“You should be grateful. Mr. Swanson showed mercy and spared your life. Now, you have six days left until the deadline you agreed on with him. You better figure out what you’re going to do.” Daniel warned coldly.

Wendell opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Cadence had already alerted Melody, and her security would now be tighter than ever.

Killing Melody within a week seemed impossible, like something out of a fantasy.

At this point, Wendell wasn’t even thinking about his daughter’s death anymore. All that filled his mind was the fear of his own imminent demise.

Just then, Ulric broke the silence with a suggestion. “Mrs. Hunter has been away on vacation for quite some time. Don’t you think she should come back for the funeral?”

Wendell hesitated, then cautiously asked, “Are you suggesting that I should hint to Mrs. Hunter that Cadence’s death is related to that bitch Melody?”

“Smart thinking,” Ulric replied with a raised eyebrow before turning and walking away.

Since the plot was already set in motion, the more people who knew about Wendell’s grudge against Melody, the better.

Even though Melody was responsible for Cadence’s death, in the hour Wendell had, he couldn’t find any evidence to support it. Instead, he was handed that incriminating video, leaving him no choice but to abandon any pursuit of justice against Melody.

‘But as for Wendell’s death…’ Ulric thought to himself, turning to give Wendell one last glance, a look as indifferent as the one he had given the already deceased Cadence.

In this situation, Cadence’s death almost seemed like a blessing in disguise as if she had made one final contribution.

“I’ll have my mother handle the funeral arrangements. We’ll make sure it’s grand and give her a proper send-off. You should move on. You’re still young. Maybe the next one will be a son.” Ulric casually tossed out this last remark before leaving Hunter Manor without a second thought.

Before getting into his car, Ulric coldly ordered Daniel. “Have all surveillance in the Hunter Manor cut off, and tighten the cybersecurity around my residence. Ensure that no one can hack into the network.”

“Understood. I’ll have the hackers reinforce the security right away!” he said.

Back in the living room, Wendell sat there, stunned.

He glanced at Cadence, whose lifeless eyes were still wide open, unseeing.

At that moment, he didn’t know whether to break down over Cadence’s death or over the monumental task that now lay before him.

But one thing was certain. He wouldn’t be sleeping tonight.

Meanwhile, Melody and Ken arrived at the hospital where Sid and Janet were being treated.

As soon as the car stopped, Melody quickly opened the door and stepped out, not waiting for Ken.

He hesitated for a moment before hurrying after her. “If you don’t want to go in, you can wait for me in the car.”

“No, I need to check on Sid’s wounds,” Melody replied.

“Alright,” Ken said, dropping the matter.

When they reached the inpatient department, James rushed over to meet them, his expression anxious. “Mr. Swanson, Miss Fox, you’re just in time. Sebastian wants to transfer Sid to a hospital in Insterimond tomorrow…”

“Tomorrow?” Melody frowned. “Sid’s body isn’t strong enough for such a long trip right now.”

Upon hearing this, Ken’s face darkened, and he asked coldly, “Where is Sebastian?”

“He’s right outside the ICU,” James reported.

Without another word, the two of them headed toward the ICU.

As they rounded a corner, Melody spotted Sebastian speaking with Adrian, the incompetent doctor from this hospital. “Please keep a close eye on Sid during the transfer…”

Ken was about to stride over, but Melody quickly stopped him, pulling him back around the corner.

Seeing the confusion in Ken’s eyes, she whispered, “Sebastian already has a grudge against you. If you confront him now, he might just go ahead and transfer Sid to Insterimond tonight. It’s better if I talk to him.”

“Are you sure you can handle it?” he asked.

“At least I’ll be better than you,” Melody replied confidently.

Ken hesitated for a moment, knowing that Sebastian held a deep grudge against him. If he approached Sebastian, it would only make things worse.

Reluctantly, he nodded. “Alright, I’ll wait here for you.”

Melody gave Ken a reassuring pat on the shoulder before quickening her pace and rounding the corner.

At the ICU entrance, Adrian was nodding vigorously. “Mr. Quant, don’t worry. On the way to Insterimond, I’ll make sure to keep a close watch on Sid.”

He was trying hard to suppress the excitement bubbling up inside him.

After investigating, he learned about Sid’s true identity, his immense wealth, and his powerful connections. It felt like a massive stroke of luck had just landed squarely in his lap.

He wasn’t about to let such a golden opportunity slip through his fingers.

So when Sebastian suggested moving Sid to Insterimond the next day and asked for his assistance during the trip, Adrian readily agreed without a second thought, abandoning any last shred of professional ethics.

He knew Sid’s condition wasn’t suitable for a long journey, but the sooner they left Silverlake, the better. He feared his misdeeds might soon be uncovered.

However, in the next moment, Adrian caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.

He squinted and realized it was that bothersome woman.

‘What a coincidence! I took credit for her work. She must be here to confront me now, he thought, feeling a twinge of anxiety.

But then he remembered her threats in the stairwell and the words he was about to say caught in his throat. Instead, he nervously lowered his gaze.

Melody didn’t even spare Adrian a glance as she walked straight up to Sebastian. “Mr. Quant, I heard you plan to take Sid to Insterimond for treatment tomorrow?”

Sebastian glanced at her, recognizing her as someone associated with Ken.

His eyes narrowed in displeasure. “Who do you think you are? How dare you speak to me?”

Unfazed by Sebastian’s condescending tone, Melody shrugged. “I might not be anyone important, and I certainly don’t deserve your attention. But as Sid’s friend, I don’t want to see him die on the way to Insterimond.”

“You…” Sebastian began, but Melody didn’t give him a chance to continue. Raising her voice, she pressed on. “I can tell you with absolute certainty that if you move him tomorrow, he will die on the journey!”

Chapter 573

Melody’s firm and unwavering tone made Sebastian’s eyes widen in an instant, and fury surged through him like wildfire. “You… You’re talking nonsense! Who are you, really? Did Ken send you here just to piss me off?”

Melody remained expressionless as she spoke. “This has nothing to do with Ken. It’s simply because I don’t want to see my friend die in such a manner.”

“Don’t you dare curse my son! He won’t die!” Sebastian was nearly losing his mind with rage.

‘Who does she think she is, talking to me in such a disrespectful way? Even Ken has to be polite around me, but this ugly woman has no manners whatsoever. If she weren’t a woman, I would’ve already struck her by now, he wondered inwardly.

Melody glanced calmly at Adrian, who was cowering in fear and spoke in a detached tone. “If you think I’m cursing him, why don’t you ask the doctors at the top hospital in Silverlake? See if they recommend you take Sid away. You must know that Sid’s injuries are too severe for him to travel by plane. The change in air pressure alone could cause his already damaged heart to burst. But do you really think that driving all the way back to Insterimond will solve everything? The distance is long, and any bump in the road could reopen his wounds, forcing an immediate second surgery. But in his current state, he can’t handle another operation. Are you in such a hurry to get back to Insterimond that you’re willing to risk your own son’s life?”

Sebastian’s face turned a deep shade of blue, and he spat out a string of curses. “You’re full of shit! He’s my only son. Why the hell would I want to kill him and end my own bloodline?”

“Then why can’t you wait just a couple of weeks?” she asked.

Sebastian’s voice was icy. “Ulric has already arranged for a fully-equipped ambulance for Sid. That vehicle is like a mobile ICU. Sid was attacked in Silverlake, and all my men are in Insterimond. Every day he stays here, he’s in more danger. As for the bumps you’re so concerned about, I’ve already taken that into account. The ride in that ambulance will be smooth, and there’s no way the situation you’re describing will happen.”

“Ulric?” Melody narrowed her eyes, and suddenly, the things that had been unclear to her began to make sense.

She had found it strange earlier. Insterimond’s medical resources were indeed far superior to those in Silverlake, especially the renowned Insterimond First Hospital.

However, Sid needed at least another half month of recovery before he could undergo a second surgery, so Sebastian’s rush to return now made no sense.

Now she understood why.

Sebastian had never liked Ken, and with Ulric whispering in his ear, it was no wonder he wanted to get Sid back to Insterimond as soon as possible.

What Sebastian didn’t realize was that his plan would only give Ulric’s people another chance to go after Sid.

‘Damn it… Now that Ulric is involved, there is no way I can stop Sebastian from taking Sid away, she cursed inwardly.

Seeing that Melody didn’t continue to speak, Sebastian’s expression eased up a little.

“From the way you’re talking, it seems you genuinely care about Sid. Since your intentions were good, I’ll overlook your earlier rudeness. You can go now.” Sebastian waved dismissively, acting as though he was being magnanimous.

Melody clenched her teeth, about to continue persuading him, when she saw Janet, dressed in a hospital gown, suddenly appear at the end of the hallway. Janet walked briskly toward them. “Mr. Quant!”

Sebastian turned, and his stern expression immediately softened when he saw Janet. “Janet? I told you not to come by again. You’re still recovering yourself!”

“I’m fine,” Janet said, shaking her head. “I overheard what you were just discussing. Miss Fox is right. Such a long journey might be too much for Sid’s body. Why don’t you wait half a month? In the meantime, Ken and I will make sure Sid stays safe. If you’re concerned about the equipment here, you can transfer him to another major hospital in Silverlake.”

Adrian immediately panicked upon hearing this. “Mr. Quant, our hospital may be small, but it’s fully equipped, and some of our equipment is even more advanced than what the big hospitals have. There’s no need to transfer him to another hospital in Silverlake. All this moving around might cause more problems. It’d be better to just head to Insterimond directly.”

The back-and-forth only made Sebastian more determined to leave. “Enough, I’ve made up my mind. We’re leaving for Insterimond tomorrow morning!”

“Mr. Quant… even if your mind is made up, it might be best to at least inform Ken. You two should discuss it before making a final decision, alright?” Janet offered.

Sebastian’s face darkened instantly. “Discuss with him? If it weren’t for him, Sid wouldn’t be hurt in the first place! Janet, don’t make me start disliking you too.”

“My apologies, Mr. Quant.” Janet looked startled and quickly shut her mouth, not saying another word.

But Melody noticed the fleeting glimmer of triumph in Janet’s eyes.

‘She has done it on purpose! She has deliberately provoked Sebastian, ensuring that no one can sway his decision to take Sid, she wondered.

Melody took a deep breath, her mind racing.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up as a new idea struck her.

In this world, there was probably only one person who could stop Sebastian from taking Sid away.

Melody didn’t waste another moment on Sid, Janet, or anyone else. She turned and left without hesitation.

As she reached the corner, she signaled Ken and James to follow her, and they quickly exited the hospital building.

James had no idea what was going through her mind, and he couldn’t stop sighing along the way. “It’s over. Even Miss Murphy couldn’t stop Mr. Quant. Sid is definitely going to be taken away now. What are we going to do? Out of all of us, Mr. Quant only has a soft spot for Miss Murphy…”

Melody suddenly stopped in her tracks, shooting a cold look at James.

Noticing her gaze, James felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine. “W-Why are you looking at me like that…”

“Are you stupid?” she asked.

“What… why are you insulting me out of nowhere?” James grumbled in frustration, turning to Ken for help.

Melody bit her lip, not caring what Ken might think, and said directly, “Do you really believe Janet said those things to stop Sebastian?”

“Isn’t that the case? Miss Murphy felt guilty enough to try to kill herself, and you heard her just now. She was trying to stop Mr. Quant,” he said.

“You really are stupid! Didn’t you notice that what she said had the opposite effect? And that’s exactly what she wanted to happen!” she stared at him.

James frowned. “Miss Fox, I know you and Miss Murphy have had your misunderstandings, but this time you’re seriously mistaken. She’s not that kind of person, okay?”

‘If Janet has been up to something, Mr. Swanson would have told me after checking the call records, meaning that Janet hasn’t betrayed us. Since he hasn’t said anything, it means Miss Murphy is clean,’ he wondered.

With that in mind, James became even more determined to defend Janet, his words spilling out recklessly. “Miss Murphy and Sid have been friends for years! But where are you at that time, Miss Fox? Maybe still in the countryside, right?”

Chapter 574

As soon as James finished speaking, Ken shot him a cold glare, one so icy that it snapped James right out of his emotional outburst.

He shivered slightly, his face turning pale as he stammered, “Mr. Swanson, I…”

It suddenly dawned on him that his words had crossed a line. His face, which had been drained of color, now flushed bright red, his hands trembling with a mixture of shame and anxiety.

He was utterly uneasy, caught between guilt and nervousness.

“Apologize” Ken ordered, his voice even colder than his gaze, making it feel like the room temperature had dropped.

James quickly lowered his head. “I’m sorry, Miss Fox.”

“It’s fine,” Melody responded, her expression remaining largely unchanged.

She knew James wasn’t a bad person. He just tended to speak without thinking when he got worked up.

His attitude wasn’t something that bothered her.

James was suspicious by nature. He hadn’t said those things to mock her. She had long understood his personality and wouldn’t let his words affect her.

However, she was more curious about what Ken thought about the situation.

She turned her gaze to Ken, only to find him still glaring icily at James. “Your year-end bonus is withheld. Write a self-reflection tonight.”

For James, nothing was more dreadful than writing a self-reflection. The color on his face shifted from bright red to an almost sickly gloom, but he didn’t dare protest.

He simply gritted his teeth and muttered, “Yes.”

Melody bit her lip, unable to hold back any longer, and asked Ken, “James might not be thinking straight, but what about you? Do you also think I’m being petty and misunderstood Janet?”

Ken’s eyes flickered slightly, and his expression turned complex as he averted his gaze.

He didn’t believe in Janet for a second. The evidence against her was overwhelming, and he had known for a while that Janet was the traitor.

But now wasn’t the time to reveal any of this. No matter how much it pained him, he had to keep it hidden.

Ken clenched his fists, forcing himself to lie. “Melody, Janet really does have a close relationship with Sid…”

“Enough. You don’t need to explain. I know what you’re thinking,” Melody interrupted Ken before he could finish.

She already understood that Ken, like James, thought she was simply mistaken about Janet.

Since they trusted Janet so much, it was pointless to argue until she found solid evidence proving Janet was the spy.

A sharp pang of bitterness surged within her, bringing a stinging sensation to her nose.

However, Melody was never one to be swayed by emotions. No matter how terrible she felt, she never lost sight of what truly mattered.

Taking a deep breath, she swallowed the bitterness that had risen in her throat.

Then, with a calm, expressionless face, she said, “It doesn’t matter to me what you think. I’ve already given you my warning.”

“Melody, I…” Ken felt like he had a lump in his throat, unable to explain further.

He was playing a complex game involving Janet, and until everything fell into place, he had no intention of revealing to anyone that he already knew Janet’s true colors.

Seeing Ken hesitate halfway through his sentence, Melody assumed he was still torn between her and Janet.

She waved her hand dismissively, saying, “Enough. The most urgent matter is that Sid must not be taken to Insterimond. I wasn’t just trying to scare Sebastian with what I said.

“If they actually leave Silverlake tomorrow, Ulric won’t even need to send people to try to kill Sid again. Sid won’t survive the journey. It’s a long trip, at least fifteen or sixteen hours on the highway to reach Insterimond. If Sid’s condition worsens, there’s no way he’ll get timely medical attention. To put it bluntly, if Sid sets out for Insterimond, it’s a death sentence.”

Ken pondered for a moment, then looked at her and said, “Sebastian is a man of his word. If we want to stop him, we’ll have to get tough. Luckily, he didn’t bring many people to Silverlake. We could just detain him here.”

“No.” Melody shook her head. “Sebastian already said Ulric arranged for a special ambulance. That means Ulric won’t let us detain him.”

Ken’s expression darkened. “But there’s no other way. If we can ensure Sid’s safety, does it matter if we ruin our relationship with Sebastian?”

“Let’s not go there unless absolutely necessary. Besides, how can you be sure that confronting him will stop Sebastian? He’s not just anyone. Your father might get involved too,” she said.

Ken sensed something and asked, “Do you have another plan?”

“Yes.” Melody nodded. “There’s someone who can stop him.”

“Who?” Ken and James asked in unison.

“Sid,” she smiled.

James looked confused. “But Sid is still unconscious.”

“I know a special acupuncture technique, Resurrecting the Dead. It’s as effective as it sounds and can bring someone back to consciousness, even if they’re near death. However, it does have some side effects,” she added.

Ken didn’t hesitate. “Do it. Otherwise, he really might not make it.”

Melody hesitated, her expression growing complicated. “Aren’t you curious about the side effects?”

“What is it? Will it be fatal?” Ken asked, following her lead.

“It won’t be fatal, but it might be worse than death,” Melody replied.

Hearing this, Ken’s expression turned serious. “What’s the side effect?”

A faint blush crept across Melody’s cheeks as she lightly coughed into her hand. “The side effect is… there’s a chance he might lose his sexual function.”

Ken’s face froze at the words.

For someone like Sid, who frequently had new girlfriends, losing sexual function might indeed seem worse than death.

James, standing nearby, chimed in, “What’s the big deal about that? Miss Fox’s medical skills are top-notch. Once Sid recovers, I’m sure she can cure him in no time, right?”

Ken shot James a sharp glare in response.

Melody was, after all, a young woman, and some things were simply inappropriate to discuss in front of her. James’ lack of tact was truly concerning.

James, clueless as to what he’d said wrong, thought to himself, ‘I was complimenting Melody. Why is Mr. Swanson glaring at me?’

Feeling utterly baffled, James decided it was best to stay quiet, fearing that saying more would only lead to more mistakes.

Melody cleared her throat again and continued, “There’s a chance, not a certainty. But a decreased interest is almost guaranteed. Still, as I said before, the most important thing right now is to save his life. If you have no objections, arrange for me to access the ICU and perform the acupuncture. If Sid himself says he doesn’t want to go to Insterimond, I’m sure Sebastian will listen.”

“That’s actually a solid plan. As soon as Sebastian goes to rest, I’ll make the arrangements for you to go in,” he said.

“Alright.” Melody nodded, and the group immediately began planning how to discreetly get her into Sid’s ICU room.

Fortunately, Sebastian had only brought fewer than ten bodyguards, with a few staying close to him and a couple stationed at the hospital’s main entrances, leaving only two guarding the ICU floor.

Their numbers didn’t even come close to matching the forces Ken had positioned nearby, who were essentially death warriors.

However, just as everything was set, and Melody was about to head to the ICU, an unexpected complication arose.

Chapter 575

The sky was already dark, and by this time, Sebastian would typically be back at the hotel across from the hospital, resting. But tonight, he was still in the regular ward next to the ICU.

The lights in the room were still on, and Sebastian was on edge, alert to even the slightest sound from outside.

“How can I enter?” Melody retreated into the corner of the room, her gaze shifting to Ken for help.

Ken remained silent for a couple of seconds before decisively responding, “I’ll distract Sebastian. The rest is up to you.”

Melody was taken aback. “But Sebastian despises you. How are you going to get him out of here?”

“Don’t worry. I have a way.” Ken shot her a reassuring glance and then gestured to James, indicating that he should follow Melody’s lead.

Once everything was set, Ken straightened his collar, lifted his head, and confidently walked toward the corner of the hallway.

As soon as Sebastian rounded the corner, the bodyguards stationed on the floor immediately moved to block his path.

“Mr. Swanson, we’re sorry, but Mr. Quant has given strict orders that no one is allowed near here,” one of them said.

Ken’s gaze was cold as he eyed the two men. “Are you sure you want to stop me?”

“Well…” The two bodyguards exchanged nervous glances before one of them finally mustered the courage to speak. “Sorry, Mr. Swanson, but we have our orders.”

“Then go tell Sebastian that I need to speak with him,” Ken replied flatly.

“Please wait. I’ll go check with Mr. Quant,” one of the bodyguards said, turning to get Sebastian’s permission.

It wasn’t long before Sebastian emerged from the room, glaring at Ken with obvious irritation. “What are you doing here so late? If you’re here to stop me from taking Sid, you’re wasting your time. My mind’s made up.”

Ken stepped closer, his expression unreadable. “I’m not here for that.”

“Then what about you?” Sebastian asked, his irritation giving way to curiosity.

“I’ve found some clues about who hurt Sid,” Ken replied.

Sebastian’s previously impatient eyes suddenly lit up with interest.

“Who?” he demanded, grabbing Ken by the sleeve. “Who is it?”

Ken tilted his head slightly, glancing toward the elevator. “The evidence is on my laptop, which is in the car.”

“Where’s your car? Take me there right now.” He hurried over.

There were elevators on both sides of the floor. Ken nodded and led Sebastian toward the elevator farthest from Melody’s location.

As they stepped into the elevator, Ken couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. ‘With Sebastian’s near-paranoid vigilance, if it weren’t for the army of guards Ken has stationed around the hospital, Sid would have been in serious danger long ago.’

On the other side, as soon as Melody saw Sebastian and Ken leave via the elevator, she quickly moved toward the elevator entrance.

“Who goes there?” Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward to block her path.

Seeing this, James was about to signal a few death warriors to step in and take care of the situation, but before he could act, there were two thuds. The two bodyguards were already lying unconscious on the ground.

James had seen Melody’s skills before, and he knew these two guards were exceptionally well-trained. Even he would have needed dozens of rounds to take them down, yet Melody had dispatched them in under two seconds.

He had clearly underestimated her abilities. “Stand guard here. Do not let anyone disturb me. This acupuncture technique must be executed flawlessly, or the consequences could be dire.”

“Understood,” James responded, instinctively straightening his posture.

Melody nodded and swiftly entered the ICU.

Resurrecting the Dead required the use of eleven acupuncture kits, a clear indication of the massive workload ahead.

Ken obviously couldn’t keep Sebastian distracted for too long. The moment Melody entered the ICU, she began the acupuncture treatment on Sid with no time to spare.

Driven by curiosity about the Resurrecting the Dead Melody had mentioned, James quietly made his way to the ICU door.

Through the glass, he watched as Melody removed Sid’s hospital gown and, with astonishing speed, inserted silver needles into various points on Sid’s body.

The speed of her hands was remarkable, likely the result of countless years of practice.

‘How brilliant is she? Not only is she highly skilled in combat, but her medical expertise is equally impressive… James thought to himself.

Reflecting on how he had mocked Melody earlier, James felt a growing sense of embarrassment. ‘At her age, I certainly wasn’t this capable…

Inside the ICU, a thin layer of sweat had already formed on Melody’s forehead.

True acupuncture masters infused their own energy into the needles during treatment, an elusive, almost mystical concept that defied scientific explanation and was a skill possessed by only a select few acupuncturists.

Melody slowed her movements as she reached the acupuncture points on Sid’s neck.

These particular points were located near the centers controlling breathing and heartbeat. Even the slightest miscalculation in applying pressure could result in the patient’s heart suddenly stopping, which was why these points were typically avoided in standard acupuncture.

However, the Resurrecting the Dead required that these points be targeted.

As she inserted the final silver needle, Melody’s clothes were almost entirely soaked with sweat.

Fortunately, the procedure was completed without a hitch.

Her steps unsteady, she gripped the edge of the bed for support and looked up at James.

James had assumed Melody hadn’t noticed him spying on her, but when their eyes suddenly met, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

It wasn’t until she gestured for him to come in that he snapped out of it and quickly entered the ICU. “Miss Fox, are you…”

“In five minutes, remove the silver needles,” Melody interrupted… her voice barely above a whisper. The moment the words left her mouth, her vision went black, and she collapsed toward the floor.

James, quick on his feet, caught Melody just in time, calling out urgently to those outside. “Someone, get in here!”

Seventeen rushed over and, seeing Melody unconscious, froze in shock for a split second.

“Why are you just standing there? Get Miss Fox out of here. Have the others withdraw,” James said.

“Yes.” Seventeen promptly knelt down, carefully hoisting Melody onto his back before carrying her out of the room.

“Five minutes…” James muttered to himself, glancing anxiously at his wristwatch as he began to pace the room, his nerves getting the better of him.

‘Mr. Swanson, I just hope you can keep Sebastian occupied until this is over, he thought, trying to steady his breathing.

Downstairs, after being led to the car, Sebastian quickly realized that the so-called evidence Ken had gathered was nothing more than irrelevant statements from a few airport witnesses. His patience was running thin. “You spent two days collecting evidence, and this is all you’ve got?”

“There are some other leads, but…” Ken began.

“Don’t bother,” Sebastian interrupted, his voice dripping with irritation. “You’re just wasting my time, pretending you’re making an effort. But I’m not stupid. If you think this is going to change my opinion of you, you’re wrong. I’ll never have any respect for a sneaky snake like you.”

With that, Sebastian pushed open the car door and stormed back toward the hospital.

Ken looked up at the floor where the ICU was located, his expression grim.

‘I hope Melody has already finished up. I’ve stalled him for too long. If I delay any further, Sebastian will definitely get suspicious,’ he thought, his worry growing with each passing second.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the five minutes were up.

James quickly began removing the silver needles from Sid’s body, one by one.

But at that exact moment, the two bodyguards who had been knocked out outside started to regain consciousness.

Their first instinct was to assume something had happened to Sid, and they immediately scrambled to their feet, hurrying toward the ICU.

Hearing the sound of their rapid footsteps approaching, James broke out in a cold sweat, his hands beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

It took him two attempts to remove just one of the needles.

With the guards closing in fast, there were still three needles left in Sid’s right arm.

James could only think one thing. ‘It’s over…

由

SEND GIFT

COMMENT

Subscribed

♡
Prev | Next