Melody Strikes Back by Myra Walker (Chapters 601, 602 603, 604, and 605)

Chapter 601

“What else do you want?” Charlotte glared at her with a twisted expression.

Her face was already covered in scratches from when Rowan had attacked her earlier. Now, with this fierce expression, she looked downright terrifying. Even David couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine.

But Melody’s expression didn’t change at all. She remained completely calm as she spoke. “It seems your memory isn’t very good. Have you already forgotten the promise you made to me in the storage room just a while ago?”.

David slapped his forehead and reminded Charlotte. “Hey, you ruined Mr. Herbert’s rare collection in the storage room. You agreed to compensate us, remember? Don’t even think about backing out now.”

Melody then turned to Orion and said, “Mr. Riley, you were there too. I would appreciate it if you could act as a witness.”

“Of course,” Orion nodded, looking at Charlotte. “Ms. Wallrich, I’ll have to ask you to compensate them for those two herbs right now.”

The people around them all glanced at Charlotte with amused expressions, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Charlotte felt incredibly irritated, but her pride wouldn’t let her back down. Without thinking, she snapped, “Fine, I’ll pay. I’m not the type to back out of a deal. Just tell me. How much? I’ll pay you ten times the amount.”

“Ten times, huh?” Melody’s lips curled slightly. “Ms. Wallrich, I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to afford that. Let’s stick to the original value.”

“Don’t underestimate me. Just tell me how much. I don’t want to waste any more time talking to you,” she said.

‘Revenge is a dish best served cold, Charlotte thought. She refused to believe that Oliver would truly abandon her in this situation.

Melody nodded, pulled out a calculator, and quickly did some calculations. A few seconds later, she presented the number to Charlotte, saying, “Forget about the loose change. Just give me a round figure. I won’t accept checks, only a bank transfer or cash.”

Charlotte looked at the calculator dismissively.

‘It’s just a wildflower and a few herbs, how expensive could they be?’ she wondered.

But when she finally saw the shockingly long number on the screen, her expression froze in an instant. “40 million dollars? Are you kidding me?”

Elton, standing beside her, widened his eyes in disbelief when he heard the amount “40 million dollars? How could those few herbs be worth that much?”

Elton instinctively dismissed the rapidly withering flower, just as Charlotte had. Deep down, he had also assumed it was a worthless wildflower, thinking the real value must be in those carefully cultivated herbs.

Melody shook her head. “You’re mistaken. The value of those herbs cannot be measured in money. You’ll need to contact the Medical and Agricultural institutes to settle the compensation for those.”

Elton swallowed hard, struggling to find his voice. “So, this 40 million dollars is just for that wildflower? Do you think we’re fools? It’s just a flower! Even if it were made of gems, it couldn’t possibly cost that much.”

“Exactly! You’re only doing this because we’re students, and since my grandfather’s not backing me up, you think you can extort us. There’s no way a flower could be that expensive,” Charlotte said, her anger rising.

But seeing that they were outnumbered by the people from Herbathrive, she turned to Orion for support. “Aren’t you supposed to be impartial? Why are you just standing by and watching her extort us?”

Orion frowned, feeling a wave of hesitation.

He trusted Melody’s character.

‘She isn’t the type to resort to extortion. But a flower worth 40 million dollars? It seems too unbelievable,’ Orion wondered.

After a brief pause, Orion asked, “Dr. Fox, is there some misunderstanding here? Does this flower have some unique quality that justifies such a high price?”

Orion asked several questions, but never once did he accuse Melody of extortion.

This trust didn’t go unnoticed, and Melody felt a deep sense of gratitude.

Patiently, she explained, “This flower isn’t just some wildflower like they think. It has a name, Snowblossom.” “Snowblossom?” Orion’s eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. “You mean the legendary flower that blooms only once a year and grows on sheer cliffs?”

“That’s right,” Melody confirmed with a nod. She then turned to Elton and Charlotte. “This flower is extremely rare and cannot be cultivated artificially. I spent four to five years searching for just one Snowblossom. During those years, I studied the perfect conditions for its growth and climbed countless mountains before I finally found it.”

Charlotte and Elton, both medical students, were familiar with the name Snowblossom.

If it truly was Snowblossom, it was indeed worth 40 million dollars, and even at that price, many would be eager to buy it.

Charlotte’s forehead was slick with cold sweat as her eyes darted around rapidly.

Suddenly, she realized something and retorted. “You’re lying. Snowblossom only blooms for a single day, but that flower of yours has clearly been in the storage room for more than a day and is still in bloom. It must be a fake. It can’t possibly be Snowblossom.”

Melody calmly explained, “That’s because Mr. Herbert used a special method to preserve it. Remember, it was only after you broke the glass cover that the Snowblossom wilted? The glass cover is a high-tech product designed to keep Snowblossom blooming. The compensation amount I calculated included the cost of this high-tech glass cover.”

As for the Snowblossom Melody had given to her grandmother that continued blooming, it was because her mentor had developed a wax oil with similar effects to the glass cover, allowing the flower to remain in bloom when she handed it over to Maria.

Of course, her Snowblossom was not as exceptional as Colin’s, so it wasn’t worth 40 million dollars.

Colin’s Snowblossom was truly a rare gem among rare gems.

“That’s absolutely impossible…” Charlotte’s face turned pale as she staggered backward.

She hadn’t expected that the random flower she had kicked aside was such a rare Snowblossom.

‘If I hadn’t been kicked out of the Wallrich family, it wouldn’t be so bad. But now, how could I possibly come up with 40 million dollars?’ she thought.

Melody, losing patience, said, “Even though the flower has wilted, many experts can still identify it as Snowblossom. If you don’t believe it, we can go to the police station and have professionals verify it.”

With the matter laid out so clearly, Charlotte had no choice but to admit that the flower she had dismissed as a wildflower was indeed Snowblossom.

But she couldn’t afford the compensation, so she was left with no choice but to try to avoid paying.

Melody saw through Charlotte’s thoughts immediately.

She coldly reminded her, “You’ve destroyed valuable items, and there is ample evidence. If you try to deny it, I will report it to the authorities right away. 40 million dollars could result in a long prison sentence for you.”

Charlotte was instantly overwhelmed and disoriented. Her already bleak world seemed to darken even further. In her desperation, she glanced at Elton and suddenly remembered the gifts she had given him over the years, which together were worth more than 40 million dollars. With that thought in mind, Charlotte immediately grabbed Elton’s sleeve and said, “Didn’t I give you many gifts before?

You could return those to me, and I’ll buy new ones for you later.”

Elton was silent for a moment, then suddenly frowned and pushed Charlotte’s hand away from his sleeve. “Charlotte, let’s break up.”

Chapter 602

Charlotte was stunned, unable to process what she had just heard. “What?”

“I said… we should break up,” Elton repeated impatiently.

Charlotte, in disbelief, asked, “Why?”

Elton took a few steps back, putting some distance between them before continuing with a look of disgust. “I’ve had enough of you. You’re a spoiled, unreasonable fool. If it weren’t for the fact that you might inherit the Wallrich family fortune, why would I ever be with someone like you?” “Are you joking? Didn’t you say you loved me? You said you’d never felt this way about anyone before, that without me you’d go crazy and die, and that you’d be with me forever,” she asked.

Elton smirked, clearly exasperated. “Do you believe everything a man says? I did mean what I said, though. When your grandfather changes his mind and gives you the inheritance back, I might come around again.”

Charlotte’s face darkened with anger. “Elton, you…”

Elton cut her off, clearly uninterested in any further conversation, and turned to leave.

Charlotte rushed forward, blocking his path with urgency. No… Elton, you can’t leave me like this. You’re all I have. You can’t just walk away.”

“All you have? Can’t live without me? How come you never said you couldn’t live without me when you were insulting me and treating me like a servant? Now that you’re in a tough spot, you suddenly need me. It’s pathetic. Unfortunately, I don’t need you anymore,” he snorted.

With that, he pushed Charlotte aside and walked away without a second glance.

Charlotte’s mind was blank, and she didn’t even think to chase after him.

She couldn’t comprehend the situation ‘The man who has been by my side all these years, caring for me, is actually interested in my position rather than me as a person. In a crisis, he shows no sentiment and just walks out…’

She felt a deep sense of betrayal.

Melody looked at Elton’s retreating figure with disdain, thinking, ‘This man is as disgusting, selfish, and cold-hearted as Ulric.’

She couldn’t resist sending a text message and then turned to Charlotte. “Ms. Wallrich, as much as I sympathize with you, please transfer the compensation to me as soon as possible. I’ll give you three days. If you don’t bring the money by then, I’ll have to report this to the authorities.” The flower wasn’t hers. It belonged to Colin, and he might be furious when he found out.

So, she needed to get that 40-million-dollar compensation to calm Colin down a bit.

Charlotte glared at Melody with intense anger. “Bitch. Even now, you dare to kick me while I’m down. It’s just 40 million dollars, right? Just wait. I’ll throw the money in your face. Don’t complain when it hurts.”

Melody, not wanting to engage further, waved her hand at David. “Show them out.”

“Okay,” David said with a nod and made a gesture for Charlotte to leave.

Charlotte let out a scornful sniff and left Herbathrive with her head held high, like an arrogant swan. She carried herself with dignity, completely ignoring the fact that Oliver had cut ties with her.

However, once she was outside of Herbathrive, Charlotte realized something was off when she tried to call a cab. She discovered that all the cards linked to her phone were frozen and unusable. Not only was she unable to book a hotel, but she didn’t even have enough money for a taxi.

Her entire cash amounted to just a single dollar in her wallet.

One dollar wouldn’t even buy a hot dog in Silverlake. At that moment, panic set in. She shakily dialed Oliver’s number, only to have the call rejected.

When she tried calling again, the number was disconnected. Oliver had blocked her.

‘Did Grandpa really go this far? No, I don’t believe it. I have to find Oliver and explain that I genuinely understood my mistakes. And even if Grandpa won’t acknowledge me, Grandma will surely soften her stance, she wondered.

Charlotte recalled that Miranda was undergoing surgery at First Hospital today. Clenching her teeth, she decided to head to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Elton had just gotten out of a cab and was passing through an alley when suddenly a large hand covered his mouth, and he was dragged into the alley.

Before he could react, a sack was pulled over his head, and the next moment, a barrage of punches began to rain down on him.

Screams echoed from the alley, but the surrounding street corners were deliberately blocked off, making it impossible for anyone to hear what was happening in the alley.

Meanwhile, in the backyard of Herbathrive, Orion looked apologetic as he addressed Melody. “Dr. Fox, I’m truly sorry for the trouble my people caused you today. If you need anything in the future, just give me a call. As long as it’s within legal bounds, I’ll make sure to help.”

Melody offered a slight smile. “Oh, it’s no trouble at all. Your support has already been very helpful. The Medicines Control Agency is lucky to have you.”

“Dr. Fox, you flatter me.” Orion raised a hand and said, “I’ll be on my way now. There are numerous matters that need my attention at Rowan.”

“Alright, take care,” she said.

After Orion left, the other doctors at Herbathrive gathered around Melody, chattering and praising her. Only Talia and Nana silently slipped away.

Melody noticed this but discreetly shifted her gaze.

Everyone put in a lot of effort today. David told me that while I was upstairs, all of you stood firm and didn’t budge. I’m pleased for Mr. Herbert. I hope we can continue to strengthen our unity.”

“Absolutely, Miss Fox.”

“With you and Mr. Herbert here, we’ll always stick together.”

Melody smiled slightly. “Since you’re all so united, I won’t let you down. After the hospital closes tonight, I’d like to treat you all to dinner. You can choose the place.”

“Wow… then I’m picking the most expensive place in Silverlake.”

“Sure thing, I’ll make the arrangements.” Melody nodded with a smile.

Cheers erupted, filling the air.

“Alright, it’s still working hours, so get back to taking care of the patients,” Melody said.

“Yes, Miss Fox.” The group dispersed quickly. Once everyone had left, Melody returned to her room briefly and then sought out Talia and Nana.

Seeing Melody enter, Talia and Nana quickly stood up.

“Melody Fox?” Nana said hastily. “I’m sorry. I was just about to take a break… I’ll head to the accounts office now.”

“No need to rush.” Melody waved her hand. “I have something for you.”

“What is it?” With Talia and Nana looking on in curiosity, Melody took out an envelope and handed it to them.

Chapter 603

“What is this?” Nana asked, puzzled.

Talia, who was next to her, clearly misunderstood Melody’s intent and nervously explained, “Miss Fox, did you misunderstand us? We didn’t flee the scene. We went to First Hospital to bring Oliver over before leaving. We…” Melody quickly interrupted Talia, clarifying, “You misunderstood me. I know you went to get Oliver, not that you fled. If you hadn’t brought Oliver over in time, Charlotte and Elton might have had a bigger fallout and continued causing trouble here. So, the contents of this package are a gift from me to you as a token of thanks.”

“Of course, I’m not sure if you’ll need or like what’s inside. Open it and see. I need to head out for a while, so I’ll leave you to it,” Melody said before turning and leaving, leaving Talia and Nana alone in the room.

After Melody left, Talia and Nana grew more curious about what was in the envelope.

“Nana, why don’t you open it?” Talia had a strange feeling, sensing that whatever was inside the envelope might leave her with mixed emotions.

“Okay,” Nana said, not thinking much of it. She assumed it might be a bonus or something, and that Melody had hurried off to avoid them rejecting it.

She opened the envelope casually, but because she was a bit rough, it tore open, spilling a few photos and a USB drive onto the table.

“Why are there photos?” Nana wondered as she picked up the pictures, confused.

In the next moment, her eyes widened in shock.

The photos depicted an intimate scene between a man and a woman.

The woman in the photos was the mistress her father was involved with, but the man was clearly not her father.

Realizing that the mistress was involved with someone else, Nana’s eyes sparkled with realization.

“Mom, look at this!” She eagerly handed the photos to Talia, her face beaming with excitement. “The mistress is also being unfaithful. Dad’s been cheated on!”

Talia was momentarily surprised but soon composed herself. “Let’s see what’s on the USB drive.”

Prompted by Talia’s suggestion, Nana quickly connected the USB drive to her tablet.

The tablet had originally been a gift from Melody to make her work easier, but Nana never expected it would be used for this purpose.

In less than a minute, Nana had finished viewing the contents of the USB drive.

It contained a video and some hotel booking records.

The video clearly showed the mistress and her lover engaging in a rendezvous in a parking lot. The footage was clear enough that their faces and bodies were fully visible.

But the most crucial piece of evidence was a paternity test. It clearly stated that the child the mistress had was not her father’s.

Nana was thrilled with this discovery. Her excitement grew as she grabbed Talia’s hand and said, “Mom, let’s go find Dad and expose that bitch right now!”

However, Talia remained silent, her gaze shifting from the tablet to the gray, oppressive sky outside the window.

Seeing Talia’s reaction, Nana couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you happy about this?”

Talia forced a bitter smile and said, “Why should I be happy? Even if these things cause a rift between them, it doesn’t lessen the damage he’s done to us.”

Nana paused, her excitement fading.

“Even if he finds out that his current partner is unfaithful and calls us back, it doesn’t change the fact that he betrayed you and abandoned us. To him, we’re no different from that woman, just expendable. The only thing he cares about is himself,” she added.

As Talia finished speaking, both she and Nana fell into silence.

It was at this moment that Nana fully understood Melody’s words. “I’m not sure if you need this, or if you’ll like it.”

She was no longer sure if they needed these things.

Even if they showed the photos and video to her father, making the man who abandoned them feel discomfort, it wouldn’t erase the pain and the feeling of being forsaken by the world.

So, the significance of these things seemed rather minimal. After a long silence, Talia suddenly grasped Nana’s hand and asked, “Nana, I need you to answer me truthfully.” Nana nodded, “Sure, go ahead.”

“Do you want to go back?” Talia asked.

“Hmm?” Nana was puzzled.

“If you really want to go back, I’ll use these documents to confront him. Your father won’t tolerate anyone making a fool of him. He’ll definitely kick that woman and her child out. You’re his only blood relative now, and with the misunderstanding with Miss Fox cleared up, he won’t use her as an excuse to keep you away,” she added.

Nana sensed something was off and furrowed her brow. You keep talking about me, but what about you?”

Talia forced a bitter smile and said, “You might not believe it, but I’ve felt happier here in Herbathrive than I ever did at home. I no longer have to revolve around him or deal with those pretentious high-society wives. I feel more relaxed here and like I’m living for myself.”

“So, you don’t want to go back?” Nana asked.

“Yes.” Talia nodded, looking at Nana. “But I won’t stop you from going back. If you return, you’ll be the young lady of the Jensen family again, and you’ll quickly resume your luxurious life.”

“I…” Nana bit her lip and thought for a moment before replying, “Mom, let me think about it.”

“Sure, take your time. Once you’ve decided, we can figure out what to do next,” she nodded.

Meanwhile, as soon as Melody left Talia and Nana’s room, Seventeen approached and reported quietly. “Miss Fox, as you instructed, I’ve broken Elton’s legs. He won’t be able to move freely for the next six months.”

Melody, her expression unreadable, nodded slightly and asked, “He didn’t see you, did he?”

“Don’t worry. No one will trace it back to you or me,” he said.

“Good.” Melody nodded again. “Prepare the car. We’re going to First Hospital now.”

It was time to expose the woman who had been impersonating her. Melody wondered what Oliver’s reaction would be when he found out she was the real Wilona.

Once in the car, Melody called Rodney. When Rodney learned she was going to reveal the fake Wilona’s identity, he nearly shouted with excitement. “I’m not on duty today. I’ll head to First Hospital right away to meet you.”

“Okay, see you at First Hospital,” she said.

After ending the call, Melody noticed an unread text message from Mason. She opened it and smiled.

The last herb needed for her appearance restoration, Green Velvet, would be auctioned off in a month.

This herb was crucial, and she was determined to obtain it.

Chapter 604

Once the herbs were gathered and brewed properly for a week, her appearance would return to its original state. Melody instinctively touched her face, feeling the uneven, bumpy spots that gave a rather unpleasant sensation.

For some reason, knowing the approximate recovery time made her unexplainably anxious.

“Miss Fox?” Seventeen, in the driver’s seat, glanced back at her. Seeing that she didn’t respond, he called out again, Miss Fox?”

Melody snapped back to attention and asked, “What is it?”

“My team has reported that Charlotte is also heading to First Hospital. Should I send someone to stop her?” he asked.

Melody thought for a moment before replying, “I’ve checked into her family. She’s surely going to see Oliver’s wife, who is also her grandmother. Since her grandmother is about to undergo surgery, Charlotte’s attempt to plead now will only infuriate Oliver more. So, there’s no need to stop her. Let her go.”

“Understood.” Seventeen nodded but still looked hesitant.

Noticing Seventeen’s expression in the rearview mirror, Melody smiled and said, “If you have something to say, just speak up.”

Seventeen pressed his lips together and said, “Are you sure we shouldn’t wait for Mr. Swanson? He should be finishing up soon. You promised before you left that you’d return to Serenity Villa first and go to the hospital with him.”

Had Seventeen not mentioned it, Melody would have forgotten about it.

She glanced at the time and said, “We’ve already wasted too much time on Charlotte. We won’t have enough time to go to Serenity Villa now. Let’s head straight to the hospital. I’ll send a message to Ken.”

“Got it.” Seventeen, respecting Melody’s decision, pressed the accelerator and headed toward First Hospital.

Melody hesitated for a moment before pulling out her phone to text Ken, informing him that she wouldn’t make it back to Serenity Villa and was going directly to First Hospital instead.

Meanwhile, Ken was at the Swanson Group headquarters attending a meeting.

Today’s meeting was his formal welcome to the company, but since Ramon was out of town, only four out of eight board members were present. Naturally, Ulric was among those who didn’t show up.

Ken was well aware that the absentees were all bought off by Ulric, deliberately trying to put him in a difficult position, signaling that even though he had joined the headquarters, his path ahead wouldn’t be smooth.

Ken used some tactics to force the remaining board members to come to the headquarters. When Melody sent him the message, the others had just arrived under pressure, so the welcome meeting had only just begun.

Ken read the text with a look of resigned frustration in his eyes.

He had suspected that Melody wouldn’t just follow his instructions without question, but his schedule was too tight to accompany her to First Hospital. He could only explain his situation and remind her to be careful.

While First Hospital itself wasn’t dangerous, the impersonator was a malicious actor, and that introduced a lot of uncertainties.

This was precisely why he had wanted to accompany Melody to the hospital in the first place.

Melody: [I’ll be careful.] When she received Ken’s response, she texted back and glanced up, noticing her own smiling reflection in the car window.

The smile froze on her face, and her mood grew heavier.

She was shocked at how her spirits had lifted simply from receiving a text from Ken.

She tightened her grip on her hands, mentally scolding herself not to get too caught up in it.

Meanwhile, Mabel, having been on edge all night due to Cadence’s death, finally began to calm down when the police didn’t come knocking, and no news reports were linking her to Cadence’s death.

She knew that her apparent lack of involvement must be due to Ulric’s intervention.

With this realization, her mood improved gradually.

‘Only Ulric’s heart belongs to me. No matter how powerful Melody becomes, she can’t possibly compete with Ulric, she thought to herself.

Not only Melody but even Ken wouldn’t stand a chance against Ulric. She trusted her own judgment.

After a moment of reflection, Mabel’s heart settled. She carefully applied her makeup, donned an elegant haute couture dress, and took her purse as she headed downstairs, intending to thank Ulric.

However, as she reached the stairway, she heard Russell on the phone, his tone ingratiating as he spoke to the person on the other end. “President Taylor, you’re coming back tonight? Perfect timing. You must be tired from your trip. I’d like to host a welcome dinner for you. I also have a few things I’d like to discuss with you…”

It sounded like the person on the other end had agreed, as Russell’s face lit up with satisfaction. “Great, I’ll personally pick you up from the airport at five o’clock. You can bring your wife along as well. I hear she’s pregnant. I know a remedy that’s very beneficial for expectant mothers. Alright, see you at the airport lobby then.”

After hanging up, Russell noticed Mabel descending the stairs and immediately waved to her. “You’re just in time. Clear your schedule for tonight and come with me to dinner. The guest will be bringing his wife, and having you there will make the conversation easier.”

In the past, Mabel had often accompanied Russell to such dinners and even felt pleased to be valued so highly.

However, things were different now. She was about to become Ulric’s fiancée, and the thought of hosting guests for Russell was beneath her and made her feel disrespected.

Mabel was reluctant to agree and tried to avoid the request.

“I’m supposed to meet Ulric soon. I might not have time tonight… Or, I’ll see if I can make it. If I have time, I’ll come by.”

“Ulric…” Russell’s eyes lit up as he realized something. “I almost forgot. Ulric could be useful here. Try to bring him along to the dinner if you can. It would be perfect if he could come. If they know we’re backed by Ulric, it will definitely speed up the approval of my loan.”

“Loan?” Mabel’s expression turned serious.

“I remember Owen recommended a few banks to you. You got your loan approved already. Why do you still need more money?” Mabel asked, her voice tinged with concern.

“Do you even understand?” Russell shot her a glance. “That amount of money isn’t enough. With this additional loan, I’ll finally be able to expand my business empire.”

Mabel’s uneasy feeling returned.

She quickly asked, “How much are you planning to borrow this time?”

“Not too much, just 100 million dollars,” he said.

“100 million dollars?” Mabel’s eyes widened in shock. Excluding the recent loans you’ve taken, your total debt is already over 200 million dollars. And we haven’t even secured the deal with the Swanson Group yet. Aren’t you worried that if the deal falls through, all this money will be wasted?”

“Why do you speak like that? You ungrateful wretch.” Russell’s anger flared, and he slapped Mabel hard across the face.

The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the living room, causing the servants to flee in fear, worried about being caught in the crossfire.

Chapter 605

“Did you hit me?” Mabel stared at Russell with a mix of terror and anger, unable to believe what had just happened as she clutched her throbbing cheek.

Before her mother went to prison, Russell would never have hit her so casually, nor would he have struck her with such force. It felt as though her face might split open from the pain.

Now that her mother was in prison, Russell’s attitude toward her had become erratic, treating her as nothing more than a pawn.

She had always known Russell had a temper, quick to hit or berate servants and even her mother, but he had always been somewhat indulgent with her, his daughter who

brought him prestige.

But now, he had struck her simply because she had said a few things that jarred him.

Her current position was different from before.

He had hit the future wife of Ulric.

Russell, however, remained oblivious to the fact that Mabel’s mindset had already shifted.

He glared at her coldly and said, “Since you’ve cursed the family’s business to falter, why shouldn’t I discipline you? If you don’t bring Ulric to the dinner tonight, I’ll punish you again when you get home.”

“You…” Mabel began to protest.

“What?” Russell snapped, his anger evident. “You used to be so obedient and compliant. Now you dare to defy me? Are you planning to run away like that wretched Melody?” Mabel wanted to retaliate, but she was no match for Russell’s strength. Furthermore, she couldn’t completely distance herself from the Fox family at this moment. Instead, she clenched her hands and apologized, enduring the humiliation. “I’m sorry, Dad. It was my mistake.”

Russell’s expression softened slightly. He smirked and said, “If you had been more obedient earlier, would I have had to hit you? From now on, don’t speak such ominous words. I’m doing this for a reason. The Fox family will be fine, and you’ll have more leverage when you marry into the Swanson family. Otherwise, Mrs. Swanson won’t take you seriously, and sooner or later, you’ll be replaced.”

“I understand, Dad…” Mabel lowered her gaze.

Russell’s words echoed her deepest fears. She worried that Astrid looked down on her and their relationship deteriorated, so she was concerned about the rise and fall of the Justalion Group.

But at this moment, Russell was not open to any of her objections. She could only hope that everything would go as he wished and that the Justalion Group would use this opportunity to make a comeback.

“Alright, you’re off to find Ulric, right? Hurry up. Remember that you must bring him to the Blue Moon Lounge for dinner at six o’clock tonight,” he said.

“Yes…” Mabel agreed with her words, but in her heart, she had no intention of bringing Ulric over.

For one, she didn’t want Russell to loan out so much money. For another, she didn’t want Ulric to look down on her.

Mabel adjusted her clothes and took a car to the Swanson villa.

Since Astrid was not home today, Mabel had no trouble meeting Ulric.

Before entering the room, she pinched her thigh hard enough to make her eyes turn red, resembling a pitiable little rabbit.

She knew very well that her greatest weapon was her beauty, which could evoke a man’s protective instincts.

She knocked on the door, and Ulric’s voice called from inside. “Come in.”

As Mabel stepped in, she saw a stunning woman helping Ulric put on his shirt. Instantly, she felt a sense of intimacy in the air, and her blood seemed to freeze as she stared in disbelief. “Mr. Swanson, you…”

Seeing her, Ulric signaled the woman to let him handle the buttons himself and said, “You can leave now. We’ll discuss what you mentioned earlier later.”

“Okay.” The woman nodded and glanced at Mabel before leaving.

Mabel then had a clear view of the woman’s face. She was a well-preserved middle-aged woman, with excellent looks and demeanor, her charm still intact. Her figure was curvaceous, the kind that made men overlook her true age. ‘So, Ulric didn’t refuse my advances before because of respect but because he was involved with this middle-aged woman as well?’ Mabel’s expression stiffened further.

After a quick glance at the woman, Mabel treated her as if she were invisible, brushing past her as she left the room. Her gaze followed the woman, but Ulric’s voice pulled her attention back. “She’s my doctor.”

Mabel was taken aback and quickly refocused her attention on Ulric, who was now standing right in front of her.

She momentarily forgot the shock from seeing the woman and exclaimed in surprise, “You can stand up?”

“Yes.” Ulric nodded. “Thanks to that doctor, I have feeling in my leg and can manage a few steps. But it will be some time before I’m fully recovered.”

“Is she just a doctor?” Mabel asked uncertainly.

“What else could she be?” Ulric concealed his irritation well, smiling as he replied, “Have you misunderstood something?” Before Mabel could respond, Ulric continued, “Don’t worry. I’m a man of integrity. With you around, I won’t be interested in anyone else.”

Mabel’s heart, which had been in suspense, finally settled. She knew Ulric wouldn’t choose that older woman over her. No matter how old a man was, he preferred young girls.

“I knew you wouldn’t hurt my feelings,” Mabel said, flashing a radiant smile as she reached out to wrap her arms around Ulric’s waist.

The strong, muscular frame of his waist made Mabel’s heart race.

She had always thought that his legs, having been disabled for years, would have left him physically weak. However, she was surprised to see that his physique was still in such excellent shape.

‘How disciplined must he be to maintain his body in such good condition despite his leg disability? How painful and challenging must the process have been?’ she wondered. Mabel felt even more assured that she hadn’t made the wrong choice, but she forgot that someone who could be so harsh on himself would be even harsher on others.

Mabel’s weight pressed down on Ulric’s still-recovering legs, making them strain under the pressure.

Yet, a man like him would never show any sign of weakness in front of others. Casually, he pulled away Mabel’s arms from his waist and took the opportunity to sit back in his wheelchair.

Once seated comfortably, Ulric gently asked, “By the way, why did you come by today? I have a lot to do and might not have time to spend with you.”

Mabel then remembered her purpose and put on a delicate, sorrowful expression, her eyes reddening as she said, “It’s not that, Ulric. I didn’t come here just for fun. I heard that Cadence has died… I’m feeling a bit scared. I couldn’t sleep at all last night, and I kept having nightmares.”

As she spoke, she knelt on the floor and rested her hands on Ulric’s legs, resembling a vulnerable little kitten.

A breeze from the window lifted her hair, revealing her slender, delicate neck, making it impossible not to want to hold and cherish her.

Ulric, being a man, couldn’t help but feel his throat tighten in response to such beauty.

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