Chapter 39

Chapter 39

The servant said this, then left with his people, leaving behind a pile of gifts.

After the Swanson family’s people left, Mabel’s face turned livid,

Unable to contain her anger, she stormed over to Melody and snarled, “Melody! Just you wait! Don’t think that just because you received some gifts, you’ve won Ulric over, I’m telling you, it’s never going to happen. You will never take him away from me.”

Mabel had entirely forgotten that Melody was the one originally betrothed to Ulric. If anyone was stealing, it was Mabel who was stealing from Melody

“Mabel.” Yolanda frowned, trying to calm her daughter. “Calm down.”

Mabel thought to herself, ‘Calm down? I’m already very calm. If I hadn’t calmed down, I would have strangled Melody by now!

She gritted her teeth hard and stomped upstairs in her high heels.

Yolanda watched her back before turning her cold gaze to Melody. “I underestimated you. Your skills are more impressive than I thought.”

Melody, feeling completely bewildered, was full of questions. I haven’t done anything, have 17”

She had no idea why Ulric was playing this trick by sending her gifts. However, she didn’t feel the need to explain herself to Yolanda.

No matter what she said, she and Yolanda, along with Mabel, were destined to be mortal enemies across two lifetimes. This fact wouldn’t change just because she tried to explain.

Thinking this, Melody dropped all pretense and replied with a half–smile, “Then you can look forward to seeing what other abilities I have.” With that, she turned to leave, ignoring Yolanda’s orders to stop.

But she hadn’t taken a few steps before she heard a familiar yet unfamiliar voice. “Yolanda, who are you angry with?”

Melody’s footsteps halted instantly. “That voice is…

It was Russell Fox, her father.

She turned stiffly to see Yolanda, who immediately transformed into a pitiful, tearful woman leaning against Russell’s chest, crying, “I can’t manage this household anymore. You should ask Mom to take over.”

Despite being in her forties, Yolanda was well–maintained and knew how to present herself.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, making her look incredibly pitiful. Such a fragile image would make anyone, especially a young man, fall for her.

Russell, not noticing Melody, was fully focused on his delicate wife. “What are you saying? Mom is old now, of course, you should manage this house. You’ve always managed well. What happened suddenly? Did a servant upset you? Just fire them; there’s no need for you to get upset.”

Upon hearing this, Melody felt a twitch in her eyelid and she sensed an ominous feeling. Sure enough, the next moment, Yolanda pointed at her and said, “it’s not the servants, it’s her…”

Russell finally noticed Melody and looked at her. When he saw her face covered with unsightly red spots and acne, his eyes widened in shock. “She is…?”

“She is your daughter with Wilona, Melody,” said Yolanda.

10

13

20:01 Thu Jul

Chapter 39

Wilona was Melody’s mother’s name, Wilona Fox, once the most beautiful woman in Halcyon and a famous actress known nationwide. She ultimately met a tragic end, dying from severe hemorrhaging in the delivery room.

I

Upon hearing Yolanda identify the hideous girl before him as his daughter with his former wife, Russell’s eyes widened even more, filled with

disbelief

Yolanda, noticing Russell’s shock, suppressed a smirk and continued in a pitiful tone, “She must have been in the countryside for too long and doesn’t know how to behave properly. When the Swanson family sent gifts earlier, she deliberately upset Mabel and even spoke rudely to me. Oh Russell, I really don’t know what to do anymore.”

As she spoke, her thick eyelashes trembled, and a single tear rolled down her cheek at just the right moment.

Such a display of delicate vulnerability would convince anyone that Melody was an ill–mannered, uncultured, and arrogant troublemaker.

Melody watched Yolanda’s performance and applauded her for her acting skills in her heart.

Indeed, Yolanda’s performance was so convincing it was a pity she wasn’t a professional actress.

L

As expected, Russell frowned in displeasure at Melody. “I know I’ve wronged you by keeping you in the countryside all these years, but why are you treating your sister and mother like this? Don’t you think you’re being too much? If this happens again, you’ll be sent back to the

countryside and never allowed to return.”

Melody’s hands trembled as she clenched her fists.

On one side was his beautiful second wife, and on the other was the unattractive daughter he barely knew. It would be surprising if Russell

chose to stand by her side.

But feelings were real, and Russell was Melody’s biological father, For Melody, hearing her father scold her so harshly based on her

stepmother’s words hurt deeply.

In her previous life, no matter how well she performed, Russell had never been close to her.

Instead, he would always warn her to behave or be sent back to the countryside for any minor mistake.

“Back to the countryside…” She had heard this threat countless times, Hearing it again now chilled her to the bone, making her shiver.

Her last bit of affection for Russell vanished with his threat to lend her back to the countryside.

She no longer desired paternal love. Her mother’s death was partly due to Russell’s negligence. From today onward, she wouldn’t spare him

either.

She took a deep breath, her hatred spreading through her body like a cold wind.

“Yes, I understand,” Melody said slowly. “Today’s incident was my fault. It won’t happen again. I hope you can forgive me.”

She spoke humbly and respectfully, bowing slightly, appearing like a pitiable girl.

Sometimes, saying less and acting well was more effective.

Since Yolanda was such a good actress, Melody decided to compete with her in her game.

Russell, seeing Melody’s behavior, was momentarily taken aback. He reflexively wondered if he had been too harsh. “She’s just a child abandoned in the countryside for over a decade. She just returned but I told her to leave again. No matter her mistake, as her father, I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly!

SEND GIFT

1 20:01 Thu, 4 Jul

Chapter 39

13%0

Sighing, he said, “Alright, as long as you know you’re wrong. I understand it’s hard to adjust to being back home, but don’t upset your mother again. She has it tough.”

“Yes,” Melody responded, but a mocking smile formed on her lips. “Yolanda has it tough? Indeed, no one has it tougher than herl She not only stole her best friend’s husband while her best friend was pregnant but also caused her death in the delivery room. She really went through a lot.

0