Ethan Sutton, flustered and enraged, snapped, "Melody Summers, if you’ve returned to the Lancaster Family, then I’m the one who should be engaged to you! Did the Lancasters ask for the Suttons’ opinion before sending you over to cozy up to other men!?"

Sophie Thorne had heard enough. She said coldly, "What nonsense are you spouting? She just told you she doesn’t know you. Are you deaf? Besides, what’s all this about the Suttons and the Lancasters? Both your families are about to go bankrupt, so stop trying to desperately cling to connections!"

At her words, Ethan Sutton was so angry his hand trembled, nearly spilling his wine. But he didn’t dare offend the Thorne Family, so he could only swallow his anger and say, "The Suttons and the Lancasters have always had a marriage agreement. I know you mean well, Miss Thorne, but should you really be sticking your neck out for some strange woman you just met at a party?"

Melody Summers gently held back Sophie Thorne, who was about to erupt, and turned to Ethan Sutton. "First, I don’t know you. Second, I have nothing to do with the Lancaster Family. Don’t drag me into this mess of yours."

Ethan Sutton snorted. "You say you have nothing to do with the Lancasters? Then explain this: if the Lancasters didn’t send you, how did you get in here? As I recall, your adoptive parents are dirt-poor beggars, aren’t they? If you hadn’t returned to the Lancaster Family, what right would you have to be at a banquet like this?"

Hearing Ethan Sutton attack her family, Melody Summers’s calm demeanor vanished. She sneered, "Ethan Sutton, are you incapable of understanding plain language? You’re sloppy seconds, is that it? Nobody wants you, so now you’re here throwing yourself at anyone who’ll listen?"

The phrase "sloppy seconds" was like a knife, twisting deep in Ethan Sutton’s heart.

He was suddenly consumed by regret for impulsively getting engaged to Sylvia Lancaster.

Seeing Ethan Sutton’s face flush crimson, Melody Summers twisted the knife. "Ethan Sutton, you threw yourself at Zara Walsh, and she rejected you. Now you’re trying it on with me? If you love throwing yourself at people so much, why don’t you just go sell yourself on the street?"

Ethan Sutton stared at Melody Summers in disbelief, then said furiously, "Melody Summers, how dare you speak to me like that! Believe it or not, I could crush you with a single finger."

Ethan Sutton was seething. ’Even if the Sutton Family is on the verge of collapse, crushing a country girl like Melody Summers would be child’s play. How dare she talk to him like that?!’

Melody Summers just smiled nonchalantly and continued her taunts. "What’s wrong? Did I strike a nerve, and now you’re lashing out? Or is it that you’ve already tried selling yourself, couldn’t find any takers, and now you’re getting desperate?"

The veins on Ethan Sutton’s forehead bulged. He stopped talking, instead clenching his fists and staring at Melody Summers in silence, a storm brewing in his eyes.

Melody Summers pushed Sophie Thorne behind her, her hand gripping a taser, her thumb resting on the switch.

Melody glanced at Ethan Sutton’s open collar and hesitated. ’That spot is too close to his heart and throat. If I tase him there, could it kill him? This is the full moon banquet for Zane Simmons’s child. If Ethan Sutton dies here, wouldn’t that be a terrible omen for the baby...’

Just then, one of the event managers walked over, stepping between them to block Ethan Sutton. "Good evening, Mr. Sutton," he said. "President Simmons has just given instructions. If you cause a scene here, we’ll have to ask you to leave."

Zane Simmons looked down on Ethan Sutton, but since Ethan had come with his father, an elder, Zane couldn’t lash out directly in front of Mr. Sutton.

However, Zane Simmons was aware of the whole mess between the Sutton and Lancaster families. Worried that Ethan Sutton might harass Melody Summers, he had told the manager to keep an eye on him and throw him out immediately if he started anything.

Ethan Sutton looked at the manager, confused. "What does President Simmons mean by this?"

Before the manager could reply, Mr. Sutton, having heard the commotion, walked over. He froze for a second when he saw Melody Summers, but he said nothing about it. Instead, he smiled at the manager. "It’s all a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. The kids were just having a little squabble."

The manager’s face was a mask of professional politeness. He addressed Ethan Sutton directly. "Mr. Sutton, if you please. Otherwise, I’ll have to call security. Please cooperate and don’t make this ugly for everyone."

Mr. Sutton’s face was grim, but he did his best to maintain a shred of dignity. He said to the manager, "Since our gift has been delivered, we’ll take our leave."

With that, he shot a glare at Ethan Sutton. "Let’s go! Stop embarrassing us here!"

Ethan Sutton glanced at his father’s expression and didn’t dare to say a word. Head bowed, he set down his wine glass and followed Mr. Sutton out.

Sophie Thorne watched them leave, shaking her head. "The Suttons are really a piece of work. No wonder they got mixed up with the Lancasters."

Once the Suttons were gone, the manager’s smile became genuine. He turned to Sophie Thorne and Melody Summers. "I hope that little incident hasn’t spoiled the evening for you two."

Melody Summers shook her head and thanked him. "Thank you for handling that."

After the manager left, Sophie Thorne said thoughtfully, "Judging by Ethan Sutton’s expression, I think he actually has his sights set on you now. It’s unbelievable. You probably don’t know, but for the longest time, he played the part of the devoted lover in our circle, telling everyone that it didn’t matter who the real or fake heiress was—he would only ever acknowledge Sylvia Lancaster."

Melody Summers laughed. ’That’s certainly something Ethan Sutton has done in both of my lives,’ she thought. ’The difference is, in my last life, Ethan avoided me like the plague. He never would have approached me so brazenly like he did today.’

Melody Summers asked Sophie Thorne tentatively, "I heard Ethan Sutton was pursuing Zara Walsh. I wonder what’s going to happen with his engagement to Sylvia Lancaster."

Sophie Thorne paused, surprised. "Zara Walsh? She would never give the time of day to Ethan Sutton in his current state. You don’t know this, but the Walsh girls are famous for their high standards. They would never stoop to dating someone as a charity project."

Melody Summers shrugged. ’Well then, here’s hoping Ethan Sutton and Sylvia Lancaster are stuck with each other forever.’

*

Melody Summers had a few more glasses of the fruit wine and started to feel a flush creep into her cheeks.

Sophie Thorne saw Melody’s flushed cheeks and was amused by how low her tolerance was. She pulled her out of the banquet hall to find a quiet corner for some fresh air.

They had just rounded a corner when they heard two people whispering nearby.

Melody Summers and Sophie Thorne exchanged a look. It wasn’t that they intended to eavesdrop, but the voices were just too familiar.

Melody pulled Sophie along as they crept closer, where they saw two figures entwined in front of a floor-to-ceiling window—

It was Sylvia Lancaster and Flynn Adler!

’So they’ve already gotten together,’ Melody thought. ’Things are moving much faster than in my last life.’

The Lancaster Family hadn’t been invited to the banquet, but Raymond Hayes had. He brought Clara Hayes, who in turn brought Sylvia Lancaster.

When Flynn Adler saw Sylvia Lancaster, he recalled their recent passionate encounters. Feeling a stir of desire, he had secretly asked her to meet him for a private moment.

Sylvia Lancaster leaned against Flynn Adler’s chest, her voice laced with worry. "Darling, I think I’m pregnant." Her period was over a week late; she was almost certain of it.

The hand Flynn Adler was using to stroke her stilled. He looked at her suspiciously. "Pregnant? Whose is it?"

Sylvia slapped him playfully, annoyed. "Yours, of course!"

’In truth, Sylvia couldn’t be entirely sure. The timing was too close. But she felt it was most likely Flynn’s!’

Flynn Adler chuckled, his tone teasing. "Then you should have it. See this full moon banquet? Pretty impressive, right? When the time comes, I’ll throw one just like it for you."

Sylvia’s body went stiff. Everyone knew this banquet was for an illegitimate child of the Simmons family, one whose mother hadn’t even been allowed to show her face.

Sylvia understood the implication in his words: Flynn Adler had no intention of marrying her.

Her face went deathly pale, and tears welled in her eyes. She leaned against him delicately, her voice choked with sobs. "Don’t say things like that. My parents would kill me if they found out. If anyone else knew, I’d be ruined."

Seeing her like this, Flynn Adler felt a flicker of pity, but that was all.

Flynn Adler was a man who only cared about benefits. Making things official was out of the question. Even if he didn’t marry Clara Hayes, he had plenty of other options. The Lancaster Family, on the brink of being penniless, held no appeal for him.

If Sylvia weren’t so gentle and lovely, so exactly his type, he wouldn’t even be bothering with her now.

Flynn could only lay out the situation for her. "You know my father has been trying to set me up with Clara Hayes. He has the final say in my marriage, and he would never approve of us. Even if you have the baby, you’ll have to keep it a secret."

Sylvia sobbed quietly. "Are you telling me to get an abortion? Darling, this is the fruit of our love. Could you really bear to lose it?"

Flynn Adler almost laughed. ’Love?’ he thought. ’This was always just a transaction, each of us getting what we wanted. What love is there to speak of?’ He’d given her millions over the past few months; by any measure, he had been generous.

Flynn was silent for a moment before saying, "How about this: first, you find a way to get back into the Sutton family’s good graces. Give the child a legitimate name for now, and I’ll figure out the rest."

Sylvia was shocked. "That’s... that’s too risky! Ethan Sutton’s parents aren’t stupid. I’m afraid they’ll find out..."

Flynn pinched her cheek. "Well, that’s where your skills come in, babe. If you want to keep this child, it’s the best option you have right now. I’ll make sure to send you money every month, so you don’t have to worry about that."

Sylvia was silent for a long time before finally giving a soft "mhm."

In the corner, having just heard all that juicy gossip, Melody Summers and Sophie Thorne stood frozen, staring at each other in disbelief.

Melody was especially stunned. ’I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve thought ’the lives of the rich are a total mess’ this year alone,’ she reflected.

Seeing the two by the window begin to kiss passionately, Melody and Sophie both shuddered and quietly slipped away.