Reading the message from Sophie Thorne, Melody Summers was momentarily surprised. ’Simon Lancaster is actually dating another woman?’

In her past life, Simon Lancaster never had a girlfriend. He was like a loyal knight, always silently watching over Sylvia Lancaster from the shadows.

Even after Sylvia Lancaster got together with Flynn Adler, Simon Lancaster remained unrepentantly lovelorn.

’Looks like the Lancasters have fallen on truly hard times in this life, forcing even Simon to sell himself.’

Melody Summers couldn’t help but sneer. ’In my past life, the Lancasters used me as a pawn in a marriage alliance, and I was endlessly humiliated by Ethan Sutton. Now it’s Simon Lancaster’s turn to get a taste of it.’

Melody Summers thought for a moment before replying, "Yes, that’s him. You might not believe this, but he has inappropriate feelings for his own sister, Sylvia Lancaster. You should warn Ronan Rhodes’s cousin to be careful. Don’t let him fool her."

Melody Summers studied the photo again. In it, Simon Lancaster had his head slightly bowed with a sycophantic smile, but his eyes betrayed a barely concealed greed.

Melody Summers snorted. ’Compared to a brute like Silas Lancaster who only knows how to use a knife, the cunning Simon Lancaster is far more dangerous.’

In her past life, Silas Lancaster had always believed Sylvia Lancaster was the most innocent and kind-hearted person. He couldn’t see through her facade and was completely fooled, used by her as a pawn.

But Simon Lancaster was different. His feelings for Sylvia were requited. He knew about her schemes and her underhanded tactics, but he doted on her all the same.

Every time Sylvia Lancaster framed Melody Summers, it was Simon Lancaster who deleted the surveillance footage and cleaned up her messes.

Whenever Melody Summers retaliated against Sylvia, Simon Lancaster would instruct the household maids to secretly add food she was allergic to into her meals for a week straight.

Just then, a reply came from Sophie Thorne: "No way? That’s insane! From what I can tell, Ronan’s cousin really likes Simon Lancaster. He’s trying to secure a project manager position, and she’s pulling strings for him everywhere, introducing him to all her contacts."

Melody Summers frowned as she read the message. Simon Lancaster joining Rhodes Enterprises in this life was an unexpected development, and it was not a good one for her.

If Simon Lancaster really managed to stage a comeback by latching onto the Rhodes Family, she would likely face even greater danger.

She had shot Silas Lancaster in the thigh today; she didn’t believe for a second that the Lancasters would let the matter rest.

Melody’s mind was heavy with concern. After a long moment of deliberation, she opened her email. She wrote a message detailing how Simon Lancaster’s brother, Silas, had committed a knife assault that very day and sent it to the Rhodes Enterprises complaints inbox.

Melody remembered that after the disasters began, Rhodes Enterprises had implemented extremely high hiring standards. Their background checks, in particular, were as rigorous as government security screenings.

With Silas showing up to attack someone with a knife, even if it didn’t get Simon fired, it would at least cause him some major headaches.

Thinking of everything from her past life, Melody had no intention of giving the Lancaster Family any chance to get back on their feet.

Rather than letting Simon Lancaster have an easy death, she much preferred the thought of watching his entire family struggle in a bottomless abyss.

*

The Rhodes Family’s ancestral estate was situated halfway up a mountain, the entire manor spanning nearly 20,000 square meters. The members of the Rhodes family attending the New Year’s Eve party were all gathered in the front courtyard.

Roman Rhodes paid no mind to the festivities in the front courtyard, driving directly into the rear courtyard instead.

The rear courtyard was much quieter. Over the years, his sons and grandsons had all moved out for the sake of their careers, leaving only Mr. Rhodes and his staff of butlers and servants in the enormous villa.

When Butler Archer saw Roman arrive, he smiled and said, "You’re finally back. The master has been waiting in his study since this morning. He didn’t even eat lunch."

Roman Rhodes nodded to Butler Archer. Carrying a gift box, he headed straight for Mr. Rhodes’s study on the fourth floor.

The study door was open. Roman walked straight in without knocking, placed the gift box on the desk, and said to Mr. Rhodes, "Dad, Happy New Year."

Mr. Rhodes was nearly seventy, and though his hair was white, he remained hale and hearty, his eyes sharp and full of vigor.

The moment he saw Roman walk in, his temper flared.

Ronan Rhodes, who was sitting to one side, quickly stood up and greeted his uncle with a smile.

Ronan’s mother had passed away when he was young, and he’d been a troublemaker ever since. His father, Holden Rhodes, was good-natured and mild-mannered, so he was quite lenient with him.

Roman, however, was different. When Ronan got into trouble as a child, he had been disciplined by Roman more than a few times, so he was more afraid of this uncle than anyone.

Mr. Rhodes, however, slammed the small curio he was holding onto the desk, glaring at Roman as he snapped, "You brat! So you do know how to come back!"

Roman wasn’t the least bit intimidated by his father’s anger. He simply sat down in a chair and replied, "The weather’s been erratic this year, and the world is in chaos. We’re working overtime every day. I just came back today to check on you. I have to head back to work later, so I won’t be staying for dinner."

Hearing this, Mr. Rhodes’s eyes widened. "What? You’re not even going to stay for the reunion dinner with me?!"

Roman was also exasperated. He sighed and said, "You know how it is, Dad. The closer it is to the New Year, the busier we are. I really can’t get away. I’m just relieved to see you’re doing so well."

It took a great deal of effort for Mr. Rhodes to keep from shouting.

He shot Roman a glare, then, with a sullen expression, he took out a wooden gift box and placed it in front of him. "I bought this at an auction a few days ago," he said gruffly. "Take it."

A few days prior, Mr. Rhodes had someone spend two billion at an auction at the Nimbus Hotel to acquire two diamonds—one blue and one pink. Their color, size, and clarity were all exceptionally rare.

He had two brooches designed. The pink one was given to his eldest grandson Ronan’s wife, Sophie Thorne, as an early wedding present. The blue one, he had saved for his eldest son, Roman.

Roman picked up the sapphire brooch from the wooden box. Seeing it was a woman’s design, he frowned in confusion. "Dad, we’re in the middle of a major crisis. How do you have the spare cash to buy these useless rocks? I’m a grown man; I have no use for this. If you have this kind of money to spare, you should invest it in the company’s agricultural research. Resources are scarce everywhere right now."

Hearing this, Mr. Rhodes felt his anger shoot straight to his head. He glared at Roman and yelled, "What nonsense is that, you brat! I didn’t buy it for you! It’s for my future daughter-in-law!"

Mr. Rhodes took two deep breaths, then continued, "That girl from the Walsh family has been waiting for you all these years. She’s practically become an old maid waiting. If you think she’s a good match, give this brooch to her and settle things between you two!"

Roman finally understood. The blue diamond was just a pretext; his father was trying to push him into marriage again.

He sighed, tossing the blue diamond back into the box. "It’s been so many years," he replied wearily. "How have you still not given up on trying to set me up? I’ve told you, I don’t plan on getting married."

At this, Mr. Rhodes slammed his hand on the desk in a rage. "You’re over forty this year! Wait any longer and you’ll be fifty! Your own nephew is about to get married and have children, how long are you going to wait? You *will* get your marriage settled by next year! I think that girl from the Walsh family is wonderful. Marry her and give it a try."

Roman’s face hardened. "I told you, I’m not getting married, and I’m not going to ruin that girl’s life. You should stop thinking about it."

His words made Mr. Rhodes’s face flush crimson with rage. He slammed the table and shouted, "You—what kind of thing is that to say! On New Year’s Eve, no less! Are you determined to anger me to death?!" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Roman’s face was grim. He knew it was useless to argue, so he simply remained silent.

Mr. Rhodes was silent for a moment, letting his temper cool. He then asked in a low voice, "You’ve refused to marry all this time... Is it because you still resent me for your mother’s death?"