Holly Rhodes was stunned. She immediately shook her head in denial. "How is that possible! They... they grew up together! What on earth are you talking about?!"

Besides, as far as Holly knew, Simon Lancaster’s sister was already married, and she was pregnant now. ’How could Simon have improper feelings for his own sister?’

But Sophie Thorne said seriously, "You can’t hide the look in your eyes when you love someone. It shows in the little details of your daily interactions. If you get the chance, you should try to observe them."

Seeing Holly’s incredulous expression, Sophie sighed and continued, "Holly, in a relationship or a marriage, it’s easy for a person with impure intentions to completely devour someone else. You must not give your heart to someone who isn’t worthy of it."

Melody Summers nodded in agreement. "Whether you believe us is up to you, Ms. Rhodes. I just want to remind you that the Lancasters are all extremely selfish, especially Simon Lancaster. You may help him achieve his ambitions today, but he might not treat you well tomorrow. Given his personality, if he really manages to make a comeback... I’m afraid the first people he’ll want to deal with are you and your father."

Holly just stared at them blankly, not knowing how to respond.

Her words struck Holly like a bolt from the blue—

’Simon Lancaster and his own sister?’

’How is that possible?!’

’But seeing how serious Sophie and Melody looked, it didn’t seem like they were lying...’

Holly’s thoughts were a tangled mess, and she didn’t know what to say. She could only nod hastily and stand up to take her leave.

「 」

After Holly left, Melody was about to leave as well, but Sophie Thorne pulled her back and ordered a lot of tea snacks.

Sophie told Melody that this tea restaurant in the Oceanus Hotel was very famous. It was normally only open to internal VIPs, and before the apocalypse, the waiting list for a reservation was two months long. Since they were here today, it would be a pity for Melody not to try it.

Hearing this, Melody realized she was a bit hungry herself. It was afternoon tea time, so she nodded.

Before long, plates of exquisite tea snacks were brought to their table. Melody couldn’t wait to take a bite and was amazed by the flavor.

Even during the apocalypse, when the quality of ingredients was worse than usual, these snacks were still incredibly delicious.

Melody sighed to herself. ’As expected of a tea restaurant in a five-star hotel. The rich really live comfortably...’

After they finished their snacks, Melody got up and went to the restroom.

As she was returning to the restaurant from the restroom, she passed by the elevators, and a door happened to open.

Melody subconsciously glanced inside the elevator, then she froze—

Inside stood a pot-bellied man and a slender young woman. The man’s hand was resting on the woman’s shoulder, while she was looking up at him, smiling and saying something.

Melody didn’t recognize the man, but the slender young woman looked a lot like Adam Lawson and Noelle Quillan’s daughter—Joelle Lawson!

While Melody was still dazed, the elevator doors had already closed and started to descend.

Melody thought for a moment and decided to go after them for a closer look.

The other elevators were all going up. Melody figured that since they were on the third floor, taking the stairs would be faster than waiting for another elevator.

But as soon as she turned, she bumped right into someone walking toward her!

Melody quickly apologized, "I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?"

When she got a clear look at the person’s face, Melody froze.

It was Clara Hayes!

Clara was rubbing her forehead where Melody had bumped it, looking up and ready to lash out.

But when she saw that the person who had run into her was Melody, her annoyed expression was replaced by surprise—

’Clara knew that the prices at her family’s hotel were extremely high after the apocalypse. Why would a pauper like Melody be here?’

Clara glared at Melody, displeased. "Melody Summers, what are you doing here? The prices are very high. Where did you get the money?"

Melody gave Clara a complicated look. ’It’s a shame there are cameras everywhere around here...’

She ignored Clara and walked straight toward the stairwell.

Unexpectedly, Clara quickly stepped in front of Melody, asking angrily, "I’m talking to you, didn’t you hear me, you bitch?! I asked you why you’re here! How can you afford this place? Did you ask the Lancaster Family for money?"

Melody said impatiently, "None of your business. Get out of my way!"

’Melody had never understood Clara’s thought process, not in two lifetimes. She clearly had no grudge against Clara, yet Clara was insistent on ’standing up’ for Sylvia Lancaster, constantly looking for trouble and playing the part of a bully. It was completely baffling.’

’Melody even suspected that Clara had a secret crush on Sylvia.’

Seeing Melody try to slip past her, Clara became furious. She grabbed Melody’s wrist. "Melody Summers, you’re not allowed to spend the Lancasters’ money! It doesn’t belong to you! ...It’s all your fault! You’re the one who hurt Sylvia Lancaster. You should never have appeared before the Lancasters!"

Being grabbed like that, Melody was so angry she laughed. She turned her head, stared at Clara, and sneered, "Clara Hayes, do you like Sylvia Lancaster that much? You’re so eager to stand up for her, so eager to bully others for her. What, did she save your life or something?"

Clara snorted and said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Let me tell you, Sylvia and I grew up together. She’s like a real sister to me! You took advantage of her good temper to deliberately bully her, so of course I have to stand up for her!"

Clara glared at Melody and said stubbornly, "The Lancasters only acknowledge Sylvia! What right do you have to steal her parents and brother from her? You’re a homewrecker! You’re a thief who steals other people’s families!"

Melody almost laughed out of sheer anger. ’Who’s the real thief here? Who stole whose family?’

Clara was clearly insane. Melody didn’t want to get tangled up with her any longer. She wrenched her hand free from Clara’s grip and shoved her hard against the wall.

Then, under Clara’s shocked and furious gaze, Melody leaned in close to her ear and said coldly, "Clara Hayes, don’t think I don’t know that you’re the one who indirectly caused your brother Hugh Hayes’s death. If you ever dare to cause trouble for me again, I’ll make sure your entire family finds out that you had something to do with your brother’s death!"

Those words struck Clara like a thunderbolt, and her mind went completely blank.

After saying her piece, Melody paid her no more mind and hurried down the stairs.

Clara leaned against the wall, staring blankly at Melody’s departing back, motionless as a statue.

’Countless questions popped into her head. How did Melody know about this?’

’Could it be that Melody actually showed up for the meeting that day?’

’But then Clara dismissed the thought. Hector Hayes and Raymond Hayes had checked all the surveillance footage in that area. If Melody had appeared on camera, Hector would have torn the city apart to find her.’

’Since Melody didn’t show up, who told her? Was it Nina Walsh? Or Wendy Sheffield?’

’Only the four of them—herself, Sylvia Lancaster, Nina Walsh, and Wendy Sheffield—had been there. Who betrayed her?’

’If Melody told her father, and he found out that Hugh had gone to that alley with no cameras because of her, giving their enemy an opening... Clara didn’t even dare to imagine the consequences!’

It was a long time before Clara finally came to her senses. Her arms and legs felt weak.

After managing to compose herself, Clara turned and staggered away.

「 」

Melody ran downstairs, searched the first and second floors, and even went to the underground garage, but she couldn’t find the person who looked so much like Joelle Lawson.

Melody wondered to herself: ’Did I see wrong?’

’This hotel is extremely expensive; it’s not something Joelle Lawson should be able to afford.’

’Besides, although the young woman looked a bit like Joelle, she wasn’t as thin and frail. Her clothes and overall appearance were far more glamorous.’

’Could it be... that they just look alike?’

Lost in thought, Melody silently walked back up to the third floor.

Clara was no longer where she had been before.

Melody thought, ’Hugh Hayes got into trouble trying to teach me a lesson for Clara. But Hugh has been missing for so long, and the Hayes Family has never come looking for me. That can only mean Clara doesn’t dare let her family know the truth about what happened.’

’On the surface, Clara and Hugh seemed to have a deep sibling bond, but when Hugh got into trouble, Clara’s first thought wasn’t for her brother’s safety, but whether her family would take their anger out on her...’ Melody snorted coldly to herself and turned back toward the tea restaurant.

「 」

Back in the tea restaurant, Sophie Thorne was getting anxious. She was worried something had happened to Melody and was just about to go look for her.

When she saw Melody return, she breathed a sigh of relief. "You’re finally back! What took you so long?"

Melody glanced at the waiters nearby, shook her head at Sophie, and gestured that they would talk about it later.

Then Melody packed up some of the snacks to go, and she and Sophie left the Oceanus Hotel.