Melody Summers had just knocked on the door to room 1108 when it quickly opened.

Before Melody could get a clear look at the person who opened the door, she felt a hand grab her arm and yank her inside—

Melody was thrown forward, nearly sprawling onto the floor. She stumbled for several steps before catching her balance.

The luxurious suite was dimly lit, illuminated by a single wall sconce. The sheets on the large bed were in disarray, looking as if a tryst had just taken place. A nauseatingly intimate scent lingered in the air.

Melody couldn’t help but furrow her brow and hold her breath.

Flynn Adler was lounging on the sofa, his shirt half-open. When he saw Melody enter, a smirk played on his lips. "Miss Summers, long time no see."

Melody lifted her head and saw a bald man standing behind Flynn Adler, his head bowed in a subservient manner.

The man who had grabbed her arm and pulled her in walked over as well. He had dyed-blond hair and, like the bald man, stood respectfully behind Flynn Adler with his head lowered.

’Three in the room, two in the hallway,’ Melody calculated silently. ’That makes five people on this floor so far.’

When Flynn Adler saw Melody’s calm expression, so different from the panicked look he’d expected, his curiosity was piqued. He found himself even more interested in her.

Melody simply asked calmly, "What are you doing here? Where’s Nina Walsh?"

But Flynn Adler merely narrowed his eyes, his gaze raking over Melody from head to toe without answering her.

’In his eyes, Melody was a tender lamb, ready to be devoured. As for what this little lamb was saying... who cared? Does anyone pay attention to the bleating of a sheep on its way to the slaughter?’

Flynn Adler’s lecherous gaze lingered on Melody’s face and body. "As expected of the woman Zane Simmons once had his eye on," he mused. "Truly a rare prize. In that case, I’ll be the one to have the first taste today."

With that, a vulgar and suggestive smile spread across Flynn Adler’s face.

’Normally, Flynn Adler wouldn’t touch the newcomers. They weren’t properly broken in yet. It was too dangerous if they decided to fight back in the middle of everything.’

’But Melody’s face was a rare find,’ Flynn thought. ’He hadn’t been able to forget her since he first saw her at the auction at The Nimbus Hotel.’

’At the time, he’d even wondered if Ethan Sutton had water on the brain, passing up a beauty like her for Sylvia Lancaster.’

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Flynn Adler continued to stare at Melody with a crude, slimy gaze.

Melody didn’t fly into a rage out of humiliation, as Flynn Adler had expected. Nor did she break down, crying and begging for mercy.

She simply looked at Flynn Adler, let out a cold laugh, and taunted, "Well, well. It sounds like you have a crush on Zane Simmons. Why don’t you just climb into his bed, then? He can comfort your lonely little heart, and you can stop going into heat all over the place."

At her words, the vulgar, wicked smile on Flynn Adler’s face instantly froze—

’This bitch is asking to die!’

Flynn Adler glared at Melody in disbelief. This same scene had played out in room 1108 many times before. Most women would be on their knees by now, crying and begging him to spare them. Never had a woman dared to speak to him like this in this situation!

Hearing her words, the bald man and Blondie behind Flynn Adler couldn’t help but look up, staring at Melody in astonishment—

’This was the first time they’d ever encountered a woman with so much nerve.’

When the bald man got a clear look at Melody’s face, he couldn’t stop himself from crying out, "—It’s you!"

Melody looked quizzically at the bald man behind Flynn Adler. He did seem familiar, but she couldn’t quite place him...

Hearing this, Flynn Adler turned his head. "What is it, Hale? You know this bitch, too?"

’Hale?’

’Melody silently sifted through everyone she knew with the surname Hale. The face of the bald man before her slowly merged with a face from her memory, and she spoke in surprise. ’Austin Hale!?’

The bald man was indeed Austin Hale, Joanne White’s ex-boyfriend.

He had joined the Adler Group after graduating from a prestigious university. With his good education, tall and handsome looks, and solid work performance, he quickly caught Flynn Adler’s eye and was promoted.

Flynn Adler intended to groom him to be his right-hand man and had given him a junior management position at the Adler Group.

Later, when the Adler Group came under government investigation and had to conduct massive layoffs, Flynn Adler arranged a nominal position for Austin Hale at The Crestview Hotel, keeping him by his side.

The hotel was full of thugs and enforcers, so to avoid being mocked as a pretty boy, Austin Hale had shaved his head and started wearing sunglasses. At least he looked more intimidating than he did with his previous scholarly demeanor.

Meeting Flynn Adler’s questioning gaze, Austin Hale lowered his head and answered respectfully, "Boss, she... she’s my ex-girlfriend."

Flynn Adler was surprised, but then he reconsidered. Austin Hale had also graduated from a prestigious university and was about the same age as Melody. It wasn’t so strange that they might have dated...

So Flynn Adler teased him with a mocking tone, "Well done, Hale. You even managed to bag this one..."

Austin Hale knew Flynn Adler was interested in Melody, so he quickly distanced himself. "Boss, don’t get the wrong idea! We broke up a long time ago. We only dated for a few days, and the most we ever did was hold hands. Nothing else happened!"

Flynn Adler snorted, feeling a prickle of annoyance.

’He planned on taking care of business with Melody in this room, and having her ex-boyfriend here would just be awkward. He didn’t have those kinds of kinks.’

’She was just a slip of a girl, all slender arms and legs. No matter how hard she fought, he could hold her down. Having Blondie here to help would be more than enough.’

So he said to Austin Hale impatiently, "Alright, I don’t need you here for now. Yates can stay. You can go. Take that file to my dad and come back tomorrow."

Austin Hale paused for a second, then quickly turned and headed for the door.

As he brushed past Melody, he lifted his head and shot her a gloating look.

’It served Melody right!’ Austin Hale thought. ’She shouldn’t have rejected me when I tried to get back together with her. This is what she deserves!’

Recalling Melody’s past coldness, Austin Hale suddenly felt a thrill of vengeance.

’Once Flynn Adler is done with her,’ he thought, ’won’t Melody fall into my hands? And then...’

Melody looked at Austin Hale’s face and felt a sudden urge to vomit.

When she had dated Austin Hale, he’d been a clean-cut, handsome guy—the heartthrob of his department at a top university.

She couldn’t believe that in just a year, he’d devolved into this sleazy, greasy creature...

Watching Austin Hale open the door to leave, Melody felt a pang of regret. ’To just let him get away like this...’

Just as Austin Hale was about to shut the door, a white shadow flashed into the room and vanished in an instant.

But Melody felt it. Albus was back.

Flynn Adler had clearly lost his patience. His eyes darkened as he said to Melody, "Don’t say I’m not a gentleman. The sofa or the bed—you choose. I’ll do whatever you want."

Melody scoffed. ’This guy really lets his little head do all the thinking,’ she thought.

Instead of answering, she retorted, "Flynn Adler, where’s Nina Walsh? Where are you keeping her?"

Flynn Adler didn’t reply, but Albus’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind:

[Host, Nina Walsh and the girl from the elevator are both in the second-level basement of this hotel.]

Melody now understood, but she kept her expression neutral as she looked at Flynn Adler.

Flynn Adler’s vulgar gaze was still roaming over Melody’s body. He chuckled. "Why worry about her? At a time like this, you should be more worried about yourself."

"If you won’t choose, then I’ll choose for you. How about the carpet?"