Sophie Thorne was still in a cocktail dress, a coat thrown over it, looking as if she had just left a party.

Seeing Sophie Thorne’s worried expression, Melody Summers was about to answer when a voice suddenly echoed in her mind—

[Peach Blossom Value +20. Current Peach Blossom Value: 62.]

Melody Summers froze, then her heart surged with elation—

’Another 20 Peach Blossom Value points!’

’My Peach Blossom Value is over the halfway mark now! Only 38 more points until I can unlock a new area!’

’What caused the increase this time? Was it because Kenneth Adler died?’

While Melody Summers was still dazed by the sudden increase in her Peach Blossom Value, Sophie Thorne spoke again, her voice urgent. "If I had known, I never would have gone to that party tonight. I can’t believe so much happened at the Residences in one evening. Is your family okay?"

By the time Sophie Thorne and her bodyguard drove back, the chaos in the Residences had just subsided.

The plaza in front of the commercial district was now a scene of utter chaos, a complete mess littered with shattered glass and all sorts of other debris.

Police officers and emergency responders were busy loading the injured into patrol cars. Amidst piercing sirens, a convoy of vehicles with flashing red and blue lights sped out of the Residences, disappearing into the night.

Seeing Sophie Thorne’s worried look, Melody Summers quickly reassured her, "My family is fine. Don’t worry."

Melody Summers then led Sophie Thorne into the living room, briefly recounting what the Summers family had gone through that night.

"Tonight was just cursed. Right when those terrorists were plowing a truck into the Residences, a few thugs broke into our house. They cut through the electric fence and smashed the glass on the second-floor terrace to get in!"

"Every single one of them had a gun, and they started a fire the moment they got in... Luckily, a police officer was visiting our house today. He took care of all the thugs, but unfortunately, he was injured in the process..."

As Melody Summers and Sophie Thorne entered the living room, Winnie Summers was cleaning bloodstains off the floor, while Miss Lowell and Grandma, their faces etched with worry, wiped soot from the scorched sofa.

Seeing the living room in such a state of disarray, Sophie Thorne gasped.

The once-cozy home was now burned beyond recognition. The pristine white walls were stained pitch-black with soot, the sofa and coffee table were ruined, and a pungent, burnt smell permeated the entire space.

Melody Summers gave a bitter smile. "They started a fire as soon as they got in... I’ll schedule a contractor tomorrow. The whole living room needs to be redone."

On top of the living room, the French doors on the second-floor terrace needed new glass, and the damaged electric fence had to be reinstalled. Thinking of all the trouble, Melody Summers sighed in frustration.

Sophie Thorne frowned, glancing around the room. Then she grabbed Melody Summers’s arm. "You can’t live here like this. All of you should stay at my place until the living room is renovated."

Melody Summers quickly declined. "That would be too much of an imposition. I’ve already found another place for us to stay, so don’t worry."

Her grandmother and the others nodded in agreement, also declining with some embarrassment. "There are too many of us. It would be too much of an inconvenience if we all stayed with you."

But Sophie Thorne insisted, "Don’t say no. I’m usually home all by myself; I’d be thrilled to have the company. Besides, if you’re staying at my place, you can pop over anytime to check on the renovations. It’ll save you the long trip back and forth and be much more convenient."

Melody Summers considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, then. We’ll take you up on your offer for a couple of days. Thank you, Sophie."

Melody Summers had originally planned to take her family to the two apartments she’d bought, but with the residential area having just been attacked and the possibility of terrorists still at large, it didn’t feel safe.

Sophie Thorne’s villa was reinforced and had its own security detail, so it would be significantly safer than an apartment building.

At this, her grandmother and the others also hurried to thank Sophie Thorne. The four of them quickly packed some toiletries and clothes and then went next door to Sophie’s house.

******

After a night of utter chaos, it was already the early hours of the morning by the time they had all settled in at Sophie Thorne’s house.

After eating the late meal the housekeeper brought them, everyone retired to their rooms to rest.

Melody Summers was staying in the room next to Sophie Thorne’s. The two bedrooms opened into a small sunroom, its terrace adorned with a wide variety of succulents of all shapes and sizes.

Albus hopped out of his cat bed, but just as his paw was about to bat at a succulent, Melody Summers stopped him.

Fresh from her shower, Melody Summers leaned against the terrace railing in her pajamas, stroking Albus’s head as she thought. ’Why did Kenneth Adler break into our house today? And... what was his connection to the other intruders? Could it really be a coincidence?’

Melody Summers figured that Kenneth Adler had most likely come after her because he’d discovered she was the one who reported The Crestview Hotel. He had come for revenge.

She frowned, a glint of murderous intent in her eyes. ’This has to be connected to Austin Hale!’

’I never should have let Austin Hale go that day! If I’d just dealt with him then, none of this would have happened. And now he’s still out there on the loose... a dangerous liability.’

At that thought, Melody Summers ran a hand through her hair in frustration. It was useless dwelling on it now. Suppressing her regret, she irritably pulled out her phone and started scrolling.

With everything that had happened at The Metropolis Residences tonight, the group chat should have been blowing up.

But for some reason, the chat, which usually had 99+ new messages, was now exceptionally quiet.

The last messages were from before the terrorists broke into the Residences.

Perhaps everyone was too scared; no one was posting in the group, and no one was talking about the terrorists.

Just then, Sophie Thorne, also fresh from a shower, came out of her bedroom into the sunroom. She was carrying two mugs. Handing one to Melody Summers, she said, "This is Calming Tea. Have some."

Melody Summers took the mug, smiling at Sophie Thorne. "Thanks."

Sophie Thorne sighed. She regretted going to the party that night. If she hadn’t taken most of the security detail with her, they could have helped when trouble started at Melody Summers’s house.

Thinking about the party she had just left, Sophie Thorne suddenly perked up. "Oh, by the way, you’ll never guess what happened at the banquet tonight."

Melody Summers, cradling her mug, took a small sip and gave her friend a questioning look.

Sophie Thorne’s voice was laced with gossip and excitement. She narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "At the banquet tonight, Hector Hayes made a huge announcement: the Hayes Family has officially recognized their long-lost second daughter, Sylvia Hayes—who is none other than Sylvia Lancaster!"

"And right after he finished his announcement, Clara Hayes burst in! She charged right at Sylvia Lancaster to try and hit her, but her older brother, Raymond Hayes, stopped her. Raymond shielded Sylvia and had his men drag Clara away!"