Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Let Them Eat Cake

The documentary on the big screen concluded with a showcase of honors bestowed upon Paige Walsh’s research institute by national departments, the provincial government, and the Anworth City Government.

Once launched, the new miracle drug was rapidly distributed nationwide. It was like a ray of light, piercing through layers of darkness and giving hope to those struggling to survive the natural disasters.

Then, amidst a round of applause, Paige Walsh, dressed in a formal gown, walked onto the stage and began her speech.

Paige Walsh, now in her forties, was in high spirits. Her demeanor was poised and her speech was concise and competent, making it clear that her roles as a wife and mother had not hindered her from pursuing her own ambitions.

She thanked all the members of her research institute, as well as the experts from government departments who provided technical support and the staff who acted as liaisons.

To Melody Summers’ surprise, although Paige Walsh’s speech was brief, she dedicated the largest portion of it to thanking her specifically—

"The development of this miracle drug would not have been possible without the help of the owner of a place called the Arcadia Shop. When our project hit a bottleneck, she was the one who contributed the core ingredient..."

"You could say that without her, this miracle drug would never have been successfully brought into the world..."

"Unfortunately, she is truly indifferent to fame and fortune. Despite our repeated attempts to contact her and have her claim the honor that is rightfully hers, she has never provided us with her personal information..."

"Not only that, she didn’t even accept a single cent in payment, supporting our research completely free of charge..."

"She is the very definition of selfless! We will hold this honor for her indefinitely, and wait for the day she comes to claim it..."

As Melody Summers listened, she felt the back of her ears grow warm, and she touched her nose in embarrassment.

’Paige Walsh is exaggerating,’ she thought. The drug’s development was thanks to the hard work of the research institute members and government staff. All she did was make some loquat paste!

Paige Walsh’s praise was just too much. Melody Summers raised a hand to rub her warm cheeks.

Around the banquet hall, many people began to murmur amongst themselves, discussing the owner of this Arcadia shop and speculating about who she might be. Their hushed conversations were filled with admiration and praise.

After all, in this day and age, anyone so selfless as to contribute a core ingredient for free and then seek no credit for it could truly be called a saint.

Hearing their discussions, Melody Summers couldn’t stop the corners of her lips from curling up. She nearly lost herself in all the praise.

Soon, Paige Walsh concluded her speech, and the room once again erupted in thunderous applause. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The lights in the banquet hall then came up, and as a melodious song began to play, the banquet officially commenced.

Zara Walsh turned to say something to Zane Simmons, but he beat her to it, rising to his feet. He turned to Joanne White and said, "Come on. Let’s go toast my mom."

Looking both surprised and flattered, Joanne White nodded, picked up her wine glass, and left with her arm linked through Zane Simmons’s.

Seeing this, Zara Walsh started to get up and follow, but Kylie Walsh, who was beside her, stopped her.

Kylie Walsh gave a slight shake of her head, signaling for her to calm down and not be rash.

Zara Walsh had no choice but to sit back down. She petulantly picked up her wine glass and drained it in one go.

Soon, the hotel staff came over. Well-trained, they cleared away the dessert plates and then began bringing out one exquisite dish after another.

Melody Summers had stayed at The Nimbus Hotel before, back when the wildfire broke out on the mountain behind The Metropolis Residences, so she knew the chefs in the buffet restaurant were incredibly skilled.

The head chef for this banquet was even more exceptional. The exquisite dishes gave off an enticing aroma, and every single one looked mouth-watering.

Nina Summers swallowed hard. She was already a little hungry, and the moment she saw the food being served, she picked up her chopsticks.

Zoe Kane had been deliberately mistreating her lately, so she often skipped meals. Nina barely got a few bites of the complimentary vegetables Caleb Summers brought home from his work unit; she mostly survived on rice mixed with a few seasonings.

Faced with a table laden with food, Nina Summers eagerly snatched up a shrimp with her chopsticks. Without even taking the time to peel it, she stuffed it into her mouth, chewed twice, and hastily swallowed before grabbing a piece of chicken and doing the same.

Lucy White was also busy stuffing food into her mouth. Although she lived with the Simmons family, their maids looked down on her. Joanne White and her mother didn’t pay her much mind either, so she could only eat the maids’ leftovers, just enough to fill her stomach.

’Now that she was faced with all this delicious food, how could she possibly hold back?’

Zara Walsh was already fuming and looking for an outlet. Seeing her chance, she sneered. "Girls from insignificant families really have no class. Have you two been starving for days? You’re eating like refugees and beggars off the street."

Yuri Walsh had been using the opportunity to discreetly observe which dishes Melody Summers seemed to prefer. When he heard Zara’s outburst, he frowned and chided her, "Sis! Don’t say things like that!"

At these words, Lucy White’s expression didn’t change. She kept her head down and continued eating, as if she hadn’t heard Zara’s taunt at all.

Nina Summers, however, flushed red. She was always sensitive, and after hearing Zara’s jibe, her chopsticks froze in mid-air. She could only retract her hand in embarrassment.

Melody Summers shot Zara Walsh a cold look and retorted, "They’re hungry, so they’re eating. Is there a problem?"

Zara Walsh sneered. "You girls from lowly families are so clueless. Don’t you even know basic dining etiquette? This is a five-star hotel, not some greasy spoon on your street corner! Look at the way you’re eating. I’m honestly afraid people will laugh at me just for being at the same table."

Hearing this, Yuri Walsh thought, ’This is bad.’

He glanced furtively at Melody Summers and saw a flicker of anger in her otherwise cold eyes. Anxiously, he said to Zara, "Sis! Stop talking like that!"

He then turned to Kylie Walsh with a pleading look, hoping his aunt would rein in Zara.

But Kylie Walsh merely picked up her wine glass with a leisurely air, took a delicate sip, and then addressed Melody Summers. "Young lady, one must observe proper dining etiquette in high-end establishments. My niece was only offering a kind reminder, to prevent uncultured young girls like yourselves from making a scene. You shouldn’t mistake her good intentions."

Melody Summers scoffed. "A high-end establishment? You may see this as some hallowed hall, but to me, it’s just a place to eat. It’s nothing special."

Zara’s face fell. Compared to Melody’s nonchalance, she was suddenly the one who looked provincial.

Furious, she slammed her hand on the table. "The way you eat, what’s the difference between you and the starving refugees outside? Refugees should stay where they belong. Don’t think a pretty face gives you a free pass into a circle where you don’t."

Zara had brought up refugees again and again, and Melody had finally had enough. She stared at Zara and asked, "Those refugees are poor souls struggling to survive the natural disasters. Don’t you think you sound absurd talking about them like that?"

Zara glared back at Melody. "*I’m* absurd? I didn’t create the refugees! What does it have to do with me if they can’t eat? I was born better than them, and I get to sit in a fancy hotel and eat while they starve. What’s so wrong with that?!"

Melody shook her head. She looked at Zara and replied earnestly, "Of course there’s nothing wrong with your noble birth. Queen Marie of Franland was born even nobler. She was gentle and kind—when she was sent to the guillotine, she even apologized for stepping on the executioner’s foot. She just liked cake. What wrong had she ever done?"

Zara’s eyes widened in fury. "You! How dare you curse me!"

Meeting Zara’s furious gaze, Melody calmly shook her head. "I’m just reminding you that in times like these, the last people someone like you should be provoking are the very refugees you look down on."

"You got rich off the ordinary people you despise, charging exorbitant medical fees during a natural disaster, and now you turn around and mock the refugees. Zara, the same water that carries the boat can also capsize it. Didn’t your precious noble family ever teach you something so simple?"

Kylie Walsh’s delicate brows furrowed at this. She placated Zara, who was about to fly into a rage, and said to Melody in a patronizing tone, "A girl with such a sharp tongue will never find a husband, you know."

Melody let out another scoff. "If being unmarriageable is your blessing, then I accept, because I truly have no desire to get married. But if getting married is the only goal in your life, then I wish you the best of luck."

With that, she raised her glass to Zara and Kylie. "Here’s to you both achieving your lifelong dream of getting married."