Chapter 268: Chapter 268: A World of Difference

Sylvia Lancaster was completely stunned by Elaine Hughes’ scolding.

As she watched Elaine Hughes’ retreating back, Sylvia Lancaster remained lost in a daze for a long time.

In Sylvia’s memory, Elaine Hughes had always doted on her.

Elaine Hughes would buy her all sorts of luxury jewelry, bid on famous paintings for her, personally teach her calligraphy and painting, and take her on trips...

Elaine Hughes had once been the perfect mother in Sylvia Lancaster’s eyes.

And yet now, Elaine Hughes’s eyes were filled with nothing but loathing when she looked at her.

The very thought made Sylvia Lancaster feel utterly wronged.

And for some reason, Sylvia Lancaster suddenly thought of Melody Summers from her past life...

Sylvia felt that her current treatment by the Lancaster Family was just like Melody Summers’ in her past life. No matter how hard she tried, she could never win the Lancasters’ approval...

’Is this some kind of karmic retribution?’

A storm of complicated emotions washed over Sylvia Lancaster.

She sat alone on her bed, stunned, for a long while before she silently stood up and went downstairs to the kitchen.

Opening the kitchen cabinet, she found it practically empty. Of the bag of rice Sylvia Lancaster had spent a fortune on, only a little remained at the bottom.

There were five mouths to feed in the Lancaster Family—and one of them belonged to Silas Lancaster, a teenage boy whose appetite was at its absolute peak. Their daily food consumption was enormous.

Nowadays, a pound of rice cost several thousand dollars. Every mouthful was as precious as gold.

’At this rate,’ Sylvia Lancaster thought, ’my savings won’t last much longer.’

She had previously suggested to Robert Lancaster that they sell the villa and use the money to buy an apartment in The Metropolis Residences.

But Robert Lancaster had adamantly refused.

He hadn’t just refused; he had flown into a rage, pointing a finger in Sylvia Lancaster’s face and shouting, "The only way I’m selling this villa is over my dead body!"

Sylvia Lancaster truly didn’t understand why Robert Lancaster was so obsessed with the villa.

’In her past life, when the floods came, didn’t Robert Lancaster pack up and flee in a hurry? She didn’t see him go down with the villa then!’

But she couldn’t just tell her family, ’When the floods hit next year, this house will be washed away and become worthless.’

’She had no way to explain how she could see the future.’

Sylvia Lancaster began to cook, her mind racing for a solution.

She used the last of the rice to make a pot of thin porridge, adding the last two carrots and two potatoes. Finally, she tossed in a few slices of processed sausage.

This was to be the entire meal for the Lancasters.

Sylvia Lancaster brought the porridge to the table and called the rest of the Lancasters to come eat.

Outside, the snow had started to fall again.

Watching the black snowflakes drift down outside the window, Sylvia Lancaster’s heart sank. ’Soon, I’ll have to climb back up on the roof to shovel snow again!’

’Damn this bloody sky!’

’It won’t even give me a moment to catch my breath!’

’I really don’t know how Melody Summers managed to get through this in my past life!’

’Climbing up to shovel snow again and again... Isn’t this just a death sentence?!’

Hearing that food was ready, the Lancasters emerged from their rooms.

Worried about the electricity bill, the Lancaster Family hadn’t used the central heating since the temperature plummeted. The large villa felt empty and was as cold as an icebox.

Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes were bundled in thick down jackets, while Silas Lancaster had simply draped a heavy quilt over himself.

The family was so cold their teeth were chattering. Upon seeing the steaming porridge on the table, they eagerly cupped the bowls in their hands to drink.

Before the cataclysm, the Lancasters wouldn’t have touched something like this. But now, they all slurped it down eagerly, as if this hodgepodge porridge were some kind of gourmet delicacy.

Seeing her family focused on the porridge, Sylvia Lancaster tentatively began, "Mom, Dad, Silas... the experts are saying the blizzards will continue for at least two or three more months. This villa is so big, and the heating is so expensive. Why don’t we move somewhere else?"

"If Dad doesn’t want to sell the villa, we don’t have to. We could rent a high-rise apartment and just stay there until the blizzards pass."

Hearing this, Robert Lancaster put down his bowl and glared at Sylvia. "Absolutely not! If we move out, who’s going to clear the snow? What if the roof collapses under the weight?!"

Elaine Hughes slammed her chopsticks on the table with a loud CLACK, pointing at Sylvia. "I see what this is about! You’re just lazy! You talk about moving, but you just don’t want to shovel the snow! You useless girl, you cut corners on cooking, and you try to get out of shoveling snow!"

With that, Elaine Hughes stood up, snatched the bowl from in front of Sylvia, and ordered, "Stop eating. Go out and find some fever medicine for your older brother! And be quick about it! The snow on the roof is waiting for you to clear!"

Staring at her hostile parents, Sylvia’s eyes welled up with tears again.

But Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes couldn’t be bothered to pay her any mind, completely ignoring her tear-filled eyes.

Silas, for his part, acted as if it had nothing to do with him; he had long since stopped wanting to acknowledge Sylvia as his sister. He shoveled down the rest of his porridge in a few quick bites and darted back to his room.

Sylvia could only swallow her grievances. She put on her down jacket and prepared to head out into the blizzard to ask a neighbor for fever medicine.

******

Meanwhile, dinner at the Summers’ residence was a lavish affair.

The method Crystal Lynch had taught them worked wonders. The Summers Family had sealed the kitchen door and windows completely with tape. Instead of using the range hood, they had two air purifiers running.

After a full meal was cooked, you could barely smell anything from outside.

Grandma and Miss Lowell bustled about, bringing food to the table. They had made six dishes in total today.

The glossy, red-braised pork belly had a rich, mouthwatering aroma. The steamed fish was fresh and tender, the stir-fried greens were crisp and refreshing. There was also crispy fried chicken, a savory tofu hotpot, and delectable braised ribs with potatoes... Each dish, served on a fine ceramic plate, exuded an intoxicating fragrance.

Melody Summers walked into the dining room, cradling Albus. Her eyes lit up with joy at the sight of the magnificent feast on the table.

The central heating was cranked up high, and an oil-filled radiator was on as well. Though it was well below freezing outside, the apartment was toasty warm.

Grace Sutton, dressed in a set of light, soft loungewear, felt a little warm and undid the top two buttons of her top.

Grandma glanced at the time. Seeing that Winnie Summers and Colin Summers still hadn’t returned, she asked worriedly, "Why aren’t they back yet? It’s dinnertime. I hope nothing’s happened."

Grace Sutton smiled and replied, "They’ve been distributing supplies all day. After that, they went to help clear snow. They have a lot on their plate, so they’ll be back a little later than usual!"

Hearing this, Grandma nodded, her worries easing.

Grace Sutton then emerged from the kitchen with a food container, neatly packed with a layer of red-braised pork, a layer of fried chicken, and a layer of ribs.

Holding the container, Grace Sutton said, "The Lynch Family sent us food before, and they taught us how to seal the kitchen. They’ve been a huge help. We made extra while cooking today, so let’s send this over to them!"

Melody Summers took the container from Grace Sutton. "I’ll take it over, Aunt!"

Melody then put on her down jacket, wrapped the food container in a black plastic bag, and headed for Crystal Lynch’s apartment.

Afraid of running into other neighbors in the elevator, Melody Summers opted for the stairs.

She climbed two flights of stairs to Apartment 1806 and knocked on Crystal Lynch’s door.