Chapter 608: Little Aunt?

Sophie Thorne wasn’t the only one who found the Jennings family’s behavior strange; Melody Summers also suspected they were up to no good. ’They’ve gone to such great lengths to make me meet Cindy Hughes. I doubt it’s just for some "end-of-life visit"...’

However, Melody Summers had already suspected that Hayden Jennings was connected to The Serene Leaf Teahouse and the new virus. Now that he had willingly delivered himself to her doorstep, she was determined to see what he was up to.

Having made up her mind, Melody didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she put on a cheerful expression and said to Sophie Thorne, "What’s there to be afraid of? It’ll be fine. He invited me to his house in front of everyone. He wouldn’t dare try anything, would he?"

With that, Melody pushed her worries to the back of her mind, picked up a lobster, and started cracking it open.

Just then, Zane Simmons, whom she hadn’t seen in a while, sauntered over with a wine glass in hand. Seeing Melody completely engrossed in her food, he raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What are you doing hiding in this corner? Go sit at the head table!"

Melody looked up, confused. ’I’m just here to freeload a meal. I have no status, no connections. What would I be doing at the head table?’

Zane clicked his tongue. "Oh, stop pretending," he explained. "Everyone knows Director Summers and Director Rhodes are getting married. People are lining up to toast and congratulate them. As her daughter, you should be sitting right beside them!"

Melody: "..."

Melody’s appetite and good mood vanished in an instant.

’No wonder...’ she thought.

’No wonder Kylie Walsh had a meltdown and was dragged away by security. She must have heard the news and completely lost it.’

Melody didn’t say a word, but Zane kept rambling on beside her. "Speaking of which, you’re really tight-lipped. You didn’t breathe a word of this to any of us. My mom felt so bad for Director Summers, thinking she was all alone, and was planning to introduce her to a male professor from the lab. Who would’ve thought she’d quietly get together with Director Rhodes..."

Melody was in no mood to listen to Zane’s rambling. She only had one thought on her mind: ’Kylie Walsh is already unstable. I hope this news doesn’t provoke her into doing something drastic...’

******

「Two days later.」

Melody Summers was preparing to visit Cindy Hughes using the address Hayden Jennings had sent her. But before she could leave, Sophie Thorne arrived with some unexpected news.

"You mean an extract from the Blue Scale Prawns can counter that new virus?" Melody asked in astonishment.

"That’s right!" Sophie Thorne nodded. "But don’t tell anyone, okay? It’s classified! I even signed a confidentiality agreement..."

"Those Blue Scale Prawns have already been taken to the lab to be bred. Professor Walsh’s team says they aren’t sure if the new virus has spread yet, but they know for certain that if it does, the consequences will be severe. That’s why they need to develop an antidote as soon as possible, just in case!"

Melody nodded, silently impressed by Paige Walsh’s efficiency. ’It’s only been about a month since the virus was discovered, and she’s already found a way to counter it. She really is a research genius, completely outclassing Hayden Jennings.’

Sophie sighed and tried to persuade her again. "Melody, maybe we should just confess to Professor Walsh... We can’t keep lying like this forever..."

Yesterday, someone from the lab had asked Sophie how the Blue Scale Prawns were bred. Sophie gave the answer Melody had coached her on, and while she managed to bluff her way through it, the more she thought about it afterward, the guiltier she felt.

In her twenty-plus years of life, she had never told such a lie, and she’d never felt so nervous about it. She was sure that if they kept this up, they’d be found out sooner or later!

"Why not?" Melody said, disagreeing. "Trust me, this whole world is just a giant amateur show. People have conned entire countries with simple Ponzi schemes. These so-called geniuses aren’t nearly as smart as you think."

"Besides, the institute needs the Blue Scale Prawns you’re providing for the antidote. They’re more afraid of you being a fraud than you are. As long as you can give them the prawn fry, they won’t dare to question you!"

Sophie still looked conflicted. "That may be true... but..." she hesitated.

"No buts!" Melody patted Sophie’s shoulder, settling the matter. "From now on, I’ll give you a batch of Blue Scale Prawn fry whenever the institute needs them. All you have to do is take them to the lab!"

"Okay, that’s settled. I have to go to the Jennings’ place to see Cindy Hughes. We’ll talk about everything else when I get back!"

Hearing this, Sophie grabbed Melody’s wrist. "Are you really going to see her?" she asked worriedly. "I have a bad feeling about this... How about I go with you?"

"No, I’ll be fine on my own." Melody waved her hand. If something unexpected did happen, having Sophie there would only complicate things. "Besides, it’s all in the same residential complex. What could possibly go wrong?"

******

Following the address Hayden Jennings had provided, Melody Summers arrived at the Jennings’ villa. A woman dressed like a housekeeper was already waiting for her at the entrance.

"Miss Summers, this way, please."

The housekeeper respectfully led Melody into the villa and up to a tea room on the second floor. "Miss Summers," she said, "our madam had another sleepless night and has only just woken up. Would you please wait here for a moment?"

Melody nodded. "Of course. I’ll wait here. You can get back to your work."

The housekeeper brought Melody a cup of tea and then excused herself.

Melody sat in a rattan chair and waited. Hearing the continuous sound of running water from the adjacent bedroom, she figured Cindy Hughes must be getting ready.

Feeling bored, she wandered over to the window to look at the view outside. ’You really do get what you pay for,’ she mused. The location of the Jennings’ villa was far superior to her own place in Sector B. Not only was the house bigger and the backyard more than twice the size, but the surroundings were also much more peaceful and secluded.

Melody was completely absorbed in the view, utterly unaware that the closed bedroom door behind her had just been pushed open a crack. The barrel of a gun slid through the opening, its muzzle aimed directly at the nape of her neck...

The very instant the person holding the gun was about to pull the trigger, Melody seemed to sense something and whipped around—

The moment she saw Melody’s face clearly, Cindy Hughes’s pupils constricted. In the next second, her hand trembled, and a tranquilizer dart shot out, grazing Melody’s cheek and hitting the window behind her.

Melody frowned and shouted, "Who’s there?!"

Just as Melody was about to run out and call for help, the bedroom door flew open, and Cindy Hughes stumbled out, still holding the gun.

She stumbled over to Melody in just a few steps and asked with a look of utter disbelief, "Melody?! ...Is it you?"

After getting a clear look at Cindy Hughes’s face, Melody was just as shocked. "Auntie?!" she blurted out.

"What are you doing here?!"