Chapter 9: Hook, Line, and Sinker

Melody Summers could only laugh in exasperation at the messages. She replied immediately:

"You want to buy it? Fine. Four million, full payment only."

Adam Lawson’s reply came back in a flash:

"My dear daughter, we’re family. Of course, we can talk about the money."

"It’s just that Dad really can’t come up with four million. And you’re just a girl—it’s not safe for you to be holding on to so much money. You’ll make yourself a target."

"How about this? You transfer the house into your brother Joel’s name first. You can keep living there; you’ll just have to pay your brother rent each month. Once your brother saves up enough, he can transfer the money for the house to you."

"Melody, you’re the older sister. You’ll have to rely on your brother in the future. You need to learn to give to your brother, not just take advantage of him."

Melody watched the messages pop up one after another, her patience finally snapping. She was about to hit record and send him a 60-second-long tirade of pure profanity.

Just then, Miss Lowell leaned in. "Melody, what’s wrong? You look awful."

Melody thought for a moment before explaining the situation to Miss Lowell. She said, her voice full of conflict, "Miss Lowell, my adoptive father definitely can’t come up with four million. For years, all he’s done is leech off his parents and my mom. But Austin Hale on the other hand... he just can’t seem to make up his mind."

Miss Lowell thought for a moment, glanced down at Melody’s phone, then took it. With a few deft movements, she deleted the rest of the chat history, leaving only:

"Melody, this is Dad. Why are you trying to sell that apartment?"

"Your brother Joel is getting married in a few years. Can you sell the apartment to him?"

"You want to buy it? Four million, full payment only."

"My dear daughter, we’re family. Of course, we can talk about the money."

Miss Lowell handed the phone back to Melody. "Now, send a screenshot of this chat to those two."

Melody’s eyes lit up. Truly, the older the wiser!

Melody instantly understood Miss Lowell’s plan. Smiling, she screenshotted the chat and posted it on her social media with the caption: "Decided to sell the house to my brother. Four million cash, coming soon."

Melody blocked everyone else from seeing it, making it visible only to Austin Hale and Joanne White.

Sure enough, a moment later, a message from Austin Hale arrived:

"Melody Summers, I’ve made up my mind. I want the apartment. Let’s schedule a meeting with the real estate agent; we’ll sign the contract tomorrow after seeing it. You promised to give us a day to think it over. You have to be a person of your word. You can’t go back on it now."

Seeing this message, Melody and Miss Lowell looked at each other and smiled. It worked!

*

「The Hale Residence.」

Mrs. Hale complained to Austin Hale, "You silly boy, what’s the big rush? From what you said, that Melody Summers is obviously desperate to sell. If you’d waited a few more days, the price might have dropped even more."

Austin Hale sighed and replied, "Mom, apartments in this area sell fast. We can’t wait any longer. Besides, Joanne is pregnant. She’s a senior in college and hasn’t even graduated yet. She didn’t want this baby in the first place and has told me several times that she’s not ready and wants to get an abortion. If I don’t buy this house, I’m afraid she’ll go through with the procedure immediately."

Hearing this, Mrs. Hale felt a bit helpless and muttered under her breath, "This Joanne White isn’t as good as that Melody Summers was. If you had ended up with Melody Summers, our family would have saved the money for a house. This is a four-million-dollar apartment! It’s going to drain our entire family savings."

Austin Hale said unhappily, "Mom, I’m about to marry Joanne. Don’t ever say things like that again. What would it look like if Joanne heard you? Besides, didn’t you used to like Joanne? I remember you always praised her for being gentle and sensible."

Mrs. Hale sighed and said nothing. At first, she had indeed been very pleased with Joanne White. After all, Joanne was an only daughter from the city, both of her parents had jobs, and her family background was better than Melody Summers’s. By being with Joanne White, Austin Hale’s future financial pressure would be much lighter.

But after spending more time with Joanne White, Mrs. Hale discovered that Joanne only appeared innocent on the surface; deep down, she was extremely calculating. For this house purchase, the Hale Family was putting up three million and the White Family was putting up one million, yet Joanne White actually demanded that only her name be on the deed—and Austin Hale had actually agreed.

When Mrs. Hale found out, she was both furious and helpless. Joanne White had Austin Hale wrapped around her little finger. After they got married, Austin would most likely be at a huge disadvantage.

In truth, Austin Hale couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. After coming home today, he couldn’t stop thinking, ’If I had known back then that Melody Summers’s family was wealthy enough to buy a school district apartment in the city, would our story have had a different ending?’

But regret was useless at this point.

Austin Hale could only keep comforting himself: ’Joanne is gentle and considerate. Melody might be beautiful, but she’s too independent and strong-willed—not marriage material.’

Austin Hale immediately called Joanne White. "Joanne, my family has our three million ready. Did you talk to your parents about the remaining one million?"

Joanne White’s gentle voice came from the other end of the line, "Austin, don’t worry. Our one million is ready."

"That’s great. I just spoke with Melody Summers. We’re going to sign the contract tomorrow."

"That’s wonderful, Austin! We’re going to have our own home! Once I get my diploma in June, let’s go get our marriage license right away, okay?"

"Okay. As long as it makes you and the baby happy, I’ll do anything."

*

The next day, Austin Hale arrived with Mrs. Hale and Joanne White. Melody Summers and the real estate agent were already waiting for them at the apartment.

"Oh, my, what a mess. What is all this junk? Is this what our four million is paying for?" Mrs. Hale asked with a dissatisfied frown the moment she walked in and saw the boxes scattered all over Melody’s floor.

"Don’t worry. Once the contract is signed today and the money is in my account tomorrow, we’ll be out within three days. I guarantee we won’t leave so much as a single strand of hair behind," Melody said coldly, knowing Mrs. Hale was just trying to cause trouble.

The agent led the group on a tour of the apartment, and the three members of the Hale family quickly decided to sign the agreement.

Joanne White was very satisfied. Also priced at four million, Melody’s apartment was much better than the one they had seen a couple of days ago. The hardware in the bathroom was sparkling, showing almost no signs of use.

The thought that the deed to this house would soon be in her name made Joanne White inwardly jump for joy.

The real estate agency was very efficient. After Mrs. Hale and Joanne White transferred the funds, the agent immediately took the three Hales to the property transaction center to handle the transfer of ownership and pay the taxes.

Early on the morning of the 5th, the four million was deposited into Melody Summers’s account.

Adding the more than six million the Lancaster Family had given her previously, Melody Summers now had over ten million. She could finally buy the sanctuary she’d been dreaming of.