Chapter 74: Unwelcome Matchmakers

Grace Sutton hurried into the living room and said to Melody Summers, "Melody, there are two women outside looking for you. One of them even says she’s your mother. Do you want to go check it out?"

Melody’s heart sank. ’Elaine Hughes?’

’How did she find me here?’

Outside the gate, Mrs. Lawson frowned and complained, "Why haven’t they opened the gate yet? It’s boiling out here."

They had entered through the main gate of the community, but the guard stopped them right away. He told them that since their car wasn’t registered, they couldn’t drive in.

Mrs. Lawson and Elaine Hughes pleaded and argued, but the guard refused to let them pass. Left with no other choice, the two of them had to walk the entire way.

Elaine Hughes and Mrs. Lawson had never endured such hardship. Ever since the heatwave started, they had spent all their time in air-conditioned mansions with chauffeured cars for every trip. Now, after walking such a long way under the blazing sun while carrying two large bags of gifts, they both felt dizzy and on the verge of heatstroke.

Just then, Melody Summers’s voice came through the intercom screen. "What is it?"

"Melody! Hurry and open the gate for your mother," Elaine Hughes yelled anxiously at the screen. "It’s so hot out here! Mrs. Lawson and I are about to get heatstroke!"

Melody thought for a moment. ’If these two really die of heatstroke on my doorstep, it’ll be a huge hassle.’ So, she opened the main gate to the villa and let them into the yard.

Elaine Hughes and Mrs. Lawson hurried through the gate. The moment they stepped inside, they felt the refreshing coolness of the yard, which helped dissipate the oppressive heat clinging to them. They both let out a long sigh of relief.

While catching her breath, Elaine Hughes stood in the yard and surveyed her surroundings. The villa’s front yard was quite large, but it was a pity it hadn’t been landscaped. Large plots of earth were dug up and planted with vegetables.

Elaine Hughes thought with a touch of scorn, ’Country folk will always be country folk. Even after moving out of the countryside and into a villa in the city, they can’t hide their tackiness. How could she dig up such a large yard to look like a rustic vegetable patch? She should have hired a designer to landscape it properly.’

Elaine then recalled the flowers and plants in her own villa’s garden, which she had specially commissioned a designer to create.

There were no less than fifty different species of flowers and plants, including orchids worth tens of thousands per stalk. They had been meticulously arranged according to their blooming seasons and colors, guaranteeing a vision of classic, natural beauty in every season.

It was a shame that ever since the Lancaster family’s financial troubles began, Robert Lancaster had insisted they save electricity and shut off the outdoor air conditioning. All her flowers and plants had died in the heat, and Elaine had been so heartbroken she couldn’t sleep for several days.

At this thought, Elaine became even more desperate to make the marriage happen. She decided that as soon as she received the bride price from the Lawson family, the very first thing she would do was restore her garden.

After letting them in, Melody got up and walked into the yard. She didn’t invite them into the house, simply asking them right there, "What exactly brings you two to my home?"

Elaine Hughes replied with a smile, "My dear daughter, Mrs. Lawson and I brought you lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Let’s go inside to talk. What are we doing standing out in the yard?"

Melody didn’t even glance at the items Elaine had brought. She addressed her directly, "That won’t be necessary, Mrs. Lancaster. We have plenty of fruits and vegetables here. You should take these back for yourself."

Elaine finally felt a little awkward. Melody’s villa yard was filled with vegetables; she obviously didn’t need any. It seemed she and Mrs. Lawson had miscalculated by bringing such gifts.

Mrs. Lawson, however, paid no mind to this. She had been sizing Melody up and down from the moment she walked in. The girl was even more beautiful in person than in her photograph. Although her face resembled Elaine’s, she lacked her mother’s delicate fragility, possessing a much more commanding presence.

Mrs. Lawson was even more pleased. She nodded and said to Melody with a smile, "Melody, I hear you graduated from a prestigious university, but I’m not sure about your cooking skills. My son is quite fond of Su-style cuisine, so you’ll have to learn it. Even though our family has maids, I expect you, as his wife, to be hands-on in caring for my son’s daily needs."

Melody couldn’t comprehend a single word of that. And what’s more... who was "Melody"?

Stunned, Melody asked, "I’m sorry... and who are you?"

"Oh, this is Mrs. Lawson, your future mother-in-law," Elaine Hughes quickly explained with a smile. "Mrs. Lawson and I have already arranged it. We’re planning to marry you to the Lawson family’s youngest son. The wedding is set for the first of next month. Come on, let’s go inside. We can sit down and talk things over."

Melody was utterly astonished. Once the words sank in, she almost laughed out of sheer anger. ’What is wrong with people lately? Why is everyone so eager to be my matchmaker?’

She had just driven off Caleb Summers and Mindy Walsh, and now here was Elaine Hughes.

Melody felt a headache coming on. She scoffed and said, "There’s no need for us to go inside. I don’t plan on getting married, and I don’t have time to entertain you. Please leave."

Mrs. Lawson was stunned for a moment, then she asked, annoyed, "What is that supposed to mean? Do you think my son isn’t good enough for you?"

Her youngest son’s congenital deficiencies had always been a thorn in Mrs. Lawson’s side. What she cared about most in this world was her reputation, and she hated it most when people looked down on her because of her son’s condition.

Mrs. Lawson cursed inwardly. ’This damned girl is completely ungrateful. Just like Elaine said, she has a nasty temper. The moment she marries into the family, I’ll make her kneel in the Lawson ancestral hall to break that spirit of hers. She won’t be allowed out until she’s knelt for three full days and nights!’

Seeing the turn of events, Elaine said anxiously, "Melody, don’t be so willful. What girl doesn’t get married? Your father and I have already discussed this. You don’t have a say in the matter."

"Besides, given your current circumstances, the Lawson’s youngest son is a rare and excellent match. If you don’t seize this opportunity, you’ll never find another man with such good prospects! Your parents are only doing this for your own good. You can’t be so stubborn at a time like this! Come, let’s go inside so I can explain everything to you."

With that, Elaine started walking toward the villa on her own.

Melody quickly moved to block her path. Frowning at Elaine, she said, "I said I’m not getting married. You’re not welcome here. Get out of my house, now!"

At her words, Elaine looked up at Melody in disbelief, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Melody, your father and I worry about your marriage day and night. We painstakingly arranged this match for your future, and this is the attitude you take with me?"

Mrs. Lawson also scoffed. "Melody, your temper is far worse than your sister Sylvia’s. Once you marry into my family, you’ll have to learn the Lawson family’s rules properly. Otherwise, people will laugh and say we’ve taken in an ill-mannered daughter-in-law."

Melody sneered. "Ma’am, what kind of damaged goods is your son that has you so desperately peddling him at my door? It’s useless. I’m not buying. Now, get lost."

Those two words, "damaged goods," struck a deep blow to Mrs. Lawson’s pride. Her face twisted in a furious grimace. She pointed a trembling finger at Melody, too enraged to speak.

Seeing this, Elaine frowned and scolded her, "You have no manners! How can you be so rude to your future mother-in-law? Is this how that country woman who raised you taught you to behave?"

Melody sneered. "Did you think I was only insulting her and not you? You get lost, too."

Elaine was utterly shocked and reflexively raised her hand. "You insolent child! Who taught you to speak to your own mother like that?"

Just as Elaine’s palm was about to connect with her face, Melody’s hand shot out and clamped down on her arm. With a forceful shove, she sent Elaine staggering aside.

Elaine stumbled back several steps before regaining her balance. She stared at Melody in disbelief, her eyes brimming with disappointment and confusion. On the verge of tears, she cried, "I’m your own mother! How dare you lay a hand on me?! You are utterly unfilial! Aren’t you... aren’t you afraid you’ll be struck by lightning for this?!"

Grace Sutton, who had been listening quietly from the doorway this whole time, saw what was happening and rushed out, shoving the two women toward the gate. "Go on, get out of here, you two madwomen! You’re not welcome in our home! If you don’t leave right now, I’m calling the police!"

Elaine Hughes and Mrs. Lawson were delicate socialites who had never done a day of manual labor in their lives. They were no match for Grace Sutton, who had spent years working in a factory.

Grace pushed the two stumbling out of the gate, nearly sending them to the ground. Then, with a loud SLAM, she shut the gate and locked it.

After driving the two women away, Grace turned back to Melody with concern. "Melody, are you okay? Those two lunatics didn’t hurt you, did they?"

Melody shook her head. "I’m fine, Auntie."

Just then, Elaine and Mrs. Lawson began banging on the gate from the outside. Melody frowned in disgust and said to Grace, "Let’s go inside, Auntie. Just ignore them."

The two returned to the living room, where Grandma and Miss Lowell were waiting anxiously. They had seen the whole chaotic scene unfold.

"What a pair of madwomen. We never should have opened the gate and let them in," Grandma said with a frown.

Miss Lowell nodded in agreement. "Next time you see those two, just call community security directly. What kind of people are they?"

Melody reassured them, "I definitely won’t open the door if they come back. Auntie, Grandma, Miss Lowell, I’m really fine. Please don’t worry."

Sophie Thorne had been hesitating to speak the whole time. Once the three older women left the living room and went to the kitchen, she said to Melody in a low voice, "Melody, as I recall, the Lawson family has three sons. The other two are already married. The only one who isn’t, the youngest, is a simpleton!"

Sophie grew angry just thinking about it. What kind of parents would marry their daughter off to a simpleton? That was no different from pushing their own child into a pit of fire.

Sophie thought for a moment before lowering her voice again. "I’ve also heard that simpleton has violent tendencies. He once beat three of his caretakers so severely they were seriously injured. The Lawson family spent a fortune to smooth things over."

Sophie continued, "Melody, you need to be careful. The Lawsons are not good people, and their in-laws, the Adler family, are even more difficult to deal with. You should probably avoid going out for a while. If you have to go out, I’ll have my family’s bodyguards escort you."

Melody, however, paused for a moment. "The Adler family?" she asked. "The one involved in seawater desalination?"

Sophie nodded. "I heard from my dad that the Adlers do more than just seawater desalination. They have some other, less reputable businesses too. Since you threw Mrs. Lawson out today, I’m worried she won’t let it go and will come back to cause you more trouble."

Melody was silent for a moment before nodding. "I understand. I’ll be careful."

Outwardly, Melody remained impassive, but a ferocious hatred churned within her. ’Even if the Adler family doesn’t come looking for me, I will be coming for them.’ In her past life, it was Flynn Adler and Sylvia Lancaster who had sold her to the leader of a criminal organization. Sooner or later, Melody would settle that score with them.