On the other end of the line, Melody Summers was completely baffled by what she just heard.
âWhat debt? Is this some kind of phone scam?â
âAnd whatâs this about serving someone?â
Melody Summers instinctively felt the person must have dialed the wrong number.
So, she asked tentatively, "And you are?"
Ethan Sutton froze for a moment upon hearing that. Then, he let out a disdainful scoff and said in his deep, sexy vocal fry, "Melody Summers, donât play hard to get with me. I refuse to believe you canât recognize my voice."
Ethan Sutton was a man of supreme confidence, always the most prominent young master in any crowd. He refused to believe Melody Summers couldnât recognize his voice and figured she was just playing hard to get.
He thought with some disdain, âWomen like her just love these little hard-to-get games.â
But to his surprise, Melody Summers on the other end of the line simply replied, "Psycho."
Then, the line went dead.
Ethan Sutton stared at his phone in disbeliefâMelody Summers had actually hung up on him!
Ethan Suttonâs face instantly turned bright red. He couldnât tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. He immediately called back.
When the call connected, Melody Summersâs impatient voice came through, "Are you a psycho? Stop calling me!"
Before Melody Summers could hang up, Ethan Sutton quickly identified himself: "Itâs me, Ethan Sutton!"
Melody Summers paused. âEthan Sutton?â
She frowned and asked, "What do you want?"
Ethan Sutton sneered and said in a low voice, "Melody Summers, your parents now owe the Sutton Family a sum of money they canât repay. What do you think should be done about this?"
Melody Summers was even more confused hearing this. She replied impatiently, "A debt? Then sue them. Whatâs the point of calling me? Iâm definitely not helping them pay it back."
Hearing Melody Summersâs nonchalant tone, Ethan Sutton assumed she was just pretending to be calm. He continued with a sneer, "Melody Summers, stop playing dumb! The Lancasters owe money and wonât pay up. Youâd better believe Iâll go to your brotherâs company and cause a scene."
It finally dawned on Melody Summers. It was her own fault for being so busy lately; sheâd completely forgotten about the whole mess between the Sutton and Lancaster families.
She recalled the recent paternity test the Sutton Family had done on the baby Sylvia Lancaster miscarried. âThe Suttons probably think the child was Simon Lancasterâs. The daughter-in-law theyâd welcomed into their family was pregnant with her own brotherâs childâhow could the Suttons possibly swallow that insult?â
âSo Ethan Sutton is calling me now. The two families must have had a massive falling out over this, and the Suttons are settling the score with Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes!â
âThe Lancaster Family is broke right now. Theyâre calling me because theyâve probably decided to target me.â
At this thought, Melody Summers couldnât help but sneer. âHow are the Lancasters so incapable of learning their lesson? It seems the past few beatings werenât enough for them...â
Seeing Melody Summers go silent, Ethan Sutton assumed he had scared her. He thought she was afraid heâd actually go to Simon Lancasterâs company, cause a scene, and make Simon lose his job.
Thinking of this, a triumphant smile spread across Ethan Suttonâs face. âI knew it. Theyâre her biological parents, after all. Blood is thicker than water. How could Melody Summers truly not care if her parents live or die?â
But to his surprise, Melody Summers said, "Ethan Sutton, what exactly are you going to cause a scene about at Simon Lancasterâs company? That your own brother-in-law, Simon Lancaster, cuckolded you? Or that your wife was pregnant with another manâs child?"
Ethan Suttonâs hand holding the phone tightened instantly. The triumphant smile vanished from his face, and his eyes turned ice-cold.
Melody Summers continued, "Go ahead. You should make a big enough scene for the whole world to know. Tell everyone how your dear wife cheated on you. If you feel you canât make a big enough spectacle on your own, I can pay for popular bloggers and online trolls to support you. Iâll guarantee everyone in Anworth knows that Simon Lancaster cuckolded you."
Ethan Suttonâs phone was on speaker, and now everyone in the large hall had heard Melody Summersâs voice.
Ethan Sutton was both shocked and furious. âHow does Melody Summers know all this? Could it be...â
Ethan Sutton shot a vicious glare at Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes. He was sure they were the ones who told Melody Summers!
âThe entire Lancaster family knew Sylvia was pregnant with Simonâs child, and only my family was kept in the dark!â
Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes, however, exchanged a confused glance. They couldnât believe it either. How did Melody Summers find out?
Ethan Sutton couldnât hold back any longer. He yelled into the phone, "Melody Summers! Stop playing games with me! You know what state the Lancasters are in. If your brother loses his job, your parents will starve to death! Donât think Iâm joking!"
With that, Ethan Sutton handed the phone to Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes, signaling them with his eyes to help persuade Melody Summers.
Ethan Sutton thought, âI refuse to believe Melody Summers can ignore the pleas of her own biological parents!â
Seeing her chance, Elaine Hughes quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Melody, my good daughter! Mommy really knows she was wrong this time. Everything in the past was my fault! I shouldnât have favored Sylvia. I promise it will never happen again. Youâre Mommyâs only daughter! Please, just help the family. Your brother really canât lose his job!"
Robert Lancaster added, "Daughter, Sylvia did something wrong, and weâve already kicked her out of the house. From now on, your mother and I only recognize you as our daughter. Now, as your father, Iâm begging you, just help the family this one time!"
Listening to Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes, Melody Summers felt a little sick. In her past life, the two phrases this couple said most often were "I really regret having a daughter like you" and "Youâre such a disappointment to us"...
Now that they needed something from her, they were pulling this act again. It was truly laughable.
Before Melody Summers could speak, Ethan Sutton cut in again, "So? You believe me now, donât you?"
Melody Summers thought for a moment, then asked in a calm tone, "Oh? Then what do you want me to do?"
Hearing this, Ethan Sutton thought Melody Summers was giving in. He said smugly, "If you want me to let your parents off the hook, youâll come back with me to the Sutton estate. From now on, you belong to the Sutton Family, and you will obey my every command."
Ethan Sutton pictured Melody Summersâs beautiful face, and a lecherous smile crept onto his lips.
He continued in a low voice, "As long as you behave and please me from now on, once Iâm satisfied, your parentsâ debt will be wiped clean. I also wonât go to Simon Lancasterâs company to cause trouble for him. How about it?"
Melody Summers almost laughed out loud at his words. She asked, "So I have to obey your every command? And what if I donât?"
Ethan Sutton sneered. "Then Iâll sell you to the Crestview Hotel! Iâll let the people at the Crestview Hotel discipline you properly!"
Hearing Ethan Sutton say this, the two Crestview Hotel security guards standing next to him couldnât help but frown. âThis client has no filter,â they thought. âIsnât he just making trouble for us?!â
Melody Summers, however, froze when she heard the name "The Crestview Hotel."
She silently committed the name to memory.