After saying this, Ivan Warren gazed at Melody Summers with absolute confidence, a look of certain victory on his face.
He was certain Melody Summers would agree. After all, in this time of disaster, an ordinary person could never refuse such food.
His colleague was even keeping a recently graduated, innocent student for the price of five sweet potatoes a week.
Ivan Warren felt that by offering Melody Summers so much, he was already being an incredibly generous patron!
Melody Summers, however, stared at Ivan Warren as if he were a complete idiot. In a tone laced with shock, she asked, "Ivan Warren, are you insane?!"
âI should just crack open his skull and see whatâs inside,â Melody Summers thought. âHow else could he spout such inconceivable nonsense?â
Ivan Warren, however, assumed Melody didnât believe him and hastily said, "Melody, do you think Iâm joking? Iâm serious! If youâre with me, I can really give you this food every single week!"
Melody Summers couldnât listen to any more of this. She rolled her eyes at Ivan Warren and turned to leave. âSaying another word to him would be a waste of my time!â
When Ivan Warren saw Melody Summers about to leave, he quickly took two steps forward to block her path. "Wait, wait, donât go yet! Iâm not making this up. Let me be honest with youâIâm working at Rhodes Enterprises now!"
Melody Summers froze. âRhodes Enterprises?â
âRhodes Enterprises... Why do they always hire such pieces of trash? One Simon Lancaster wasnât enough, and now thereâs an Ivan Warren.â
Melody Summers discreetly hit the record button on her phone, then looked up at Ivan Warren and asked, "So what?"
Seeing Melody Summersâs indifferent expression, Ivan Warren grew anxious. "You canât have never heard of Rhodes Enterprises, can you? Itâs Rhodes, the leading company in indoor agriculture! The most sought-after company right now!"
After the disaster, Rhodes Enterprises partnered with the government and now controls most of the food supply in the city.
To give you an idea of how influential they are, if you go on the dating scene and say you work at Rhodes, youâre immediately the hottest commodity! Droves of single men and women will throw themselves at you!
Melody Summers played along, nodding. "Iâve heard of it. Itâs a big company. And?"
Relieved that Melody knew of Rhodes, Ivan Warren continued, "Iâm a permanent employee at Rhodes. I get my benefits from the company every week. Melody, if you agree to be with me, I promise I can give you at least two different types of food every week!"
In truth, Ivan Warren was just a low-level grunt who ran errands and did menial tasks. His weekly benefits werenât much, just enough for him and Maisie Lynch to supplement their meals a little.
The fact that he was willing to give half of his share to Melody Summers was, in his mind, incredibly generous!
Melody Summers didnât say yes, but she didnât say no either.
She watched Ivan Warren with a calm, unhurried air and asked softly, "You want me to be with you? But isnât your wife Maisie Lynch?"
Hearing this, Ivan Warren assumed Melody Summers was tempted. He quickly said, "Donât worry about Maisie Lynch. Sheâs just a woman with a high school education; sheâs nothing compared to you! As long as youâre with me, I guarantee she wonât dare to say a word!"
Melody Summers nearly burst out laughing from pure rage at his words.
âMaisie Lynch was a student at a top-tier university, and the only reason she ended up with just a high school diploma was because of this bastard, Ivan Warren!â
âAnd now he has the gall to look down on her for it? Itâs completely absurd!â
Melody Summers mentally cursed Ivan Warrenâs entire family tree, but her expression remained neutral. She continued, "Oh? So youâre planning on cheating on her? And you expect me and Maisie Lynch to just get along?"
Ivan Warren scratched his head. He knew Melody Summers came from a respectable family and would most likely never accept such an arrangement.
So, he softened his tone, trying to coax her. "Melody, I donât want this either, but I canât break up with Maisie Lynch right now. Just give me one year. I promise, in one year, Iâll make Maisie Lynch leave, and youâll be the one by my side."
It wasnât that Ivan Warren was so in love with Maisie Lynch, but he worked for Rhodes, and Rhodes was extremely strict about its employeesâ personal conduct.
He knew a male employee had been fired on the spot after someone reported him to HR for getting involved in another personâs marriage.
Ivan Warren was in the middle of building his work record for a promotion; he didnât want any drama at home right now. If Maisie Lynch caused a scene at the company, the consequences would far outweigh any benefits.
âBesides,â Ivan thought, âMaisie Lynch is gentle and considerate. She keeps the house in perfect order and takes very good care of me. Even though I look down on her, I canât deny her skills as a caretaker.â
âBut one look at Melody Summers told him she wasnât the type to wait on anyone...â
âHe was a little reluctant to just dump Maisie Lynch.â
âSo, for now, Ivan Warren hoped to have his cake and eat it too.â
âAs for what would happen in a year, that would depend on how Maisie Lynch and Melody Summers behaved.â
âIf Melody Summers gave him a son before Maisie Lynch did, he wouldnât mind making her the official one...â
Listening to Ivan Warrenâs tirade, Melody Summers, despite being mentally prepared, was still stunned by the sheer depth of his shamelessness.
As Ivan Warren beamed confidently, Melody Summers smiled right back at him.
Then, Melody Summers suddenly raised her fist and smashed it right into Ivan Warrenâs face!
The punch carried immense force, instantly sending the unprepared Ivan Warren sprawling to the ground!
Ivan Warren had not seen that coming at all. He pushed himself up awkwardly from the ground, turning to stare at Melody Summers in utter disbelief. "You... You... How could you hit me?!"
Then, he tasted blood. He touched the corner of his mouth and saw a smear of fresh blood on his hand.
Melody Summers looked down at Ivan Warren on the ground, her eyes icy. "Thatâs my answer," she said, her voice devoid of mercy. "Ivan Warren, Iâm warning you. Donât you ever come near me and disgust me again."
Hearing her words, Ivan Warren scrambled to his feet, his embarrassment turning to fury.
He spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the ground, then turned and pointed a finger in Melody Summersâs face. "Melody Summers! You ungrateful bitch! Let me tell you, plenty of women would kill to be my mistress. You donât know whatâs good for you today, but in the future, you could beg me to sleep with you and I wouldnât give you the time of day!"
âAfter all,â Ivan Warren thought, âIâm a graduate from a Top-2 university. As long as things go smoothly, Iâll get promoted within Rhodes soon enough based on my credentials. When that time comes, she could beg me to be her mistress, and I still wouldnât agree!â
Melody Summers didnât waste any more words on Ivan Warren. She strode forward, raised her leg, and viciously kicked him in the stomach.
Ivan Warren let out a choked grunt. His body lurched backward several steps as if heâd been struck by a sledgehammer.
He clutched his stomach with both hands, doubling over. A pained expression twisted his features as he snarled at Melody Summers, "Enough! Melody Summers, donât think I wonât hit a woman!"
Melody Summers snorted. Just as she was about to step forward and land a few more kicks, a figure suddenly darted out of the stairwell.
The figure lunged forward, throwing itself over Ivan Warren.
Melody Summers looked closely and saw, to her surprise, that it was Maisie Lynch.