Melody Summers was surprised. She looked at Lucy White and asked, "News about Zara Walsh? What news?"
Lucy White lowered her voice and told Melody Summers how she had accidentally overheard a conversation between Zane Simmons and Bernard Simmons.
"I heard Mr. Simmons say that because his son, Zane, made Zara Walsh lose face at the banquet, Miss Walshâs father had some complaints. So, he promised to help arrange a position for Zara in the department responsible for the northern districtâs supply distribution."
Worried Melody Summers would get the wrong idea, Lucy White quickly added in a whisper, "I wasnât eavesdropping, I swear. I just happened to be in the first-floor kitchen that day, stewing a tonic for my sisterâs pregnancy. Mr. Simmons and his son were talking in the living room just outside, so I overheard..."
After she finished speaking, Lucy White watched Melody Summers anxiously. Melody knew she was living under the Simmons familyâs protection, and Lucy was afraid sheâd see her as someone who would betray her benefactors.
But as long as it helped Melody Summers, Lucy White didnât care.
After hearing what Lucy White said, Melody Summersâs first thought was: âMy god, Joanne White is pregnant again...â
âSheâs certainly brave.â
âThe gap between her first and second pregnancies is less than a year. That takes a huge toll on a motherâs body. Life really isnât easy for Joanne White...â
Seeing Lucy Whiteâs anxious gaze, Melody Summers smiled and replied, "I understand. Thank you for telling me this."
Seeing no judgment in Melody Summersâs eyes, Lucy White finally let out a sigh of relief.
Then, she replied, a little embarrassed, "Y-youâre welcome, Miss Summers. I should be the one thanking you... Iâve been wanting to thank you for a long time. You saved me."
Melody Summers thought Lucy was talking about what had just happened in the hallway. She waved her hand dismissively and said, "Itâs nothing, donât worry about it. I already had a grudge against that Ivan Warren. I wouldâve taught him a lesson even if it wasnât for you."
Hearing this, Lucy White gently bit her lower lip. That wasnât what she wanted to talk about.
She originally didnât want to bring up The Crestview Hotel with Melody Summers. It was her scar, a past she couldnât bear to face.
If she could, she would erase it from her life, making sure no one ever knew.
But she also knew she owed Melody Summers a thank you.
Joanne White was in the middle of that deadly plan... A plan Joanne thought was flawless, but in Lucyâs eyes, it was full of holes and could blow up in their faces at any moment.
Even if they could get through tonight, there was a high chance that tomorrow, Bernard Simmons would have his fun and then pretend he didnât know them. To keep the matter from being exposed, he might just find a random excuse to kick the two sisters out.
Lucy White didnât know if she would ever have the chance to see Melody Summers again.
âThis might be the last time we ever see each other...â
At this thought, Lucy White gritted her teeth, moved closer to Melody Summersâs ear, and said, "Miss Summers, thatâs not what I was talking about."
Melody Summers: "Huh?"
âWhat else could there be?â Melody Summers thought. âThis is only the second time Iâve met Lucy White. Weâve never had any interactions before...â
Lucy White clenched her fists and whispered in Melody Summersâs ear in an extremely low voice, "Miss Summers, I... I was sold to The Crestview Hotel by my family. I almost died there... Thank you for getting me out."
Hearing this, Melody Summers instantly sucked in a sharp breath.
âLucy White was a victim from The Crestview Hotel?!â
Lucy White looked up at Melody Summers, her eyes glistening with tears. She continued, "Miss Summers, I saw you go into that girlâs room back then. I secretly followed you. I heard the three of you talking from outside the room. I know you were the one who called the police and saved all of us..."
"Iâve always wanted to thank you... Those monsters killed my mother, and they forced me... Thank you for avenging my motherâs murder. Thank you for saving my life..."
Seeing Lucy White about to burst into tears, Melody Summers quickly squeezed her hand and comforted her in a low voice, "You donât have to thank me... Donât think about it anymore. Itâs all in the past."
Flynn Adler and his son were dead, but the damage they had caused lingered.
Looking at Lucy White, Melody Summers was suddenly filled with regret. She regretted letting Flynn Adler and his son die too easily.
âThey should have been made to experience everything their victims went through. They should have been ravaged by countless men, had their organs and corneas harvested while they were still alive, and finally, been thrown into a freezer in the basement...â
Once Lucy White had calmed down, Melody Summers remembered what she had said earlier and asked with a hint of worry, "You said just now that Joanne White is being blackmailed into doing something, that the consequences are severe, and that it might get you involved... What did you mean?"
Lucy White thought for a moment, then answered in a low voice, "My sister was threatened over the phone. The person is making her set up Mr. Simmons to ârekindle an old flameâ with a former lover, and then..."
After hearing Lucy Whiteâs story, Melody Summers was utterly dumbfounded.
âHas Joanne White lost her mind?!â
âSheâs actually soliciting a prostitute for her sugar daddyâs own father!â
âIsnât that basically cuckolding her sugar daddyâs own mother?!â
âWhat on earth is going through Joanne Whiteâs head?â
Melody Summers finally understood what Lucy White was so worried about.
She rubbed her slightly aching forehead and sighed to herself, âAfter the apocalypse, people really are getting more and more unhinged...â
Then, Melody Summers patted Lucy Whiteâs shoulder sympathetically and said, "Donât worry, this has nothing to do with you. Zane Simmonsâs mother, Mrs. Simmons, is a reasonable person. She probably wonât drag you into it."
Hearing Melody Summersâs words, Lucy White forced a smile. âI hope so,â she thought. She wasnât expecting to be allowed to stay with the Simmons Family after Mrs. Simmons found out. She just hoped Mrs. Simmons wouldnât kill them to vent her anger.
Melody Summers looked at Lucy Whiteâs worried eyes, thought for a moment, and added, "If, and I mean if... if you ever run into trouble in the future, you can come find me anytime. Iâll do my best to help you."
Melody Summers knew that in the apocalypse, you couldnât be a bleeding-heart. Closing your doors and minding your own business was the safest way to live.
But after hearing Lucyâs story, she felt that Lucy was a lot like her past self. Her closest family had died in the apocalypse, and when she sought refuge with blood relatives, they had personally sent her into a den of devils...
Melody Summers wanted to help Lucy White; in a way, it was like helping her past self.
If someone had reached out a hand to her in her past life, she wouldnât have chosen to take her enemies down with her...
Hearing Melody Summersâs words, Lucy Whiteâs tears finally began to fall uncontrollably.
She grabbed onto Melody Summers, thanking her profusely. The commotion was loud enough to be heard by Winnie Summers and Joanna Dunn, who were engrossed in the auction nearby.
Miss Joanna Dunn said with some surprise, "Oh my, whatâs going on with you two? Why is this child crying?"
The three of them scrambled to comfort Lucy White for a while before she finally calmed down.
Winnie Summers and Joanna Dunn lovingly pulled Lucy White closer, pointing out interesting items on the auction stage to distract her.
Meanwhile, Melody Summers stood to the side, took out her phone, and secretly logged into The Arcadia Store.
She found Paige Walshâs chat window in her message list and sent her a message.