Chapter 342: An Unreasonable Demand

Meanwhile, Grandma sat on the sofa, gently stroking the Auspicious Jade Pendant. "They’re practically identical..." she lamented. "What a shame... It’s a shame Maeve shattered the other one. Otherwise, they would have been a matching pair."

Melody was surprised. "Grandma," she asked, puzzled, "how did you know my aunt was the one who shattered the other pendant? Didn’t Mom say she kept it from you and claimed she’d lost it?"

Grandma shook her head. "Your mother has always been so careful, ever since she was little. She wouldn’t lose a single soybean, let alone my jade pendant. It’s your younger aunt who’s always been clumsy. Anything that falls into her hands either gets lost or broken..."

Winnie Summers had been a child you never had to worry about, possessing a grounded maturity beyond her years. Not only did she never cause any trouble, but she also helped out around the house.

But Maeve Summers had always been a live wire, her head full of fanciful notions. As Grandma put it, she was more of a troublemaker than the three boys in the family combined.

At this thought, Grandma’s expression grew sorrowful.

Ever since Maeve Summers had gotten married, she had all but cut off contact with the family. Grandma had no idea if she was even able to take care of herself during the past two years of natural disasters...

Watching the snow swirl outside the window, Grandma murmured, "I just don’t know what kind of situation your aunt is in now, or if she’s doing okay..."

Melody fell silent as well. Ever since her aunt married and moved away, she had all but cut off contact with the family and hadn’t come back to visit even once.

In her past life, her entire family had died in the Mount Anworth mudslide. After the tragedy, Melody had tried to contact her aunt, asking her to come back to pay her last respects.

But her aunt had made excuses, saying she was too busy to get away. She’d even told Melody never to call her again before hurriedly hanging up.

This time around, Grandma had also tried contacting her younger daughter after the disasters began, but unfortunately, she had never been able to get through.

Grandma glanced at the phone beside her and sighed. ’If only my daughter would call, just to let me know she’s safe...’

But just then, her phone suddenly rang!

Startled, Grandma hastily picked up her phone to look.

But when she saw who was calling, her brow immediately furrowed.

Seeing her expression, Melody asked with some confusion, "What’s wrong, Grandma? Who is it?"

’Could it really be my aunt calling?’

Frowning, Grandma said, a little perplexed, "It’s your second uncle..."

Hearing this, Melody and Grace Sutton exchanged a look, both seeing the confusion in each other’s eyes.

’Why would Caleb be calling all of a sudden?’

The last time they’d spoken, during that whole matchmaking incident, both families had parted on bad terms. They’d even sworn to never speak to each other again.

Grandma hesitated for a moment before tentatively pressing the answer button. "...Hello?"

Whatever Caleb Summers said on the other end, Grandma’s expression shifted from confusion to surprise, and then from surprise to fury. She gripped the phone so tightly her hand began to tremble with rage.

Finally, Grandma snapped, "I’m living with your oldest brother, his wife, and your older sister now! I can’t deal with that! They have no obligation to help you, either. Figure it out yourself!"

With that, Grandma angrily hung up the phone.

Grace Sutton saw this and quickly asked, "Mom, what’s wrong? What did Caleb say?"

Grandma was so incensed by Caleb Summers that she was left breathless for a moment.

Panting, she replied, "He said his mother-in-law’s family rented the apartment next to ours yesterday, but it isn’t furnished, so it’s not livable! So he told us to clear out one of our apartments for them to use!"

It was no wonder Grandma was so furious. Caleb Summers had spoken to her as if he were issuing a command, using that officious tone he’d picked up from his government job on his own mother, ordering her to give an apartment to his mother-in-law’s family.

At that moment, Grandma wished she had never given birth to that son!

The extreme cold and blizzards were almost upon them. It was one thing for Caleb Summers to completely ignore her, his own mother, but for him to finally call, not out of concern for her safety, but to actually order her to give up an apartment!

Hearing Grandma’s words, Melody’s brow furrowed. ’Give up an apartment? How could they have the nerve to ask for something like that?’

Grace Sutton was even more baffled. ’His mother-in-law? Give up an apartment? What in the world is going on?’

’No, wait...’

Grace Sutton’s eyes widened as it slowly dawned on her. "Caleb’s mother-in-law’s family moved in next door? When did that happen? How come I didn’t know?"

Melody answered, "It’s true, Auntie. I was so busy going to that banquet with Mom yesterday that I forgot to tell you all... I ran into my second uncle’s new wife in the hallway. She said her family moved into 1604."

As if to confirm Melody’s words, a series of urgent knocks suddenly sounded at the door.

Along with the knocking came a loud female voice. "It’s your in-laws! It’s us, please open the door!"

The few of them in the living room exchanged glances. Grandma frowned. "Are they here for the apartment? I just refused him on the phone. Why did they still come?"

Grace Sutton, who now understood what was happening, asked with a conflicted look, "So... should we open the door?"

The POUND POUND POUND from outside continued. Melody sighed. "Open it, Auntie. They know we’re here, so there’s no use hiding. Let’s just let them in and find out what’s going on."

Grace Sutton walked to the door and opened it just a crack.

She peeked her head out and saw two women standing at the entrance, one of them holding a little girl.

Grace Sutton hesitated for a second before asking, "And you are...?"

When Zella Kane saw the door open, an elegant, reserved smile immediately spread across her face.

She sized up Grace Sutton from head to toe and said with a smile, "You must be Rhea’s sister-in-law, right? I’m her sister... Oh, it’s freezing out here. Why don’t we step inside to talk?"

Grace Sutton glanced back at Melody, who was standing behind her.

Melody scanned the living room. The boxes of mineral water, styrofoam planters, and grow lights that had been in the 1606 living room were all moved to 1605, leaving no supplies behind. A moment ago, Melody had also swept the fruit bowl and snacks from the table into a drawer.

After confirming the room was clear, Melody nodded at Grace Sutton, signaling for her to let them in.

Seeing Melody’s nod, Grace Sutton opened the door wider and let the three of them inside.

The moment Zella Kane and Mrs. Kane stepped inside, a wave of warmth hit them.

Their eyes immediately began to dart around, eagerly scanning every corner of the living room as if trying to absorb every last detail.

Taking in the exquisite designer chandelier, the fine paintings on the walls, and the luxurious furniture, Mrs. Kane couldn’t help but exclaim, "Your home is decorated so beautifully!"

Zella Kane, standing beside her, nodded in agreement. She, too, loved the apartment’s decor; it had an air of understated luxury.

Zella Kane had been hesitating over whether to choose apartment 1605 or 1606.

Now, she had made her decision. Her family would live here, in 1606!

Having made up her mind, Zella Kane shot her mother a meaningful look.

Mrs. Kane took the hint. Beaming, she walked over to the sofa, warmly took Grandma’s hand, and said, "You must be my daughter’s mother-in-law! I’m Rhea’s mom!"