As Rosemary reached for Melody, a sudden, unexpected shove sent both of them tumbling forward. They lost their balance and plummeted down the grand staircase, a chaotic tangle of limbs and designer clothing. Melody let out a sharp groan as she landed hard at the bottom, pain radiating through her body.
The crash reverberated through the mansion, quickly drawing attention. Audrey, who had just finished an online meeting, rushed over, her face etched with concern. Rosemary, seizing the opportunity, launched into a pitiful act. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her arm dramatically.
"Oh! It hurts so much!" she wailed, looking up at Audrey with wide, innocent eyes.
"Melody pushed me! She deliberately tried to hurt me!"
Melody was speechless, stunned by the sheer audacity of Rosemary's performance.
{God damn mum, she is lying, but if I say that it would make me feel like I am a villainous. Fine, want to frame me? I will play this act!} Melody took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm amidst the swirling chaos. She looked at her mother, Audrey, and deliberately broke into tears, letting the manufactured sadness flow freely down her cheeks.
Audrey was speechless, her expression frozen in a mixture of shock and disbelief as she stared at her daughter. The carefully constructed image of Melody as the perfect heiress, the beloved daughter, was being shattered before her very eyes.
The silence stretched on, thick with unspoken accusations and simmering tension. Finally, Audrey's gaze hardened, her eyes narrowing as she fixed them on Rosemary.
"Rosemary," Audrey said, her voice dangerously low and controlled.
"Apologize."
Rosemary sputtered, her face reddening with indignation.
"Why should I apologize? She pushed me and…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Audrey waved a dismissive hand, and a sleek iPad materialized seemingly from thin air. With a swift gesture, she played the video recording of the incident.
The footage showed the entire sequence of events, starting with Rosemary lunging toward Melody with outstretched hands. It clearly depicted Rosemary initiating the contact, attempting to grab Melody's arm before stumbling and falling down the stairs—a fall that looked far less dramatic than she had portrayed it.
The video played silently, allowing the evidence to speak for itself. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as everyone watched Rosemary's carefully constructed narrative unravel before their eyes.
Rosemary sputtered, her face reddening with indignation.
"Why should I apologize? She pushed me and…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Audrey waved a dismissive hand, and a sleek iPad materialized seemingly from thin air. With a swift gesture, she played the video recording of the incident.
The footage showed the entire sequence of events, starting with Rosemary lunging toward Melody with outstretched hands. It clearly depicted Rosemary initiating the contact, attempting to grab Melody's arm before stumbling and falling down the stairs—a fall that looked far less dramatic than she had portrayed it.
The video played silently, allowing the evidence to speak for itself. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as everyone watched Rosemary's carefully constructed narrative unravel before their eyes.
"Host, I don't understand why would Rosemary frame you?" TangYuan asked, his voice laced with genuine confusion.
Melody watched the video replay, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes. The blatantness of Rosemary's attempt at framing her was almost comical.
{Host, I don't understand why would Rosemary frame you?} TangYuan pressed, his voice still bewildered.
"It's simple, TangYuan," Melody replied, her voice thoughtful.
"Rosemary believes that if she can successfully portray me as a malicious person, she can gain Audrey's favor and potentially inherit the Montgomery fortune."
She paused, considering the complexities of the situation.
"Plus," Melody added with a wry smile.
"Rosemary probably enjoys stirring up drama. It's her way of feeling important."
"Mum, my ankle."
Melody winced, clutching her cast. {No shopping for me today.}
Audrey, visibly fuming but maintaining a semblance of composure, escorted the two girls to the hospital. Her anger towards Rosemary simmered beneath the surface, carefully contained. When she entered Rosemary's room, she crossed her arms, her expression glacial.
"Rosemary," Audrey began, her voice dangerously low and controlled.
"I am only going to say this once. Do that again, and I will make you suffer."
Rosemary pitifully blinked her eyes, attempting to summon tears. She clenched her hands in frustration; how could that bitch Melody be so lucky? Why was it that despite being adopted, her family loved her so fiercely? Audrey had already departed, leaving Rosemary stewing in her resentment.
She saw Delite and Dilettia, who greeted Audrey with enthusiastic shouts of
"Madam Audrey!"
"Girls, my daughter is in the VIP room. I am heading out," Audrey said, turning away without a backward glance.
Melody was propped up in the hospital bed, her leg encased in a bulky cast. She was engrossed in a mobile game, oblivious to the lingering tension in the room until Delite and Dilettia walked in.
Delite possessed striking long black hair cascading down her back and captivating grayishblue eyes. She wore a limitededition summer dress that accentuated her figure and carefully placed her purse down. Her hair was intricately braided on one side, adding to her overall air of sophisticated beauty. Dilettia, on the other hand, sported vibrant purplish hair and mesmerizing hazelgreen eyes.
"That bitch, the illegitimate daughter! I'm telling you, she's a true white moonlight, but forget that—we missed our shopping!" Melody grumbled, clenching her jaw. Delite settled onto the edge of the bed, a beautiful smile gracing her lips—a smile that was both captivating and subtly cunning. Melody and Dilettia exchanged knowing glances, a silent communication passing between them.
"What are you planning?" Melody asked, a playful glint in her eyes.
Delite flipped her hair with a dramatic flourish.
"How about we have a party? After all, in a month our senior year of high school will happen? Let's call it 'Welcome Back' for you, darling. After all, you've been in a coma."
Melody smiled, taking a sip of her water and clicking her water bottle against hers in a playful gesture.
"Don't worry, let me do the party invitations," Dilettia interjected, her voice laced with a hint of mischief.
"Oh yes, your parents are sponsoring that Naomi girl. That bitch needs to learn we had to keep your throne in place. As for this Rosemary? Who gives a shit. Madam Audrey and Master Jasper have never cheated."
Melody leaned against the wall, gazing out the window at the sprawling cityscape below. The hospital room felt like a temporary cage, a frustrating interruption to her plans.
"Let's do a pool party," Melody said, her voice taking on a decisive tone.
"Something extravagant, something unforgettable. Let's show everyone who really runs this town."