Chapter 585: The Blank Check

After leaving Roman Rhodes’s hospital room, Melody Summers called Colin Summers and told him to drive home first. She planned to go to the emergency department to check on Sophie Thorne’s condition.

But to her surprise, she ran right into a group of people the moment she stepped out of the room—

At the head of the group was a white-haired old man. Though elderly, he stood ramrod straight, holding a cane. Behind him followed a group of bodyguards in black suits.

Because she had been stopped by bodyguards in black when bringing Sophie Thorne to the medical center, Melody Summers now had a visceral aversion to the sight of them. She was about to step aside to avoid the group when she heard the old man in front of her ask in a deep voice, "...Are you Melody Summers?"

Melody Summers looked up at the question, a confused expression on her face. "...I am. And you are...?"

The group before her looked like they weren’t to be trifled with. This was especially true for the old man, who, despite his white hair, exuded the dignified air of someone in power. Melody was certain she didn’t know anyone like that.

’But how could he possibly know my name?’

Seeing Melody Summers’s guarded expression, the stern-faced old man broke into a smile. "Don’t be afraid, my dear child," he said reassuringly. "I’m Roman Rhodes’s father... I was wondering if you have a moment? Could we talk somewhere else?"

Melody Summers: "..."

***

In a reception room on the top floor of the medical center, Melody Summers sat across from Mr. Rhodes, a teacup in hand, feeling the whole situation was completely absurd.

’Anyone would find it bizarre to be sitting with their mother’s boyfriend’s father!’

Watching Mr. Rhodes calmly sipping his tea, Melody maintained a relaxed, expressionless facade, but inside, her mind was racing...

’Why does Roman Rhodes’s father want to see me?!’

’Is it because he already knows about Roman and Winnie Summers and strongly disapproves, so he’s come to pressure me?!’

’What is Mr. Rhodes going to say to me?’

’Is he going to hand me a check and say, "Fill in any number you want on this check, just make your mother leave my son!"?’

’If that’s really the case...’

’...how much should I write on that check...?’

’I have about eight billion in my account right now, and I’m still two billion short of the ten billion needed for the grand animal gift pack. Can I just fill in two billion?’

’With that two billion, I wouldn’t have to wake up early and stay up late mining, farming, picking fruit, and packing shipments anymore!’

’But would Mr. Rhodes think I was being greedy?’

’Also... I’ve never even dealt with a "check" before. How do you even use one?...’

’Do I have to take it to the bank with my ID to cash it?’

Just as Melody was contemplating whether to pull out her phone and search for how to use a check, she heard a soft CLINK as Mr. Rhodes, sitting opposite her, gently set down his teacup.

The sound was exceptionally clear in the spacious reception room. Melody’s hand trembled slightly, and she instinctively looked up—

Mr. Rhodes was looking at her with a benevolent expression, speaking in a kind tone. "My dear child, I heard your parents divorced a long time ago... Your mother raised you all by herself for so many years. You two must have gone through a lot of hardship, haven’t you?"

Melody Summers: "..."

Melody Summers didn’t understand why Mr. Rhodes, a man she had only just met, would say something like that to her. She just felt awkward.

People tend to pretend to be busy when they’re embarrassed. Melody subconsciously feigned thirst, picking up her teacup and taking a drink.

Butler Archer, standing beside Mr. Rhodes, saw this and coughed lightly, signaling to Mr. Rhodes with his eyes—’Sir, don’t scare the girl!’

Mr. Rhodes shot Butler Archer a look, telling him to mind his own business.

Melody felt awkward during this meeting, but so did Mr. Rhodes.

As an old man, he also felt extremely out of place initiating a conversation with his son’s girlfriend’s daughter.

But the problem was, he was out of other options.

Watching his son, Roman, pursue Winnie Summers for over half a year with no progress, only to end up getting himself shot and hospitalized, Mr. Rhodes had nearly fainted on the spot when he heard the news. He only managed to pull through by taking a whole bottle of heart medication.

Mr. Rhodes simply couldn’t wait any longer. He felt he had to do something! Help his son win his daughter-in-law’s hand!

Since Roman wouldn’t let him approach Winnie Summers directly, he could approach her family!

And just like that, Melody Summers, who had come to the medical center to visit, had walked right into his line of fire.

Mr. Rhodes looked at Melody kindly. He hoped she would open up to him and talk about the hardships she and her mother had faced over the years. That way, he could comfort her as an elder, build a rapport, and subtly promote his own son.

Under Mr. Rhodes’s expectant gaze, Melody set down her teacup and answered sincerely, "...It wasn’t that bad, actually. You know, a lot of families in our country have what you’d call ’widow-style parenting.’ Even having a dad around isn’t necessarily any better..."

Thinking of how Adam Lawson and his family had leeched off Winnie Summers, Melody lowered her gaze slightly and replied, her face devoid of emotion, "My mom and I did just fine on our own."

’At least, much better than before the divorce. After they split, Winnie no longer had to earn money to support Adam Lawson’s mistress and his illegitimate children.’

Mr. Rhodes: "..."

"Ahem, ahem..." Mr. Rhodes coughed a few times to cover his embarrassment and continued, "That may be so... but with just the two of you relying on each other all these years, you must have faced many difficulties..."

At this, Mr. Rhodes picked up his teacup, took two sips, and went on, "My dear child, since fate has brought us together... you can think of me as your own grandfather!

"From now on, if you ever need anything or run into any trouble, you can contact me anytime. As long as it’s within the Rhodes Family’s power, we will do our best to help you solve it!"

Given Mr. Rhodes’s status, his words carried immense weight. Even Butler Archer, standing nearby, was surprised to hear them. He instinctively looked up at Melody Summers, but her expression wasn’t as flattered and overwhelmed as he had expected.

Melody Summers: "..."

Melody knew Mr. Rhodes meant well, but she still found it awkward—’Who goes around volunteering to be someone’s grandfather?’

’Especially a man she’d only just met.’

Melody’s toes curled in her shoes from the sheer awkwardness. Just as she was mentally preparing what to say, the reception room door was suddenly pushed open—

Ronan Rhodes burst in excitedly, holding a food container. "Grandpa, didn’t you say you were going to see Uncle? What are you doing here...?"

When he saw Melody Summers sitting in front of Mr. Rhodes, he froze for a second, then asked in surprise, "...What are you doing here?"

The moment she saw Ronan Rhodes, Melody froze as well—she suddenly remembered something...

She smacked her forehead and said to Ronan, "I almost forgot! Sophie Thorne is still in the emergency room!"