Chapter 597

Melody Summers had been standing silently behind them the whole time, listening. When she heard the words "playing hard to get," she couldn’t help but let out a "PFFT" of laughter.

The burst of laughter was startlingly clear in the quiet corner, making both Kylie Walsh and Autumn Sawyer jump.

They quickly spun around and saw Melody Summers standing behind them, arms crossed.

The moment their eyes met, hatred flooded Kylie Walsh’s gaze. She glared at Melody Summers, gritting her teeth. "Well, well! If it isn’t you, you little bitch! ...How dare you show your face in front of me again?!"

Melody Summers stared at Kylie Walsh, her expression impassive. "And why shouldn’t I?" she asked coldly. "I haven’t done anything wrong. If you ask me, you’re the one who should be too ashamed to be seen."

Melody Summers stared right into Kylie Walsh’s blazing eyes. "Kylie Walsh," she said in a low voice, "we live in a society with laws. And yet you dared to have us kidnapped..."

"So what? I wish I could kill you!" Kylie Walsh seethed, glaring at Melody Summers. "This is all your fault! All your fault, you little bitch! You killed my niece! Since she’s dead, your whole family can forget about having a good life!"

In stark contrast to Kylie Walsh’s fury, Melody Summers remained perfectly calm. She nodded thoughtfully. "Oh? So you’re admitting you were the one who had us kidnapped?"

"...And what about The Serene Leaf Teahouse? You had us taken there. What’s your relationship with that place? Is the Walsh Family the secret owner?"

The words had barely left Melody Summers’ mouth when, before Kylie Walsh could answer, Autumn Sawyer thought to herself, ’This is bad.’

Autumn Sawyer discreetly tugged on Kylie Walsh, who was about to fly into another rage, and cut in. "Now, now, young lady, you can’t just spout nonsense!"

Autumn Sawyer narrowed her round eyes and said with a light chuckle, "Kidnapping? Teahouse? We don’t know what you’re talking about... Let me give you some advice. Don’t try to take advantage of Miss Walsh’s anger to make these wild accusations and frame us!"

Melody Summers turned to look at Autumn Sawyer, her brow furrowed slightly—the woman looked familiar, but she couldn’t place where she’d seen her before...

After a moment of silence, Melody Summers asked, "And who are you? We’re having a conversation here. Why are you butting in?"

Autumn Sawyer’s smile froze. She clearly hadn’t expected such a question. ’She’d been famous for years, starring in countless popular films and TV shows, and this girl really didn’t recognize her?!’

Autumn Sawyer forced a smile. "My name is Autumn Sawyer," she replied. "I’m a friend of Miss Walsh."

Hearing the name "Autumn Sawyer," realization dawned on Melody Summers. "...So it’s you!"

Autumn Sawyer saw her reaction and nodded with a smile. ’She knew it! She was a household name; of course Melody Summers would have heard of her!’

Just as Autumn Sawyer expected Melody Summers to name one of her famous roles, Melody’s voice cut in, cold as ice. "Chloe Sharp was your fan, wasn’t she? That makes you one of the masterminds behind the kidnapping! You’re the one who had her lure us there!"

"...And Chloe Sharp’s death—was that you tying up loose ends? Did you kill her and have her body dumped at her company’s entrance?!"

The moment Melody Summers finished speaking, Autumn Sawyer feigned shock, placing a hand on her chest. "My dear miss, what are you talking about...?"

"Chloe who? Kidnapping? Murder...? I have no idea what you’re talking about! I’m a law-abiding citizen; you can’t just go around making false accusations!"

Seeing Autumn Sawyer’s melodramatic act, Melody Summers scoffed. "Wow. Is your acting this terrible in your movies, too?"

"You!" Autumn Sawyer’s face instantly turned crimson. "How could you say something like that!" she sputtered, completely flustered.

Melody Summers found it amusing to see Autumn Sawyer lose her cool and was about to taunt her further. But in the next instant, she saw Kylie Walsh step forward and viciously hurl the paper bag of breakfast she was holding straight at her—

Melody Summers quickly dodged. The bag grazed her side, hit the wall behind her with a SPLAT, and fell to the floor. Soupy liquid and food spilled everywhere, filling the hallway with the smell of breakfast.

Looking at the mess on the floor, Melody Summers frowned. ’In times like these, when so many people are going hungry, Kylie Walsh is still wasting food!’

Kylie Walsh’s furious voice echoed in the hall. "You bitch! Still running your mouth! I’m telling you, I’m not letting you get away with this! You killed my niece, and I’ll be damned if I let her die for nothing. I will make your entire family pay!"

With that, Kylie Walsh raised her hand high and brought it down in a vicious slap aimed at Melody Summers’ face.

Melody caught Kylie Walsh’s wrist mid-swing, then used her momentum to twist her arm and pin it behind her back.

A sharp pain shot through Kylie Walsh’s shoulder, and her scream echoed down the hallway.

"AH! AHH! Let go of me, you bitch!"

The next second, Melody Summers lifted her foot and kicked Kylie Walsh hard in the small of her back, sending her sprawling to the floor—right into the puddle of spilled food.

"AHHH!!" Kylie Walsh shrieked.

Autumn Sawyer’s face went pale with fright. She rushed to help Kylie up, but she slipped on the spilled liquid and fell right on top of her!

Watching Kylie Walsh and Autumn Sawyer shrieking in a tangled heap, Melody Summers took two steps back in disgust. "Kylie Walsh," she said coldly, "your niece, Zara Walsh, brought her death upon herself. Ultimately, it was your Walsh Family that failed to raise her properly!"

"But don’t you worry. Zara Walsh is dead, but the rest of your Walsh Family won’t get away. I’m sure you’ll all be reunited very soon!"

Without another word, Melody Summers turned and walked away.

’I’d like to deal with Kylie Walsh and Autumn Sawyer right now,’ Melody thought, ’but since Roman Rhodes said there’s a state investigation into The Serene Leaf Teahouse, I’ll wait for now...’

Watching Melody Summers’ retreating figure, Kylie Walsh’s face flushed with rage. She clenched her fists and pounded the ground in frustration.

Autumn Sawyer, however, was worried. She leaned close to Kylie Walsh’s ear and whispered, "She knows... It’s all that bitch Chloe Sharp’s fault! She actually dared to sell us out... Kylie, what are we going to do now?"

Kylie Walsh struggled to her feet, peeling off her food-splattered jacket in disgust. "What are you panicking for?" she snapped, frowning. "So what if she knows? Didn’t she just run off with her tail between her legs?"

"Even if the sky falls, my older brother and my cousin will be there to hold it up. What do you have to worry about!"

Seeing Kylie Walsh’s confident expression, Autumn Sawyer could only force a smile and nod in agreement. But for some reason, ever since meeting Melody Summers, she’d had a knot of panic in her stomach.

Little did she know, the events of the coming days would prove her sixth sense was right...