The Lancaster Villa.

After Melody Summers left the Lancaster estate, Elaine Hughes felt a little upset. She had been so busy comforting Sylvia Lancaster that she hadn’t even noticed when Melody had gone.

Elaine Hughes sighed and said, "How could Melody leave just like that? She should have at least stayed for dinner. Sylvia and I prepared a room for her, but she didn’t even glance at it."

Silas Lancaster snorted coldly. "So what if she left? Why should we have her stay for dinner? She made my sister cry."

Hearing this, Sylvia Lancaster quickly shook her head and said, "Silas, it’s all my fault. It’s not Melody’s. Don’t say that."

Silas Lancaster sighed. "Sis, you’re just too kind. If you’re this nice, that country girl is going to walk all over you."

"That’s enough. Quiet down." Robert Lancaster shot Silas a glare, then turned to Simon Lancaster. "Simon, transfer 6.4 million to Melody from my personal account tomorrow."

Simon Lancaster was taken aback. "Didn’t we agree on 4.4 million?"

Robert Lancaster took a drag from his cigarette and said slowly, "The extra 2 million is child support for the Summers family. From now on, Melody has nothing to do with them. Once they take the money, they should have the sense to let Melody return to the Lancaster family sooner."

Simon Lancaster nodded. "Okay, I understand. I’ll have someone arrange it right away."

As Sylvia Lancaster listened to their conversation, she gently bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with an unreadable, dark expression.

Hearing this, Silas Lancaster said with dissatisfaction, "Dad, you gave them an extra 2 million. That’s enough for a rural family to live without worrying about food or clothing for the rest of their lives. Why don’t we just not let her come back at all?"

"Shut up," Robert Lancaster snapped. He and Elaine Hughes had two sons and a daughter. Simon Lancaster and Sylvia Lancaster were both sensible and worry-free, but their youngest son, Silas Lancaster, was a constant troublemaker who often caused problems at school.

Sylvia Lancaster, standing to the side, bit her lip and said softly, "Silas, don’t make Dad angry. After all, our little sister is Mom and Dad’s biological daughter. It’s all my fault for making her unhappy. She must not want to come back because I’m here."

Seeing Sylvia Lancaster’s tear-filled eyes, Elaine Hughes’s heart ached. She pulled her into an embrace and comforted her, "How could this be your fault, Sylvia? You didn’t do anything wrong. Sigh, Silas is right. Our Sylvia is just too kind."

Sylvia Lancaster buried her face in Elaine Hughes’s arms and said in a choked voice, "Mom, maybe I should just move out. Little sister is your real daughter. You must want her back more. I’m willing to move out to make you and Dad happy."

"Silly child, don’t say such foolish things. You’ll always be Mom’s most beloved daughter. This will always be your home," Elaine Hughes quickly reassured her.

"Do you remember that 3-million-dollar painting you liked at the auction? Mom bought it for you. The auction house will deliver it in a few days, and I’ll have someone hang it in your room."

"Thank you, Mom." Sylvia Lancaster buried her head in Elaine Hughes’s shoulder, and where no one could see, the corners of her mouth curved into a faint smile.

But Silas Lancaster chimed in from the side, "Mom, you saw that country girl’s attitude the other day. She actually asked if Sylvia was going to move out! She’s just jealous of her. If you make her come back, she’s definitely going to bully Sylvia."

Robert Lancaster lit a cigarette and looked at his youngest son, Silas, irritably. "No matter what, Melody is your older sister. A daughter of the Lancaster family cannot be left to fend for herself out there. Otherwise, what would people say if word got out? What would outsiders think of our family?"

In Robert Lancaster’s eyes, the Lancaster family and a rural family like the Summers were worlds apart. Melody Summers would surely prefer to return to the Lancasters and be the daughter of a wealthy family.

Yesterday, Melody Summers had taken the initiative to move up the signing of the Mount Anworth land contract for the benefit of the Lancaster Group. That was probably her way of trying to curry favor with the family.

As for why Melody Summers hadn’t agreed to stay with the Lancasters right away, he figured it was because she was throwing a tantrum after being criticized by Silas. ’Young girls,’ he thought, ’always need a way to save face.’

With this in mind, Robert Lancaster ordered Silas, "Tomorrow, you’ll go to Mount Anworth, apologize properly to your sister, and then bring her back."

"On what grounds?!" Silas Lancaster asked, shocked. He didn’t want to see that country girl at all. ’If my friends and classmates find out I have a sister who grew up in the countryside, how could I ever show my face again?’

Robert Lancaster snorted. "You don’t have to go. But starting today, your allowance card is cut off."

Silas Lancaster gritted his teeth reluctantly and muttered, "Fine, I’ll go!"

Seeing that he had agreed, Robert Lancaster left for the company with Mrs. Lancaster.

Only Sylvia Lancaster and Silas Lancaster remained in the living room. Sylvia comforted him, saying, "Silas, Mom and Dad are determined to have our sister come back. Don’t make them angry right now."

"Yeah, I know." Silas’s attitude softened when he faced Sylvia.

In his eyes, Sylvia Lancaster was generous and elegant, gentle and proper. She could dance ballet, play the piano, and had even held her own art exhibition just after turning eighteen. She was the best sister in the world. His classmates and friends all knew his sister was a perfect, well-bred lady.

Before Sylvia Lancaster was engaged to Ethan Sutton, the heir of the Sutton Family, many rich heirs had tried to get close to Sylvia by currying favor with Silas. He had always been very proud to have a sister like her.

Now, to be told that his sister wasn’t Sylvia Lancaster, but a country girl like Melody Summers, was something he simply couldn’t accept. He wished Melody Summers would never return to the Lancaster family!

*

The next morning, the Summers family were all up early.

After washing up, Melody Summers glanced at her phone and saw a notification from her bank. A total of 6.4 million had been deposited into her account.

That was 2 million more than the contract stipulated.

There was also a message from Simon Lancaster.

Simon’s message explained that 4.4 million was for the land transfer. The extra 2 million was compensation from the Lancaster family to Melody’s adoptive mother. The Lancasters expressed their gratitude for her raising Melody and hoped she would use the money for her retirement.

Simon also told Melody to pack her things and call him, so she could return to the Lancaster family soon and put Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster’s minds at ease.

million. Melody Summers stared at the number, lost in thought. ’In my past life, the Lancasters sold me off for 2 million as well. Now they’re compensating me with 2 million. Is this some kind of karmic cycle?’

Melody Summers looked at Simon’s message. She knew they were trying to use this 2 million to buy her away from the Summers family. She scoffed and didn’t reply.

Melody Summers remembered her past life. When the extreme cold and blizzards hit, Simon Lancaster had a persistent high fever, and the whole family was helpless. It was she who had braved the heavy snow to go out and find medicine for him.

After taking the medicine, Simon’s fever broke. But Melody herself fell ill from venturing out into the blizzard.

Then, Sylvia Lancaster came over and offered a few words of feigned comfort. When Simon saw this, he grew displeased and said it was all Melody’s fault for getting sick and burdening Sylvia with having to take care of her.

Melody Summers had kept a mental tally of every single one of these debts. ’This 2 million,’ she thought, ’I’ll just consider it a down payment on the interest from the Lancasters.’