Ch. 2541..2550

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2541-Everyone looked sympathetically in her direction, having noticed that something was amiss. She had suffered a humiliating loss, one that might be attributed to a lapse in focus. The issue could end there if she was in a good mood though.

After all, she went to the dance studio to practice her dancing and prepare a routine for when she had a meet-and-greet with her fans. She did not think that her rival would be better than her when so few classes had been attended.

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Though she had been anticipating the dance instructor's announcement of her victory in the competition, it was Melody's hand that the instructor raised. She

stared at the instructor in disbelief and said, "Ma'am! This must be a mistake.

I'm on your left! You should be raising my hand!"

The instructor blinked and lowered Melody's hand. She then announced, "The winner of the first round is-Melody!"

Carmen was left rattled and in utter disbelief. "Even if you're biased, you can't show it so blatantly in front of everyone! We can all see who the true winner is!

All my respect and admiration for you has gone down the drain after you lied in front of so many people just to please Melody and Lucas!"

The instructor looked at her in confoundment. "Why are you so convinced you'd win? No one objected when I declared Melody the winner. Have a look at everyone's expressions, will you?"

After her reminder, Carmen finally noticed that the sympathetic looks she believed were directed at Melody were directed at herself. Shocked, she took two steps back and said, "No… This must've been a mistake! She should be the loser here! Are you all brainwashed by her, too?"

As the scene became more dreadful to watch, the instructor stepped forward and explained, "As I've said before, your dancing is practically flawless, but you have this air of superiority over you. Your sole motivation seems to be expressing yourself in the best light possible, yet you forget that dance itself is a form of expression. What you should be expressing isn't so much yourself, but how much you resonate with the act of dancing. You're putting yourself in the spotlight a little too much, if you get what I mean."

She snorted. "Tch. You're only saying that because she's your superstar student.

You said that my dancing is flawless, then what are your comments about her?

Do you genuinely think she's good? Or are you just going to brush it off by telling me that she's talented in dancing? I'm not going to accept this excuse again. I've heard it too many times already."

The instructor made no comment and simply asked the person who had recorded the video to bring over his phone so she could take a look and see who won and who lost.

Carmen's expression was very disdainful at first, but as she watched, her expression gradually darkened. To put it bluntly, her performance was the polar opposite of Melody's. Just as the instructor had critiqued before, Carmen's focus was on self-expression, while Melody's focus was on expressing the dance.

"You have many years of dancing under your belt, and I'm sure the winner is clear to you now that you've seen the video. And this is just the first round. Are you still going to continue?"

If she lost both rounds, she probably would not be able to hold her head up in the dance room anymore. The instructor had given her a way out with that question.

Just as Carmen was about to say yes, Melody declined ahead of her.

Carmen was a little surprised by that. "Are you scared of losing?"

The instructor nearly rolled her eyes in front of them. Melody did that to save the last shred of Carmen's dignity, yet Carmen misconstrued Melody's response to be a sign of cowardice.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2542-It was thoroughly shocking that she could utter something so shameless after witnessing the contrast in performance between the two individuals just now.

Melody said nothing much after that. She told them that she had other matters to attend to and that her family would grow anxious if she stayed too long.

"Do you think we live in a cave? Your family disowned you long ago! What family are you talking about? Just admit that you're afraid. I'm not going to laugh at you for running away like a coward." Carmen had lost, but her arrogance remained, and she insulted Melody with every remark.

The instructor, unable to tolerate it any longer, was on the brink of reprimanding Carmen when a man's voice echoed suddenly from the doorway.

"That's some tall words for someone who lost the first round. Do you take everyone here for blind idiots who can't discern who won and who lost?"

Lucas had sensed something amiss since the moment Melody's dance instructor messaged him. When he came early to pick Melody up, he chanced upon her contesting with another student.

Though initially intrigued by their performances, he became infuriated once the challenge ended. Carmen's snide comments only fueled Lucas' irritation.

Melody's demeanor became gentler when she spotted him, and she immediately shed her defensive stance. "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you not to worry?"

Everyone could sense the affection radiating between them.

When Carmen was confronted by the man whom she had a crush on, her words turned acrid and her cheeks reddened in anger too.

"I… You have no idea what kind of person she is, Mister Lucas! She's a bane!

She'll bring you nothing but misery. You should cut her off for your sake and that of your family."

"I don't recall requesting anyone to slander my wife." Lucas' voice turned even more icy as his anger boiled over, yet Carmen insisted on persuading him in apparent ignorance of the danger.

Carmen believed Lucas was only momentarily swayed by Melody's allure, and she felt obliged to convince him that distancing himself from Melody was the best way forward. "I'm advising you for your own good. You need to part ways with this woman if you want to maintain peace and happiness in your family. Even if you don't make any considerations for your own well-being, the least you can do is think about your grandparents! One of them is currently hospitalized, and I can't even bring myself to think about what might occur if you continue your association with her."

Then, as if to drive her point home, she continued, "She's made a bad reputation for herself online, and many of us have stopped products after learning of heel.net ignore public perception purchasing the Rivera group's involvement with you… You can't you Carmen's claims became increasingly audacious as she spoke, yet Melody simply listened intently without saying a word. It dawned on her that many online comments had painted her in a negative light.

Every word Carmen uttered seemed to rub Lucas the wrong way. Everyone could see that except for her. His countenance remained as icy as ever, yet Carmen showed no signs of abating in her discourse. The instructor could only shake her head. A student like that would have no place in the dance studio.

Carmen lacked basic courtesy, propriety, and awareness of her own. status. She had gone so far as to speak on matters relating to the Rivera Group's business, as if solely through sales facilitated by Riveras amassed their for t that the Riveras would go bankrupt if a certain segment of society ceased to buy their products. Content The instructor, who had not spoken a word, had finally seen Carmen's true nature. All that was left to do was wait for Lucas' response and discern their next course of action.

"Ah, it seems you're well acquainted with taking pre-emptive measures when running a business. Shall I appoint you the president of our company then?"

Lucas asked. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Even a fool could discern the hostility in his tone.

Carmen fell silent for a moment before saying, "What do you mean by that? I'm only trying to be considerate."

"I'm calling you a busybody," Lucas said.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2543-You're a stranger. A nobody. Know your place, and stop being nosy," Lucas added.

He then turned to the instructor and said, "When did a student like her enroll in this dance studio? She and anyone else who can't get along with Melody should just be expelled. I've already acquired this place anyway, and I'd hate for this place to receive fees from people like her."

The instructor nodded. There was no reason whatsoever to tolerate someone whose focus was on other things rather than dancing. Moving forward, they needed to scrutinize each prospective student more carefully.

Whispers circulated among the students as they were unaware of when ownership of the dance studio had quietly changed hands. Even more shocking was the revelation that they had just been unknowingly criticizing the owner's wife.

"You want her to expel me?" Carmen exclaimed with a panic-stricken voice.

"Just because I don't like Melody doesn't mean you can expel me! You have no grounds other than your selfish reasons! You don't have the right to do that! I've paid my fees, and I'm a student here!"

Lucas snorted coldly, "I am the owner, so it's my right to manage the place as I see fit. Your fees will be refunded in full, so technically, you've been attending classes here for free the entire time. It's quite clear then that you have gotten the better end of the deal here, so the least you can do is to stop causing trouble here."

Lucas' penetrating gaze seemed to silence Carmen, bringing her protests to an abrupt halt. "You can't do that…" Carmen whimpered. "Why not?" Lucas retorted. "Melody is my wife. Perhaps you'll be able to retain your status as a student if you apologize to her."

Carmen bit her lip at that suggestion. She seemed to be resolute, yet torn at the same time. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Melody interjected and tugged at Lucas' arm, "Let's just forget about this and leave. We have more important things to attend to at home. It's not worth wasting time here with them." Melody was not going to return to the studio anyway. Whether Carmen apologized or not mattered little to her.

However, Lucas remained unmoved and gently grasped Melody's hand. "You're being too soft. You might not hold a grudge against them, but there will always be people who exploit your generosity," Lucas remarked.

He then glanced at Carmen and asked, "So? Aren't you going to offer an apology? Melody is the owner's wife, so she can decide whether you can continue your dance lessons here. You have no right to argue "You were wrong in the first place, and if I were you, I'd apologize to her right away. Who knows you might still be able to salvage the situation. But if a spot in this studio doesn't mean much to you, then go ahead and pack your bags. The ball is in your court."

Lucas then took Melody's hand as if about to leave.

Panicked, Carmen called out Melody's name. "Melody… I mean, Miss Melody! I was wrong. I shouldn't have listened to all the gossip on the internet and slandered you. I regret what I said. It's all my fault… Could you please show some mercy and let me continue my lessons here? This studio means a lot to me. I can't afford to go to other dance studios…"

After all, other dance studios were simply too pricey for those who did not come from privileged backgrounds. It was also the reason why the studio was always full of students every year. After Lucas took over, he invested some money in its expansion and recruitment, allowing them to accommodate even more students in the future.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2544-The price remained the same. Melody was able to learn some new things, while the dance studio was able to establish a brand too.

Melody glanced indifferently at Carmen, who-despite pleading with her-betrayed a sense of profound humiliation. It was a rather absurd situation.

"Your expression tells me you're not genuinely sorry. Since you have a passion for dancing, you're more than welcome to continue here, but I hope you won't cause any more trouble over insignificant things again."

Carmen raised her head abruptly and glared at Melody. She knew that Melody refused to let her off the hook because of Lucas. Melody wanted that man for

herself and would not spare any cost to keep it that way. Alas, those actions only brought turmoil to their family one after another.

"What are you staring at?" Lucas frowned, positioning himself in front of Melody.

He hated it when people looked at Melody with disdain.

"She agreed to let you stay, but if you can't do as she asks, then I'll be glad to have you leave." Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Carmen lowered her gaze angrily under Lucas's disapproving stare. "I'll comply."

After Lucas escorted Melody out, the studio went from being silent to resuming its usual lively atmosphere. Everyone gathered in groups and discussed Melody's recent dance performance.

"I never would have expected her to dance so gracefully! She was so captivating!"

"Yeah! I thought our instructor was exaggerating when praising her talent, but I've come to accept that I can never reach her skill level even after dancing for several years! The gap between my ability and hers is simply too wide to bridge."

"Speaking of people like us, even you-know-who is still no match for her despite winning so many awards!" another dancer glanced sneakily at Carmen. "Talent makes all the difference."

That was some consolation for them, if it was consolation in the first place.

Despite lacking natural talent, they might just be able to compensate for it through hard work. There were few naturally gifted individuals in the world, so with enough dedication, it might still be possible to overcome their shortcomings through diligent practice.

"Well, guess we shouldn't say bad stuff about Melody in front of her next time.

You probably noticed already that Lucas tends to defend her a lot. They love each other a lot, and now that we've spent so much time with her, I'm starting to think Melody isn't as terrible as the Internet made her to be."

Having concluded their conversation, they left to continue practicing the new dance routine they learned earlier. Only Carmen remained, clenching her fists silently.

"Melody, you'll pay for this," she muttered under her breath. In her opinion, her dignity should not have been trampled upon by all those people. Just because she did not have a strong backer like Lucas did not mean that they could treat her badly. Melody had simply merely relied on Lucas's influence to assert dominance outside.

"Why is this world so unjust?" Carmen cursed vehemently.

The instructor glanced at Carmen, realizing that further admonition would only fall on deaf ears. It would thus be pointless to waste any more words on her.

Should Carmen kick up a fuss again, the only choice would be to expel her from the class. Even if Melody intervened, it would cause disharmony and unease among the students if a problematic individual was retained. After all, the students were there to learn dancing, not to stir up intrigue in the studio.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2545-There was no point in accepting a student who lacked dedication in dancing and was preoccupied only with twisted thoughts. They had nothing to achieve there and would only cause other students not to focus on dancing.

On their way back, Lucas held Melody's hand while tracing circles absentmindedly on her palm. He gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Melody shifted and gently caressed his hand. "Is something on your mind? Are you still worried about Grandma?"

Lucas glanced at her and pulled her into his embrace with a sigh. "Yes. And you too."

"Me? What's there to worry about me?" Melody raised her head in confoundment while in his embrace.

"You're too kind, which makes you easy pickings for bullies. You'd be going head-to-head with that other student if I didn't come today, right?"

Melody remained indifferent. "She's just a sore loser. I won the first round, and I'm going to win in the next round too. She won't be arrogant anymore after she lost to me."

Melody's perspective was too simplistic; some matters were not as straightforward as who triumphed over whom. Carmen, for instance, had no animosity with her, yet online gossip and seeing Lucas picking her up daily was sufficient for jealousy to brew within.

Melody could rack up victories all she wanted, but Carmen would never accede to that.

"You shouldn't see others in such a negative light. Even though I've faced plenty of challenges since my debut, everything tends to end on a positive note, right?

Plus, you'll always be by my side." Nodding was the only option available to Lucas under Melody's bright and expectant gaze.

"Yes, but what if I fail to reach you in time one day? You can't just stand there and let people do these things to you. Or… You could just ignore them and tell everything to me when I arrive. I'll get back at them for you."

Despite Lucas' serious demeanor, Melody burst into laughter. "Am I a child in your eyes? I'm an adult now. I can handle all that."

Melody's reassurance did nothing to smooth over Lucas' troubled expression.

"Yes, I know you're an adult, but some people aren't as simple as they seem. I'm glad you don't have to go to the dance studio anymore, or I'd be worried about your safety."

Lucas' anxiousness was evident. He genuinely fretted over Melody, and Beatrice's fall down the stairs had wrought him with anguish. He did not want the same fate to befall Melody.

The newfound fame Melody received necessitated the watchful eye of bodyguards, yet she was not accustomed to having people follow her all the time. Lucas, too, did not want to keep her under that close of a watch, and he was fine with allowing two guards to accompany her when she ventured out.

Even so, there were times when Melody did not enjoy the presence of those bodyguards, but the dark circles under Lucas' eyes made her acquiesce.

"Don't think too terribly of her. She is still a young girl, after all, and she's only a few years younger than I am. She's probably just a bit more impulsive, that's all.

Perhaps she just dislikes me as a person? I've been following your advice perfectly all this while, and I've had guards accompany me when I go out too.

You shouldn't worry so much about me."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2546-Melody reached out instinctively and tried to smooth Lucas' furrowed brows.

"You've been fretting over Grandma so much that it breaks my heart to see you like this. I'm sorry I can't share this burden with you." Lucas held Melody in a firm embrace, their faces barely inches apart. He buried himself in her arms and took a deep breath, saying, "Having you beside me is already a great enough help. Take good care of yourself. Don't fall ill or get hurt, okay?"

As much as she wanted to offer more words of comfort to Lucas, they seemed trapped within her heart.

"Okay."

Love was all about giving and taking. Despite the happiness Melody found at Lucas' side, Lucas could never forget the desolation she once endured when he first brought her home. All the pain she suffered in her previous family stemmed from her biological parents, which Lucas often felt guilty about. If he had fallen in love with her sooner, perhaps he could have rescued her quicker from that sea of suffering. Even though she had severed ties with her past family, the infamy she was forced to bear online remained. The clean break from the Sanders she wanted was proving to be a very arduous task. Lucas tightened his embrace and closed his eyes tightly. If he could shrink Melody to the size of a doll, he could carry her away whenever he pleased and spare himself the constant worry. Melody kept quiet. She understood that his helplessness stemmed from his love for her, which both moved her and left her saddened.

At long last, she finally managed to get someone who loved her unconditionally, yet he carried a burden of guilt because of that love. Melody did not want to witness that, so the best thing she could do was heed Lucas' words and protect herself as best as she could. As for the online rumors, Melody paid them no mind at all.

Ultimately, her interactions with social media users were usually one-sided on their part. The slander did not affect her physically, but such hurtful words would nonetheless leave her heartbroken and at a loss. She could not fathom why those people would harbor such hatred towards her. It felt to her as if she had personally wronged them. Her conflicts with the Sander family were between herself and them. Those strangers had nothing to do with all that.

Their motives, as perplexing as they might be, hardly mattered. What mattered most was the love that she received from her fans and Lucas. She did not want them to fret over her.

The car journeyed quietly toward the hospital as the two of them clung silently to each other.

Meanwhile, Leo continued his duty and attempted to reach Wendy. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Is this Miss Wendy?"

The recent incident had caused Wendy's acting career to plummet. Previously, she would receive an offer to star in advertisements at least once a month, but she no longer received such offers. She spent her days holed up in her room, concocting stories and spreading rumors about Melody online. It had been a while since she received a call from a stranger, and her first assumption was that it might be an offer for work.

"Hello, are you a director? Did you call to offer me a commercial role? I'm available anytime! Let's discuss the terms."

Wendy's desperation stunned Leo for a moment. He eventually clarified to her, "I'm sorry, Miss Wendy. I'm not calling to offer you anything. I just have some information I'd like to confirm with you." Excitement drained from Wendy as she slumped back onto her bed. "Oh…"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2547-"Who the hell are you, then? How did you get my number? Who told you that you could call me? Is this some kind of telemarketing ad? I'm not interested in buying a car or a house, and I don't have children either. Piss off!" Wendy berated before slamming the phone down.

Leo and his assistant were left bewildered on the other end.

"Umm…" The two of them exchanged bemused glances and did not expect Wendy to have such a fiery temper. They needed to confirm several pieces of information with her, so Leo had to dial her number again.

Wendy's tirade had left him somewhat peeved as it had been some time since anyone scolded him like that. "You are Miss Wendy, yes? Please hear me out

for a moment. I have some important information to share with you."

"Then just spit it out, for god's sake! You're wasting my time!" Wendy snapped.

Having taken a deep breath, Leo pressed on, "You've been served. We're filing a lawsuit against you for maliciously tarnishing my client's reputation online. A court summons will reach you within five days." With that, Leo swiftly ended the call before Wendy could retaliate or inquire further.

"Seriously? You're bluffing!" Wendy shot up from her bed in a panic. However, the line had gone dead, and all she heard was the dial tone.

"Who's trying to sue me here? Why can't they tell me to my face that I slandered someone online?!" As realization dawned on her, Wendy recalled that Melody was the only one she had ever crossed swords with. She knew right away that Melody was the culprit, and it had to be Melody who could not let her go.

She scoffed and paced back and forth on her bed. "And here I was considering letting you off the hook, but you played dirty by bringing in a lawyer. She's cut from the same cloth as her mother-they're both evil women! Fine, if you want to play dirty, then don't blame me for giving you a taste of your own medicine!"

She glanced at her phone and decided not to reach out to Leo. She knew the day would come when she posted all that stuff online. Even if Melody did not press charges, Lucas could not have stood idly by while his woman was being targeted like that. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

None of that bothered Wendy though. Since she was jobless and without a future, she had nothing to lose anymore.

At the very least, she aimed to drag Melody down with her.

She dialed a number on her phone and asked, "How's the preparations over there? It's almost time to make a move."

The voice on the other end hesitated, "Are you sure the timing is right? There will be lots of bodyguards after what happened."

"Tch!" Wendy scoffed impatiently. "I thought you had a good relationship with that man? Can't you lure him away from her for a minute or two? If you can't manage that, then why even bother teaming up with me?

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2548-Wendy's words were harsh as if Thalia should shoulder all the blame. Thalia was understandably unhappy at the other end of the phone.

"You say that like it's an easy feat to accomplish. Do you think it's that easy to lure him away from that woman for a minute or two? Do you know how many bodyguards are around? They all had their eyes on me after that incident involving Beatrice! It's not easy for me to do something like that at this point in time. If you fail, then I'll become the prime suspect. I've already sacrificed a lot in case you didn't know."

Wendy was irritated. "I never would've considered teaming up with you if you hadn't come to me and suggested that! If you're so indecisive and hesitant about this and that, I might as well just do everything alone!"

She had made up her mind to ruin Melody's reputation either the next day or the day after next. When Thalia told her that it was not a good time to set things in motion, it was practically the same as pouring cold water on her plans. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"I've told you a long time ago that calmness is the key to achieving such a bigscale plan. You decided to make a move because you were too anxious. I never agreed to it, did I?"

Wendy had been in a bad mood after being served by the lawyer, and that was further exacerbated by Thalia's scolding. Her face turned red, and her slender figure became even shakier.

"Of course I'm anxious. She got a lawyer to serve me with a lawsuit! You can take things slow because you're not the one being sued! If I go down, no one's going to be your scapegoat anymore!" Wendy sneered.

Thalia remained silent. They both knew very well that Thalia insisted on cooperating with her because she could then blame Wendy for everything if the incident came to light. Wendy's desire to destroy Melody was so strong that she did not care about being used by Thalia and eventually becoming a scapegoat.

"Okay, I'll leave it at that. If you can't handle it, just quit." Wendy was about to hang up when Thalia stopped her suddenly.

"Wait. Let me think it over again," Thalia said.

"What's there to think about? Her meet and greet is going to be held soon, and the roadshow for the movie is about to begin. She's going to become an instant hit soon.

"You, on the other hand, have no one, no future, and no prospects. Don't you feel anything at all? I was supposed to have what she's having now! Melody robbed me of everything. I'm only in this predicament because of her!"

Thalia's hatred of Melody was equally as strong. Melody's presence had singlehandedly shattered her years of friendship with Lucas. The hard work she put in and the restraint that she exerted over herself was thrown down the drain.

"I hate her just as much as you are! I'm asking you to wait because I need to think of a way to separate them!"

"Fine. I'll wait, but don't keep me waiting too long. Time is running out for me."

Wendy's hatred for Melody surged within as the call ended. It became too much to bear, and she made a wreck of her place by slamming things from the bed to the floor. She then reached for her phone and started typing. [Here's a little nugget about Melody Sander before she became famous: it's all thanks to the financial backer she had behind the scenes. Any guesses? Hint: it's not her current man.] The nastier the post, the more traction gained.

When Wendy saw the horde of social media users commenting on the post, the frustration she felt in her chest lessened only slightly.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2549-Wendy could not care less about being sued. At the very least, she would have accomplished her target of ensuring that those social media users would doubt her character. Even if the lawsuit succeeds, no one would fully trust Melody again. The seeds of doubt, once sowed, could never be removed.

"Hehe, I still got you in the end, Melody!" Thalia's anxiety manifested in her restless movements. Wendy's words continued to linger in her mind after jolting her awake like a shot of electricity. There should be no reason for her to hesitate anymore. Beatrice was unconscious, making it the perfect opportunity to act.

Melody was bestowed with fame and fortune after the successful movie roadshow, but above all, Melody had Lucas. It would be nigh impossible for Thalia to endure having to watch Melody replace her. "It's time for you to suffer,

Melody," Thalia muttered to herself with a bitter voice. "I'll let you have this fleeting moment of happiness with Lucas as compensation for what will soon happen to you." The next day, Beatrice was still unconscious, and Melody tended to her alone in the ward. As part of the plan that Melody and Lucas had earlier hashed out, Melody would care for Beatrice after finishing her work, while Lucas would take over from her once he was done with his.

Their shifts allowed Cedric a bit of respite from being confined to the hospital alongside Beatrice. He was old, after all, and letting him stay there would only worsen his health.

Thalia arrived with a fruit basket and expressed her desire to visit Beatrice. The sight of Beatrice's frail figure on the hospital bed brought about a stream of tears from Thalia, and she covered her mouth as if to stop herself from wailing. She seemed to be in some agony because of what happened.

However, Melody ignored her and continued to massage Beatrice's hands, knowing that there was no end to Thalia's drama.

"I'm sorry I couldn't control my emotions," Thalia sniffled, attempting to regain her composure. "I've known Grandma Beatrice for many years. Seeing her like this… It's heartbreaking." Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"You don't have to let your emotions get the better of you," Melody remarked.

"The doctor assured us that it's just a matter of time before she recovers."

Thalia, seemingly embarrassed by her crying, turned away to wipe her eyes.

After setting down the fruit basket, she suggested to her, "You must be bored of caring for her all alone. Why don't I stay with you today until Lucas arrives?"

Melody was unsurprised by Thalia's sudden offer. She had long expected that Thalia would find some kind of excuse to stay there. After all, Thalia's intentions lay beyond visiting Beatrice-the main purpose was and always would be Lucas.

"It must be hard on such a young and promising actress like you to remain cooped up here just to keep an unconscious old woman company," Thalia quipped as she came forward and started to massage Beatrice's arm like Melody was. Unfortunately, she was not as gentle and nimble as Melody, and Beatrice's arm soon turned red because of the excessive force.

"I don't quite understand what you mean by that," Melody replied.

Thalia chuckled. "There's no need to pretend. As a woman, I understand how much value you place on your career. It must be frustrating to have to tend to Grandma Beatrice at the expense of focusing on the preparations for your meetand-greet."

"Please don't presume things," Melody replied curtly. "Grandma Beatrice is a very important person to me. You and I are not alike."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2550-Melody's tone dripped with sarcasm.

Thalia had often boasted that she had known Beatrice for a long time, but her actions and expressions did not reflect any sense of genuine respect toward the old woman. Thalia's warmth toward Beatrice only surfaced in Lucas' presence, which only invited scrutiny and skepticism about her true intentions.

"Yes. You and I are complete opposites. Lucas and I were childhood sweethearts. And you? You're someone he picked up from God knows where.

Young men tend to enjoy themselves a lot, which I honestly don't mind, but the longer he stays with you, the more he'll realize how good I am. I'm confident he'll come back to me before you know it."

Melody could not help but chuckle at Thalia's unwavering confidence. "You're pretty sure of yourself. Does that mean your place is much higher than my place in his heart?"

Thalia released Melody's hand and grimaced with disgust as she fetched a wet tissue to wipe it. "This isn't a question of confidence. It's the objective truth.

Simply compare the experience between Lucas and me versus you and him. A word of advice for you: don't invest too much emotion in him, or the breakup will hurt much more for you."

Melody shook her head in amusement. "You should spend your free time reading some books instead of being so obsessed with Lucas and me. As for which one of us holds a higher place in his heart… Well… You can think whatever you want if it makes you happy."

Melody was calm and unrattled by Thalia's words.

"What are you insinuating?" Thalia asked in annoyance.

"Exactly what you think I'm insinuating," came Melody's reply.

In the time since they last met, Melody had grown more assertive. Thalia chalked it up to being less harsh on her. Had she acted sooner with Wendy, then she would not need to deal with Melody's audacity. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"It seems you're no longer putting up a facade in front of me," Thalia remarked.

Melody turned to her. "When have ever done that? Time will reveal the depth of my relationship with him. I don't think I need to repeat it to you again, do I?"

That was the end of the conversation Melody and Lucas were together, and she saw no need to flaunt their affection in front of Thalia. Whoever was forced to back off would end up being the true loser and whatever profound connection that Thalia had with Lucas was in the past. After all, Lucas chose to remain by Melody's side, and that was all that mattered.

Thalia remained in deep thought as if genuinely there to visit Beatrice.

After an hour, Melody excused herself to use the restroom.

"Stay here and watch over her. If anything happens, just ring the bell and call a nurse," Melody instructed.

Thalia waved her hand. "She's Lucas' grandma, so I'm equally as invested in her well-being."

Melody left without turning back and ensured the ward door was closed. Once t of sight, Thalia made sure that she was fully alone before swiftly dialing Wendy's number.

"I'm alone in the ward now. Hurry up and do it!" "Understood."

Melody found it a little odd. "Why didn't she go straight to Lucas?"