Chapter 543
Upon hearing Pauline’s words, Owen was furious, directing his anger both at her and at himself.
He said, “I must have been blind, raising a parasite in my own home, and I only discovered it today! Tell me the truth right now! Who sent that wine?”
Pauline’s lips trembled as she replied, “I don’t know… I really don’t remember. I didn’t recognize the people who brought it…”
Her evasiveness only fueled Owen’s anger. “You wretched old woman! I’ll beat you to death!”
As Owen moved to strike Pauline, Melody hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.
She grabbed his hand and urged, “Mr. Nathan! Now is not the time to punish her. The priority right now is Miss Nathan’s health.”
Owen took a deep breath, regaining some composure. “Dr. Knowles, can you cure my daughter?”
“There is a way, but it will be a bit complicated.”
Owen’s eyes lit up, his anger momentarily forgotten. “Dr. Knowles, as long as you can save my daughter, just name your price. I won’t haggle over a single cent!”
Melody didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she glanced at Pauline.
Understanding her unspoken request, Owen quickly ordered his servants to take Pauline away. “Lock her up, and don’t let her escape!”
After issuing the order, Owen returned to Melody. His tone was much softer. “Dr. Knowles, what do you need to do to save my daughter? I promised my late wife that I would take good care of Shindy. I can’t let anything happen to her!”
Seeing the middle-aged man on the verge of tears moved Melody. She had never experienced a father’s love, but Owen showed her what it meant.
If Russell had cared for her half as much as Owen did for Shindy, she wouldn’t have ended up at odds with the Fox family.
But Melody quickly reminded herself of her original purpose. She calmed herself before speaking. “This wine, ‘Three Steps Wine,’ is extremely potent and the main cause of Miss Nathan’s long-term lethargy. The symptoms of intoxication and drowsiness can be easily treated, and the antidote is already here.”
She weighed the bottle of herbal soup Pauline had left behind and tossed it to Owen.
Owen asked, “This is the antidote? How did it end up here?”
Melody explained, “The person who targeted your daughter set up a plan to ensure Pauline, the ‘host,’ would last longer. The soup contains arrowroot flowers. After quitting breast milk, Miss Nathan should drink it twice a day. In two to three days, her condition will improve.”
Owen awkwardly clutched the bottle. The Nathan family’s secret, hidden for over twenty years, had been casually exposed by Melody.
But then Owen realized that Melody had only given him part of the information. He quickly asked, “What about the poison in the wine?”
“The poison… I’ll need some time to think of a proper antidote,” she replied.
Owen asked in confusion, “Is this poison very difficult to neutralize?”
Melody gave him a meaningful look. “Do you know who might have poisoned your daughter?”
“I don’t know… I have many business rivals. I can’t be certain which one of them would go this far…”
Melody held up her hand to stop him. “I’m not talking about the poison right now. Let’s discuss the wine first. Three Steps Wine. Did you know it is a banned liquor?”
“Banned? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“So let me explain. It’s banned because… it was created by malicious doctors and is highly addictive.”
At the mention of “malicious doctors,” Owen’s eyes widened, and his pupils constricted. “Malicious doctors?”
Melody nodded. “Mr. Nathan, think about it. Even if your business rivals hated you, would they risk their careers just to harm your daughter? Who among your enemies knows you and the Nathan family so well and has the means to involve malicious doctors without fearing the
consequences? Or better yet, who in all of Silverlake has the power to shield malicious doctors?”
Owen felt his body stiffen. The mere thought of malicious doctors, a matter of grave concern to the authorities, chilled him. In all of Silverlake, only one family was influenced to harbor such figures…
“The Swanson family… It must be either Ulric or Ken…” The moment he spoke, Owen realized he had inadvertently voiced his suspicions and quickly covered his mouth.
But when he saw that Melody wasn’t surprised and had a knowing smile, he understood immediately. He asked sternly, “Who are you?”
Melody spread her hands. “No need to be alarmed. I’m a doctor who can cure your daughter. You don’t have to doubt that.”
Owen wasn’t a fool. He was now certain of her true identity. “You’re one of Ken’s people! He sent you here to blackmail me with the antidote!”
Melody didn’t deny it. “I wouldn’t call it blackmail. Let’s say it’s a fair trade. As I mentioned earlier, for me to cure Shindy, you’ll need to agree to one condition. And by now, I think you know what that condition is.”
Owen clenched his fists, his emotions in turmoil. “You want me to return to Ken’s side, betray Ulric, and help Ken regain his position at the Swanson Group’s headquarters.”
Melody smiled. “You’re a smart man, Mr. Nathan. And because of that, you should realize that the person truly trying to harm you isn’t Ken.”
Sweat formed on Owen’s forehead.
It was true. If Ken wanted to threaten him using Shindy’s life, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.
He could have chosen a simpler method to ensure Owen knew he was being coerced, without hiding it for so long. Moreover, during Shindy’s illness, it was Ulric’s people, not Ken’s, who frequently visited his home.
Seeing the change in Owen’s expression, Melody knew it was time for Ken to speak with him directly. She said, “I have a friend waiting for you. Would you like to come with me?”
Owen knew exactly who she meant by “friend.”
He was not one to waver. He had already betrayed Ken once, and switching sides again would make him an outcast in both camps. But the thought of Shindy’s condition made his head throb.
Melody said calmly, “I’ll give you three minutes to decide. Your reputation or your daughter’s life. And don’t blame us for pushing you. It was your greed that led you to betray us and side with Ulric. If not for that, none of this would be happening. Take your time. I’ll wait.”
She patted Owen on the shoulder and walked to the door, waiting patiently for him to make his decision.
Meanwhile, James finally managed to trace the call records from the SIM card Janet had purchased at the airport, thanks to his connections in the black market.