Chapter 650

Melody was visibly depressed. She put down the list of ingredients in her hand with resignation.

“Let’s go.”

James looked at Melody and could not help but be puzzled. ‘Why is Melody going back to Ken’s house with her look like she’s going to die?’ thought James.

However, time was tight. Astrid called him in advance and ordered him to bring Melody back to the Swanson villa before 5:30. It was already 4:50.

Although the person James was following was Ken, Ken had yet to fall out with his family. On the surface, Astrid was still Ken’s mother. James had to listen to Astrid’s orders.

However, James had a conscience on the way. He reminded Melody, “Miss Fox, Mr. Swanson will be busy for another hour before he can start back. You will arrive alone first. Be careful no matter what you do.”

Melody immediately understood.

Astrid, Melody’s mother-in-law in her previous life, was trying to do the same thing to Melody by showing her strength in Ken’s absence.

However, Melody would not endure humiliation like in her previous life this time.

To put it bluntly, Melody cared too much about Ulric in her previous life, so she naturally obeyed Astrid from the bottom of her heart.

However, this life was different.

Melody straightened her back and said, “Yes. Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

James looked at her worriedly in the rearview mirror. Then he stepped on the accelerator, and the car sped toward the Swanson villa.

However, it was inevitable that there would be a traffic jam at the hour. No matter how superb James was, it was dark when they reached the Swanson villa.

James quickly glanced at the time when he stopped the car.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that there were still three minutes to go.

“Miss Fox, let’s go in.”

Melody nodded. She didn’t need James to lead the way. She walked past the winding stone road in front of the parking lot and stepped through the living room door at 5:59 p.m.

As soon as Melody entered, she heard laughter coming from inside.

“Mabel, you’re still the best. You only give me a little massage, and my headache is eased. Yesterday, I even called a technician to come to my house. It was useless after more than an hour of massage.”

“I made a fool of myself. The technician is more professional than me. Perhaps your headache is already better, so I just happened to hit the jackpot.”

“You’re too modest, Mabel. You are a good girl.”

Melody frowned slightly when she looked at the two people chatting and laughing on the sofa in the living room.

‘Mabel is here, too? It seems that her relationship with Ulric is going smoothly… In my previous life, they had always been secretly together because of my existence. Now, they can openly stick

together. However, Mabel is still here at this hour. Could it be that she wants to stay overnight?’ thought Melody.

Melody looked around but did not see Ulric.

Behind her, James saw Astrid and Mabel did not notice their arrival. He could not help but speak up for Melody, “Mrs Astrid, Mrs. Melody is here.”

James did not want Melody to be the person who accompanied Ken for the rest of her life, but he knew well Melody was on his side.

As long as Melody did not divorce Ken, her honor represented Ken’s honor.

James was well known in this respect.

Astrid and Mabel looked over in surprise as soon as James spoke.

However, Mabel was pretending to be surprised.

She had seen Melody long before Melody stepped through the door.

‘She is so hideously ugly that it would be odd if she didn’t attract my attention,’ thought Mabel.

However, Mabel deliberately pretended not to see them. She wanted Melody to see she was a lot closer to Astrid than Melody, Astrid’s daughter-in-law.

“Here you are. Come and have a seat.” Astrid’s expression was calm, completely different from her attitude toward Mabel just then.

Melody’s expression did not change one bit. She nodded and called, ‘Mrs. Astrid.’ Then Melody was ready to sit down.

However, when Astrid heard Melody call her Mrs. Astrid, her ugly expression turned even uglier instantly.

‘Why? Ken has dared not call me Mom for so many years. Does the village girl also dare not to treat me as the mistress of the Swanson Family?’ thought Astrid.

“Indeed, I’m not worthy of being your mother.” Astrid sneered.

Melody paused slightly. Then, she ignored Astrid’s words and sat down in another armchair.

Astrid grew angrier.

However, Melody was now the Swanson family’s legitimate young mistress and Ken’s registered wife. So many servants were in the living room, and so was James, the microphone. Astrid could not flare up directly.

She looked at James sharply.

“You’re good at doing things. I asked you to bring her over before 5:30. You’re not even a minute early. How kind of you!” said Astrid.

There is always an excuse to convict the guilty.

Moreover, it was obvious Astrid was scolding Melody.

How could James not understand Astrid’s intentions?

‘Miss Fox is wronged when Mr. Swanson is away, thought James.

To avoid causing more trouble for Melody, James admitted his mistake. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Astrid. I went to pick up Miss Fox after you called me. It’s just that the traffic was too heavy, and I wasted a lot of time.”

Astrid was still unwilling to give up.

“So, am I wrong about you?”

The cold sweat broke out on James’s forehead.

Melody was about to speak up for James when she saw James give her a don’t look.

She understood. ‘Astrid is looking for someone to vent her anger on. If I stop Astrid, James will be in a worse situation.

Thinking of that, Melody could only calm down and force herself to ignore it.

James said sincerely, “It’s all my fault, Mrs. Astrid.”

Astrid raised her chin slightly. “Since you know your mistake, accept your punishment. Otherwise, you won’t learn your lesson.”

“Yes.”

Astrid rolled her eyes and said, “Kneel outside the door. You’re not allowed to get up until an hour later.”

“Yes.”

James did not say anything else. He stood up and walked outside to kneel.

Coincidentally, it started to rain when Melody came over. Now it was light rain turning into moderate rain, and Jesse was forced to kneel in the rain.

The autumn rain was bone-chilling, not to mention kneeling on the ground.

However, James did not say a word. He knelt just like that.

Melody couldn’t stand it. She lowered her eyes to think of a way.

She at least could text Ken to ask him to come over earlier.

After all, it was the Swanson family. Melody could not do whatever she wanted. She still had to consider the Swanson family’s true mistress.

However, Astrid’s gaze drifted over as Melody’s hand touched her phone.

With a faint smile, Astrid said, “Melody, you wouldn’t have to call Ken to report such a small matter just because I punished a servant who did something wrong, would you?

Melody’s fingers stiffened slightly as she squeezed out a smile.

“How can that be? You’re overthinking.”

“It’s good that I’m overthinking. Ken has just joined the company. We can’t let the gossipy subordinates find his fault. Let’s not disturb his work because of family matters.”

Melody pursed her lips. “You’re right.”

Mabel was overjoyed when she watched Melody who wanted to flare up but could only hold it in.

Since Melody returned from the countryside, Mabel had been suffering in front of her, even her mother…

Mabel’s mood sank when she thought of Yolanda, who had just died and had yet to be buried.

She turned to Astrid and said, “Mrs. Astrid, didn’t we just talk about how Herbathrive was trending today because the ravioli was delicious? I wonder if I can eat the ravioli that Melody made herself.