Chapter 668

She thought, ‘That wouldn’t do!’ Melody quickly ignored her lingering emotions, realizing she couldn’t let them distract her. Once Ken finished his meal, she shifted the conversation to the matter. “From my discussion with the forensic expert, it’s clear that Ulric will ultimately walk away unscathed. The principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’ has always been a cornerstone of Halcyon’s legal system.”

“The poison can’t be detected?” Ken asked.

Melody nodded. “The poison is extremely sophisticated. It behaves like a parasite within the body, disappearing entirely once the host dies. Even when the autopsy is conducted, there won’t be any trace of it left.”

Wendell’s final words alone weren’t enough to convict Ulric. Unless something unexpected happened, he would likely be released within three days.

But Melody couldn’t accept it. Whether it was the incident at the youth center, what happened to Cadence, or even this funeral, Ulric had tried to take her down every time. Yet, she realized there was only so much she could do, and this overwhelming sense of helplessness weighed heavily on her.

Ken remained silent for a long moment before a sudden smile curved his lips. “Ulric is someone who cares about nothing but his interests. While he may eventually be released, he’s already lost something that matters greatly to him.”

“What is it?” Melody asked.

“The conscience,” Ken said.

Melody lifted her gaze and said, “I’ve thought about that too. After everything that’s happened, your father and Margaret will start to see him for who he is. But even so, I still feel it’s not nearly enough.”

Ken poured her a cup of coffee and spoke calmly, “If that’s how you see it, then you’re underestimating my father’s suspicious nature.”

“How so?” Melody asked.

“He’s like a ruler from ancient times. Although he’s getting older and his health is declining, he still doesn’t want to relinquish any authority to either me or Ulric.”

“Didn’t he arrange for you to join the headquarters of the Swanson Group?”

Ken shook his head and said, “That doesn’t help. Even though I’ve been busy lately, most of what I handle are minor tasks, just trivial matters. He keeps all the major projects for himself. Otherwise, why would he handle business trips himself instead of sending me? Business trips are the most exhausting, and just sitting in a car can leave him, someone who gets car sick easily, feeling completely drained.”

Melody was taken aback momentarily and asked, “So what are you implying?”

“He’s the kind of person who would immediately realize that his seemingly indifferent son is targeting his other son. Don’t you think he’s figured out that Ulric’s ultimate goal isn’t me but the Swanson Group, which he values most?”

“But, after all, he is your father’s son.”

Ken suggested she drink the coffee to warm up before continuing, “Just wait. We don’t need to do anything. Whatever we do now will be under his watchful eye. If we hold back, he’ll inevitably take action himself.”

“So, are you saying Ulric thought he was foolproof this time but still lost out?”

“That’s right. And don’t forget about Regina’s involvement with the malicious doctors. Although I’ve kept quiet due to my agreement with Ulric regarding the Pearly Antiques account, he won’t be able to ignore this issue. The Special Task Force isn’t something he can bribe his way into.”

Melody felt a sense of relief and began to look forward to Ramon’s return from his business trip.

As they chatted and spent time together, with Moon joining them for a while, it wasn’t until the sky darkened that Ken suggested heading back to the Swanson villa. Melody hesitated and asked, “Are we also staying there tonight?”

“Yes.” Ken nodded. “It looks like we’ll stay at the villa for a while.”

Melody hesitated for a moment but then accepted it. Compared to the tension and unease of sharing a bed with Ken, dealing with Ulric was the absolute priority. Everything else paled in comparison. Staying at the villa would allow them to stay attuned to Ramon’s stance.

Noticing that Melody showed no apparent signs of resistance, Ken’s usual icy demeanor softened noticeably. When they arrived at the villa, Margaret immediately greeted them, clearly having been waiting in the living room for their return.

Melody felt a bit guilty; she should have returned earlier. However, Ken had deliberately delayed their return, claiming that the more anxious Margaret seemed, the more it would emphasize her innocence. Not wanting to deceive Margaret, Melody chose to be honest, letting her know she was fine and had already had dinner.

However, Margaret didn’t believe Melody’s reassurance. Frowning, she said, “With something so serious happening, how could you be fine? You must be shaken up…”

Call…

Melody felt helpless. “Grandma, I am really…” Ken immediately intervened, pulling Melody close and addressing Margaret, “Grandma, she was shaken up; I’ll take her upstairs to rest first. You can go ahead and have dinner without waiting for us.”

Margaret nodded repeatedly. “Take her upstairs to rest. I’ll have the kitchen prepare a glass of chamomile I used to have so she can get a good night’s sleep.”

Ken nodded and half-dragged her back to their room without giving Melody a chance to say anything. Once inside, Melody couldn’t help but protest, “I’m really fine. Why did you lie to her?”

Ken suddenly grew serious. “Melody, I know you truly care about grandma. But think about it-do you believe that my grandma’s mysterious illness had no connection at all with that mother and son?”

Melody was taken aback and fell silent. She hadn’t considered that possibility and had no way of verifying it. Previously, she had interacted with the Swanson family too late, and by the time she did, Margaret had already committed suicide.

Ken took a deep breath, his expression growing more serious. “I hadn’t considered this before, but recent events are making me think that everything that happened in the past might not have been mere coincidence. My dad listens most to my grandma. With her gone, the only woman in charge of the household is Astrid. And with Astrid in charge, the only one who benefits is Ulric…”

Melody broke out in a cold sweat as she recalled her grandmother, who Yolanda had similarly harmed her previously.

“I understand what you mean now,” she said, lowering her gaze. “Deceiving Margaret for a while allows us to protect her for longer. Don’t worry; I won’t dwell on these small matters anymore.”

Ken felt relieved and instructed her to take a hot bath and rest before heading downstairs. Downstairs, although Margaret was seated at the dining table, it was clear that she hadn’t touched her bowl.

Ken sat down and immediately reprimanded the servants. “Can’t you see that the dishes on the table aren’t to grandma’s liking? Have the kitchen prepare a completely new set of dishes!”

“Don’t,” Margaret waved her hand. “It’s not their fault; I just have no appetite.” She dismissed all the servants and turned to Ken, saying, “I’ve sent Astrid back to the Hunter family.”