At half past midnight, the shadows of the trees swayed gently as the night deepened and the dew grew heavier. This was the third night Melody’s family had been living in their new villa. The world was enveloped in silence.

Melody lay in the master bedroom, too afraid to sleep with the lights off. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw those despairing and incredulous eyes staring back at her. "But this isn't my fault!" she thought. Jade had seen something she shouldn't have! She even threatened to expose everything, and I couldn't take that risk. If she talked, it would all be over for me! This is why I had no choice but to silence her…

Melody trembled, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket and whispering for comfort, "It's alright, it's alright. It'll be fine. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid…"

After several minutes, the deep-seated fear eased a little. But just then, the bedroom light flickered and went out. The room plunged into darkness, and a wave of terror gripped Melody, sending chills down her spine. "Did the power just go out?" she thought.

Melody didn't dare get up. She was about to call Jansen to light a candle when the curtains were pulled open. Pale moonlight shone in. A thin young girl sat by her window. Her long hair was disheveled, and she wore red. She looked strange and sinister. Melody took a closer look and realized it was Jade.

"Ah!" Melody's scalp prickled with terror. She screamed, "Help! Please, someone help me! Save me!" But no matter how loud she screamed, there was no response. The rooms next door, where her parents and Jansen were, remained eerily silent. Everyone seemed asleep.

The figure by the window spoke. "Are you afraid of seeing me?" she asked.

"Jade…" Melody trembled. "Please don't look for me. The person you should be looking for is Tiffany. If it weren't for her, you wouldn't have died."

A chilling, grotesque laugh emerged from "Jade's" throat. She pointed to the marks on her neck, bruised from strangulation, her face twisted with venomous hatred. "Do you remember this? Your grip was so strong. I was in so much pain."

Chapter 274

"Stop talking! Stop talking!" Melody clutched her head, teetering on the brink of a complete breakdown.

But "Jade" continued, "I treated you so well. How could you hurt me? Melody, oh Melody, you're really ruthless!"

"You forced me to do that!" Melody yelled. In her hysteria, she pulled a knife from under her pillow. "If you hadn't seen what you shouldn't have, would I have taken your life? So what if you're a ghost? I can kill you again!"

Melody lifted the blanket and lunged toward the window, her eyes bloodshot and ruthless. "Come on! Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Under the pale moonlight, Melody was more menacing than a ghost.

Tiffany already knew Melody was behind Jade's death, but her confession still sent chills down her spine. Melody is such a ruthless woman! Tiffany thought.

Melody lunged forward, but the curtain fluttered, and the girl in red vanished. Was it an illusion? A nightmare? Or has Jade really come to take my life? Melody thought. She shuddered, gripping the knife tightly.

In the car, Tiffany removed her oversized red dress and makeup. She sighed in relief when all traces were gone.

Jeremy asked, "The murderer is indeed her. What should we do next?"

"This act needs to play out for a few more days," Tiffany said, feeling satisfied. With Jeremy cutting the power and her masterful disguise, Melody would soon break down. "Melody already has a guilty conscience. If she's pestered every night, what will she do? She'll probably find an expert to save her." Tiffany curled her lips. "The person June found will come in handy now."

In the next few days, Melody grew visibly thinner from lack of sleep. At midnight, she saw Jade by her window. Sometimes, Jade would even sit by her bed and chuckle coldly. The torment followed her everywhere.

Melody visited Alexia. Seeing how haggard she looked, Kenneth worried. "Didn't you sleep well these few days? Are you still traumatized?"

"Yeah," Melody nodded weakly, forcing a bitter smile. This was her unspeakable secret.

"Let me bring you to see a psychiatrist," Kenneth offered. "You might feel better."

"No, it's okay…" Melody shook her head. "I'll be fine after a while."

A servant offered Melody coffee. Ever since she saved Alexia, Melody had free access to the Harper manor. With Kenneth's support, the servants treated her respectfully.

The Kelley and Harper families were now at odds. Melody’s goal was achieved. If it weren’t for Jade pestering her, she would be happy.

"How infuriating!" Melody thought, drinking her coffee.

In the storage room, she called. "Miss Kelley, everything's done. What about my payment?"

"I'll transfer it within three minutes," Tiffany replied.

"Thank you, Miss Kelley."

Tiffany smiled. The servant was her insider. Half a year ago, Tiffany had bumped into the maid who slept with Ryan. To prevent Felicia from finding out, Tiffany bribed the servant to drug Melody's drinks. The drug amplified Melody's fears and intensified her hallucinations. Except for the first time, everything was a hallucination. Melody was afraid because she had a guilty conscience. When one has a clear conscience, there is no reason to be scared.