Kenneth Harper, having heard the news, brought his sullen mother home. He deleted the reporters' photos under threat. He believed the matter concluded.

However, Mrs. Harper discovered her expensive imported flowers, meticulously nurtured and bought the previous week, had been flattened by a dozen bulldozers. Every stalk was gone, leaving only bare earth.

Grabbing Kenneth's hand, she cried, "Who did this? Was it that Kelley girl? I knocked down her gate; she retaliated by destroying my flowers, didn't she?"

Kenneth, weary, remained silent. His mother, however, was adamant, gathering her staff to confront the Kelley family. "They have some nerve! I should never have considered letting you marry her! I'll deal with that girl today!" Having learned from a previous encounter, she intended to bring sufficient support.

As she prepared to leave, Kenneth's chilly but helpless voice stopped her. "Mom, have you caused enough trouble?" His father was under investigation, the company was in chaos, and Melody Princeton was arrested. He'd been dealing with crises all morning, and retrieving his mother was just another burden.

"What trouble? You dare defend that wretched girl?" Mrs. Harper refused to yield. "Don't tell me you still have feelings for her! I won't allow a reconciliation!" The families were irrevocably estranged; marriage was impossible.

Kenneth, massaging his temples, said, "Mom, who flattened your flowers? It was Uncle Richard."

Mrs. Harper was incredulous. Only Richard Hampton possessed the audacity to orchestrate such an act in Lovell City. His bulldozers had barged in without hesitation. But why would he do this to his sister?

Staggering back, she muttered, "Impossible! I'm going to ask him!" Even though they weren't full siblings, Richard was her half-brother, and this was despicable.

Kenneth sighed. "Mom, don't you understand Uncle's message? Don't mess with the Kelley family. This was a warning, a minor punishment. Knowing Uncle, he's already shown mercy." Furthermore, his mother was in the wrong; there was no evidence linking the Kelley family to the company's tax problems, yet she'd created a needless conflict.

Mrs. Harper wasn't listening. Only one thought occupied her mind: "So, Richard fancies that Kelley girl?" Kenneth confirmed his uncle's actions were clear. Even when Alexia was kidnapped and Tiffany Kelley was wrongly accused, Richard had crushed those who condemned her, personally warning others not to harm her.

Mrs. Harper's face contorted. "No! I won't allow that wretched girl to become Mrs. Hampton!" She couldn't accept her former difficult daughter-in-law becoming her sister-in-law. The thought of deferring to Tiffany was unbearable.

Kenneth frowned. "Mom, don't even think about it."

"Don't worry," Mrs. Harper smiled enigmatically. "I won't do anything directly. I'll use others." She excelled at using others for her dirty work; she just needed a new target.

Kenneth, sensing trouble, ignored it. He'd wasted too much time; he needed to find Melody. "Mom, I'm going out. I won't be back tonight."

"Go, be careful," Mrs. Harper smiled, then, alone, her smile vanished. Dismissing her servants, she called a contact. A pleasant female voice answered.

Kenneth arrived at the police station, shocked by Melody's pale, fragile appearance. "What happened?"

Melody, weakly, explained she was accused of murder. She'd only swung a knife twice to scare attackers away to save Alexia. "Kenny, do you believe me?"

Kenneth, bewildered but heartbroken, assured her of his belief. He picked her up to leave.

An officer stopped him. "Mr. Harper, you can't take the suspect."

"Nonsense! Get out of the way!"

"Mr. Harper, you can't…"

"Evidence? Fine, I'll get it, but I'm taking her!" Melody's condition was critical; she couldn't remain there.

Kenneth brushed past the officer, carrying Melody. Before leaving, Melody glanced at Declan Jahn, a smirk spreading across her face. "Declan Jahn, wait for your death!"