The next morning, Kenneth left early to attend to company matters. After he left, Melody came downstairs. While having breakfast, served by the servants, she called her brother, Jansen Princeton.

Jansen arrived quickly. Seeing the luxurious vacation villa, his eyes filled with envy and greed.

“This place is far better than our small villa! Look at this scenery and pool! It must have cost millions!” he exclaimed, leaning towards Melody with a wicked smile. “My dear sister, why don’t you get Mr. Harper to transfer this villa to your name? Then our family could move to a bigger place!”

Melody shot him a sarcastic glance. “Under my name? Or yours?”

“Isn’t it the same? We’re family!” Jansen replied, believing his sister should comply as a matter of course. Since Kenneth Harper was to marry her, what was wrong with gifting a property to his future brother-in-law?

To Jansen’s surprise, Melody agreed. “Sure, you can have it.”

“Are you serious? You’re giving me this villa?”

“Didn’t you say we’re family? My brother. I must treat you well.”

Jansen was overjoyed. “Did you encounter difficulties? Don’t worry, I’ll help. We’re family!”

“There’s something I need you to do,” Melody said, beckoning him closer. She whispered her request.

Jansen leaped up in shock. “Melody, you’re out of your mind!” She wanted him to disguise himself and silence Declan Jahn in his cell that night—murder! He’d be executed if caught.

“No, I can’t!” he exclaimed loudly, attracting the servants’ attention. Melody lowered her voice. “This is the last thing. After you complete this task, the villa is yours. Any request fulfilled.”

The tempting reward wrestled with his conscience. Even if he didn't know Declan, he wouldn’t have blood on his hands. The reward was useless if he didn't live to enjoy it. He refused.

Melody wasn't surprised. She knew her brother: timid and cowardly, yet greedy, proud, and vain. He often pretended to be wealthy. This was too risky.

She sighed, pushing a glass of red wine towards him. “Try this vintage wine.”

Jansen, believing it expensive, gulped it down, even asking for a refill. Unbeknownst to him, Melody slipped a small white pill into his second glass.

Soon, Jansen swayed in his chair, vacant-eyed, nearly asleep. Melody’s eyes glinted.

“You kidnapped Alexia Harper for money. You silenced Jade Payne to cover your tracks. Your sister risked her life to protect you. You did everything; she took the blame. Do you understand?” The mind-control spell began to work.

“Understood,” he mumbled.

It was 2:30 a.m. Autumn rain fell. Declan Jahn lay on his cell bed, his eyelids twitching. He felt something would happen. He even felt cowardly for worrying so much. He scoffed, glancing at his cellmate, a quiet newcomer who slept constantly. Was he a mule? Declan drifted to sleep.

A uniformed man approached Declan’s cell, gesturing through the bars. “Declan Jahn, a visitor.”

Awakened, Declan grumbled, then froze. A midnight visitor? Sensing danger, he tried to retreat, but the man swiftly slipped a noose around his neck. Declan struggled, gasping.

Then, a pair of hands yanked the attacker, slamming him against the bars. Jeremy Cooper, Declan's cellmate, had saved him. The attacker was Jansen Princeton.