Chapter 350

Tiffany arrived at the hospital at 9:30 p.m. After a brief investigation, she located Melody's hospital records. A nurse, looking up from her computer, smiled. “Hello. The patient you wish to visit has just been transferred to a high-class ward today. It’s Ward 1 on the eighth floor.”

“Thank you,” Tiffany replied, heading for the elevator.

The inpatient department was relatively quiet. The elevator arrived quickly. As the doors were about to close, a figure rushed over, shouting, “Wait!”

Tiffany held the doors open, stunned to see Sidney. “Mr. Pauley?”

“Oh, it’s you, Tiffany. What a coincidence,” Sidney said warmly.

Tiffany nodded, remembering she hadn't heard from Richard in two days. After a two-second hesitation, she asked, “Mr. Pauley, have you heard from Richard in the past two days?”

Sidney hesitated, his eyes flickering. “Mr. Hampton has been a little busy these past two days. The signal where he is isn't very good, so I couldn't contact him either.” He paused. “But don't worry. He'll be back soon.”

“Okay,” Tiffany said, though she didn't believe him. It was clearly a lie. However, Sidney's reticence suggested more to the story. She could only wait for Richard's return.

Quietly watching the floor numbers rise, Tiffany arrived at the eighth floor. As she stepped out of the elevator, Sidney handed her a business card. “My number's on it. Tiffany, if you need anything, feel free to call me.”

“Thank you,” Tiffany replied, taking the card.

Following the nurse's directions, Tiffany reached Ward 1. The door was ajar. She knocked twice and entered without waiting for a response.

Melody wasn't surprised. She smiled. “You’re late.”

“Late for what?” Tiffany asked, unsure and unwilling to inquire further.

She looked around the ward but didn't see Charlie and Thalia. “Where are they?” she asked.

“Who are you talking about? My parents?” Melody said brightly. “I asked for water, so they went to get it for me.”

Tiffany smiled sarcastically. “You’re really sick.”

“In any case, they’ll believe whatever I say. Moreover… they owe me, don’t they?” Melody said proudly.

Tiffany's anger flared at Melody's smugness. “Is this why you're pretending to be sick? Pretending you're dying? You lied so much that your biological mother is going to donate her kidney to you, right?”

Earlier, Tiffany had asked the nurse about Melody's condition. The nurse explained that Melody was hospitalized for kidney failure but had found a suitable donor and was scheduled for a transplant the day after tomorrow. The donor was Thalia.

Even exposed, Melody showed no guilt. She sneered. “So what? Go tell them. Let’s see if they believe you or me.”

Tiffany's expression darkened. Stepping forward, she grabbed Melody's neck. She hissed, “I’ve said it before. You can come at me. But I won’t let anyone hurt my family!”

She tightened her grip. Melody’s face reddened. From the corner of her eye, she saw Charlie and Thalia entering the ward with water.

With a sudden plan, Melody lowered her voice, saying provocatively, “If you dare, strangle me to death. While I’m alive, I will never let any of you off! I’ll kill everyone you care about and value! I’ll kill them the way I killed your sidekick Ged, haha…”

At the mention of Ged, Tiffany's eyes filled with rage. She increased her pressure, intending to kill Melody.

But then Thalia shouted, “Tiffany, what are you doing?”

Tiffany ignored her, tightening her grip further. Thalia panicked, seeing Melody’s eyes rolling back. If this continued, Melody would suffocate. Thalia rushed forward, desperately trying to pry Tiffany’s hands apart.

Tiffany refused to release her hold, so Thalia used her nails to pinch and hit Tiffany's hands, shouting, “Let go!”

Finally, Tiffany released her grip. Thalia pushed her away, sending Tiffany tumbling to the floor.

“Have you lost your mind?” Thalia cried.

Tiffany, stubborn defiance etched on her face, said, “She’s pretending to be sick. Mom, you can’t give her your kidney. She’s not sick at all!”

Thalia, deaf to her words, stroked Melody’s back, fear etched on her face. Then, turning to Tiffany, she said disappointedly, “If we hadn’t come, would you have strangled Melody to death? Tiffany, how did you become like this? I’m really disappointed in you…”

Is she disappointed that I’ve changed? Tiffany wondered.

She smiled slowly, tending to her bleeding, nail-scratched hands as she rose. She said softly, “Being hurt by my family is indeed the most painful.”

She started to leave, her back slender and lonely. Charlie, his heart aching, followed. He gently took her arm. “Tiffany, your mother was just anxious and said something harsh. Don’t take it to heart.”

Tiffany turned, staring at him. “Then I’ll say it again. She’s pretending to be sick. Dad, do you believe me?”

Charlie didn’t know how to answer. How could she be pretending? The hospital ran tests. Could it be a misdiagnosis? Looking at Tiffany's determined eyes, he gritted his teeth. “Yes. I believe everything you say.”

“Thank you, Dad,” Tiffany said, her eyelashes trembling. Then, remembering something, she pulled out Sidney’s business card. “How about this? Let Sidney give her another checkup! If we check again, we’ll definitely find out that Melody is pretending to be sick!”

Sidney, as a highly regarded doctor, his opinion would be authoritative. The lie would be exposed.

Tiffany anxiously grabbed Charlie’s hand. “Is this okay?”

Even though Thalia was completely biased towards Melody, Tiffany couldn't stand idly by.