Chapter 355

Eric was the last to learn about this. Everyone hid it from him, feeling he was too young to be told. Now that everything was decided, how could he accept it?

Tiffany patted his back, softly comforting him. “What are you crying for? It’s such a small matter. How are you going to protect me in the future?”

She teased, “Huh? You’re a man, right?”

Eric felt wronged, but stopped crying, muttering sadly, “I just feel wronged. I feel wronged for…” He felt wronged for Tiffany.

He didn't finish, but Tiffany understood. However, it was a fact that she wasn't related to the Kelley family by blood. It wasn't wrong for the Kelley couple to want to acknowledge their daughter. Tiffany was even grateful; grateful they had been determined to disown Melody for her sake beforehand. That was enough for her.

Stroking her brother's head, Tiffany said slowly, “Dad and Mom aren't wrong. We can't selfishly impose our opinions on them. The one who's wrong…”

She thought only Melody was wrong—despicable, willing to do anything to achieve her goals. Tiffany thought, Because she was certain Thalia would give her a kidney, she faked kidney failure. After all, she’s her biological mother. How could Melody do this?

How ruthless! She’d do anything to get what she wants.

However, I can’t find any evidence that she’s been lying. Ugh!

Tiffany frowned, wondering, It’s also a good thing we’re living in the same house now. At least it will be more convenient for me to monitor Melody. No matter how flawless her disguise is, I will expose it sooner or later!

“You’re not crying anymore?” Tiffany rubbed Eric’s face. The cute boy was really adorable.

“No!” Eric clenched his fist and said seriously, “I am a man. I will protect you in the future!”

Tiffany laughed. “Alright, you’re a man. Let’s go downstairs for dinner.”

Eric replied, “Okay.”

The siblings held hands and went downstairs, leaving Charlie hanging to the side—ignored as their father.

In the dining room, Thalia and Melody didn't eat. Instead, they waited for the others before asking the servants to serve the dishes. The table was filled with Tiffany’s favorite dishes, Eric’s favorite dishes, and some dishes made according to Melody’s preferences.

Thalia had put in a lot of effort and taken care of everything. Seeing the entire family seated, Thalia finally smiled. “Let’s eat now.” The atmosphere in the dining room was quite harmonious. To be fair, Thalia would definitely serve Tiffany and Eric after Melody. What she wanted to express was that she would try her best to balance the relationship between the three siblings. Charlie had no objections. The meal was quite harmonious.

The servants cleared the cutlery. Lucy walked over with the sweet olives and asked, “Mr. Eric, what are you going to do with these sweet olives?”

Eric took a sip of water. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Melody take the sweet olives and ask him with a smile, “They smell so good. Can I have them to make a sachet?”

“No!” Eric rushed over and snatched the sweet olives back as if protecting a treasure. “I specially brought these back to make sweet olive cakes for my sister!”

He had spent a lot of effort picking the most beautiful ones. No way would he casually give them to Melody.

Melody’s eyes dimmed. “Eric, am I not your sister?”

“You aren’t—” Eric was about to say she wasn't his sister, but he was interrupted by Charlie. “Eric, this is your fault. How can you be so rude?”

Eric said, “Anyway, I’m not giving them to her.”

He thought, This isn’t about a few sweet olive branches. If she really wants to make sweet olive sachets, why would she have to take mine? There are plenty of sweet olive trees outside the villa and on both sides of the street! She must be doing this on purpose!

Eric turned his face away with a firm attitude. The atmosphere became awkward for a moment. Melody stood there, at a loss. She felt awkward from being rejected and out of place in this family. “I’m… I’m sorry…”

“Humph,” Eric muttered softly. “Are you even feeling aggrieved? Did I bully you? Seriously…”

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, Thalia was anxious. Lucy could only wink at a servant. Soon, the servant rushed in with a sweet olive branch.

She said, “Miss Melody, do you think this is enough for a sachet? If not, I’ll go pick more!”

Melody said, “Thank you.” Melody pretended to cry a little. She took the branch and said to Charlie and Thalia, “Dad, Mom, I’ll go back to my room now.”

Seeing her walk away, Thalia sighed helplessly and said, “Eric, how can you be so rude? That’s your sister, and she’s not feeling well. You can’t keep provoking her like this.”

Eric didn’t say anything and kept a straight face.

Charlie said, “Alright now. It’s a trivial matter. Besides, Eric picked those sweet olives. He can do whatever he wants with them.”

Charlie’s parenting style had always been this way. He didn’t advocate for adults to intervene in children's matters; he let the kids handle it themselves, intervening appropriately and fairly. This was equal treatment.

Thalia had nothing to say. She could only remind Tiffany and her brother, “Melody has just returned. She’s not in good health. We have to take care of her, okay?”

“Got it,” Eric curled his lips—clearly not taking Thalia seriously.

Thalia then looked at Tiffany, pleading in her eyes. Tiffany nodded. “Okay.” It wasn’t a problem to take care of the weak, but she didn’t think Melody was weak at all.

Meanwhile, back in her new room, Melody threw the sweet olives on the floor after closing the door. She thought, How infuriating! Eric is clearly my younger brother, my biological younger brother, but he’s so protective of Tiffany. He values everything related to Tiffany! I’m clearly his biological sister!

Melody yelled, “Damn it. All of you should go to hell!”

With a ferocious expression, Melody stomped on the sweet olive branch twice. She thought, If I hadn’t gotten lost back then, Tiffany wouldn’t be here now. She’s just a bastard who was adopted. She’s snatched my family and everything from me. She’s not a Kelley family member, so what right does she have to stay with the Kelley family now?

The more Melody thought about it, the angrier she became. Her nails dug into her flesh. She decided she had to wait. This Sunday, tomorrow night, would be the banquet announcing her identity. Charlie had already invited many guests, including the Kelley family’s relatives and friends, and members of Lovell City’s upper class—business giants and prestigious families. Melody thought that at this banquet…

The final sentence is incomplete in the original text and requires more context to complete appropriately.