Chapter 403

Upon hearing this, Kenneth frowned. "What is she doing here so late at night?"

The servant was about to suggest telling Melody he was asleep, but Kenneth interrupted, "Forget it. Let her in. I have some things to clarify." The servant nodded and left.

Melody was shown into the living room and offered coffee. She politely told the servant, "It's getting late. You should rest."

"Thank you, Miss," the servant replied, leaving.

The servant had a good impression of Melody, considering her gentle, innocent, and intelligent demeanor. She believed Melody would treat the household staff well if she married into the Harper family. Unfortunately, the engagement with the youngest son had been abruptly broken off, leaving no room for negotiation. It was a pity.

Kenneth descended the stairs. "Why are you looking for me?" he asked from a distance.

"I missed you, so I came to see you," Melody replied, smiling gently, as if nothing unpleasant had occurred between them. She intimately took Kenneth's hand. "Kenneth," she said, her voice playfully youthful.

Kenneth felt a pang of nostalgia, as if transported back several years. He remembered sixteen-year-old Tiffany, often trailing behind him, calling his name, or playfully surprising him. But those were memories now; there was no going back.

He gently removed Melody's hand. "It's late. If you have something to say, say it," he said indifferently.

Melody's heart ached, but she maintained her composure. "Look, my allergy symptoms are almost completely healed. I'm not ugly anymore!"

In fact, Melody was strikingly beautiful. Dressed in white, her slender figure was graceful, her long hair flowing. Her expressions were radiant, and her eyes, reminiscent of Tiffany's, curved into crescent moons when she smiled.

But Melody was not Tiffany. Kenneth was about to speak when Melody smiled and declared, "I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with you. It doesn't matter if you hate me or not. I won't give up."

She enunciated each word seriously. "We had a beautiful past, Kenneth. Could you please give me another chance?"

Kenneth remained silent before shaking his head. "Consider this a rejection," he said. Treating Melody as his savior had been a mistake. His spying on the treasure box had clarified everything. He had once persuaded Tiffany to take the blame for him—a mistake he wouldn't repeat. "Let's end this. Really, we're done," he emphasized, his expression firm.

Melody immediately burst into tears.

"But I don't want this to end! You were the one who initiated this, and now you want to end it? That's unfair!" Unbeknownst to Kenneth, Melody had also manipulated him. He tried to speak, but couldn't bring himself to say the words.

Melody threw herself into his arms, sobbing. "Ten days, just ten days. Please keep me company for ten days, as before. After that, I'll stop thinking about you and won't bother you again. Melody…"

"I beg you. With my illness, I only have a few months to live. Are you not willing to give me ten days?"

She produced a medical report from her bag—the fake report she'd had Jansen provide to Charlie. This report had influenced Charlie and Thalia, before the Miracle Healer clarified Thalia's condition and provided Melody with herbs. This was unknown to Kenneth.

"You…" Kenneth was shocked. "Why have you never mentioned this before?"

"It's not something to boast about. But don't worry, when I got engaged to you, it was because I'd found a matching kidney donor. I intended to have the transplant after the engagement." She smiled sadly. "But that's unnecessary now. I don't want to hide it any longer. So please, grant my last wish."

Seeing the fading light in Melody's expectant eyes, Kenneth remained silent before agreeing, "Ten days. Just ten days."

He considered it compensation for the ridicule and grievances she'd suffered after he broke off the engagement. After ten days, they would be even. "Okay," Melody agreed, smiling sweetly, though a flash of ruthlessness in her eyes went unnoticed. She had achieved her goal. "It's late. Can I stay at your house? I'll be alone at my place. I'm afraid…"

Kenneth, aware that Charlie had exiled Melody, felt compassion. "Fine."

He instructed his servants to prepare a guest room. Melody then said, "I'm going to rest. You should sleep early too. See you tomorrow." She smiled, ascended the stairs with light footsteps, and the smile faded as the door closed.

Kenneth took only two steps before encountering his grandfather, Romeo. "Grandpa, y-you're still awake?"

"Come with me." Romeo led Kenneth to his study. "Kenneth, what are you thinking? Do you plan to continue this marriage?"

"Of course not. Since I've broken off the engagement, I have no reason to reconsider."

Romeo sneered. "You also broke off your engagement with Tiffany. You claimed to be resolute then. Why are you still thinking about her now?"

Kenneth stammered, "Grandpa…"

Romeo continued, "You may believe your feelings are hidden, but I know what you're thinking!" He believed in the importance of a third-person perspective. "I warned you not to regret it, but not only do you regret it, you're making it worse! Since you don't want to continue the engagement with Melody, why did you agree to spend ten days with her?"

Kenneth opened his mouth to…