Chapter 823

Melody’s face turned ashen. She had spent days searching for Violet, and to her surprise, Violet ended up in Debra’s hands.

“Violet!” Melody spat. “How much did Debra pay you to frame me like this? We’re family. You know I would protect you if she threatened you. The Nichols family isn’t some weak, insignificant household. Not just anyone can cause trouble here.”

She hoped invoking the family name would remind Violet where her true loyalties lay. Surely, no one would side with a fallen heiress like Debra over the powerful Nichols.

But Violet’s will had been broken by her husband and Andrew. She shook her head. “No one paid or threatened me, Melody. You know exactly what you did. I have the chat logs and bank transfers as proof. Please, Ms. Frazier, take me in. I’ll accept whatever punishment.”

She was desperate for some form of protection. Even prison was better than her husband’s torture.

Debra fixed Melody with a cold, unblinking stare. “Well, it looks like you’ve run out of lies.”

Melody squinted at Violet in frustration, not expecting her to keep evidence.

Unable to argue her way out, Melody let out a cold laugh. “Yes, I did it. So what? You were with Juan, then latched onto Marion, and now you’ve clung to Andrew. You’re shameless and deserve the worst.”

Before Debra could respond, Shelia, who had been listening from the staircase, rushed up. “That’s right, Grandma. Even if she is backed by Andrew now, we won’t tolerate her arrogance.”

Her speech made Debra laugh. She hadn’t even married Juan, yet she already acted like she ruled the family.

Watching Shelia rush to shield Melody, Debra saw shades of her past self.

“Debra, you’re only alive because of Melody’s mercy. You’d better remember that and leave while you still can. Just because Andrew’s protecting you now doesn’t mean you can come here and cause trouble,” Shelia said.

In Shelia’s view, even if Debra had come to confront them, she wouldn’t dare openly challenge the Nichols family. Andrew would never turn against them just for her sake, and she would have to stomach it, even though she had learned the truth.

While Shelia was basking in her self-righteousness, Debra suddenly stepped forward and slapped her across the face.

Shelia’s mouth hung open in shock. Her cheek was stinging, and her ears were buzzing.

Her mind was struggling to catch up with the reality of the situation. “You hit me? How dare you?”