Chapter 286

Lindy glared at Melany, seething with fury. "You!" Her anger choked her words, preventing coherent speech.

Melany, however, maintained an expression of innocent guilelessness—a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"Lindy, can't you see? I'm the only one in this house who truly cares about you," Melany said.

Melany had resented being overshadowed by Allison, and Lindy's comments struck a raw nerve. Her smile became sweeter, her words sharper.

"Besides," Melany continued, "I've joined the Stevens Group and secured the role of General Manager. I intend to ensure the Group thrives under my leadership."

The sarcasm was a dagger to Lindy's heart, nearly overwhelming her with rage. What did Melany imply about the Stevens Group's success under her leadership? Was it a power play, leveraging her position to dominate Lindy? With a sneer, Lindy retorted, "Well, you'd better work hard. But to me, you're not even a shadow of Allison!" Her displeasure dripped from her words like venom.

"You have spirit," Melany conceded. "Even if you're a bit clueless, at least you're stubborn."

Melany felt a sharp pang of discomfort at the comparison to Allison, but she swallowed her anger, knowing this wasn't the time to confront Lindy. Lindy had decades of experience at the company, and while her loyalists weren't particularly helpful, they could certainly cause trouble.

Maintaining her smile, Melany replied, "Lindy, what are you talking about? I will absolutely work hard to support Colton, just as Allison did."

"Don't forget your words," Lindy retorted.

Unwilling to prolong the fruitless argument, Lindy eyed Melany's exquisite brooch. "What a lovely brooch. But isn't it a custom antique? You young people certainly know how to spend money on frivolous things."

Her disdain deepened with each glance. Melany, a spendthrift who never saved, was a stark contrast to Allison, who would have contributed to the family's well-being. Lindy smirked, subtly hinting, "But my birthday is coming up soon. Melany, is this brooch a little gift for me?" She had no interest in the brooch; she merely wanted to provoke Melany.

Lindy prided herself on being elegant; she rarely lashed out unless provoked. But Melany's machinations had irrevocably fractured their relationship. Lindy intended to make things difficult. She was a master of sarcasm, backstabbing, and emotional manipulation.

Melany's smile faltered. "Lindy, I will get you a birthday gift. There's no need for you to hint like that."

Melany hadn't expected Lindy's brazenness. She'd previously believed Lindy's attempts to claim the family wealth were subtle, but now she was openly grasping for it.

Melany forced a smile. "As for this brooch, it was a thoughtful gift from a friend's mother. It wouldn't be appropriate—or good for you—to re-gift it."

This was precisely what Lindy wanted to hear. A noise at the door prompted Lindy to clutch her chest dramatically and wail, "Why must I endure so much suffering?" Melany instinctively recoiled.

Lindy's theatrical display left Melany reeling as Colton entered. "Mom, what's wrong?" he asked, rushing to her side, his brow furrowed. His recent racetrack loss, including the jade and Allison's ridicule, left him despondent. His mother's cries only worsened his mood.

Lindy theatrically wiped her tears. "It's all because of your wife! She's a constant source of trouble for our family! She deliberately provoked me in front of you—after I complimented her beautiful brooch, she assumed I wanted to keep it! As a member of the Stevens family, I could easily buy as many brooches as I like!" Melany had never encountered such shamelessness.