"udia wasn''t an entertainer," Jeffrey snapped. "She was kind and beautiful.


    She loved everything about this world. It was you, treating her like a pawn for your alliances. For this damn family, I''ve sacrificed enough."


    The rims of Melody''s eyes reddened. "Everything I did was for this family. I''ve devoted my entire life to the Nichols legacy, and what did I get in return? Two ingrates! Get out! I don''t have a son like you."


    Mid-sentence, she clutched her chest, copsing into the chair. Jeffrey stared at the woman who had ruled his life with an iron fist for decades.


    His expression remained cial. "Your devotion is for your greed and vanity. You''re a narrow-minded, ruthless relic. I should have sent you to the grave to beg udia''s forgiveness. But since you''re my mother, you''ll only need to spend your remaining years bedridden. Don''t worry. I''ll ensure you receive a proper funeral." Tears trickled down Melody''s cheeks. She could no longer speak or move, her body frozen in a grotesque mimicry of repose.


    She still didn''t think she had done anything wrong.


    To her, udia had always been a pawn to secure the Nichols family''s influence.


    Melody remembered their first meeting. udia was demure and obedient. She was the perfect candidate to mold into a dutiful wife.


    But then, Jeffrey had fallen in love with udia and had done irrational things for her.


    It turned out udia was no docile doll. She had opinions and passions. She loved dancing, singing, and acting.


    In Melody''s mind, those things were shameful and uneptable. When Melody confronted her, udia refused to abandon her pursuits. Even Jeffrey, who always listened to Melody, began siding with udia.


    With her authority crumbling, Melody formted a n to rece udia with someone more obedient.


    As udia''s pregnancy advanced, gued by relentless sickness, Melody saw her chance.


    She ordered the maids to mix extra doses of tonics into udia''s medication. The n was to ensure


    the child lived but let the mosure


    bleed out during birth.


    As expected, udia had a hemorrhage after delivering Juan. But Jeffrey, mad with desperation nearly drained himself of blood to save her. udia survived, but her body continued to wither until death finally imed her.


    Melody was relieved with the burden gone, but Jeffrey broke down. He locked himself away and abandoned thepany.