Reborn with Nothing but My Farm and Vengeance in the Apocalypse

After Joanne White finished, she glanced at Joyce Lawson, who had been standing to the side all this time. "Margaret Adler was making a huge scene," she continued. "To calm her down, Sean Sutton suggested they find a wife for Ethan Sutton first. Then, after I had the baby, they would pretend it was born to Ethan and his new wife."

"I was eavesdropping from the side. Margaret Adler said she knew the people in 1501. They had a niece who was a doctor—a great catch. She was also gentle and obedient. All they had to do was pay a bride price, and they could bring her over..."

Joyce Lawson frowned when she heard this. "My aunt and uncle live in 1501... A couple of days ago, I got a text from my aunt. She said she had some extra supplies to give us, so I came down to get them. I never expected she’d bring me straight here..."

The moment Joyce Lawson stepped through the door of 1506, she knew something was wrong. She immediately turned to run, but it was too late.

Sean Sutton and Margaret Adler had ropes ready. They grabbed Joyce, tied her up, and locked her in the study. Meanwhile, her "good" aunt, Yvonne York, took the final payment and left without a second thought.

Over the next two days, Sean Sutton and Margaret Adler tried both carrot and stick tactics to force Joyce to accept her fate and become Ethan Sutton’s wife. But Joyce refused to give in. She wouldn’t even eat, afraid they had drugged the food.

What followed was the scene Melody Summers walked in on.

Joanne White looked up at Melody Summers, her voice pleading. "I’ve told you everything I know. Please, I’m begging you... just let me go..."

Processing this flood of information, Melody Summers looked at Joanne White, her feelings a complex tangle.

’In her past life, Melody had been forced to deal with the Suttons a great deal. She knew that while Sean Sutton’s word was law in their household, he had never cheated on his wife.’

’To think that in this life, Sean Sutton would actually have an affair with Joanne White.’

’Joanne White really knew how to wrap men around her finger...’

’And Margaret Adler was a piece of work, too. She’d gone to such lengths to ensure her son could have an heir, only to unwittingly invite a master-level homewrecker into the family. She must be kicking herself right now!’

Thinking of the cruelty and abuse the Suttons had subjected her to in her past life, Melody Summers let out a faint smile.

She looked at the anxious Joanne White. "I can let you go, but... you have to promise me one thing!"

Joanne White nodded eagerly. "What is it? Just say the word. As long as it’s something I can do, I’ll do it!"

The dagger pressed against Joanne White’s neck had grown warm from her body heat, but its tip remained precisely over her carotid artery. Joanne was terrified that Melody’s hand might slip and slit her throat.

’I’ve struggled to survive in this apocalypse for more than two years,’ she thought. ’I’ve made it this far. I really don’t want to die!’

’As long as I can live, I’ll do anything!’

Seeing her compliance, Melody Summers slowly moved the dagger away from Joanne White’s neck. "I, for one, have a history with the Sutton family," she said, her voice cold. "I despise them. Joanne White, I know your plan is to become part of this family, but what I want... is for you to tear it apart!"

Joanne White was momentarily stunned. She had only wanted to use this baby to secure her position in the Sutton family, just as she had used a child to stay by Zane Simmons’s side. She never imagined Melody Summers would demand she destroy the family.

The thought of the ever-domineering Margaret Adler made the color drain from her face.

Melody Summers watched her expression and said with an amused smirk, "Joanne White, what’s with that look? Are you trying to play innocent with me? Where’s that talent you used to spread rumors and sic your online mob on me? Where’s that talent you used to drive his wife to a miscarriage? Don’t tell me you can’t do it, can you?!"

Seeing the blatant mockery in Melody’s eyes, Joanne White pressed her lips together, gritted her teeth, and replied, "Fine... I promise! I’ll make sure Sean Sutton and Margaret Adler get a divorce!"

The corners of Melody’s lips curved into a derisive smile. She toyed with the dagger in her hand. "A divorce alone isn’t enough," she said softly. "Joanne White, I don’t believe that’s the limit of your talent... What I want to see is the Suttons left with nothing."

"Joanne White, if you can make the Suttons’ lives a living hell, then the score between us will be settled. Otherwise... since I managed to sneak in here today without anyone noticing, what do you think the chances are that I can sneak back in and kill you just as quietly?"

The moment Melody finished speaking, Joanne White’s face grew even paler, her lips trembling.

After a moment of silence, Joanne White nodded emphatically. "Okay... I promise! I won’t let the Suttons have a moment of peace! I’ll make them lose everything!"

Now that Joanne White had agreed, Melody didn’t waste any more time. She put away her dagger and motioned for Joyce Lawson to leave with her.

However, just as Melody was opening the door, Joanne seemed to think of something and suddenly called out, "Melody Summers! Wait! Don’t go yet!"

Melody turned back, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Is there something else?"

Joanne White bit her lip, her gaze flickering as if she wanted to say something but was hesitating.

After a long silence, just as Melody was starting to get impatient, Joanne finally took a deep breath and said softly, "Melody, I know I’m in no position to ask you for anything, but... for the sake of us being old classmates, could you do me a favor?"

Melody asked, puzzled, "What favor?"

Joanne lowered her gaze. "I know you’re on good terms with Zane Simmons. Could you please pass a message to him for me? Tell him that what happened before was all my fault. I never should have hurt Mrs. Simmons... I just hope he won’t take his anger toward me out on my child..."

Seeing the desperate plea in Joanne’s eyes, Melody was silent for a moment before nodding.

’She had assumed Joanne was just using her child as a stepping stone to marry into a wealthy family. She never thought that even in a situation like this, Joanne would still be thinking about her child... Then she thought of Joyce Lawson, sold by her own mother. A mother’s love truly was a mysterious thing.’

After leaving Apartment 1506, Melody first took Joyce Lawson to Mrs. Vance’s apartment across the hall.

Mrs. Vance and Susan Warren were waiting anxiously for Melody. When they saw her return safely, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

When they heard the full story, both Mrs. Vance and Susan Warren were in disbelief.

Mrs. Vance slapped her thigh, her face flushed with anger. "Human trafficking! This is blatant human trafficking! If we could call the police right now, I’d have every last one of them thrown in jail!"

Susan Warren looked at Joyce with pity and sighed. "What kind of mother does that? No matter the circumstances, how could you sell your own daughter... That’s monstrous!"

Mrs. Vance added, "And those people in 1501 are no better! Doing something like that... it’s no different from pimping!"

At the mention of 1501, Joyce suddenly remembered something.

She looked up at the others, her expression growing serious. "Actually, when I went to 1501 a couple of days ago, I think I heard someone inside... crying and screaming..."

Melody froze. ’Crying and screaming?’

’Why are there crying and screaming sounds again?’