Chapter 4

Scarlett was in a panic. Suddenly, she burst into loud sobs, "Oh, oh, Sister Melody, did you really resort to hurting yourself just to win back Brother Archer's heart?"

Then, she started slapping herself hard across the face repeatedly, "It's all my fault, it's because I got too close to Archer! But Archer and I are innocent, I swear! We grew up together, I just wanted to see him every day, like old friends do. Sister Melody, if this still bothers you, I'll leave."

Tears rolled down her cheeks, a heartbreaking sight. After saying this, she stood up and started walking out.

The people around suddenly realized, "So Mrs. Frost tore off her clothes to put on an act of self-harm."

"How ridiculous, is this woman so jealous that she can't stand Mr. Winters having a childhood sweetheart he's known since they were kids?"

"She really went all out, beating herself up like that."

The surrounding voices were chaotic, everyone thinking I was a vicious woman who would stop at nothing to drive Scarlett away.

But who could have guessed that this was actually Scarlett and Mrs.Rodriguez had conspired to torture me into this state. If Archer had come a few days later to get me, I might very well have died there.

The pity in Archer's eyes vanished as he grabbed Scarlett's hand. "Scarlett, you don't need to go anywhere. I still consider myself the head of the Johnson family, and I'd like to see who dares to target you in this household!"

Scarlett whimpered pitifully, "I don't want to ruin your marriage..."

Archer waved his hand dismissively, then turned to me with a stern look. "Melody, you bitch! Even if you despise Scarlett, how could you resort to such a cruel scheme of harming yourself?"

Mom exclaimed in anguish, "How did I end up with such a wicked daughter? To go as far as abusing your own body just to drive Miss Shaw away - why don't you just die?"

Berated by them, I trembled and knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

At that moment, the white-haired old fellow tried to help me up.

But I, having long been conditioned, assumed he was going to do something revolting to me.In a flash, I clung to him, crying, "Can you give me a dinner roll to eat? I'm starving. Give me a dinner roll, and I'll do anything you want..."

Back on that ranch in Florida, they wouldn't feed me when I disobeyed. I was so hungry then that if anyone had offered me just a dinner roll, I would have become the most degraded woman to serve him.

Instantly, everyone's eyes glazed over in shock.

"My God, is Mrs. Frost really this provocative?"

"Holy shit, isn't she the wife of the richest man in town? How did she end up like this?"

"What... what are you doing?"

Archer's composure cracked.

He yanked me off the old fellow.

He realized my entire body was ice-cold, shaking uncontrollably, with cold sweat pouring down in sheets.

I cried out in terror, "Don't, don't hit me! I'll do anything you want!"

Archer sensed something was terribly wrong and quickly held me tight. "Melody, what on earth happened to you during that year at the estate? Don't you remember you're the noble lady of the Johnson family?"He wore an expression of surprise and concern, simultaneously turning his gaze to Aunt Hattie.

Aunt Hattie was scared out of her wits, her legs turning to jelly.

"Bring Aunt Hattie here!" Archer commanded in a deep voice.

Aunt Hattie, standing at the doorway, panicked. She was quickly escorted over by a group of subordinates.