Free Web NovelChapter 499: Chapter 499: Refugees
After Roman Rhodes left, Grace Sutton busied herself adding two of her specialty dishes to the table. She even dug out a bottle of wine from a shelf in the basement, and the family had a wonderful celebration.
After dinner, once everyone had gone to their rooms to rest, Nina Summers came to the living room alone. She quietly picked up the selection list for the reconstruction department and began to look through it in silence.
She read it very carefully, from the first name to the last. Only when she confirmed that Caleb Summers’s name was not on the list did she let out a sigh of relief.
’It seems using Zara Walsh was effective. At least Caleb Summers’s dream of getting promoted into the reconstruction department is shattered.’
However, seeing her boyfriend Winston Sheffield’s name on the list made her feel a little sick. If she had her way, Nina hoped Winston Sheffield would run into some bad luck too...
Just as Nina Summers was staring blankly at Winston Sheffield’s name, Melody Summers walked over with a pot of tea.
She poured Nina a cup and said, "Have some Calming Tea. It’ll help you sober up."
Nina Summers took the tea. Thinking about what she had discovered earlier, she looked at Melody Summers, hesitating, wanting to speak but holding back.
Seeing this, Melody Summers grew puzzled and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that? ...Did something happen?"
At her words, Nina Summers first nodded, then shook her head, looking like she didn’t know how to begin.
Seeing her act like this, Melody Summers became even more confused. Pouring herself a cup of tea, she asked, "If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t beat around the bush or stir up trouble. Otherwise, I’ll be the one cleaning up your mess again."
Every time Nina Summers was sneaky like this, she was probably up to no good. After the incident with Zara Walsh, Melody Summers was truly wary.
Hearing this, Nina Summers took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Sis, it seems you haven’t noticed... You might be getting a new dad!"
The moment Nina Summers finished speaking, with a sharp CRACK, the teacup in Melody Summers’s hand fell straight to the floor and shattered into pieces...
...
* * *
The rain had been ferocious for the past two days. A torrential downpour cascaded from the sky, as if someone had poked a hole in it with a stick.
After two straight days of relentless rain, Anworth’s drainage system was on the verge of collapse.
As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. Just as the drainage system failed, the river upstream breached its banks. Floodwaters surged down, sweeping along the broken remnants of houses, cars, and furniture, which then crashed indiscriminately into everything in their path.
Several large underground shelters in the city were inundated. Fortunately, the government had prepared a response plan in advance, issuing warnings and evacuating the disaster victims. Large groups of displaced people grabbed their belongings and flocked overnight with their families in tow to the higher ground of the North District.
Under government direction, workers in the North District had been toiling around the clock to erect numerous sheet-metal houses. Shipping containers were also brought in to serve as temporary shelters. The nation made every effort in its planning and deployment to accommodate the displaced populace.
The Metropolis Residences also began taking in victims. Winnie Summers and Colin Summers were called out to work at three in the morning and still hadn’t returned by breakfast.
Melody Summers was worried. After breakfast, she saw that the rain outside had lessened, so she put on her raincoat and rain boots and went out to check on the situation.
The community plaza was packed with people—all displaced victims with their luggage, waiting to be resettled. Melody Summers was walking quickly and accidentally bumped into a little boy.
The boy staggered a few steps from the impact. Melody Summers quickly steadied him and said apologetically, "I’m so sorry, little one. I didn’t mean to bump into you. Are you okay?"
The little boy just stared up at Melody Summers blankly, as if he hadn’t processed her words.
He was so young, yet his expression held none of a child’s lively energy. His eyes were filled with weariness and exhaustion—the numbness that comes after years of enduring natural disasters.
The two parents beside the boy also looked haggard. They were filthy, and when they saw two dark, grimy handprints left on Melody Summers’s light-colored pants, they apologized to her, embarrassed.
The boy’s mother said guiltily, "We’re so sorry, miss. My son’s hands were dirty, and he got your pants messy..."
Melody Summers quickly waved her hands and replied, "Please, don’t say that. It was my fault for not looking."
After a brief conversation, Melody Summers learned that the family of three had been transferred from an underground shelter in the south of the city. They had survived the blizzards there, and just when the weather finally started to warm up, they were hit by the flood.
Learning that the family wanted to collect disaster relief rations but couldn’t find the supply point, Melody Summers offered to show them the way.
The group arrived at Crystal Mart. A long line had already formed at the entrance, full of displaced people waiting to receive relief supplies. To Melody Summers’s surprise, Maisie Lynch was there too.
Maisie Lynch was wearing a raincoat, her pant legs soaked with rainwater, but she paid it no mind, continuing to organize the relief rations on the ground.
Seeing her, Melody Summers walked up and asked, "Maisie, what are you doing here?"
Hearing her, Maisie Lynch looked up at Melody Summers with a complicated expression, then lowered her head guiltily and replied, "I-I’m doing volunteer work for the community... you know, that... six months of free labor..."
Hearing Maisie Lynch say this, Melody Summers finally remembered—
Previously, Maisie Lynch had conspired with Ivan Warren and Ethan Sutton’s parents to frame her for burglary. After Melody exposed the setup, Maisie was sentenced to six months of volunteer work for the community.
And because of the constant snow, Maisie’s six-month "sentence" had been delayed until now.
If Maisie Lynch hadn’t brought it up, Melody Summers would have almost forgotten about it.
Thinking back, in just half a year, everyone else who had framed her, aside from Maisie Lynch, was now dead...
Maisie Lynch, her face flushed red with either remorse or guilt, said to Melody Summers, "I’m so, so sorry about what happened before... I-I’ll definitely work hard and make amends..."
Recalling her past actions, Maisie Lynch was so ashamed and regretful she wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
But Melody Summers just waved her hand dismissively. Ivan Warren and the Suttons were all dead. The debts died with them, so there was no point in bringing it up again.
After leaving Crystal Mart, Melody Summers had intended to find Winnie Summers, but she unexpectedly ran into Joanne White instead.
Joanne White was wearing a transparent raincoat. She looked particularly youthful and vibrant, a stark contrast to the disheveled crowd of victims around her. Melody Summers spotted her in the crowd at a glance.
"Joanne White, what are you doing here?"
Joanne White had been talking with some of the victims beside her. She was slightly surprised to see Melody Summers approach, but she still answered truthfully, "I’m helping settle the victims and assigning them shelter."
