Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 473: Chapter 473

I remained skeptical of Melody's words.
She saw through my doubts at a glance but couldn't be bothered to explain further. Her face remained cold and distant as she fixed her sharp gaze on me.
"I can let go of everything that happened in the past, but Kailyn is my daughter. If anything happens to her, I will not let it go easily!" Her low and gentle tone sent chills down my spine.
But to me, it was nothing but laughable. Kailyn and Rosemary had conspired to ruin my reputation, yet in the end, it was Rosemary who accidentally killed someone.
Later, Rosemary was kidnapped and died a brutal death, and the real culprit who turned themselves in is now also dead. Naturally, Kailyn's crimes could no longer be proven.
She had tried to kill me multiple times, yet Melody had the audacity to say she would let bygones be bygones.
I let out a soft laugh. "Are you threatening me? Your daughter tried to silence me and even conspired with Bailee to kill my unborn child."
A flash of surprise crossed Melody's face. She hadn't expected her daughter to be so foolish.
Melody said arrogantly, "Kailyn is young and reckless. Don't hold it against her. Besides, you've already gotten what you wanted. From now on, I hope everyone can coexist peacefully."
She gave me a sidelong glance before continuing, "Especially someone of your background. Without the Parks family as your support, do you think the Herrera family would ever accept you?"
Every word she spoke was a warning, implying that I should be grateful for her so-called generosity. If it weren't for her willingness to let me return to the Parks family, how could the Herrera family have ever acknowledged me as Alex's wife?
So what if Kailyn had harmed me? Without the Parks family, would I even have the prestige I do now?
She was right. I had gotten what I wanted. But it was merely the surface of it.
As for the Herrera family, they meant nothing to me. I couldn't coexist with them peacefully. Kailyn killed my child, so why should I just let that go?
Anyone who harmed my loved ones would never be forgiven.
Kailyn wasn't my family. Even if we shared the same father, I would never let her off so easily.
As for Bailee, she was not my savior. She killed my child. She must pay for what she had done.
I lifted my gaze to meet Melody's eyes. I smiled faintly for a moment before saying in a soft yet deliberate tone, "If I were to do the same thing Kailyn did, I hope you won't hold it against me either."
A flicker of shock appeared on Melody's face. She hadn't expected me to be so bold, to challenge her so brazenly.
Kailyn had tried to kill me again and again. If not for sheer luck, I would have been dead countless times by now.
Yet Melody dismissed it with a simple "she was reckless"? Did she really think I was someone she could push around?
"What do you really want?" Melody's piercing gaze locked onto me, her voice laced with cold intensity.
I smiled and said softly, "If you want me to let go of the past, it's not impossible. Give me five percent of the Parks Group shares."
"You must be dreaming!" Melody rejected me without a second thought, her cold and sinister eyes locking onto mine as she said icily, "Aren't you afraid I'll just kill you to silence you?"
I replied, "If you kill me, the Parks Group shares in my possession will fall into the hands of the Herrera family. More importantly, the Parks family's secrets will no longer remain secrets."
I sighed lightly. "You can kill me, but if you do, you'll lose everything. And Maddox will know I died by your hands. When that happens, what you'll lose will be far greater than what you're protecting now."
Melody furrowed her brows, staring at me in disbelief. She hadn't expected that I would dare to threaten her.
Taking a deep breath, I contemplated for a moment before saying, "If you don't want to give me the shares, that's fine. Let Bailee atone for her sins instead. After all, a life was lost. Kailyn is grieving over losing her child, but that wasn't my fault."
As soon as I finished speaking, Melody's face turned ashen with fury.
She asked, "What else do you know?"
"I know everything I should and shouldn't know." I narrowed my eyes and smiled. "Besides, Zachary is a descendant of the Parks family. Surely the Parks residence is big enough to accommodate one more child?"
Melody glared at me with venomous hostility, a chilling murderous intent flickering in her eyes.
But I knew she wasn't someone who acted on impulse. Even if she truly wanted to kill me, she wouldn't do it now.
After all, the Shepherd family's patriarch was on his deathbed.
Melody was likely doing everything in her power to secure her place in the will. Any secret that got out could shatter all her ambitions.
Without another word, Melody stormed out, slamming the door behind her. She hadn't agreed to my demands, but she hadn't refused them either.
I wasn't in a rush. The game of cat and mouse had just begun.
After she left, I dialed Marvin.
From the other end of the line came his lifeless voice, as if he were on the verge of death. If I didn't know better, I'd think he only had one breath left in him.
He said, "Laurel, you actually dare to call me? Aren't you afraid your dear husband has bugged your phone?"
Hearing his words, I couldn't help but chuckle. He sounded like he was gloating.
It was just an act, but Marvin actually took it seriously.
"Why not just install surveillance cameras at home? That'd be more convenient," I said as I stood up and poured myself a glass of water. My throat felt dry, even faintly sore.
There was a brief silence on the other end before Marvin spoke again. "Didn't you like your so-called husband? Then why did you give me the medicine? And now you're calling me instead of making up with him?"
I froze for a moment before realizing it. Was he treating himself as a homewrecker in my marriage?
Clearing my throat lightly, I said, "Relax, he can handle it on his own. We're not getting divorced."
After chatting casually for a bit, I hung up. I didn't tell him about Kailyn. Nor was I angry about his secrecy.
Marvin was likely afraid that if I found out the real culprit behind my child's death was someone close to me, I would lose control and take revenge on Kailyn.
Even though she wasn't Maddox's biological daughter, he had raised her for over twenty years.
She was cherished by everyone in the Parks family. No matter how grave her mistakes were, they would protect her unconditionally. Meanwhile, I was Maddox's biological daughter, yet in his heart, I held no place at all.
Just as I was about to get something to eat, I received a text message from Alfie.
After reading it, I quickly gathered my things and rushed downstairs.