Reborn with Nothing but My Farm and Vengeance in the Apocalypse novel Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: You Stole Her Life

"Sylvia, thank you for visiting so often," Silas Lancaster said, looking at her with genuine gratitude. "My leg is almost completely healed. You’re pregnant, so you should be at home resting. Don’t worry so much about me."

Silas’s leg surgery had been a success. He was young and recovering quickly, and after a period of rest, he could already get out of bed and walk on his own.

Running was still a bit difficult, but his doctor said that with proper care and consistent physical therapy, he would eventually make a full recovery.

Sylvia Lancaster smiled warmly at his words. "You’re my little brother, Silas," she replied softly. "Of course I’m going to take care of you when you’re hurt. There’s no need to be so formal."

Silas looked at Sylvia, moved. She had come to see him every few days since his injury. ’She really is the best sister in the world,’ he thought, ’not like Melody Summers...’

At the thought of Melody Summers, his leg began to ache faintly. ’I never thought she could be so vicious. One day, I’ll make her pay!’

The two of them made small talk for a little while longer.

Finally, Sylvia told Silas to get some rest, then stood up and left his room.

The moment she stepped out of Silas’s room, the smile on Sylvia’s face vanished.

Sylvia didn’t actually care much about Silas. She only visited him so frequently so she could use "caring for her brother" as an excuse to secretly meet with Flynn Adler.

Life at the Sutton estate hadn’t been easy for Sylvia lately.

She and Ethan Sutton had gotten their marriage certificate a while back because of the pregnancy.

There had been no wedding dress, no ceremony, no ring, and no bride price or dowry.

Silas had been injured right around the time they registered their marriage, throwing the Lancaster family into chaos. The two families hadn’t even shared a celebratory meal.

Sylvia felt deeply wronged. ’Everyone must be laughing at me.’

Furthermore, after the marriage, Mrs. Sutton and Ethan had seen to her basic needs because she was pregnant, but that was the extent of their care.

They hadn’t given her a single cent.

Every time she brought up needing some money for emergencies, Mrs. Sutton would say, "Sylvia, dear, your food and clothes are all provided for here. The family takes care of the car maintenance, and the housekeepers handle the daily shopping. You don’t really have any use for money, do you?"

’The Suttons are guarding against me,’ Sylvia knew.

With no income of her own, Sylvia desperately needed money. Her only option was to keep meeting with Flynn Adler, hoping to get something from him.

As Sylvia walked down the stairs, she was surprised to see Elaine Hughes and Robert Lancaster sitting together in the living room.

Seeing her come down, Elaine Hughes waved her over. "Sylvia, come here. Your father and I need to talk to you."

Sylvia’s heart sank. ’They’re going to ask me for money again...’

Elaine Hughes had been utterly exhausted lately.

Silas was bedridden after his surgery, and Robert needed to rest after a bout of high blood pressure.

With no housekeeper, Elaine had to take care of both invalids, Silas and Robert, on top of doing the laundry, cooking, and cleaning the entire villa.

The recent hardships had aged her by several years. Fine lines now creased her once well-maintained face, and gray hairs had appeared at her temples. Every day, she spent ages in front of the mirror, crying as she plucked them out.

Sylvia came over and sat on the sofa beside them, asking nervously, "Mom, Dad, what is it?"

Sylvia was terrified they were going to ask for money again. ’I don’t even have enough for myself!’

Elaine Hughes sighed and told Sylvia that Simon had been demoted.

For the past two days, a frantic Robert had been calling in favors, but the answer was always the same as Holly Rhodes’s suggestion: Melody Summers had to be the one to go before the Rhodes Enterprises investigative team and explain the situation.

If Melody took all the blame, there might still be a chance to reverse Simon’s demotion.

But when Simon and Elaine went to The Metropolis Residences to find Melody, they were stopped by the security guard at the gate.

The guard told them they were both banned from the premises.

They tried calling her from different numbers, but Melody would hang up the moment she heard their voices and wouldn’t reply to any of their texts.

With a troubled look, Elaine continued, "Sylvia, can you please try to talk to Melody for the family?"

She knew she couldn’t change Robert’s mind, so she turned to Elaine with a pleading look.

Elaine’s heart ached seeing Sylvia like this, but she knew they had no other choice.

The family’s entire livelihood depended on Simon’s salary and company benefits. If he was demoted, they would struggle to even cover food and daily expenses.

At this thought, Elaine could only pat Sylvia’s hand and say gently, "Sylvia, look at the state the family is in. Please be sensible and just go apologize to Melody... Besides, it was you who stole her life in the first place!"

Sylvia flinched as if struck. She stared at Elaine in utter disbelief, her mind going blank as a wave of resentment and grief washed over her.

’I always thought I had won, that I had kept my family safe from Melody.’ But Elaine’s words were a vicious slap in the face.

’So these two people, who swore they would love me forever, still think I’m the one who stole Melody’s life...’

’All my efforts have been a complete joke.’

’But... if I stole Melody’s life, then who stole mine?’

A whirlwind of complex emotions churned within Sylvia.

She lowered her head, hiding the potent resentment and hatred in her eyes. After a long moment, she spoke softly. "I understand. I’ll do my best to convince her. Don’t worry, Mom, Dad."

「*」

After leaving the Lancaster home, Sylvia didn’t go back to the Sutton estate. Instead, she drove to The Crestview Hotel.

The Crestview Hotel was nothing special—a bit remote and nowhere near as luxurious as the hotels downtown—but its main advantage was its discretion.

Flynn Adler’s family had held shares in the hotel before the Cataclysm. Afterward, the Adler Family bought it outright. It had become the designated spot for his and Sylvia’s trysts.

Arriving at their designated room, 1108, Sylvia paused to check her makeup and tidy her hair before pulling out the key card and opening the door.

The moment she stepped inside, Flynn Adler pulled her into an embrace. "Let me see," he chuckled, his hands moving to her belly. "I want to see if my son has gotten any bigger."