However, Lucas chose to go along with Melody''s n and followed Chloe home.


    ...


    The taxi stopped at the entrance of the Riveras'' residence. Chloe hastily paid the fare and rushed into the yard.


    Melody never could afford further education after high school, so she reluctantly entered the workforce. Finally, shended a position as a maid working for the Rivera family. The work was simple, but the pay was good.


    Nheless, what mattered most was meeting Lucas. She had a crush on him.


    Initially, she never dared to dream about being with such an unattainable man. She was content with just observing him from a distance for the rest of her life, but then Melody appeared.


    ''If an unassuming woman like Melody can be Mister Lucas'' wife, then I can, too!'' thought Chloe.


    Little did she expect Melody to be quite cunning, figuring out a way to prove innocence by use of fingerprint verification. Thus, she needed to hurry home and wipe away all the evidence. That way, Melody would not have a way to prove she had not poisoned Cedric and Beatrice!


    Upon arriving home, Chloe did not even bother changing her shoes and headed straight to the kitchen.


    However, just as she picked up a cloth to start wiping, Melody walked in. She pushed Chloe aside and took the pot from her. "Chloe, what are you doing?"


    Caught off-guard, Chloe did not have time to think. She tried to stand up, intending to snatch the pot back from Melody.


    Melody took a step back with the pot still in her hands. Suddenly, Lucas appeared, pulling Melody behind him and blocking Chloe''s way.


    He looked down at her and asked, "What''s going on here?"


    "Ah!" Chloe did not expect Lucas to be back as well. She was so frightened that she fell to the floor, unable to get back up.


    Edmund rushed over as well, slightly bewildered by the scene. "Sorry for beingte, Mister Lucas. What can I do for you?"


    "You''re notte at all. You came at the right time," Melody replied. She then ced the pot on a nearby countertop and looked down at Chloe. "But I don''t think we need to bother with testing anymore. Someone here is certainly feeling guilty."


    Despite the pain in her body, Chloe crawled up from the floor and knelt in front of them. "Mister Lucas, I just came home to get some things. I... I don''t know why Miss Melody pushed me."


    "Chloe, do you think we''re fools? Do you really think it''s a coincidence that after I''ve mentioned evidence on the pot, you rush back home straight into the kitchen for that very pot?" Melody crouched down in front of her and continued, "I can confidently vouch for my hygienic practices when I''m cooking. So how could Grandpa and Grandma get poisoned?"


    Considering Cedric and Beatrice''s age, Lucas had always been careful about their health. The ingredients at home were of the highest quality, and there had never been any issues.


    "There was a moment when I doubted myself, wondering if it was because I didn''t wash the ingredients properly and caused problems for Grandpa and Grandma. However, your usationspletely dispelled my self-doubt," added Melody.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Melody frowned as she looked at Chloe with unwavering certainty. "Only the person who poisoned them would falsely use me of something I never did! You know what? The pot I used for breakfast is just the old pot from the Riveras'' kitchen. There isn''t any other pot! But the moment you heard me mention evidence on the pot, you panicked and overlooked that point! Plus, you were the only one around when I was cooking. I went to the bathroom midway, and for about five minutes, you were the only one watching the pot. I''m sure that was when you did something to the food, right?"


    Chloe shook her head nervously. "No... No... I didn''t..."


    "You didn''t? Then why did you rush back to wipe the pot? Doesn''t that suggest a guilty conscience?" Melody pressed.


    At that point, Lucas had a clear idea of the situation. He instructed Edmund, saying, "Take the remaining oatmeal for testing. Identify any poisonous substances, inform the doctors, and ask them to provide the appropriate treatment."


    Edmund nodded. "As you wish, sir. And what about Chloe?"


    Lucas nced at Chloe emotionlessly. "Take her to the police station."


    "Understood, Mister Lucas."