Melody nced at Beatrice and waved.


    "Have fun," said Beatrice.


    Thalia could not refuse when Beatrice had made things so clear. Each of them was absorbed in their own thoughts as they walked toward the car.


    When they reached the car, Thalia promptly took the passenger seat to stop Melody from sitting there. She opened the car door and smiled at Melody. "I get motion sickness, so do you mind if I sit here? I''ve always sat here, so I''ve gotten super used to it already." She sported a slightly apologetic expression as if sitting anywhere else would be the end of her.


    "Fine by me. It''s the same anyway," Melody replied.


    Lucas nced at the rearview mirror and said, "Buckle up. We''re going to check out some other ces for Thalia."


    Melody was taken aback. "Isn''t she supposed to stay with us? Why are we going to view other houses?"


    On the bright side, Melody would be spared the unease of having to see or interact with Thalia if thetter moved out, but doing so would require Lucas to meet Thalia alone. Work alone was taxing enough, and having to divide his time between taking care of another person at another ce would be an even bigger burden on him.


    Melody felt that it would be much easier to just let Thalia stay there, despite the awkwardness it would bring.


    Melody''s confusion was genuine, but Thalia seemed to be ungrateful. "Won''t you be happy if I move out?"


    Melody frowned, puzzled by the sudden aggression. "I don''t understand. Why would I be happy if you moved out? What does it have to do with me?"


    She nced at Lucas as if to ask about Thalia''s odd insinuation.


    Lucas said, "Why are you bringing Melody into this? Are you suggesting she doesn''t want you around?"


    Thalia stayed silent, apparently in tacit agreement.


    Melody was aghast. She wondered what she had done to make Thalia think she was the one saying bad things about her, especially as she had just returned from the hospital less than a day ago.


    "You must have misunderstood. Melody doesn''t gossip about other people, and she''s not a petty person either. She just got back from the hospital too. If you have an issue with her, it''s best for us to discuss it openly so we can resolve this right here and now," Lucas stated, frowning at Thalia.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Melody foundfort in Lucas''s trust, for he did notsh out recklessly at her unlike back at her home. Her parents frequently took her sister''s side-even when her sister was in the wrong and Melody was always made the scapegoat. When she tried to exin, her parents would use her of talking back. She had endured all that in the past, and she did not want to have to face it again.


    "I never said it''s because of Melody... You''re misunderstanding me again, Lucas! I just thought I might not be wee here. It''s not necessarily Melody''s fault." Melody was left irked by that remark. Thalia was using her of something she did not do, even when she was sitting right there! Such behavior was intolerable.


    "Don''t beat around the bush. I won''t admit to doing something I haven''t done, but if I was in the wrong, then I won''t shirk away from taking responsibility," Melody dered.