The Supreme Soldier in the City
Chapter 397 - 404: Meeting Melody Yoody Again

Chapter 397: Chapter 404: Meeting Melody Yoody Again

John Brown encouraged Sarah Grandy with a few words, which made Sarah even happier. She said, "Uncle, I haven’t been naughty during this period. I’ve been studying diligently at home and not bothering you. Aren’t I being very good?"

John Brown chuckled and said, "Indeed, very good. You deserve praise."

Sarah immediately said, "Then, if I get good grades this time, you should give me a reward, right?"

"No problem. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll make sure you get it."

Sarah playfully winked at John and said, "I haven’t decided yet. I’ll think about it slowly after I finish the exams."

At that moment, Sarah’s father said, "Sarah, it’s about time. Hurry and go inside."

Sarah grabbed hold of John Brown’s arm and shook it, saying, "Uncle, you’re not allowed to leave! After my first session, I want to see you waiting for me."

John readily agreed. Sarah’s behavior this time was truly commendable—not like her previous antics which gave him headaches. Considering that this is a crucial moment for Sarah, he thought it was best to indulge her a bit.

Reflecting on himself, John couldn’t help but feel regretful about not graduating high school and joining the army too early, missing out on the college entrance exam experience. Standing outside the exam hall now made him feel like he was patching up that small regret in his life.

Turning around, he was about to chat with Sarah’s parents but noticed that although they were standing together, their expressions looked far from good. It was completely different from their earlier harmonious demeanor.

This made John dismiss the idea of talking to them. Clearly, the couple was still having conflicts, but they were pretending to be loving for Sarah’s sake during her exams. If he tried to strike up a conversation now, he might end up caught in their drama, which would hardly be worth it.

"Melody!" John Brown took a few steps back, lit a cigarette, and saw Melody Yoody talking with another woman. As soon as he called her name, Melody turned her head.

"James!" Melody’s face initially brightened with joy but then quickly darkened. She snorted coldly and turned away, ignoring him.

John had originally been walking quickly toward Melody, but now he involuntarily stopped. He was married now and could no longer be with Melody. The harm he caused her was significant. Having failed her in the past and now again, he wondered, even if he approached her, what could he say?

With that thought, John’s footsteps came to a complete halt. He exhaled lightly, stared deeply at Melody for a moment, then turned away and walked off slowly.

It seemed as though Melody had eyes on her back. As John cast that complex look toward her, her body shivered slightly. Her heart hurt deeply. She had once carried John’s child and planned to bring him the joyful news, only to have John’s sudden marriage pour cold water all over her plans. How could she not be heartbroken?

In recent days, she hated the idea of keeping the child and even considered aborting it, but ultimately couldn’t make herself go through with it. It wasn’t because losing the child would render her infertile—it was because this child was hers and John’s. Despite John’s heartlessness, she still felt deeply for him, mingled with her hatred.

"You bastard! You dare not marry me and go for another woman? I swear, if you don’t, I’ll take it out on your son!" Melody muttered angrily. But as she justified keeping the child through this reasoning, she couldn’t help but laugh at herself. Nevertheless, it solidified her determination to keep the baby.

However, Melody was very proud and stubborn. Even if she carried John’s child, she wouldn’t use it as leverage against him. She didn’t even want to tell that jerk. But just now, seeing John, she couldn’t help but shout his name.

Though, upon seeing him, her hatred flared up again, so she immediately decided to ignore him. But when John walked away, her heart pricked with pain once more.

"James? Is that the boy from your high school?" The woman with Melody was a woman in her forties, Melody’s aunt. She had known about the incident where Melody lost her baby in high school, so she was familiar with John.

Melody snorted and said, "It’s not him."

"Better not be. Let me tell you, Melody, you have a bright future ahead of you now. The Yawk Family holds you in high regard for your talents. Even though you belong to a branch of the family, they value you a lot and will surely support you more in the future. A mere riffraff like him isn’t worthy of you. By the way, how are things progressing with Michael Wilson?"

Melody, still distracted by her thoughts about John, barely caught any of her aunt’s words and remained silent and dazed.

"Hey, Melody, what are you thinking about?"

"Ah! Nothing really... just zoned out. What were you saying?"

"I asked how things are with Michael Wilson. He’s a direct descendant of the W Region family and one of their rising stars. Your families are being matched together, and you know how significant that is. It’s a rare opportunity for you, so you can’t miss this chance."

Melody knew that if she outright said she hadn’t paid any attention to Michael, her aunt would nag endlessly. To humor her, Melody smiled and replied, "It’s okay."

"What do you mean ’okay’? You need to take this seriously. I think Michael is quite fond of you. If you take a proactive approach, the match could be a success. That way, the Yawk Family and the W Region family could collaborate even more closely, and both of our families would benefit greatly."

Melody’s aunt continued enthusiastically, but she didn’t notice that Melody wasn’t listening to a single word she was saying.

"Ugh..." Suddenly, Melody bent over and dry-heaved. Her aunt hurriedly patted her back, asking with concern, "What’s wrong?"

Melody gagged a few more times before recovering slightly. She silently cursed John again for causing her such trouble but managed a strained smile and said, "It’s nothing. I’ve just been drinking too much lately, so my stomach isn’t great."

"Ah, well, that’s inevitable when you’re in politics. You need to take care of yourself. Have some breakfast and eat something before drinking. Otherwise, your stomach won’t hold up."

Melody casually hummed and nodded along with her aunt’s advice. But inwardly, she felt somewhat satisfied because when she glanced at John after gagging, she noticed his concerned expression. His hesitant movements suggested he wanted to come over to her.

"Hah, married and still such a coward. He didn’t even dare to come over," she thought with mixed feelings—partly pleased, but mostly annoyed.

The first exam was about to finish, and parents gathered at the entrance of the exam hall, eagerly waiting for their children to come out and share how they did.

Some students who finished early emerged, sparking mixed emotions in the parents. When these kids claimed they did well, the parents smiled brightly. But if they said the results weren’t great, their parents’ expressions would sour instantly. Still, most parents restrained themselves, encouraging their kids to focus on the next exam and not bear any mental burden.

Almost all parents exhibited extraordinary kindness during this time, fearing their anxiety might rub off on their kids.

Sarah Grandy rushed out earlier than scheduled, and John and her parents quickly approached her. Sarah’s mother immediately began scolding, "Didn’t I tell you not to leave before time was up?"

Sarah proudly made a victory gesture and said, "Don’t worry, I did great! Even checked my answers twice. Uncle, aren’t you going to praise me?"

John laughed and said, "Sarah is so clever. I’m sure you’ll be just fine."

"See, Uncle believes in me!" Sarah beamed with a radiant smile.

"Of course! I have full confidence in you. But don’t rush next time; sit through the full time. Who knows if you might suddenly spot an error?"

"Okay, next time I’ll wait till the end," Sarah playfully stuck out her tongue, looking endearing and well-behaved.

John couldn’t understand why Sarah had suddenly changed so much, no longer as mischievous as before. But this new Sarah was genuinely likable, no longer causing headaches as she once did.

At that moment, another girl came running over. Sarah grew excited and asked, "Little Grace, how did it go?"

"I did well. What about you?"

"Me too. Hehe."

The girl named Little Grace was exceptionally attractive—youthful, radiant, and no less stunning than Sarah. She then called out toward the gate, "Mom, cousin, I’m over here."

"Little Grace, how did it go? Quickly tell Mom!" Melody’s aunt rushed over, showing concern for Little Grace.

John’s body stiffened as he turned to look at Melody. But Melody pretended not to see him, cheerfully chatting with Little Grace.

After exchanging a few words with Melody and her aunt, Little Grace tugged at Sarah and whispered conspiratorially, "Sarah, is that your creepy uncle over there?"

"That’s right! What do you think—handsome, isn’t he?" Sarah proudly tilted her head.

Little Grace glanced briefly at John before chuckling softly and saying, "He’s just average."

"Pfft, you lack taste! Uncle’s handsomeness isn’t just about his looks—it’s his inner charm. If you really got to know him, you’d see just how dashing Uncle really is."

The pair spoke in hushed tones as they walked toward the exam hall, ensuring no one else could overhear them. But John, noticing Little Grace’s glance earlier, instantly knew the two girls’ chatter involved him.

Normally, he wouldn’t care. But with Melody present, his heart felt particularly uneasy, and he couldn’t resist sneaking glances her way.

Yet Melody acted as though she hadn’t seen him at all, treating him entirely as a stranger.

John felt an inexplicable pang of emotion—heartache mixed with helplessness. But there was nothing he could do now. Having married Gina Lopez, he couldn’t marry Melody Yoody. While Melody could never end up like Emma Campbell, perhaps it was best for her to despise him. Maybe that was the most suitable conclusion.