Melody Strikes Back by Myra Walker

M

Chapter 21

Chapter 21 

Astrid deliberately raised her voice to ensure every high society lady in the room heard her clear disdain–not only was she declaring Melody ugly, but useless too. 

As expected, Yolanda’s words intensified the looks of disgust on the faces of the ladies who already judged Melody for her appearance. 

Despite both being daughters of the prestigious Tox family, Mabel, the stepdaughter, enjoyed a luxurious life. In contrast, Melody, the legitimate daughter, was practically raised to be irrelevant in the countryside. 

However, Melody remained unfazed. Her composure only frustrated Astrid even more. 

“Forget it,” Astrid said, satisfied with the outcome. She waved her hand dismissively, having no desire to watch Melody demonstrate her coffee making skills. “Mabel, since your sister doesn’t know how to, you do it.” 

Mabel’s eyes gleamed with anticipation as she took a step towards the table when Melody’s voice cut through the room. “Who said I didn’t 

know anything about making coffee?” 

Her words stopped Mabel in her tracks, and even Astrid, who had been ignoring Melody, couldn’t help but look back in surprise and curiosity. “You know how to make coffee?” she asked, her tone dripping with skepticism.. 

o make 

you a cup.” 

“I know a bit,” Melody responded calmly, locking eyes with Astrid. “If you’d allow me, I’d be happy to 

Before Melody’s declaration could sink in, Mabel blurted out, incredulous, “Melody, what do you even know about making coffee? You can’t tell the difference between coffee types, can you?” 

Melody’s lips twitched into a small smile. “Whether I know how or not, why don’t we find out?” 

“Melody” Yolanda hissed under her breath, audible only to Melody. “Haven’t you embarrassed us enough today? Just stop making a scene 

and let Mabel handle it!” 

Yolanda was convinced that Mabel would dazzle everyone with her refined skills. 

But Melody, unfazed, raised an eyebrow and challenged, “What’s the issue? Are you afraid I’ll steal Mabel’s thunder?” 

“Cut the crap!” Yolanda snapped, frustration clear in her tone: 

Though Astrid couldn’t hear their whispered exchange, the tension was palpable. It was obvious that Melody, fed up with being looked down upon, was ready to prove herself, while Yolanda desperately wanted to avoid more embarrassment, 

Seizing the opportunity to further demean Melody, Astrid couldn’t resist. With a cunning smile, she suggested, “Oh, so Miss Melody claims she can make coffee? This lounge is spacious, and there are several coffee stations. How about both you and Mabel each prepare a cup? Let’s see who truly has the talent.” 

“Certainly,” Melody replied without hesitation, 

She had never planned to marry into the Swanson family and initially didn’t want to showcase any talents in front of Astrid. But with so many distinguished ladies present today, she couldn’t let them look down on her from the get–go if she hoped to establish a foothold in Silverlake. 

Everyone doubt my coffee–making skills? Well, I just have to prove them wrong by seriously stepping up to the challenge!‘ she said to herself. Despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her, Melody kept a serene expression, masking her true feelings. 

Meanwhile, Mabel couldn’t help but laugh out of frustration. “You’re overestimating yourself!” she scoffed, striding confidently towards the central French press. She had thrown herself into mastering the craft, even spending three months in rigorous training to refine her skills. 

1/2 

19:44 Thu, 4 Jul GR. 

How could this country bumpkin even dream of competing me? Melody wants to challenge me? That is a joke!‘ Mable thought. 

22% 

Mabel was already at the table, starting to heat the water. Melody, maintaining her composure, walked over to pick another press, still calm and collected. 

All eyes were drawn to the heated scene. 

Yolanda watched Melody start to boil water, and she nearly lost it. “This ungrateful brat! Where does she get the nerve?‘ she fumed silently. ‘After this birthday bash, I’m going to make sure Grandma sees this country fool for what she is. She’ll despise her for sure!” 

While Yolanda was seething with anxiety, Astrid was clearly delighted by the spectacle. If it had just been Melody making coffee, even if poorly done, as long as the steps were followed, there wouldn’t be much to criticize. However, with Mabel, the esteemed socialite, as a contrast, Melody’s efforts would seem all the more crude and unsophisticated. 

These sisters… they really are something, Astrid mused, enjoying Mabel’s innocence. 

Soon, both Melody and Mabel finished grinding their coffee beans. 

The experienced ladies in the room, all adept at making coffee, recognized that both were set up for coffee extraction–a technique usually reserved for competitions, requiring high skill. No one expected a country girl like Melody to be capable of such feats, which piqued their curiosity. 

Astrid, feeling slightly uneasy, wondered, ‘Could this ugly duckling actually know how to make coffee? No, it must be a fluke. Even if her setup is correct, it doesn’t mean she truly understands what she’s doing. She’s probably just copying Mabel.‘ This reassured her somewhat. 

As Mabel waited for the water to boil, she noticed Melody had set up identically. She scoffed, convinced Melody was just imitating her. But mastering coffée extraction isn’t something one can pick up just by looking–it’s an easy way to embarrass oneself if he is a novice. 

Confident in her superiority, Mabel taunted, “Melody, you’re trying extraction too? You know, coffee extraction is all about precise control- water temperature, contact time, grind size, and the water–to–coffee ratio. Do you even know what that means?” Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

19:44 Thu, 4 Jul GR 

Astrid deliberately raised her voice to ensure every high society lady in the room heard her clear disdain–not only was she declaring Melody ugly, but useless too. 

As expected, Yolanda’s words intensified the looks of disgust on the faces of the ladies who already judged Melody for her appearance. 

Despite both being daughters of the prestigious Tox family, Mabel, the stepdaughter, enjoyed a luxurious life. In contrast, Melody, the legitimate daughter, was practically raised to be irrelevant in the countryside. 

However, Melody remained unfazed. Her composure only frustrated Astrid even more. 

“Forget it,” Astrid said, satisfied with the outcome. She waved her hand dismissively, having no desire to watch Melody demonstrate her coffee making skills. “Mabel, since your sister doesn’t know how to, you do it.” 

Mabel’s eyes gleamed with anticipation as she took a step towards the table when Melody’s voice cut through the room. “Who said I didn’t 

know anything about making coffee?” 

Her words stopped Mabel in her tracks, and even Astrid, who had been ignoring Melody, couldn’t help but look back in surprise and curiosity. “You know how to make coffee?” she asked, her tone dripping with skepticism.. 

o make 

you a cup.” 

“I know a bit,” Melody responded calmly, locking eyes with Astrid. “If you’d allow me, I’d be happy to 

Before Melody’s declaration could sink in, Mabel blurted out, incredulous, “Melody, what do you even know about making coffee? You can’t tell the difference between coffee types, can you?” 

Melody’s lips twitched into a small smile. “Whether I know how or not, why don’t we find out?” 

“Melody” Yolanda hissed under her breath, audible only to Melody. “Haven’t you embarrassed us enough today? Just stop making a scene 

and let Mabel handle it!” 

Yolanda was convinced that Mabel would dazzle everyone with her refined skills. 

But Melody, unfazed, raised an eyebrow and challenged, “What’s the issue? Are you afraid I’ll steal Mabel’s thunder?” 

“Cut the crap!” Yolanda snapped, frustration clear in her tone: 

Though Astrid couldn’t hear their whispered exchange, the tension was palpable. It was obvious that Melody, fed up with being looked down upon, was ready to prove herself, while Yolanda desperately wanted to avoid more embarrassment, 

Seizing the opportunity to further demean Melody, Astrid couldn’t resist. With a cunning smile, she suggested, “Oh, so Miss Melody claims she can make coffee? This lounge is spacious, and there are several coffee stations. How about both you and Mabel each prepare a cup? Let’s see who truly has the talent.” 

“Certainly,” Melody replied without hesitation, 

She had never planned to marry into the Swanson family and initially didn’t want to showcase any talents in front of Astrid. But with so many distinguished ladies present today, she couldn’t let them look down on her from the get–go if she hoped to establish a foothold in Silverlake. 

Everyone doubt my coffee–making skills? Well, I just have to prove them wrong by seriously stepping up to the challenge!‘ she said to herself. Despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her, Melody kept a serene expression, masking her true feelings. 

Meanwhile, Mabel couldn’t help but laugh out of frustration. “You’re overestimating yourself!” she scoffed, striding confidently towards the central French press. She had thrown herself into mastering the craft, even spending three months in rigorous training to refine her skills. 

1/2 

19:44 Thu, 4 Jul GR. 

How could this country bumpkin even dream of competing me? Melody wants to challenge me? That is a joke!‘ Mable thought. 

22% 

Mabel was already at the table, starting to heat the water. Melody, maintaining her composure, walked over to pick another press, still calm and collected. 

All eyes were drawn to the heated scene. 

Yolanda watched Melody start to boil water, and she nearly lost it. “This ungrateful brat! Where does she get the nerve?‘ she fumed silently. ‘After this birthday bash, I’m going to make sure Grandma sees this country fool for what she is. She’ll despise her for sure!” 

While Yolanda was seething with anxiety, Astrid was clearly delighted by the spectacle. If it had just been Melody making coffee, even if poorly done, as long as the steps were followed, there wouldn’t be much to criticize. However, with Mabel, the esteemed socialite, as a contrast, Melody’s efforts would seem all the more crude and unsophisticated. 

These sisters… they really are something, Astrid mused, enjoying Mabel’s innocence. 

Soon, both Melody and Mabel finished grinding their coffee beans. 

The experienced ladies in the room, all adept at making coffee, recognized that both were set up for coffee extraction–a technique usually reserved for competitions, requiring high skill. No one expected a country girl like Melody to be capable of such feats, which piqued their curiosity. 

Astrid, feeling slightly uneasy, wondered, ‘Could this ugly duckling actually know how to make coffee? No, it must be a fluke. Even if her setup is correct, it doesn’t mean she truly understands what she’s doing. She’s probably just copying Mabel.‘ This reassured her somewhat. 

As Mabel waited for the water to boil, she noticed Melody had set up identically. She scoffed, convinced Melody was just imitating her. But mastering coffée extraction isn’t something one can pick up just by looking–it’s an easy way to embarrass oneself if he is a novice. 

Confident in her superiority, Mabel taunted, “Melody, you’re trying extraction too? You know, coffee extraction is all about precise control- water temperature, contact time, grind size, and the water–to–coffee ratio. Do you even know what that means?” 

19:44 Thu, 4 Jul GR