Reborn with Nothing but My Farm and Vengeance in the Apocalypse

Chapter 521: Chapter 521: A Sudden Stepfather

Seeing how nervous she was, Sophie Thorne smiled reassuringly and said, "Honestly, most of the jobs aren’t very technical. They don’t require advanced research skills or a lot of work experience, so you don’t need to worry so much."

The truth is, the hiring situation has gotten so ridiculous simply because there are no other job opportunities.

Some of these jobs are actually very simple—anyone with a basic nine-year education could do them. But with so many applicants, the hiring standards have been pushed sky-high.

Just the other day, Ronan Rhodes was complaining to Sophie Thorne that the hydroponics lab had originally just wanted to hire someone to organize files—a job a high school graduate could do. But the day the notice went up, they received over five thousand applications.

In the end, they ended up hiring a master’s graduate from a prestigious overseas university who was fluent in three foreign languages. It was jaw-dropping.

So, since the job itself wasn’t difficult, it wouldn’t be a big deal to pull some strings and get Nina Summers hired.

Besides, Sophie Thorne had her own motives. ’Since Nina Summers is Melody Summers’s cousin and Winnie Summers’s own niece,’ she thought, ’that makes her practically family. What’s wrong with hiring one of your own for your own company?’

Hearing Sophie Thorne’s words, Nina Summers still felt apprehensive. The thought of competing against a group of top-tier elites made her scalp prickle.

Melody Summers patted Nina Summers’s shoulder. "Alright, don’t just stand here in a daze," she said. "I have a computer in my room. Go whip up a few resumes and start preparing—"

Nina Summers scurried upstairs, leaving Melody Summers and Sophie Thorne alone in the living room.

Melody Summers idly tapped her finger on the glass fish tank and asked softly, "Sophie Thorne... is there something you wanted to tell me...?"

Startled at being addressed by her full name, Sophie Thorne was taken aback. She replied instinctively, "...Tell you what?... Wait, why are you talking like that?"

Melody Summers didn’t answer. She just turned her head and stared silently at Sophie Thorne, her gaze filled with a strange sort of resentment.

’I was so blind. I thought Roman Rhodes was just visiting the Summers Family every day, bringing gifts to repay Miss Lowell for her past kindness. But looking back, his entire attitude toward Winnie Summers was just... off.’

’From all the little gifts he kept bringing to the way Mom went from telling me everything to suddenly having secrets... all the suspicious signs pointed to one possibility: something was going on between her and Roman Rhodes.’

’I was so blind. I was so biased from the start that I never even considered it could be romantic.’

’If Nina hadn’t told me a few days ago that something was up with them, I’d still be completely in the dark!’

’But...’

’If even Nina could see something was going on between Mom and Roman Rhodes, how could Sophie possibly have missed it?’

’Thinking back on all that weird stuff Ronan Rhodes said at the banquet... Ronan and Sophie must have known all along. They were just hiding it from me.’

Sophie Thorne felt her own scalp prickle under Melody Summers’s resentful gaze. She instinctively rubbed her hands together and asked guiltily, "...You... you know, don’t you?"

’Sophie had always thought that while Melody was smart about most things, she was exceptionally blind and slow when it came to romance. Otherwise, she never would have picked a boyfriend like her last one.’

’So if even Melody has figured it out...’

’Does that mean Roman Rhodes finally confessed to Winnie Summers?’

At this thought, Sophie Thorne couldn’t help but sigh. ’About time.’

’The Rhodes Family has been waiting for this daughter-in-law for far too long. Mr. Rhodes’s health is getting worse—he had two heart attacks last month. If Roman Rhodes can marry Winnie Summers soon, Mr. Rhodes will be able to pass on without any regrets...’

Sophie Thorne was still lost in thought when she heard Melody Summers let out a cold huff. "Sophie Thorne..." Melody said, her tone dripping with resentment. "You’ve really got some nerve!"

"I can’t believe I thought you were my best friend. Is this how you treat me? You knew... why didn’t you at least give me a heads-up?"

Facing Melody Summers’s accusatory glare, Sophie Thorne gave a hollow laugh and tried to explain, "Hey, don’t talk like that... I only found out recently myself, and I just couldn’t figure out how to bring it up with you..."

’Her main concern was that if she told Melody, Melody would almost certainly disapprove and might even try to sabotage the whole thing.’

’Sophie really liked Winnie Summers and secretly hoped things would work out between her and Roman Rhodes, so she had instinctively decided to keep Melody in the dark for the time being.’

Seeing Sophie Thorne’s guilty explanation, Melody Summers said flatly, "Ha."

Sophie Thorne, seeing this, rubbed her hands together awkwardly and explained in a low voice, "I was just worried you’d be upset if you found out..."

At this, Sophie Thorne watched Melody Summers’s face carefully and asked tentatively, "...You’re not upset, are you?"

Melody Summers’s expression remained unchanged. She retorted, "What do you think?"

’How could I possibly be happy?’

’Life was going just fine, and then suddenly some guy pops up out of nowhere trying to be my stepdad. Who would be happy about that?’

’Especially not when that man is Roman Rhodes.’

’It’s not that I have anything against Roman Rhodes personally. Fundamentally, he’s a decent guy—his family is well-off, he’s successful, and he seems to be a man of principle.’

’The problem is, from my perspective, he’s just not a suitable husband.’

’First of all, there’s his status. To have reached his current position, he must put his work first. How much energy could he possibly have left to care for a family and take on those responsibilities?’

’The more successful a man is, the harder it is for him to balance work and family. In my opinion, a man like Roman Rhodes isn’t the type for a quiet, stable life. Even if Mom remarries, she should find a kind, family-oriented man who knows how to care for someone.’

’Then there’s his family. The Rhodes Family is powerful and influential. In my past life, after I returned to the Lancaster Family, I had more than my fill of dealing with these powerful clans. I’m sick to death of socializing with people like that, and I don’t want to get tangled up with them in this life. Naturally, I don’t want Mom to marry into a family like that either.’

’An old-money family like the Rhodeses isn’t like some common nouveau riche. They have a huge clan, a tangled web of connections, and a constant need for social events to maintain their network.’

’Mom is simple and unpretentious. Could she ever adapt to the backstabbing and intrigue of high society?’

’Most importantly, Roman Rhodes doesn’t have any children yet. If Mom gets together with him, there’s a ninety-percent chance she’ll be expected to have kids.’

’If Mom had given birth before, it might be different, but she hasn’t. Having a first child at her age would make her a textbook case of a high-risk pregnancy. It’s just too dangerous.’

’Not to mention, for a powerful family like the Rhodeses, they might even demand a son...’

’Just thinking about all this made my scalp prickle. I’d have to be out of my mind to approve of Mom getting together with Roman Rhodes!’

When Melody Summers didn’t say anything, Sophie Thorne couldn’t resist poking her. "So what are you thinking right now?... If Miss Summers and Mr. Rhodes really do get together, how would you feel?"