Chapter 480: Chapter 480: Ensure Melody’s Safety

"Her name is Renee Jennings. Brother Vince, why the sudden question?" Allen gossiped from the other end of the line. "Brother Vince, are you thinking of joining her stream? I thought you didn’t have any pets. Oh, right, the host hasn’t been live the past couple of days. She said she’ll post an announcement before she streams again..."

When Jenson Marsh heard the name "Renee Jennings," nothing else registered. "Can this streamer really communicate with animals?"

"I think she’s the real deal," Allen said confidently. "I’ve been watching her streams for a long time. If she couldn’t communicate with animals, do you think she could ride on a tiger’s back or stream right next to a lion? Besides, whenever she’s live, a bunch of official police accounts..."

"I get it," Jenson Marsh said in a low voice. "Thanks, Allen. Something’s come up, I have to go."

He opened the text message from Renee Jennings again, and a shiver ran down his spine.

Jenson Marsh took a deep breath and dialed the number from the text.

At the same time, a black commercial van was heading toward the Draken Hot Springs Villa Complex.

Five minutes earlier, Kyle Morgan had called to report that he’d tracked their target’s vehicle to the Draken Hot Springs Villa Complex.

The dim interior of the van was silent, broken only by the occasional sound of Shadow and Mimi bickering.

"MEOW~ You mutt, you’re crushing my tail!"

"WOOF~ Can’t I just play with your tail a little?"

"Do you have any manners? I hate dogs with no sense of boundaries!"

"..."

Listening to the two little critters, Renee Jennings felt her tense nerves relax slightly, and a faint smile touched her lips.

The next moment, her phone rang, shattering the quiet.

She glanced down at the number on her screen, her voice lifting slightly. "Melody Marsh’s father is calling me."

Michelle Fuller murmured, "I wonder if her dad will believe it."

Renee Jennings swiped to answer the call and put it on speakerphone.

Before she could speak, an agitated voice came through the speaker. "Host Jennings, is it true?"

Renee Jennings’s expression grew serious. "It is. The black dog from the Bamboo Rice Restaurant is in the van with us right now. You can talk to him yourself."

Shadow played his part, barking on cue. "WOOF WOOF WOOF~"

*It’s true! I’m not lying! Bad people want to hurt your big sister!*

Renee Jennings asked, "Mr. Marsh, did you hear what the black dog said?"

"I heard him," Jenson Marsh said. "But I couldn’t understand him."

"He said it’s true. He’s not lying to you. There are people who want to harm your daughter."

"Is it really Susan Roth and Jasper Yates who want to hurt Melody? Susan and my wife have known each other for nearly thirty years..."

"Mr. Marsh," Renee Jennings said in a serious tone, "I actually contacted your wife, Amanda Lynn, before I called you. You were in the car. Ms. Lynn told me that Susan Roth is a good friend who loves Melody as if she were her own daughter."

"My wife didn’t believe you?"

"If she’d believed me, I wouldn’t have had to call you."

Jenson Marsh was silent for a moment before asking, "Host Jennings, did they... say what they were going to do to Melody?"

Renee Jennings replied, "Shadow overheard them say something: ’What is it that young girls fear the most?’"

Jenson Marsh gripped his phone, his breath catching in his throat. "Are they... planning to..."

"My guess is they intend to destroy your daughter’s innocence." Renee thought of the mission she had yet to complete. ’There are only twenty hours left, which means the tragedy will happen within that time.’

"How could they do this!" Jenson Marsh clenched his phone, his usually cheerful face contorted with rage. "Melody respects them so much. And just because her grades are better than Theo Yates’s, they’re going to..."

Jenson Marsh couldn’t even bring himself to say the words aloud.

Renee Jennings said calmly, "Mr. Marsh, you need to calm down. The most important thing right now is ensuring Melody’s safety."

"Yes! You’re right!" Jenson Marsh muttered. "I have to get Melody and Amanda out of here immediately!"

"Is the red van yours?"

"No, it belongs to Jasper Yates." Jenson Marsh frowned, realizing that since they didn’t have their own car, getting a ride to leave at this hour would be difficult.

Guessing his concern, Renee Jennings said, "Mr. Marsh, if you trust me, send me your current location."

"I have no choice but to trust you," Jenson Marsh said, his voice heavy. "This is about my daughter’s entire life. I believe you."

’If this is all a lie, then that’s even better. We won’t have lost a thing.’

’But if it’s true, I’ll be able to protect my daughter in time.’

Hearing his answer, Renee Jennings breathed a sigh of relief. "Mr. Marsh, thank you for your trust. We’re already on our way to the Draken Hot Springs Villa Complex. We’ll be there in about forty minutes."

Jenson Marsh paused, confused. "Host Jennings, I don’t think I told you where we are. How did you know we’re in the Draken Villa Complex?"

"From the police investigation," Renee Jennings said. "I forgot to mention, we have a Zenvia detective in the van with us."

"You’ve already reported this to the police?" Jenson Marsh asked, surprised.

’He had just been debating whether to call them himself, worried they wouldn’t believe him or dispatch an officer.’

"A report has been filed, you could say," Renee Jennings answered.

"Thank you!" Jenson Marsh said with gratitude.

Renee Jennings pursed her lips. "Mr. Marsh, send us your exact location. Then go and keep an eye on your wife and daughter."

"I will," Jenson Marsh quickly agreed.

Renee Jennings hung up and let out a long sigh. "Thank goodness Melody Marsh’s father was willing to believe us."

"Yeah," Michelle Fuller said, looking pleased. "He’s got a much better head on his shoulders than his wife does."

Zachary Conway added, "Jenson Marsh is more level-headed."

Jude Sherman spoke softly, "It’s probably because Amanda Lynn has known Susan Roth for so long. It’s different for Jenson Marsh; to him, Susan is just his wife’s friend."

Jenson Marsh quickly typed his detailed address into a message and sent it to Renee Jennings.

Another knock came from the door. This time, it was Theo Yates who spoke. "Uncle Marsh, my dad sent me to see if you’re all right."

"Almost done," Jenson Marsh called back. After changing his clothes, he opened the door.

Theo Yates was waiting at the door. He asked flippantly, "Uncle Marsh, you have a weak stomach or something? Everyone ate the same thing, but you’re the only one who got the runs."

"Is that right," Jenson Marsh said, forcing a stiff smile.

As Jenson Marsh approached the hot spring pool, he saw that his wife’s face was flushed and his daughter’s cheeks were also abnormally red.

He frowned and hurried over, asking in a low, stern voice, "Have you two been drinking?"

He scanned the area, then picked up a nearby red wine bottle and shook it. His expression turned grim. "You’ve already finished a whole bottle?"

"Jevin, we’re celebrating," Amanda Lynn said, smiling blissfully at him. "We just had a little extra to drink."

Susan Roth, her expression unchanged, chimed in, "Oh, come on, Jevin. Melody did so well on her exams, we’re all thrilled for her. A celebration is definitely in order. And this is nothing! We still have two more bottles to go."

Jenson Marsh ignored her and turned to his daughter. He frowned, his eyes fixed on her face. "Melody, did you drink, too?"

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