Leo glared at her fiercely. “You’re a heartless woman who burns bridges after she crosses them.” Amelia smiled at him. “And you’re an impulsive man who doesn’t keep his word.” “You—!” Leo shot her a glare. “La la la…” Amelia stuck her tongue out at him, pulling a playful face. It was rare for her to show that side of herself—the side that had once been full of mischief when she was younger. Leo was caught off guard, stunned for a moment. When he recovered, Amelia had already looked away, feeling a hint of embarrassment at her behavior. “Are you leaving or not?” she said briskly. “If you don’t, I’ll be deducting your next visitation time.” Leo snorted, grabbed his coat, and stormed out. After he was gone, Amelia turned to Eleven. “If you don’t sleep well tonight or you feel uncomfortable, you can come to sleep in the master bedroom with me. It’s fine, don’t force yourself.” Eleven kept her voice calm and her expression soft, not wanting to alarm Amelia. “I’ll be alrig
Sitting before her was Lisa, Sophia’s assistant. “Lisa?” Amelia called out, her voice laced with surprise and suspicion. "You’re the one who’s been sending me all these messages—the anonymous messenger?” Lisa gave a curt nod, her expression calm, but Amelia could sense her nervousness. A flood of thoughts ran through Amelia’s mind. She still couldn’t believe Lisa was the anonymous messenger. She pinched herself and rubbed her eyes to clear her vision, but it was still Lisa sitting before her. Lisa would be the last person Sophia expects to betray her because of their close bond. “Why are you doing this?” Amelia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why betray Sophia? She’s your boss, but before that, she’s your friend. So why betray her?” Lisa hesitated, glancing around the café to ensure no one was listening. “Because I know things, Amelia—things Sophia would kill to keep hidden. I’ve worked side by side with her for years, and I’ve seen what she’s capable of.”
A surge of panic ran through Amelia as she emptied the contents of her purse on the desk. Her wallet, keys, and phone landed on the desk with a clatter, but there was still no sign of the flash drive. She was certain she had put it in her purse—where else could it be? She started replaying the events that transpired at Rig café, and her mind flashed back to the man in a black hoodie who had bumped into her. She realized he didn't bump into her by accident—but it was deliberate. He must have taken it. “No, no, no…” she murmured, slamming her foot against the desk in frustration, making the items on it to shake. She slumped into her chair, feeling a mix of dread and anger. Without the drive, the only thing left was the recording Lisa had sent her. Her fingers trembled slightly as she tapped on the audio file. The sound of static buzzed through her speakers before it was replaced by voices. The first voice was very clear and unmistakable—it was Sophia's. “We need to keep El
Amelia’s breath caught as the figure stepped closer, and she recognized the familiar voice—it was Lisa. She quickly unlocked the window, and Lisa climbed through, all sweaty and out of breath, her clothes clung to her as if she had been running all night. “Lisa! What are you doing here?” Amelia asked, glancing over her shoulder to see if anyone had followed her. Lisa quickly shut the window behind her. Her eyes darted around the room for a moment before they finally settled on Amelia, "Your house was the first place that came to mind." Amelia took a steady breath. “How did you know where I live?” Lisa let out a dry chuckle. “Knowing where you live wasn’t difficult.” She walked over to Amelia's desk, picked up the glass of water on it, and drank it all in one gulp. “Sophia discovered that I contacted you and shared an evidence of her illegal activities with you." "I don’t know how she figured it out, but there are men tracking me as we speak," she said, her voice shaking
The next day, Amelia took her kids to the hospital to visit Aunt Elsa. She had been busy with work lately and hadn’t had a chance to see her regularly. Aunt Elsa had been living abroad and had recently returned to continue her treatment here. With no other relatives nearby, Amelia was her only support. Now, without Amelia’s frequent visits, she must have felt very lonely. Thinking about this, Amelia felt a pang of guilt. She prepared some meals suitable for a patient and packed them in a thermos before heading out with the children. Eleven, as usual, followed them. As they got out of the car, they spotted a familiar couple—Mr. And Mrs. Smith, Amelia's foster parent. John Smith’s health had always been frail, and his back pain had flared up again, so his wife, Olivia Kane, had accompanied him to the hospital for check-up and treatment. Unexpectedly, they ran into Amelia at the entrance. As soon as Olivia saw her, her expression darkened. “What are you doing here?” Amel
After visiting Aunt Elsa, Amelia left with her kids, and Eleven naturally followed. On the way home, Eleven pursed her lips and couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Smith, have you told Mr. Reynold about Mrs. Sutton's illness?” Amelia was taken aback and shook her head. Aunt Elsa was someone she had met in Germany, and Leo didn’t know about her. They weren’t related by blood, but she called her Aunt because she had become like family, and her kids had followed suit, getting used to the name. “What’s wrong?” Amelia knew that Eleven wasn’t someone who talked much, so if she brought it up, there had to be a good reason. Eleven hesitated for a moment before saying, “I heard you mention that Mrs Sutton has cancer, and Mr. Reynold happens to have a world-class cancer expert by his side. Didn’t you know?” Amelia hadn’t known, but now that she did, a glimmer of hope rose in her heart. “Are you saying there’s hope for Aunt Elsa’s illness to be cured?” Eleven shook her head. “I’m not su
Amelia’s face turned pale as the weight of the news sank in. "Okay, I’ll be right there,” she said, her voice trembling. Her hands fidgeted as she dropped her phone. She quickly got out of bed and changed her clothes. When she was done, she walked out of the bedroom, only to see Eleven dishing out food for the two little ones at the dining table. When they saw her, Liam and Ella greeted her. "Good morning, Mommy!” they chorused. "Good morning, darlings," she replied as she walked over to the dining table and kissed each of the kids on their foreheads. Then she spoke calmly, “Aunt Elsa’s condition has suddenly worsened. I have to go to the hospital first. You two eat your breakfast and listen to Eleven, okay?” She didn't want to make it too obvious that she was scared in order not to alarm the kids too much, knowing how much Aunt Elsa meant to them. Liam frowned, dropped his spoon, and stood up. “Auntie’s condition has worsened? Then I want to go to the hospital too.”
Amelia turned to the caregiver, her eyes shooting daggers at her. “Then speak up already.” “I gave those medicines to my son,” the caregiver confessed, her voice quivering, as she stared down, avoiding eye contact with Amelia and Eleven. “What?” Amelia and Eleven's eyes widened, their gaze fixed on her. Amelia frowned, the weight of the confession sinking in. "Your son is sick too?” “Yes,” the caregiver sobbed, tears streaming down her reddened cheek. Her once bright eyes now appeared swollen and puffy, reflecting the torment of a mother torn between her child's suffering and the guilt that consumed her. "My son has the same illness as Madam Elsa. But unlike her, he doesn’t have wealthy relatives to help. I have no skills, no way to even take him to the hospital, let alone buy him medicines.” Her voice broke as she continued, "Madam Elsa often said she was a burden to you and didn’t want to continue living. She even asked me, in secret, to buy poison so she could end he
Leo claimed her mouth in a kiss that was rough and filled with longing, devouring her like a hungry wolf that had been starved for days. Amelia matched his intensity, intertwining her fingers in his hair while moaning between the kisses. His hands moved up her body, exploring every inch as if he had been waiting for this moment forever and had finally gotten the opportunity. She gasped when his fingers brushed her nipple, which was already hard and longing to be licked and devoured by his mouth. She could feel the hardness of his desire pressing against her, only intensifying her own need. “You drive me crazy Amelia Smith,” he murmured against her lips. “I miss you and I don’t want to hold back tonight. I want every part of you baby girl.” “Then don’t hold back,” she quickly replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I’m all yours, claim me, Daddy.” Her words made his hormones rise even further. Without breaking the kiss, he hurriedly lifted her and carried her t
The next day, the news spread online that Sophia committed suicide by hanging herself in prison. It felt strange and heavy but for Amelia, it meant a bitter-sweet relief. She woke up with a slight headache, the sunlight streaming through the curtains. Last night memories flooded through her mind—Leo's warm embrace, his apology and reassurance, the soft kiss that stirred long-hidden feelings. Her cheeks warmed and the color turned a shade of pink. She reached out for Leo who was already awake, sitting against the headboard with a look of concern etched on his face. “Morning, beautiful,” he said softly, studying her face for any signs of distress. “Morning,” Amelia replied, blushing and rubbing her temples. “What happened last night? I remember bits and pieces.” That was a lie, she remembered every single detail but just wanted to play innocent. Leo smiled gently. “You had a little too much fun celebrating your aunt's recovery. But it was a good night for us.” Ame
A month later, Aunt Elsa’s condition had stabilized. The surgical wound had nearly healed, and all that was left was some aftercare. Once home, she could take her medication and recuperate slowly without needing further hospitalization. Early that morning, Amelia went to the hospital to handle Aunt Elsa’s discharge procedures. In the hospital room, Aunt Elsa was sitting on the bed, watching TV. Seeing Amelia come in, Aunt Elsa smiled and said, “You’re just in time. Come and see this.” She pointed to the TV. Curious, Amelia looked over and saw the news playing. A familiar face appeared on the screen, and the host’s flat, detached voice filled the room. “Recently, the sensational murder case has concluded. The primary culprit, Sophia Jones, has been found guilty of her crime." "Due to the severity and serial nature of the case, she has been sentenced to life imprisonment.” Amelia blinked rapidly, her thoughts swirling as she tried to process the news. Life imprisonm
That night, Aunt Elsa woke up. Blake checked on her and found her condition better than he had expected. Perhaps Amelia’s persistence had truly moved the heavens, as the cancer cells had cleared, and even the memory loss Blake had anticipated wasn’t present. It all seemed too good to be true. When Amelia heard the news, she was naturally overjoyed. Leo also heard about Elsa’s successful surgery. He didn’t say much, but that night, he quietly ordered the kitchen to prepare a few extra dishes, silently celebrating Elsa’s recovery. Amelia had agreed to marry Leo to secure Blake’s help for Aunt Elsa. Now that Aunt Elsa was nearly healed, Amelia realized her relationship with Leo was a temporary fix. She knew she had to find a way to completely cut ties with him. That night, Amelia decided to cook a few dishes herself. To prevent anyone from interrupting her plan, she sent the children out with Eleven for the night. Then, she dismissed the household staff Leo had hired for th
As Inspector Ralph led Sophia to the police station, her heart raced with a mix of fear and disbelief.Soon, they arrived, and one of the officers led her into the interrogation room and gestured towards a chair, "Miss Jones, please take a seat. Inspector Ralph will be here shortly."With that he left, leaving her all alone in the room. The cold, bare room did nothing to calm her racing heart it only made her heart beat faster with each passing second.The walls were painted a dull gray, and the only light was a flickering fluorescent bulb that buzzed overhead. The smell of cleaning products filled the air, making her even more anxious.She never imagined that one day she would end up in this kind of situation. She stood up to reduce the pacing of her heart and her trembling fingers.Soon, the door opened and Inspector Ralph walked in. Sophia sat down, trying to stay calm and composed. "What kind of nightmare is this?" She thought. "Can I wake up already?" She pinched herself and
She said in a calm voice, “You didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t need your apology.” Once, those words had been what she wanted most, but now they meant nothing to her. The bitterness of the past clung to her like a heavy fog. She’d never considered forgiving him, so how could she accept it? After Amelia finished speaking, Leo felt a tightening in his chest. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration coursing through him as he processed the weight of her words. “Don’t say that. We were all kept in the dark before. Now that the truth is out, you know I didn’t do those things on purpose, right?” he said quickly, his voice rising slightly. Amelia sneered. “Yes, you didn’t do it on purpose, but can the pain I suffered over the years be forgotten? Leo, you didn’t personally send someone to kill us, but back then, you did divorce me because of Sophia, didn’t you?” “I can’t hate you, but I can never forgive you. We can’t pretend those years never happened. Neither you nor I c
The sentence made both Amelia and Leo furrow their brows. They exchanged curious glances, wondering what could prompt Black Cobra to say such a thing. Leo’s gaze hardened as he made a decision. “Pardon the living, punish the dead.” With those words, he signaled his agreement to Black Cobra’s condition. Black Cobra breathed a sigh of relief. At least he had a chance to keep living to protect his family. He knew his death would endanger their lives, and he couldn’t risk it. He then revealed the secret he’d been hiding. “The accident that led to your best friend Damien's death had nothing to do with Amelia. She wasn't the one responsible." The revelation left them both stunned. Relief washed over Amelia. Damien’s death had nothing to do with her; while surprising, Black Cobra’s words intrigued her even more. Still, she was curious to know who had caused the accident that led to Damien's death and why they’d framed her. With questions swirling in her mind, she looked at
After getting out of the car, James opened the door, and they walked into the building. As soon as they entered, Amelia’s first impression was the smell of blood. The lights turned on, revealing a man lying on the marble floor of the living room, covered in blood. His hair clung together with sweat and blood, and both of his hands hung limply, possibly broken. His legs twisted in an unnatural position, making him look grotesque. Amelia felt as if she had seen him from somewhere. Leo gestured to James, who stepped forward and brushed away the hair covering the man’s face, revealing the person who had kidnapped her before. “How did he end up here?” Amelia asked in disbelief. Leo glanced at her. “What do you think?” It suddenly dawned on Amelia that Leo’s promise of a show tonight referred to this. Her eyes turned cold. She wasn’t a saint and wouldn’t sympathize with someone who had tried to harm her. “Who sent you to kidnap me?” she asked, her voice icy. Black Cobra had
On the ground, lay a mobile phone from which Sophia's voice echoed. “Have you taken action? This is your last chance Cobra, I won’t allow any more mistakes,” Sophia said sharply. Black Cobra replied coldly, “Don’t worry. This time, either she dies or I perish.” After several failures, Black Cobra’s patience had worn completely thin. Combined with Sophia’s relentless pursuit and threats, he felt trapped with no way out. He knew that failure was not an option this time, the future of his family hung in the balance, and the pressure weighed heavily on him. After speaking, Black Cobra picked up the sniper rifle. He believed that as long as Amelia dared to come out, he could kill her. Even if he was caught afterward, he would not regret it. Sophia listened to the commotion on the other end and breathed a sigh of relief before hanging up the phone. Meanwhile, at Wilson’s Domestic Group, Amelia was about to leave the office when her assistant informed her of Leo’s presence in t