Inside the villa, in Leo’s living room, he handed Amelia the contract he’d drafted, along with a pen. After reviewing it, Amelia signed. She gripped the signed contract tightly, her knuckles white as she watched Leo’s reaction. His gaze flickered over the document, a small, victorious smile curving his lips. A pang of anger stirred in her—anger at him, at herself for agreeing to his conditions, and at the situation forcing her hand. Leo looked up, his eyes locking onto hers, dark and unreadable. “I have to admit, Amelia, I didn’t think you’d agree to my conditions. I underestimated you.” She steadied her breath, and said, "This isn’t about you, Leo. It’s about Aunt Elsa—and my children.” “Is it?” He leaned back, crossing his arms as he studied her, as though he could see right through her defenses. "Because I think it’s about more than that. Part of you hates me, I know that. But another part…” He let the words hang, his eyes never leaving hers. Amelia reacted. “Don
"Eleven, is it true that my mommy is here?” Liam asked, staring at her eye to eye. Ella chimed in, "I really miss my mommy. Can I really see her?” Amelia’s whole body went still, her heart thudding in her chest as a wave of relief washed over her. The next second, her eyes lit up with pure joy. She got up and rushed toward the door. “Liam, Ella!” The villa’s door opened, and Liam and Ella ran toward her, beaming with joy. “Mommy!” they chorused. Amelia crouched down, opened her arms, and hugged them. The children’s excitement nearly knocked her over, but she only laughed, pulling them close. During this time, she’d been busy taking care of Aunt Elsa and hadn’t seen them since she returned from Japan. Ella hugged her neck, her voice filled with affection. “Mommy, I missed you so much. I’m so happy to see you.” Amelia's lips curled up in a smile, and then she cupped the children’s faces and asked with concern, “How did you come here?” Liam's expression turned s
After speaking, she kissed her on the cheek. Amelia’s heart instantly melted, and her eyes became a little moist. “Mummy loves you too.” After saying this, she hugged Liam, who stood beside her and then kissed each child gently on the cheek. Not far away, Leo watched the tender interaction between Amelia and the children, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he considered the bond they shared. He didn’t say anything and turned to enter the bedroom. Eleven frowned slightly as she watched this scene. That night, with the children by her side, Amelia slept peacefully. The next morning, she got up early and went to the kitchen to make breakfast for the children. Eleven saw this and quickly said, “Miss Smith, let me do it.” But Amelia smiled. “I’ll do it. I’ve been busy taking care of Aunt Elsa lately and haven’t had much time to care for the children. You’ve done so much, and it’s hard work for you.” “Besides, as a mother, I have to do something for them; o
Amelia felt a jolt of panic, worried that Aunt Elsa would catch on. She quickly looked away and replied, "There are no conditions. He’s simply mistaken.” After she finished speaking, she shot Blake a glare. Blake scratched the back of his neck, feeling a little embarrassed. He had no choice but to go along. “Uh… it’s nothing. By the way, I’ve already done the inspection. I’ll need to analyze the results before I can say anything. Come with me to get the report in an hour.” Amelia nodded, then saw Blake out. She wanted to follow him, but Aunt Elsa stopped her and asked with a serious tone, “Amelia, tell me the truth. Did you agree to any conditions Leo proposed?” Amelia bit her lip, guilt twisting inside her. Still, she softly replied, “No.” Aunt Elsa’s expression darkened, she wasn't quite convinced. “Amelia, I know better than anyone how much I want to be healed. Every patient hopes for that. But not if it means sacrificing you. I won't have my life bought at that price
At dinner, Ella’s eyes sparkled with excitement, her joy overflowing as she reminisced about her day, particularly the moment Leo arrived to pick them up from school. Noticing her daughter’s cheerful demeanor, Amelia asked with interest, “Ella, what’s got you so thrilled today? Did something fun happen at school?” Ella’s lips curled into a broad smile. “Mommy, guess what!” Amelia sighed dramatically, feigning a sad expression. “You know I suck at guessing. Come on, tell me what it is already." “Okay, fine! My friends at school no longer call me fatherless now that they’ve seen Dad. They all think Dad is very handsome and rich!” Her voice bubbled with pride as she spoke, each word sounded like a badge of honor. Leo smiled and lovingly stroked Ella’s hair. “I’ll come pick you up from school more often from now on.” Ella beamed, flashing her bright, white teeth. “Okay, Daddy!” Amelia felt a deep ache in her heart as she observed the scene before her. How had she overlooked
Amelia never expected to run into Sophia here, and Sophia was just as surprised. She saw Amelia walking out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and looking like the mistress of the house, completely at ease. “How did you end up here?” she exclaimed, her eyes shooting daggers at Amelia Amelia was taken aback and instinctively wanted to explain, but she quickly realized she owed her no explanation. If there was any explanation to be made, it should be Leo’s responsibility, not hers. After all, she had only chosen to stay because her kids were here. If Sophia were to throw a tantrum and demand that she leave with her children, Amelia would be more than happy to oblige. So, she immediately shut her mouth. “Leo, I’ll take the kids upstairs. You can talk to her,” she said, walking toward the playroom. Sophia couldn’t stand it. After fighting so hard to win Leo from Amelia, she wouldn’t let her rival take him back. Her hand shot out, gripping Amelia’s arm firmly. “Are you deaf?
Turning her head, Sophia saw William looking at her. His eyes held emotions she couldn’t understand, but they were affectionate. “Don’t drink anymore, you’re drunk,” William said, taking the glass of wine from her hand. Sophia laughed strangely, her cheeks and eyes flushed red. “So what if I’m drunk? And what if I’m not? Nobody cares about me. Even if I die here tonight from drinking, no one will shed a tear for me.” “Come to think of it, I’ve lived a failed life. I might as well just die.” William frowned and suddenly asked, “How do you know that no one cares about you?” Sophia was taken aback, her brow furrowing as she struggled to grasp his meaning. She looked up at him, confused. “At least I care,” William said in a deep voice. Sophia was completely stunned. Seeing that Sophia still didn’t understand, William sighed, a shadow crossing his face as he withdrew his hand. He poured himself a drink and, after a moment, explained in a calm tone, "You can cry for other
Amelia was washing herself halfway when she suddenly felt something was wrong. Her back felt cold as if someone was staring at her like a hungry wolf. Startled, she turned around and saw Leo standing at the entrance of the bathroom. Before she could scream, he rushed inside the bathroom and quickly covered her mouth with his hand. “Shh…” Leo whispered. “Do you want to call the kids over? You’re being too loud.” Amelia pounded her fist against his chest, pushing him away as she gritted her teeth. “How did you get in?” Leo felt lumps in his throat, preventing him from uttering a word. His eyes darkened as they scanned her body. He coughed lightly to clear his throat and said, "I found the door open, when I knocked you didn't respond." Amelia quickly wrapped her bath towel around herself. “Get out,” she said, blushing with shame. However, Leo didn’t care about her embarrassment. After releasing her, he said casually, “I also want to take a shower.” Amelia glared at hi
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