"Oh, sweet girl! Don't you think it's a little weird?" Knowing how she would react to the information,
Lucian told Courtney to keep the truth from Amelia for the time being. But Courtney didn't want to keep
her friend in the dark and worry herself to death about her landlady. She swallowed before she said to
her, "Well, promise me you won't think too much about it, but there's something you need to know
about Mrs. Chen."
"Mrs. Chen?" Amelia couldn't believe what she just heard. Did something happen to her landlady?
"Was she not at home?" Courtney didn't wish to make Amelia recall the horrible events of last night, but
she said nevertheless, "If it hadn't been for this, I would have continued believing she was just as kind
as you are!"
Amelia couldn't think of anything to say. She merely held herself and denied everything that Courtney
spoke. Mrs. Chen had always been kind to her, she told herself.
It was ten in the morning when Jonny came to see Amelia. Opening the door to her room, he could
instantly tell that she was feeling down. Courtney went up to him to tell him what had happened.
After learning everything from Courtney, Jonny dragged a chair and sat beside Amelia's bed. With a
friendly smile, he said to her, "I heard that Lucian saved a certain damsel last night."
He joked, hoping to turn Amelia's sour mood around.
"Jonny!" Amelia didn't even notice that Jonny had entered the room. After recovering from surprise, she
acknowledged him with a nod.
She bit her lip and didn't dare say a word. Her eyes betrayed her anxiety. Jonny didn't say anything for
a while until he smiled and finally said, "Amelia, you'll find plenty of other people to love and be friends
with. Please don't be upset."
"But Mrs. Chen had always been nice to me. Even if she had done it, I don't think I can hate her..." She
was trying to erase any suspicious thought in her mind. She wanted to remember only the kindness her
landlady had shown her.
"Don't make that sad face, Amelia," Jonny said gently, reaching out a hand to caress her cheek. Amelia
felt comforted by his gesture that she couldn't help but smile at him.
At that exact moment, Lucian opened the door and witnessed the two sharing a tender moment. His
eyes first rested on Amelia before turning to Jonny with a glare.
"Lucian, you're here!" Jonny said with a guilty smile. He quickly withdrew his hand from Amelia and
stood up.
Having seen Amelia smile at Jonny, Lucian's face went dark with jealousy. He wondered if she always
smiled like that around him.
Amelia sensed Lucian's displeasure and rose from her bed. "Let me get you drinks, Mr. Jonny, Mr.
Lucian,"
she said, hoping to make the situation less awkward.
"Mr. Lucian?" Jonny was surprised to hear what Amelia called Lucian, but he was even more shocked
to see Lucian crestfallen. Trying to break the tension, he announced, "Mr. Lucian, Mrs. Amelia, I'm
afraid I have to leave you now. A fierce battle at An Group awaits me."
Amelia wanted to make Jonny stay but sensing that she could not convince him to do so, she only said,
"Are you... Mr. Jonny, are you really planning on taking over An Group as CEO?"
Jonny playfully puckered his lips and raised an eyebrow. He asked jokingly, "Why do you ask, Amelia?
Are you worried about me?"
Jonny sounded like he was trying to flirt with Amelia even without meaning to. In his heart, he only
wanted to make Amelia smile. He couldn't help but feel anxious every time he saw her looking
depressed.
Amelia blushed and lowered her head. She didn't know how to reply to Jonny's tease.
"Didn't you say you had things to deal with at An Group?" It was Lucian who broke the awkward
silence. He went up to Amelia and held her by the waist before turning to Jonny to give him the coldest
stare.
"I thought we already understood each other? I'm your friend!" Jonny didn't know what to say. In the
end, he only pointed at Lucian and said, "Well, Dad, Mom, take care of yourselves."
Not done with the jokes, Jonny even put his hands on his belly and did an impression of a pregnant
woman.
Amelia kept her head lowered out of embarrassment, while Lucian glared at him until he left the room.
They fell into silence as soon as Jonny closed the door behind him.
Trying to avoid Lucian, Amelia turned back to get drinks. But Lucian had already read her thoughts. He
stood in her way and she found herself locked in his tight embrace, his arms around her waist.
"Amelia, I've missed you so much these last three months..." He released her from his arms but held
her face in his hands. He looked at her tenderly, as if he were holding the world's most precious pearl.
Amelia also missed him terribly when they were apart, but she had been trying to convince herself that
thinking about him was wrong. She struggled with these thoughts.
"Mr. Lucian, if you cannot respect me, at least respect yourself," Amelia said, sensing the danger that
could happen if he kept on looking at her. She knew that if she stayed with him alone for longer, she
wouldn't be able to control her own emotions. She feared that she would give in to him and do
something that would only hurt Shelly.
"I see," Lucian said as he let go of Amelia's cheeks. But his eyes didn't leave her face. He looked at her
as if she were the only woman left in the world.
It was then that Amelia realized that what happened last night was not only scary for her; Lucian had
also been frightened for her.
But Amelia counted herself lucky that she was still alive. If anything had happened to her or the baby,
she thought that Lucian would never forgive himself.
"Stay here until everything's sorted out," he calmly said. He had already stationed bodyguards in the
hotel for Amelia's safety.
"What's the point?" Amelia asked, her face contorted into a confused frown. She wanted to go back to
her rented apartment. She wanted to know about Mrs. Chen.
"Don't worry. Your landlady's fine," Lucian comforted her, sensing her thoughts.
"Is that true? You're not just lying to me?" She worried because Courtney had implied that something
was wrong with Mrs. Chen.
"If you behave well and follow my instructions, I'll take you back first thing tomorrow. But you have to
listen to me, Amelia," Lucian said with almost pleading eyes.
Amelia looked at Lucian and saw concern written all over his face. She didn't want to add to his worries
so she replied obediently, "Okay."
"But it's a waste of money to stay in this expensive room," Amelia said disapprovingly.
Lucian's handsome face lit up with a playful smile. Joking, he said, "Well, you can think of it as us
having a vacation because we're tired of staying at home."
"Stop kidding around, Mr. Lucian!" Amelia said with a blush.
"Fine! I won't tease you anymore. Courtney will be sleeping here tonight to keep you company and
she'll return to the shop tomorrow morning. Is that fine with you?" Lucian asked softly.
"Alright. I'll be leaving this place tomorrow morning anyway," Amelia answered. She felt relieved
knowing that Lucian had already given his word that she could go back.
Lucian nodded and touched her cheeks with the back of his hand out of habit. "Sleep well tonight, and
I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."
Amelia had planned to have dinner with Courtney once she got back, but Courtney sent her a message
saying she was running late and that Amelia should go ahead and dine without her.
Unknown to Amelia, Lucian had given instructions to the hotel staff about her dinner. As soon as the
clock struck six, a server came in and brought Amelia her favorite dishes.
She remembered that these were the dishes she used to cook at SJ Garden. She didn't expect that
Lucian still remembered them.
"Miss Amelia, Mr. Lucian said that you're free to walk in the garden downstairs if you were bored," the
server said before taking his leave.
Amelia felt puzzled. She thought that Lucian did not want her to stray from her room.
It was still early summer so the sky didn't grow dark until it was getting rather late. Amelia stood in front
of the French windows, a cold drink in hand, admiring the breathtaking view.
In SJ Garden at about the same time, Lucian was busy in his study so Lily brought him some food.
After setting the tray down, she nervously told Lucian, "Miss Shelly's father came by this afternoon and
told me to tell you to pick Miss Shelly up at An mansion. He looked very angry, Mr. Lucian. He was
making threats against Zhan Group!"
Lucian stopped what he was doing and looked up at Lily. Calmly and with a smile on his face, he said
to her, "Don't worry, Lily. I won't fall into his trap again. Nothing bad will happen to Zhan Group."
Hearing her master's comforting words, Lily smiled and said, "I'm glad to hear that, Mr. Lucian. Let's
hurry up and bring Mrs. Amelia back as soon as possible."
"Speaking of Amelia, do you want to see her, Lily?" Lucian asked. A few minutes ago, a hotel staff
called to tell him that Courtney had not yet arrived at the hotel. Lucian was worried since Amelia was
alone.
"Of course! I've been missing her every day," Lily said, clapping her hands in excitement.
"Well, go and get your coat. I'll take you to her," a smiling Lucian said. Lily dashed out of the room to
collect her things, excited with the prospect of being reunited with Amelia. Lucian stood up leaving the
papers piled up on his desk, took up his car keys, and went out.
After a few minutes, the two met up in the garage.
"Why not sit on the front seat with me?" Lucian said when he saw Lily approach. But Lily opened the
door to the back seat and made herself comfortable there.
"The front seat is reserved for Mrs. Amelia. I'll sit here, Mr. Lucian," Lily said, jokingly sticking out her
tongue.
Lucian gave her an appreciative smile. "We're so lucky to have you, Lily. You've been nothing but kind
to us," Lucian couldn't help but compliment her.
Hearing his words, Lily laughed and replied, "I'm kind to you and Mrs. Amelia because you treat me
very well. You don't put on airs like other rich people."
"It's Amelia you should be thanking, really. It was she who hired you after all," Lucian reminded,
glancing at Lily through the rear-view mirror. Lucian had been used to doing most things alone,
requiring little to no service. The only reason he had thought to look for a maid was that he thought
Amelia felt bored staying home all alone every time he was at work.
"I should also be thanking you, Mr. Lucian. If you hadn't married Mrs. Amelia, you'd never have hired
me!" Lily said sweetly.
Lucian and Lily conversed happily in the car until they reached the hotel driveway.
Noticing that Lucian had no intention of getting out of the car, Lily asked, "Aren't you coming up to see
Mrs. Amelia?"
"No. I'll be picking her up tomorrow anyway. You two have a nice chat and enjoy yourselves." Amelia
had already tried to avoid him earlier that day. Lucian knew that Amelia would be more at ease if he
wasn't there.
"I understand, Mr. Lucian. Take care on your way back," Lily said as she stepped out of the car, and
waved at him.
Lucian only nodded and drove off.
Amelia had a great day in her large room. There was TV to watch and books to read so it was
impossible to get bored.
Looking at the clock and noting the time, she wondered why Courtney had not yet arrived. She was
about to call her friend when the doorbell rang.
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