Amelia felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. A surge of coldness rose in her trembling chest. The redness from her earlier
embarrassment drained from her face, leaving her pale and pitiful.
She looked into Chelsea's tearful eyes, seeing through her act to the true loathing underneath. In the past, Amelia might have
turned and fled, hiding in a secluded corner to wallow in self-pity and tears. But this time, a strange courage surged within her. She
had the determination to face the Lovett family head-on.
Amelia loved Steven. Was it wrong to love? Why should she bow to them? If she slunk away in defeat, wouldn't that be admitting
that Chelsea was right?
“Ms. Amelia, did you understand what | said?” Chelsea maintained her frail appearance, but her tone was icy.
Steven's broad shoulders trembled with anger, the veins in his neck bulging as if about to burst. “Direct your anger at me. As an
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtelder, how can you say such things to the woman | love? What did Amelia do to deserve this treatment?”
“Steve, is that how you're supposed to talk to your mother? You're being outrageous!” Neil finally couldn't hold back, scolding him
harshly.
Neil had never seen anything like this. He was furious and shocked that his usually obedient and considerate youngest son had
changed so drastically, turning against his family for Amelia.
His wife's concerns were not unfounded. This beautiful girl, who had such a hold on his son’s heart, was too dangerous. If she
continued to influence him, Steve would completely break away from the family.
Chelsea's eyes blazed with anger as she glared at Amelia. “What did | do to her? | was just having a woman-to-woman
conversation with Ms. Amelia. What use is it to talk to you? Can you even understand?”
“Ms. Amelia, you are Chairman Thompson and Madam Celeste’s daughter. Though you weren't born of the first wife like Ms. Bella,
you are still Chairman Thompson's flesh and blood. You received a good education, and you are sensible and understanding. So, |
think you understand my intentions.
“If you truly love Steve, you should let him go. You shouldn't put him in a position where he has to choose between love and family.
You wouldn't want to see him live the rest of his life without dignity, would you?”
A loud buzz filled Steven's mind, his immense anger blurring the image of the woman before him. Was this really the loving and
kind mother who had raised him with such hardship? When had her motherly love twisted into such obsessive possessiveness and
control?
Neil's pupils narrowed slightly. He too felt his wife's words were excessive, but without such harshness, how could the Lovett family
recover their dignity? How could Steven sever ties with this girl?
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
The veins on Steven's forehead throbbed wildly as he was about to speak. At that moment, Amelia bravely met Chelsea's hostile
gaze and spoke in a steady tone. “Mrs. Lovett, | am sorry, but | do not understand what you mean.”
The Lovett’s expressions changed abruptly. Even Steven was stunned. The usually gentle and timid woman was facing the
challenge head-on. It was a rare display of courage!
“What... What did you say?” Chelsea's expression froze, not expecting Amelia to talk back to her.
“Steve and | truly love each other. You understand this perfectly well, yet you turn a blind eye and repeatedly try to tear us apart. |
want to ask, why is that?” Amelia's eyes reddened as she took a deep breath.
These words had been suppressed in her heart for too long. At this moment, she could no longer hold back her countless complex
emotions. “Although | love Steve deeply, | have never thought of clinging to him. | firmly believe that neither | nor my family would
ever disgrace the Lovett family or hold you back.”