bChapter /bb38 /b

b‘/bConcerned? Of courseb, /bI am. It took considerable effort to reduce Landon to a vegetable. How could I allow him to father a childr

Henry’s expression shifted, bing inscrutable, and ultimately hardened into a fierce

reb. /b

“Mr. Foster, what other suggestions do you have? I have to destroy Amelia, and I need your help.

The following day, an invitation was sent to the CEO’s office of Kingsley Group.

The Young family, acquaintance of the Kingsley family, was hosting a banquet and had invited Amelia to attend on Landon’s behalf.

In herst life, Amelia had frequented many such events and was well–versed in their protocols. She brought Aaron along after work.

Devon’s banquet was held at a restaurant known for its high–end, antique, and elegant ambiance.

Amelia had attended numerous banquets in herst life, but this was her first return to this particr ce.

“Mr. Young hails from Lunova, makes his fortune gambling on stone, and has a fondness for calligraphy and painting…” Aaron recited the host’s preferences as they walked. Amelia jotted down the information silently.

“Mrs. Kingsley, you are here.” Devon greeted her with a kind expression, but Amelia was cautious behind his overly keen gaze.

“Hello, Mr. Young,” Amelia responded with a smile.

“How is Landon recently?” Devon inquired.

Amelia appeared concerned. “Still the same.”

“That must be quite a tough task for you.” Devon sympathized. “I’ve heard you’ve been managing Kingsley Group as effectively as Landon did when bhe /b

was well.”

“Thanks for your recognition.”

Amelia humbly attributed her sess to others. “This is actually my first hands–on experience. It’s all thanks to the suggestions from shareholders and senior management.”

Devon was taken aback. “You’ve never managed apany before?”

“No.” Amelia shook her head gently. “Although I studied financial management in college, I never worked in the family businessb./bb” /b

Devon was even more impressed. “Mrs. Kingsley, you are gifted and have a promising future ahead of you.b” /b

“Thank you, Devon, for yourpliment,” Amelia replied with a graceful smile.

There were not many guests today, just over a dozen business magnates.

Seeing how much Devon valued Amelia, they all approached to offer their toasts.

“Mrs. Kingsley has had enough to drink. Please allow me to take this one for her,” Aaron interjected, swiftly standing up to shield Amelia bfrom /bbthe /biing drinks.

Naturally, those men wouldn’t press a woman further, especially considering the Kingsley family’s influence.

Amelia exhaled softly, relieved. ‘With so many toasts, they would have gotten me drunk.‘

b1/4 /b

bChapter /b38

bFortunately/bb, /bAaron’s presence bmanded /bbrespect/bb, /band beveryone /bamodated him.

bOutside /bbthe /bbmain /bhall, Henry observed the scene with a brooding expressionb, /bhis suspicions deepeningb, /b

bif /bbshe’s /bnot drinking at all, it means she is either pregnant or nning to be. I will never permit her to bear a child andplicate matters further

“Elizabethb, /bit’s your turn,” Henry whispered.

The woman named Elizabeth, in her fifties yet still charming, gave Henry a conspiratorial wink and said, “No problem.”

Elizabeth, holding her wine, sauntered over to Amelia’s side. “Hey there, Mrs. Kingsley, you’re absolutely stunning”

b“/bAnd you are…” Amelia began

“I’m Elizabeth Young, though a bit older than you. Just call me Beth.” Elizabeth introduced herself with a flirtatious smile. Henry stood outside the bhall/bb, /bstaring nkly.

Aaron quickly whispered aside, “She’s Devon’s favorite younger daughter.”

“Beth, nice to meet you,” Amelia replied, rising and substituting her wine bwith /bcoffee, preparing to clink sses with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth nced at her ss, displeased. “Mrs. Kingsley, why won’t you have a drink with me?b” /b

“No, it’s just that I can’t drink…” Amelia exined.

“How serious could one drink be?” Elizabeth challenged, handing her wine to Amelia and pouring another for herself from the table. “You can drink whatever you like with those men, but with me, you must take one.”

“Beth, I promised my family I wouldn’t drink.” Amelia stated.

“Come on, are you prepping for pregnancy? Or are you already pregnant?” Elizabethughed loudly, causing everyone to join inb. /b

Her teasing insinuations made everyone exchange knowing nces, and when they looked at Amelia againb, /btheir gazes were tinged with spection.

‘Landon is a vegetable. How can they have ba /bchild? Unlessb…/b‘

The guests exchanged nces with one another, donning expressions of veiled amusement when they looked back at Amelia.

‘Did the once pure and beautiful daughter of the Edwards family ride a man? It was intriguing, but sadly, Landon was oblivious to it. If only it were us…”

The ambiguous smiles from the crowd made Amelia deeply ufortable.

However, she was at the Young family’s banquet, and she couldn’t afford to lose her temper.

After all, it was just a ss of wine. “Alright. Since you insist, I’ll have a drink with youb, /bBeth,” Amelia said, raising her ss, about to take a sip.

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a figure outside the hall. Her gaze flickered, and she ced the wine ss back on the table.

“What’s the matter?” Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, her smile belying her evident displeasure. The shift in Elizabeth’s expression further convinced Amelia that something was wrong with the wine.

She smiled faintly and said, “I’ll have some soup first to settle my stomach.”

“What?” Elizabethughed derisively. “Who from a noble family can’t drink? You’re quite bthe /bexceptionb./bb” /b

“I’ve been under strict discipline since I was young,” Amelia replied while having some mushroom soup.

The two women engaged in a prolonged exchange over a ss of wine, which was rather tedious. The guests found it boring, continuing with btheir /bmeals and conversations.

{A

bAmelia /bbcaught /bbAaron’s /bbeye/b, band /bbhe /bbleaned /bbover /bto Elizabeth, bsaying/b, “Ms. Young, bwhen /bdid byou /breturn to bNoravar /bMr. Kingsley mome bthe /bbother /bbday/bb, /bbsaying /bbshe /bbhad /bba /bbstone /bshe wanted byou /bto bappraise/bb…/b“.

bStone /bbgambling /bwas Elizabeth’s pride and bjoy/bb, /band she began discussing it with Aaron.

bSeizing /bbthe /bbdistraction/bb, /bAmelia initiated the toast again. “Beth, let’s drink.”

b“/bCheersb,/bb” /bElizabeth echoed, lifting her ss as well.

Amelia took ba /bsmall sip, intending to set her ss downt, but Elizabeth insisted, “It’s nearly empty. You can’t just take a sip when we clink sses

b“/bWell…” Amelia looked troubled.

b“/bJust finish it. One ss won’t get you drunk,” Elizabeth coaxed, tapping her ss again.

Amelia then feigned embarrassment andplied.

Elizabeth smiled contentedly and sped Amelia’s hand. “Is this your bfirst /btime here? Come on, let me show you around, away from these men.b” /b

“Alright, thank you, Beth.”

As Amelia followed Elizabeth out, Henry had vanished from outside the hall. Amelia, not taking any chances, signaled to Aaron, who quietly followed behind.

“Mrs. Kingsley, I heard your marriage to Landon was quite a whirlwind affair. You hardly knew each other before. Is that true?” Elizabeth said.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“So, why did you decide to marry him? I heard you had a fiancé. What was his name?b” /b

“It was merely a verbal agreement between our families. It’s not serious.”

Elizabeth had always enjoyed dominating conversations, and Amelia, not one to be easily ruffled, answered whatever Elizabeth asked.

With so little resistance, Elizabeth quickly grew bored.

Well, Amelia is not as so awesome as they said. She’s merely leveraging the Kingsley family’s reputation.‘

After a while, the two arrived behind a rockery by a pond.

“I’m tired from all this walking. Let’s have some rest,” Elizabeth suggested.

“Of course,” Amelia nodded in agreement.

They sat beneath the rockery to take a rest. It was eerily quiet here, not even an attendant passing by.

The lush, fine–leafed fig trees next to the rockery cast a massive shadow that enveloped them. As the sun moved westward, the blight /bdimmedb. /bbAmelia /bsilently calcted the time in her heart.

Besides Henry, Zachary had been spotted outside the hall earlier. She wondered who would show up next…Henry or Zacharyb? /b

“It’s so hot,” Elizabethined all of ba /bsudden, her face flushed as she tugged at her cor.

Amelia suddenly became warmhearted. “Beth, you must be thirsty. Let me get you some water.”