Amelia recalled Landon’s teachings. “Never show weakness. If you have one, keep it hidden” if she gave in to threats today, there would

Having made up her mind, Amelia strode to her office door and instructed her secretary, “Call the police.”

“Ameliab, /bare you really willing to give up your mother’s pendant?” Pam asked in disbelief.

A cold glint seemed to flicker in Amelia’s eyes. “What good is a diamond pendant?

nt? Will it bring my mother back?”

“But it’s all you have left of her, Pam protested desperately, holding up the pendant one more time.

“My mother left these belongings as a memento, not as leverage for your threats.” Amelia’s voice was cold, her delicate features hardening into steel. “Co ahead, destroy it if you want. I’ll have you charged with extortion and property damage faster than you can dial yourwyerb./b”

Despite her small stature, the shear intensity radiating from her made it clear this was no empty threat. She meant every syble.

Pam finally realized Amelia would rather see the diamond pendant destroyed than give in to ckmail. She knew exactly how Amelia bhad /bmanaged to put Walter and Melissa behind bars. bIf /bElizabeth hadn’intervened, Zachary would be in prison, too.

bPam/bb, /bbas /bba /bhigh societydy, would never allow herself to be saddled with such usations. Her fingers tightened around the diamond pendant, but the courage to destroy it faltered

“Mrs. Kingsley, the police have been notified, her secretary informed her.

“bGood/b, I’ll bwait/b.” Amelia returned to her executive chairb, /bresuming her work. Even if her mind was elsewhere, she had to bmaintain /ba facade ofposure.

Today, it was either Pam backing down or Amelia losing. And losing was not an option for Amelia

As expected, Pam wavered. Her voice schened. “Amy, why bare /bwe letting things get so ugly?”

“My mother’s belongings were left to me. Melissa had no right to give it to you–that’s theft. And knowing that, you still epted it? You’re bjust /bas guilty.” Amelia’s words were like sharp ice, piercing Pam’sposure.

bPam’s /bface went pale, the diamond pendant suddenly burning hot in her hand. After a hesitant moment, she decided to concede, if only to save face. “Fine, give it back,”

“bNo /bneed to wait for the police, then?” Amelia arched ban /beyebrow, a smirk ying on her lips

b“/bSince Matthew’s situation has bnothing /bto do with you anymore, I’ll return this to you. You can take back that order you bjust /bgave. We’re both bNoravans /bafter all–we’re bound to run into each other again, right?” Pam said through gritted teeth,

“Alright,” Amelia replied, epting the diamond pendant with barely concealed reliet. Thanks to Landon’s guidanceb, /bshe’d managed to recover her mother’s memento without making anypromises

But she wasn’t finished. Her eyes glinted as she pulled Sandra’s birth certificate from her drawer. “Mrs. Foster, I bbelieve /bin fair bexchanges/b. Here’s something in return.”

“What’s this?” Pam muttered as she examined the document. Her face went pale. “bSandra’s /billegitimate?”

“I don’t know anything about it.” Amelia replied quietly.

“She was born before you.” Pam’s expression darkened. All her life, she’d looked down on children born out of wedlock, and now her son had married

The thought of this scandal reaching her social circle made her stomach turn. Her follow socialites would have a field day with this piece bof /bgossip.

Chapter b64 /b

b“/bbHrs/b. Foster, I’m bafraid /bI have other matters to attend to Amelia said firmly, bher /bpolite dismissal clear a

bClutching /bthe bbirth /bcertificata, Pam stormed bout/b, determined to confront Sandra.

bOnce /bshe’d left, Aaron walked in with an amused smile. “Well yed, Mrs. Kingsley. One fake police call and she couldn’t bget /bbout /bof hi

“Kingsley Group’s bsecretary /bwas sharp enough not to actually call the police,” Amelia said, her Dingers tracing the diamond pendant as tears i her eyes. “Mom” she thought silently, her heart aching

“Mr. Kingsley himself was once ckmailed by Henry with family heirlooms too,” Aaron smiled.

Amelia shook her head in disbelief. Why does everyone resort to the same trick? Picturing Landon’s reaction in her mind, she asked curiously, “So wur did he do? Did he give in to the ckmail?”

“Mr. Kingsley handled it exactly the same way you did today, Mrs. Kingsley, Aaron said with a knowing smile. “You two really are a perfect matchb./b”

Amelia froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing. “Oh, stop it,b” /bbshe /bprotested. “I just learned from the best.”

Aaron just smiled without saying a word.

“Did you get everything I asked for?” Amelia asked, tucking away the diamond pendant and getting down to business.

“Everything’s been purchased. Here’s the list, Aaron replied eagerly, handing over the gift list with a broad grin.

Amelia rolled her eyes. “Wipe that smile off your face. I’m not pregnant.”

“Huh?” Aaron’s eyes bwidened /bin confusion. “Then what’s all this for?”

“it’s a gift for someone else,” Amelia replied coolly

Aaron stood there dumbfounded, his mind racing with questions.

“Well, I’m heading out,” Amelia said, grabbing her car keys. ‘Not bad for a day’s work at two million dors,‘ she thought with a smug grin..

bAaron /bwatched her leave, disappointed that Landon wasn’t about to be a father.

sa of

Following the address Landon had given her, Amelia found herself in front of a house in Greenville, on the east side of the city. The garden was a riot bclimbing /broses, their sweet fragrance dritting through the air, lending an artistic charm to this residence.

bMoments /bafter Amelia knocked, the door swung open.

“Can Thelp you? The elderly woman who answered appeared to be in her seventies, but her eyes sparkled with vitality, and her cheeks glowed with

bhealth/b.

Amelia hesitated, thinking she’d gotten the wrong house. After double–checking the house number, she said, “Hi, um, Landon sent me!”

“Oh, I see.” The older woman’s face broke into a warm smile bas /bshe gave Amelia an appraising look from head to toe.

Amelia shifted ufortably under the scrutiny, wondering if this woman was rted to Landon’s mistress or perhaps ba /bcaretaker bhe’d /bhired to look

after her.

Amelia walked in carrying several shopping bags full of maternity supplies, only to find an elderly woman in the house ‘Where’s the woman who’s carrying Landon’s baby?” she wondered.

“What’s your rtionship with Landon?” the elderly woman asked.

“I’m his blegal /bwife,” Amelia replied, ncing around the room. “And you are.”

08:12 Wed, 4 Jun

M

*Landon calls me Diana, and you may

you may do the same.”

Diana Gaskell said.

95b% /b

“Diana,” Amelia smiled as she set down her bags. “Is she out at the moment P

Diana gave her a puzzled look. “Wha?”

“You know, Landon‘. The baby’s mother.” Amelia felt proud of her tactful wording, belleving she was living up to London’s generous paycheck

“I live here alone,” Diana replied. “I think there might be some misunderstanding”

“Wait. What?” Amelia stood there dumbfounded. It finally dawned on her that the old friend Landon had asked her to visit was Diana herself.

Diana suddenly burst outughing, making Amelia’s face flush with embarrassment. All the gifts she’d brought were maternity supplies. Realizing hor mistake, Amelia shifted ufortablyb, /bat a loss for words.

“Sweetheart, didn’t you think to ask about who you were visiting beforehand?” Diana asked, looking through the gifts.

“…forgot to ask,” Amelia lied awkwardly.

Diana’s eyes softened with amusement “Landon’s a good boy. If he chose to marry you, he wouldn’t be running around with other women. You should have more faith in your

husband.”

“I’m so sorry about the mixb–/bup,” Amelia said. “Ie back tomorrow with more appropriate gifts.”

Diana waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m just an old woman, I don’t need much. You’re Debra’s daughter, aren’t you?”

Amelia’s heart skipped a beat. “You knew my mom?” Her voice trembled.

E

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