CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 139: CARRIED BY A MAN TO THE COMPETITION

Elijah Jefferson led the group, and the car sped like crazy along the way.

After a while, the followers were left behind, or perhaps they didn’t follow anymore.

It’s one fifty in the afternoon.

At the last moment, they arrived at the competition venue.

Elijah Jefferson unbuckled Amelia Wright’s seat belt, glanced at her attire, paused, and took off his coat to drape over her.

Before Amelia could refuse, he spoke sensibly, "You can’t possibly compete dressed like this, and there’s no time to buy clothes now. You can treat me as a friend, don’t overthink it."

Amelia looked at herself, in a white silk nightgown with layers of lace trim.

Going out like this was indeed inappropriate, so she accepted Elijah’s coat.

Amelia couldn’t walk, so Elijah carried her out of the car.

Robert Reed was actually waiting at the entrance of the competition venue; since Robert was there, quite a few people gathered around.

This venue was full of students learning traditional Chinese painting, and in their hearts, Robert was always an unassailable figure.

Robert’s furrowed brows finally eased upon seeing Amelia appear, but they furrowed again when he saw her weakly carried by a man.

Robert shouted, "Little apprentice, what’s going on here?"

Amelia pursed her lips, "Teacher, I’ll explain to you later; there’s no time now."

Robert then looked at Elijah: "Put her down; with so many reporters and cameras around the venue, what’s with the hugging?"

Elijah suddenly felt uncomfortable, his arms holding Amelia slightly stiffened.

Amelia explained, "Teacher, my leg has an issue, and I can’t walk right now. He’s just helping me."

Robert’s voice immediately grew louder: "What did you say? I couldn’t reach you on the phone for days, did something happen? Who hurt you? What’s wrong with your leg?"

Robert’s voice was so loud that the people gathered around also looked in Amelia’s direction following his gaze.

Amelia had been confined for about a week, not going out, not seeing sunlight, which made her already pale face appear even more fragile.

An incredibly beautiful yet weak person, like a flower in full bloom, captivatingly beautiful, delicate as if a mere touch could injure her, making people yearn to be the one holding her.

With so many gazes around, Elijah instinctively tightened his grip on Amelia, as if he wanted to hide her from prying eyes.

Amelia glanced up at Elijah, who was startled, feeling his little thoughts exposed to Amelia, and quickly relaxed his grip.

Amelia said to Robert, "Teacher, I’m fine. The competition is about to start; if you keep stopping me to talk, it will be too late."

Seeing the time, Robert quickly stepped aside: "Quick, quickly go inside."

Elijah carried Amelia into the venue.

There weren’t many people in the finals.

Only around thirty people in total.

Riverwood City would select the best, who would then compete against winners across the country.

Riverwood City was originally an artistic city.

With Robert Reed, a contemporary master painter, overseeing, the artistic atmosphere of the city grew even stronger.

At this moment, among the thirty-something finalists, many were highly regarded, with average skill levels better than other cities.

Among them, Amelia Wright still drew the most attention.

That soul-stirring Injured Crane Painting.

The special panel discussion organized for her.

These all destined that Amelia would be surrounded by onlookers as soon as she appeared.

Moreover, Amelia’s appearance this time was so unusual.

She was carried into the venue by a man.

She seemed like she had just woken up, arriving in her nightgown for the competition.

She wasn’t even wearing shoes, just a pair of white socks.

How delicate she was, not even touching the ground?

And the man carrying Amelia, with his signature bronze skin and a blue earring in his right ear, revealed his identity as Elijah from the Jefferson Estate.

This made many women at the scene somewhat jealous; Amelia, freshly divorced, had already hooked up with a man from the Jefferson Estate.

Are these rich, handsome guys blind?

What’s good about a divorced woman, a cast-off wife of someone else?

Just because she’s... a little beautiful.

First, there was Edward Allen publicly defending her in Capital City, then Elijah carrying her in public.

It’s really hard not to be jealous.

Elijah didn’t care about others’ gazes; after finding Amelia’s seat, he carefully placed her down in the chair.

Seeing that her skirt was sticking up, he crouched down to tidy it up for her.

With that attitude, it would be hard for anyone to believe he had no interest in Amelia.

Yet Amelia couldn’t sense it; her romantic experiences were very pure.

She once had a crush on Marsh Smith, thinking that was love, but now she realized she adored the superficial facade of his gentleness.

In her past life, entangled with Godfery Shaw for five years, he treated her very well, possessed an absolute desire to dominate her, yet she still didn’t understand what love was. After rebirth, towards them, she mostly felt gratitude.

Even now, she thought she had feelings for him, but it was based on the five years of protection in her previous life.

After tidying up Amelia’s appearance, Elijah stood up and said, "Participate in the competition well; I’ll be waiting outside for you. I’ll come and get you after it ends."

Amelia responded softly: "Thank you."

This expression of gratitude made Elijah feel like returning to reality. He wasn’t the person Amelia relied on; she was polite to him, polite to the point of detachment.

He didn’t want to impose any burden on Amelia, speaking brightly: "We’re friends, no need to be formal."

Elijah had just settled Amelia in when the venue began to clear out the idle people; the competition was about to start in two minutes.

The people in the venue were no longer keen to discuss Amelia.

Elijah also exited the venue, immediately intercepted by Robert Reed.

Robert couldn’t wait for Amelia’s competition to end, stopping Elijah to ask, "What exactly happened?"

Elijah shook his head: "I’m not sure what exactly happened either."

Elijah didn’t directly accuse Godfery Shaw because he wasn’t sure of the truth himself; everything would be revealed by Amelia, and he didn’t want to mislead anyone.

Robert cast a sideways glance at Elijah, saying nothing more.

The two waited outside for Amelia.

During this time, Elijah felt a little anxious, tried to contact Hailey Smith, but failed to get through.

At this moment in the Imperial Garden.

Hailey Smith and Emma Lewis were captured.

It was just the two of them; once the Imperial Garden’s bodyguards reacted, no matter how skilled they were, they couldn’t fend off the guards. Being able to delay them temporarily to let Elijah escape with Amelia was already their best effort.

Hailey Smith and Emma Lewis were like two brothers in misfortune, squatting in a corner.

Basil Smith didn’t immediately deal with them, instead quickly ran upstairs.

He saw Godfery Shaw sitting calmly on the sofa there, as if nothing had happened.

Basil quickly approached, worryingly asked, "Young master, are you okay?"

Godfery raised his head, calmly asked, "Is there really something between Amelia and that Elijah?"

Basil’s whole body stiffened.