Chapter 561 Don't touch me, I'm dirty
Ashley asked Sophie to make a few sweet dishes and baked brownies for Amelia.
Even over the phone, she could tell that Amelia had been crying. Her voice was hoarse, but not in the way it gets from a cold or fever.
Amelia wasn't one to cry easily, at least not over trivial matters.
"Natalia, come here," Ashley gently called to Natalia, who was playing with her toys.
"Auntie, what's up?"
Natalia was very well-behaved, even more so after the last argument between Ashley and Damian.
Ashley ruffled her hair. "Amelia is coming over to play later. Can you think of a way to cheer her up?"
Natalia tilted her head in thought. "Auntie, I have lots of toys and yummy snacks! I can share them with Amelia, except for..." She hugged a purple stuffed animal dressed in a winter outfit. "If Auntie Amelia likes it, she can have this too."
Ashley felt her heart melt. Natalia was so considerate that it made her think even if she were to be taken by illness, then there would be no fairness in the world.
"Amelia won't want your toys; she's an adult."
Natalia didn't quite understand. "Auntie, do adults get sad too?"
Ashley didn't know how to explain. Yes, precisely because they are adults, their worries are even greater. "People are different. If you become a brave adult, you'll have fewer worries."
Natalia looked a bit troubled. She thought only children got sick, had to take bitter medicine, and go to the hospital. She believed that if she tried hard and grew up well, those worries would disappear. If she grew up like Ashley, she wouldn't get sick anymore.
But Ashley said adults have worries too.
So, she didn't want to grow up.
Ashley noticed her unhappiness and kissed her forehead. "Natalia, are you afraid of growing up?"
"Yes," Natalia answered honestly.
Ashley said, "But growing up has many benefits too. You can do many things independently, like traveling, driving, pursuing your favorite career, helping others, loving your parents, taking care of your grandparents, and also..."
Finding true love.
Natalia finally seemed a bit interested. She beamed, "Auntie, I want to grow up. When I grow up, I won't need to take medicine or get sick. I want to learn to ski and become an athlete!"
"Natalia likes skiing?"
Natalia nodded. "Yes! I want to be an Olympic champion!"
She looked so confident, as if she were already standing on the podium, listening to the national anthem.
"Alright, when Natalia gets better, I'll take you skiing and let you participate in the Olympics."
Amelia parked her car next to Ashley's.
From the outside, the two cars looked identical, with little difference in their condition.
As for the inside...
Amelia shook her head and walked briskly towards the villa.
"Amelia!"
Natalia ran over first, hugging Amelia's waist and looking up sweetly.
Amelia's heart softened. She bent down to pick her up and kissed her. "My Natalia, did you miss me?"
"I did! I missed you so much, Amelia. Why did you come so late?" Natalia's words were very sweet.
Amelia tapped her nose. "I had to work. Look, this is a gift for you."
She pulled a small stuffed animal, a fluffy bunny, from her pocket, a souvenir from a film festival.
Natalia held her face and kissed her. "Thank you, Amelia. Amelia is beautiful!"
While the adults chatted, Natalia obediently went to play by herself.
Amelia watched her and rested her chin on her hand. "Being with kids every day is so healing."
Ashley said, "Thinking about having kids?"
Amelia shook her head. "I'm still in my career's rising phase. Getting married and having kids now would lose me fans. I'll work hard for a few more years and wait until I have enough good works to my name."
Sophie brought over steaming hot dishes, smiling. "Ms. Fields, you're so beautiful, even more so than on TV."
Amelia smelled the food and smiled. "Sophie, are you a fan? Should I give you an autograph?"
"Yes, please!"
Sophie actually brought a notebook and was overjoyed to get an autograph.
Ashley said, "Being a celebrity is great. Just a name can make fans proud for a long time."
Amelia picked up a fork. "Ashley, did you and Damian ever have any deals?"
"Why? Did he threaten you?" Ashley's alarm bells went off.
Amelia shook her head. "No, I just heard some rumors. But Ashley, can you promise me that no matter what happens, you won't compromise for others? I don't want you to compromise."
Ashley said, "What about you? Is someone making you compromise? Who is it? Irvin?"
Thinking about it, Irvin didn't seem like someone who would make Amelia compromise.
Amelia stuffed food into her mouth. "No one."
"What's going on?"
"Nothing."
Ashley grabbed her wrist, her eyes wide with anger. "Nothing? What's this? Who did this?"
There were clear marks on Amelia's wrist, deep enough to draw blood, now covered with a thin layer of brown scab, with bloodstains around it.
Amelia bit her lip. "Don't ask, it's nothing."
"Amelia, do you consider me a friend? Are you going to swallow your anger after being treated like this?" Ashley was furious and heartbroken. She was so anxious that she took on a questioning stance.
Amelia couldn't hide it from her and smiled bitterly. "You went through so much hardship in Sylvania and never told me. This is nothing compared to that."
"It's different. At least I had family with me abroad, so it didn't feel hard. Stop changing the subject. Who did this? Christian?!"
In Rochester City, the only person who had a significant grudge against Amelia seemed to be Christian.
Amelia didn't answer, but her evasive eyes gave away the secret.
Ashley let go of her hand, understanding. "Eat more. I'll get you some dessert. Sophie used zero-calorie sugar, so it won't make you gain weight."
In the kitchen, Ashley punched the refrigerator door, her fingers clenching one by one.
Christian, damn it!
That night, Ashley didn't let Amelia leave.
It had been many years since they lay in the same bed, talking like they did in their school days.
Amelia talked about her experiences over the past two years, the ups and downs. "Do you remember Brynn?"
Ashley said, "The one who brought soup to Christian in the middle of the night?"
"She later dated a rich second-generation guy. He abused her, and she lost hearing in one ear. It was pretty tragic."
Ashley turned to her side and hugged her.
Amelia moved away. "Ashley, don't touch me. I'm dirty."
Ashley hugged her tighter, avoiding her wounds, and pressed her head against her hair. "You'll always be the best in my heart, always."
Amelia's tears fell onto her shoulder, wetting a small patch of skin. "Ashley, we've grown up so much. Time flies."
"But we're still beautiful."
"Do you still love Damian?"
"Maybe."
"He bought so many toys and clothes for Natalia, filling a whole room. He seems to really like kids."
Ashley didn't tell her that Damian mistakenly thought Natalia was his daughter, but it also showed that Damian really loved kids.
She said sullenly, "Money can solve anything in his eyes."
Amelia chuckled softly. "True."
After a moment.
Amelia said, "Do you regret it? Going back home last time and having so many unpleasant experiences with him."
In the quiet of the night, Natalia slept soundly on the big bed, unaffected by the small noises.
Ashley thought of Happy, her heart soft and full. "No regrets, because I have Happy. He's a gift from heaven, a reward for my past pain."
Amelia hugged her. "Ashley, you have to be happy. At least one of us has to be truly happy."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
