Chapter Sixty Two: Here Again

I spent all night replaying Maxwell's mysterious phone call in my mind, my thoughts tangled with suspicion and curiosity. Every word echoed, every pause magnified, until I could barely keep my eyes closed.

The unease kept me awake until the early hours of the morning when exhaustion finally took over and I drifted into a restless sleep. In the haze of my dreams, fragments of the conversation still haunted me.

It felt like I had slept for hours when the maid gently shook me awake, her voice soft yet insistent. "Miss Amelia, it's time to wake up. Mr. Maxwell has instructed you to prepare for a shopping trip."

I blinked against the morning light filtering through the curtains, disoriented and still heavy with sleep. "A shopping trip?" I mumbled, trying to shake off the remnants of my troubled dreams.

"Yes, miss," the maid replied, helping me sit up. "He mentioned that you'll be having dinner with his mother tonight and wants you to look your best."

I groaned, realizing I had barely had an hour of sleep, which I knew was my own fault.

As the maid busied herself with opening the wardrobe and selecting outfits, my thoughts drifted back to the call, my suspicion rekindling. What could Maxwell be up to? And why the sudden urgency for a shopping trip?

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Alright, let’s get ready then," I said, pushing aside my doubts for the moment.

"We're having dinner with his mother tonight, and she doesn’t like me," I sighed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I knew the routine. Maxwell was desperate to make a good impression, a task that felt increasingly impossible given his mother's disdain for me.

"Amelia, I think it's best if I come with you today," Maxwell said, slipping his hand into mine.

"Why?" I asked, taken aback. "You usually let me handle these things on my own."

"I know, but tonight is important. Mother is... difficult, and we need to make sure everything is perfect," he explained. "Plus, being seen together will help bolster my image."

I raised an eyebrow. "Your image? Since when do you care about what people think?"

Maxwell sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not just about me. It's about us. I want people to see that we're together, especially with Mother.”

We wandered through upscale boutiques, selecting elegant attire for the evening. Despite the tension lingering between us, Maxwell’s arm was around me as we walked through the stores.

"How about this one?" I asked, holding up a sleek, emerald green dress.

Maxwell glanced at it and nodded. "It's nice. Try it on. We need something that will make an impression."

I rolled my eyes slightly but took the dress to the fitting room. When I emerged, Maxwell's eyes lit up.

"You look stunning," he said, with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Mother will definitely have to commend you for that."
"Is that the point?" I replied, my voice tinged with sarcasm.

Maxwell sighed. "Amelia, please. I know it's not easy, but we need to get through tonight and get her to like you."

I looked at him, my expression softening slightly. "I know, Maxwell. But it's hard when she constantly tries to put me down."

"I'll handle her," Maxwell assured, his tone more serious. "I promise."

We continued through the boutiques, selecting accessories and shoes to match the dress. Maxwell occasionally picked out items, asking for my opinion.

"What do you think of these earrings?" he asked, holding up a pair of diamond studs.

"They're beautiful," I replied, inspecting them. "But don't you think they're a bit too much?"

"Not for tonight," Maxwell said firmly. "Everything has to be perfect."

As we moved to the next store, I noticed Maxwell's grip on my arm tighten slightly whenever we passed other shoppers. I couldn’t help but feel lightheaded.

"Maxwell, do you really think this will make a difference? It really doesn't matter what I wear if she doesn't like me," I said quietly, looking up at him.

He paused, meeting my gaze. "It has to, Amelia. For both of us."

I nodded, resigned. "Alright. Let's finish up then."

We completed our shopping, gathering everything we needed for the evening. As we left the last boutique, Maxwell pulled me closer, whispering, "Thank you for doing this. I know it's not easy."

I forced a smile. "It's just for dinner, so it's fine."

“Exactly!" he replied, though his mind seemed far away, already focused on the dinner ahead.

Later that evening, we arrived at an opulent restaurant. The atmosphere was stiflingly formal, and Maxwell's mother, Elizabeth, was already seated, exuding an air of haughty superiority. As soon as we joined her, Elizabeth's sharp eyes scanned me, and a thin, disapproving smile curved her lips.

"Good evening, Mother," Maxwell greeted, pulling out a chair for me. "You look lovely tonight."

"Maxwell," Elizabeth replied curtly, her gaze fixed on me. "I see you’ve brought Amelia. What a surprise."

I forced a polite smile. "Good evening, Mrs. Thorne."

Elizabeth's eyes swept over my emerald green dress and diamond earrings, her expression growing more critical by the second. "Amelia, dear, that dress... it's quite bold, isn’t it? Not exactly what I would have chosen for such an occasion. And those earrings," she added, leaning in as if to get a better look, "are they real diamonds? They look almost... manufactured. Did you find them at a discount store?"

I felt a flush of anger rising but maintained my composure. "We picked them up today, actually. They're from a well-known boutique."

"Ah, I see," Elizabeth replied, her tone dripping with condescension. "Sometimes those boutiques can have... interesting selections. It's just that they remind me of something I saw at Target once. Very budget-friendly."

Maxwell's jaw tightened, but he forced a smile. "Mother, Amelia looks beautiful. We thought the dress and earrings were perfect for tonight."

"Did you now?" Elizabeth said, arching an eyebrow. "Well, it’s important to make an impression, I suppose. Though, one must be careful about the kind of impression one makes."

I bit my tongue, refusing to rise to the bait. "Thank you for your input, Mrs. Thorne. I believe Maxwell and I made a good choice." I looked up at Maxwell, hoping that mentioning the shopping trip with him would make things look easier.

Elizabeth's smile widened, though it held no warmth. "Of course, dear. I’m sure you did your best with what you had to work with.”