Chapter 53 Cooperation

Chapter 53 Cooperation

"Got it. Keep an eye on Uriah for me." He hung up and turned to her, his eyes lighting up. "All done with your shower? I'll go take mine now."

He headed into the bathroom, and within a couple of minutes, Amelia heard the water running and him humming a tune. It was a light melody, an old song her dad used to sing when she was little. During family gatherings, her dad would sit on the porch with his guitar, playing that song. She would always sit on his knee, gently swinging her legs to the rhythm, the air filled with sweetness.

The sound of water gradually weakened and eventually stopped completely. Amelia was still sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Henry's voice suddenly broke the silence, startling her.

She looked up to see him standing there in a bathrobe, his hair dripping wet, water trickling down his neck and disappearing into the robe, revealing a solid expanse of muscle. Amelia turned her face away. "Nothing."

Henry didn't call her out on it. He walked over to the other bed, sat down, and picked up the hairdryer. Amid the warm hum of the dryer, he suddenly spoke up, "So, how are we sleeping tonight? Together?"

Amelia responded calmly and seriously, "This room has two beds for a reason. One bed for each person."

"We've shared a bed before," Henry said, turning off the hairdryer and raising an eyebrow at her, his tone carrying a hint of mischief. "Remember that time with the coat? You slept on my arm all night."

"That was because you were being shameless!"

"And what if I'm shameless again this time?"

Amelia's cheeks flushed as she retorted, "This is a double room. Two beds. Each person sleeps in their own."

Henry stared at her for a few seconds before chuckling softly. "Alright, we'll do it your way." He lay back on his bed but didn't turn off the light, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, and neither of them spoke again.

The room was so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing. Amelia found it hard to fall asleep. After a moment, she decided to speak up. "Thank you for today."

"Thank me for what?" Henry's voice came from the other side, sounding lazy.

"Thank you for arranging a doctor for Uriah and finding someone to take care of him," Amelia said softly, her eyes downcast. "And... thank you for taking me to your mom's for dinner."

"And then?" Henry suddenly turned to look at her, his eyes probing.

Amelia took a deep breath, sat up, and spoke seriously. "I want to know, are you doing all this because you want to get back at the Phillips family?"

Henry was taken aback for a moment, then he laughed, leaning against the headboard, his fingers playing with the robe's tie. "Take a guess."

"If you are, I want to work with you," Amelia met his gaze, her eyes resolute. "If not, just forget I said anything."

Henry's smile faded as he sat up. "You want to work with me?"

"Yes." Amelia nodded firmly. She had analyzed it deeply while showering. Henry knew her background and her desire to investigate her parents' deaths. Instead of being wary of each other, it would be better to cooperate. The other members of the Phillips family were tough to deal with. Hayden and Rhea couldn't be trusted, and Ava had her own agenda. If she made more enemies, her days would only get harder. She paused, her voice softening. "After meeting your mom today, I feel... we're somewhat alike, both caught in the Phillips family's whirlpool. I don't want to be your enemy."

Henry looked at her serious expression and suddenly smiled. "What can you offer me? What do I get from working with you?"

"Anything you need, I can give you, and far more than you imagine." Amelia stared into his eyes, her tone confident.

Henry's smile deepened. He had said that exact phrase to Amelia before, and now she was using it on him. He didn't answer immediately but instead got out of bed, walked over to her, and sat down beside her. Before Amelia could react, he gently pulled her into his arms, his movements tender yet firm.

"What are you doing?" Amelia struggled to push him away, her tone confused.

"Don't move." Henry's chin rested on the top of her head, his voice low. "Just practicing."

"Practicing what?" Amelia's heart was racing.

"Practicing how to face the Phillips family's challenges," Henry's fingers lightly traced her back, his tone serious. "We'll be partners, and we'll have to act like a loving couple in front of them. If we don't practice now, what if we slip up later?"

Amelia wanted to argue, but he added, "If you resist, I can't guarantee I won't do something worse."

His tone carried a hint of threat but lacked real menace. Amelia stiffened in his embrace, the scent of cedar and mountain tea from him oddly comforting. Before she could think further, Henry suddenly lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, the touch as light as a feather.

"Happy partnership," he released her, his eyes smiling, and returned to his bed. "Get some sleep. We have to return to the show tomorrow."

Amelia touched her warm forehead, still feeling the heat from his embrace as she lay back down. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle line between them, no longer as cold.

The next morning, Amelia was awakened by the chirping of birds. She opened her eyes to see Henry already dressed, standing by the window on the phone.

"...We'll talk more when I get back to the show." He hung up and turned to see her awake, smiling. "Awake? There's breakfast downstairs. Want to join me?"

Amelia rubbed her eyes, her hair a bit messy as she sat up and casually smoothed it down. "No, I'm not really hungry. You go ahead." After discussing their partnership with Henry last night, she had tossed and turned until the early hours, her mind still foggy.

Henry didn't press further, just grabbed his jacket. "I'll head down then. If you want anything, text me."

As he reached the door, his phone rang, displaying "Lon" on the screen. Henry answered, his voice still carrying the laziness of just waking up. "Hey."

"Where did you go after the hospital yesterday?" Lon's loud voice came through the receiver, teasing. "You didn't reply all day. Were you up to something sneaky?"

Henry leaned against the doorframe, his gaze sweeping over Amelia on the bed, a faint smile on his lips. "I was up in the mountains."

"Mountains?" Lon paused, then caught on. "You went to see Ms. Garcia? That's rare for you."

"Yeah, I went back for a bit." Henry's voice softened as he moved towards the dining area.

"Something's off," Lon's tone turned gossipy. "Did you go alone? Or was Amelia with you?"