Chapter 70 Chapter 70
Amelia
Rhea didn’t waste a second after stepping into the dining room. “Soon, he is going to throw you out of this house and finally end this sham you call a marriage,” she sneered, her eyes filled with spite.
I had just come downstairs to grab breakfast before my meeting with Maxwell and the board of directors of my company. I was already tired, and the last thing I wanted was to start my day with her bitterness.
“You think you are special,” she continued, moving closer. “But everything you have in this life belongs to me. One day, I will take it all back, and you’ll be right back on the streets where you belong.”
Her words were sharp and poisonous, but I ignored her completely. I wasn’t in the mood to trade insults with Maxwell’s stray problems. I had dealt with Camilla before—Rhea was nothing more than another annoying distraction.
Cynthia walked in just then and carefully placed my breakfast on the table.
“Good morning, ma’am,” she said politely to Rhea.
Without warning, Rhea shoved the plate off the table. It crashed to the floor, the sound of breaking dishes echoing through the room as food scattered everywhere.
“Clean that up right now, you moron,” Rhea snapped. “And prepare something for me immediately.”
Cynthia froze, clearly shaken. “Stupid low-lives,” Rhea went on cruelly. “They have no loyalty. They will crawl at the feet of anyone who throws them scraps.”
Before anyone could respond, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Maxwell walked into the dining room and took in the broken plates and spilled food. He sighed heavily, his expression darkening as he looked at Rhea.
“You don’t get to disrespect anyone in this house, Rhea,” he said firmly. “Not my staff and certainly not my wife.”
She turned to him, her face twisting in anger and hurt. “You didn’t even bother to ask what happened,” she cried. “You just assumed it was my fault. She’s bewitched you so badly that you’re already taking the side of another woman against your own wife.” Her voice trembled, as if she were the one being wronged.
“Ex-wife,” Maxwell corrected calmly.
He turned to me. “Amelia, can we go now? We are already running late for the meeting. I’ll ask someone to get us breakfast.”
I didn’t respond. I simply stood up and walked out, not sparing any of them a second glance.
On our way to the company, the car was quiet until Maxwell suddenly reached for my hand. I turned to look at him, surprised by the gesture.
“I’m sorry about Rhea,” he said softly. “And I’m sorry about what we are about to do at the company this morning. I promise you, everything happening is for the greater good.”
I frowned, pulling my hand slightly but not completely away.
“I understand the company part,” I said. “But tell me, how exactly is Rhea living in the house and tormenting my existence for the greater good? First it was Camilla, and now this bitch?” I snapped, unable to hold it in anymore.
Maxwell sighed. “I can’t explain everything to you right now,” he said carefully. “But there is a reason why Rhea is here.”
I looked at him for a long moment, then smiled faintly, not because I was amused, but because I was tired. “So you really want us to be cordial?” I asked. “You really want a relationship with me?”
He nodded quickly, tightening his grip on my hand. “Yes,” he said earnestly. “I want you like I have never wanted any woman before. I was in denial before, but I can’t keep lying to myself. I really want you.”
I took a deep breath before speaking. “I’ve been through a lot,” I said slowly. “And I will never settle for less. And my ‘less’ has nothing to do with money. If you want me, you have to be ready to give me everything—your loyalty, your care, your attention, your love. All of it. I don’t want half-hearted effort.”
I turned to face him fully. “So if you want my forgiveness and my heart, your first step is getting Rhea out of that house for good. I am done sharing a roof with your women. It’s disgusting, and I won’t tolerate it anymore.”
He studied my face for a while, as if weighing his options. “Will you go on a date with me,” he asked finally, “if Rhea leaves the house?"
I didn’t answer him. I turned back toward the window, watching the road pass by.
My thoughts were a mess. Did I really want to do this with Lucien? If I demanded loyalty, then I would have to be honest too about the girls, about everything. And I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
What if he found out? What if he met them and decided he didn’t need me anymore? The thought sat heavy in my chest as the car continued forward.
We arrived at my company, and the moment I stepped inside, heads turned. My workers looked surprised to see me, some of them even standing a little straighter. I missed this place more than I realized. I had spent years building it, late nights, endless meetings, sacrifices no one ever saw. After my dad retired, I carried it on my shoulders and took it to where it is today. I wasn’t about to let anyone take it away from me.
We walked into the boardroom, and everyone was already seated, waiting. At the far end of the table sat Harrington. He leaned back in his chair, smirking at me like a man who had just hit the jackpot. The sight of him made my stomach tighten, but I kept my face calm.
The meeting began. After the discussions, the board was asked to vote between Harrington and me on who would step up as the CEO. One by one, the votes were cast. Every single person at the table voted for Harrington.
Every one of them. Including Maxwell.
My chest burned, but I reminded myself of what Maxwell had told me earlier. We had to be diplomatic, we had to make it look like Harrington won fairly, like everyone was on his side. This was part of the plan even if it hurt.
The meeting ended quickly after that. Harrington stood up and walked over to me, his confidence almost offensive.
“Congratulations,” I said calmly.
He smiled wider. “Now the company is finally in the hands of people who can actually take care of it,” he replied smugly.
I didn’t respond. I simply smiled back at him, hiding everything I felt inside. Deep down, I hoped for the day his smile would turn into tears, when he would be the one kneeling and begging at my feet.
I couldn’t stand the room any longer. The subtle remarks, the smug expressions, the barely hidden satisfaction on the faces of the board members, it was clear now. They had been waiting for my downfall all along.
I walked out and found my dad waiting outside. “I handed this company to you as my legacy,” he shouted the moment he saw me.
“And this is what becomes of it? You hand it over to our enemy?”
My heart sank. I knew my father had no dealings with Harrington. He hated the man deeply and would never siphon company funds into another business especially one even my mother and I knew nothing about.
“Dad, I can explain,” I said quickly. “Please, I’ll come home tonight. Just, please.”
I was desperate to stop him from storming into the boardroom and causing a scene. Before he could respond, familiar voices rang out.
“Mommy! Mommy!”
I froze, the girls were inside dad’s car, laughing, and my heart skipped painfully. “You brought the girls here?” I asked, stunned.
“Yes,” Dad replied. “I picked them up from school when I got the call about what happened. I decided to come here first before heading home.”
Before I could say anything else, I heard a loud, fake laugh behind me.
I turned and there was Maxwell, walking toward the lobby beside Harrington.