Chapter 119 She Complied, but He Was Unhappy
As soon as they entered the restaurant, a waiter immediately came over.
"Mr. William Brown, Mrs. Amelia Brown," the waiter greeted with a smile, unsure how to address Briar.
"My name is Briar," Briar spoke up on her own.
The waiter nodded with a smile. "Hello."
"Please follow me, all three of you." The waiter walked ahead, leading the way.
They passed through the first floor, walking by the glittering chandeliers, and arrived at the second floor.
The waiter opened the door. "Please."
This was the private room with the best view on the second floor of the oceanfront restaurant.
William stepped forward first to pull out chairs for Amelia and Briar.
But Amelia didn't even look at him. She just took off Briar's backpack, preparing to set it aside.
"Let me," William said, reaching out to take the backpack and placing it on a nearby rack.
Amelia pressed her lips together. In the end, she said nothing and just sat down next to Briar.
She poured some warm water for Briar.
William watched her careful and attentive manner, his feelings mixed.
The private room was quiet, with only soft piano music playing. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the ocean tides surged like someone's emotions.
William watched as Amelia helped Briar drink water, then used a wet wipe to clean Briar's little hands. This was the scene he had dreamed of for so many years.
Seeing that Briar's hands were clean, he passed over the menu.
"See what Briar would like to eat," he said.
Amelia took it.
The two of them discussed while he could only stay silent.
It felt terrible.
Amelia picked out things Briar could eat, barely acknowledging William the whole time.
She didn't know what his purpose was in asking her here today. She just wanted to get through it peacefully.
After a while, the dishes began arriving one by one.
After the staff left, Amelia thought for a moment and said, "What exactly do you want?"
William didn't look at her face but at his own plate.
"I just wanted," he said, "our family has never had a meal together, so I wanted us to get together."
Amelia frowned slightly. She wanted to argue that they weren't a family, but then thought better of it. Just a few more hours, she could bear it.
"I know you're very angry with me," William said, looking out at the ocean.
"This past year, many things have happened. Some things weren't my intention, but they happened anyway. I couldn't help it." William's voice was calm, with only his slightly lowered eyes betraying some emotion.
Amelia looked at his profile. This was the first time in all these days that she had really looked at him.
His chiseled facial features, his high nose bridge above those thin, unfeeling lips.
He seemed the same as before, yet somehow different.
"Are you talking about Isabella?" Amelia asked directly.
William turned to face Amelia.
Amelia's eyes were completely calm.
No anger.
In fact, the tone in which she brought this up made it sound like she was talking about someone else's business.
"I've been thinking these past few days," Amelia said, choosing her words carefully.
Her purpose in coming to this dinner today was to get William to go with her tomorrow to get the divorce certificate, so everything should center on that goal.
With that in mind, Amelia said, "I think you're right. She doesn't have much time left. It's good that you keep her company."
As Amelia spoke, she got things for Briar.
She wanted to feed Briar first.
She had already made her decision. Once they got the divorce certificate tomorrow, she would be free. So whatever he did with other women had nothing to do with her.
What she wanted was to take back the Martinez family's old assets from him, find out the truth about Jasper's death, restore the Martinez family's glory, and live happily with Briar.
The room fell quiet again.
Only the soft clinking of utensils as Amelia fed Briar.
William remained silent.
He watched Amelia's smooth movements, thinking about the meaning behind her tone just now.
Was it deliberate mockery, or genuine acceptance?
There was no mockery in her tone.
But if it was acceptance, it was exactly what he wanted.
So why wasn't he happy about it?
The dishes kept coming. Briar patted her belly and said, "Amelia, I'm full."
"There's a small TV over there. Should I turn it on for you?" Amelia lifted Briar down and took her to the bathroom.
This was a suite. Besides the dining area, there were other small rooms.
Amelia turned on the TV in the small room and put on Tom and Jerry for Briar.
Only then did she return to her seat.
She ate silently from her plate.
The sky gradually darkened.
"Lately, I've been remembering things from the past," William finally spoke first.
Amelia kept her eyes down on her plate, saying nothing.
"I remember all the countries we visited together, how we worked together for our careers, building everything side by side."
William picked up the wine from the table and poured her a glass.
"I need to take Briar home later," Amelia refused.
"I'll have Rhys bring someone to drive," William said, pouring himself a glass too. "It's very low alcohol content. I know since your last injury, your health hasn't been good."
Amelia glanced at it. Indeed, it was barely different from juice.
Only then did Amelia accept it.
But she just took a sip and put it down.
William, however, kept holding his glass.
He looked out at the calm ocean and said softly, "I remember our wedding, the meals you cooked for me, our home, how you were always by my side."
"And also..."
"I don't want to think about the past," Amelia said.
Not all memories were beautiful.
Everything about him from the past had rotted and decayed the moment he went to Isabella.
She kept her head down, looking at the patterns on the table. She said, "I don't understand what you're trying to say."
William looked down at her.
He wanted to tell her that next, he had to go do something alone, without her by his side.
But he didn't know how to say it.
She was still angry, not even willing to give him a pleasant look.
Forget it.
William looked away and said, "I went to see Lon today."
Amelia's hand paused slightly.
She looked up at William.
"Five years. He seems to be doing well in there," William continued. "He even asked about you."
"What did you tell him?" Amelia asked, holding back her emotions.
"I said you're doing well, and also, that we're getting divorced," William answered.
"And then?" Amelia asked.
"Then he laughed," William said.
Amelia gave a mocking laugh.
She put down her utensils, picked up her glass, looked out at the ocean, and took a sip.
She said, "So why did you go see him?"
William avoided the question. Instead, he looked around the suite.
He said, "Do you remember? Five years ago, the day he lost his case and went to prison, we came to this very restaurant."
The wind blew, creating fine ripples on the ocean surface. Amelia just stared at the sea.
How could she not remember?
Five years ago.
That was the day she truly escaped from that demon.