Chapter 45 I Thought You Didn't Plan to Take Off the Mask
Amelia looked at Oliver in front of her with a smile and said, "Good evening, Grandpa. I'm Amelia."
Oliver watched as Amelia removed her mask. His expression showed only slight surprise, not much shock.
Seeing this, Amelia understood.
She carried the bag of tea leaves that Jeffrey had prepared for her and walked over to Oliver's tea station, slowly unwrapping the tea.
"Jeffrey said this is the tea you like. Shall I brew it for you?" Amelia asked.
"Alright," Oliver responded.
Then, the entire room fell silent except for the sound of Amelia pouring water and brewing tea.
Her movements flowed smoothly.
The tea's aroma filled the air.
Finally, Amelia handed the tea to Oliver.
Oliver reached out to take it and tasted it carefully.
He said, "Over these years, very few people can brew tea this well anymore. He passed all his skills on to you."
Amelia lowered her eyes slightly, fiddling with the tea set.
She said, "Yes, if he didn't pass them to me, who else would he pass them to? After all, I'm his biological daughter."
They both knew the "he" they were talking about was the deceased Jasper.
That once proud and vigorous man in his prime was now forever left in that rainy day.
"I thought you weren't planning to take off your mask," Oliver continued.
Amelia smiled and looked at Oliver, saying, "How could my little tricks possibly fool you? You knew all along, didn't you?"
Amelia looked calmly at Oliver in front of her.
From the moment she received the invitation, she understood there was no avoiding this.
Although she and Jeffrey had signed a confidentiality agreement and were always very careful, many things couldn't withstand close scrutiny, especially when Oliver wanted to investigate.
Take today's tanzanite, for example—other families might have trouble tracing its origin, but as long as Oliver wanted to know, he'd find out immediately.
After all, it was his own business.
So after entering, she had no intention of pretending anymore.
"What's going on between you and Jeffrey?" Oliver asked directly.
Amelia said, "I don't know which aspect Grandpa is referring to."
"Everything," Oliver said with heavy authority.
Amelia didn't get angry, just smiled and said:
"First, Jeffrey and I are not lovers. We currently have a cooperative relationship, mutually beneficial."
"Second, I didn't make Jeffrey compete with William, but I still got him involved."
As soon as Amelia finished speaking, Oliver slammed his hand on the armrest, looking very angry.
But Amelia just looked at him calmly and said, "Grandpa, watch your hand."
But Oliver remained furious: "You know the Brown family's status in Shadow City, yet you still dragged Jeffrey into this. Are you trying to drag the Adams family down with you!"
"Grandpa, you're overthinking it. I don't have that intention," Amelia replied calmly without panic.
Seeing that this tactic couldn't intimidate Amelia, Oliver stopped pretending: "The matter between you and William—the Adams family has no need to get involved. I don't want to offend William."
Amelia finally smiled again.
"Grandpa, you're kidding me," Amelia said, leaving it at that without continuing.
Oliver stared at her, his eagle-like eyes fixed on Amelia, giving her tremendous pressure.
The Adams Group that Oliver built wasn't exactly clean—in his early years, he had a strong bandit-like air about him.
Later, when his pride and joy of a son died at sea, he restrained himself somewhat.
But even so, that streak of ruthlessness in his bones still existed.
Just from how he now let his three grandsons fight among themselves, you could tell he was still of the ruthless and merciless school.
How could someone like this run away just at the mention of William's name?
"How am I kidding?" Oliver finally spoke again.
Amelia said softly, "It's precisely because someone dares to compete with the Brown Group that you're happy, Grandpa."
After speaking, she showed another beautiful smile.
"You're having your three grandsons compete with each other to strengthen the family. If you backed down just hearing William's name, the family's gradual decline would be inevitable."
"Besides, the Adams Group isn't easy to control. The risks are already within your calculations."
Oliver narrowed his eyes, reassessing Amelia once again.
For some reason, he actually saw the shadow of his pride and joy of a son in her.
He did have plans, just more ruthless than what she imagined.
The Brown family was huge and powerful, but the Adams family wouldn't collapse easily either. If William came after them, he'd just kick Jeffrey out to apologize to William—after all, he didn't know Lika was Amelia.
If Jeffrey gained a firm foothold, then he'd let him lead the Adams family to glory.
Win the bet, and the Adams family rises higher.
Lose the bet, and offer up Jeffrey as an apology, at William's disposal.
He was already prepared to sacrifice Jeffrey.
The room was brightly lit, and the rising tea aroma made the tea room even more elegant.
Amelia waited quietly for two seconds, then said, "So, Grandpa, can I consider this passed?"
Oliver glanced at Amelia and chuckled softly.
"I really don't know why you stayed by William's side for so long before."
Amelia smiled: "Well, I'm out now, aren't I?"
Oliver had long known about Amelia and William's relationship.
Amelia wasn't easily brushed off and continued to look quietly at Oliver, waiting for his answer.
A silent psychological battle proceeded calmly between them.
Finally, Oliver said, "I can only guarantee I won't interfere in their affairs. As for the rest, as you said, I'll just see who wins in the end."
Amelia smiled.
She had achieved her purpose for coming today.
Jeffrey had said that each of the three of them had their own businesses. The reason Zaid could reach so far this time was mainly because he had bad-mouthed Jeffrey to Oliver, causing Oliver to have misunderstandings about him.
Oliver's attitude determined the attitude of those below, which was critical.
Once Oliver stopped interfering, with just some time, Jeffrey could completely control the situation.
That was enough.
Amelia exchanged a few more pleasantries with Oliver, then put her mask back on.
As she was about to walk out the door, she heard Oliver sigh softly behind her: "What a pity, he left too early."
Amelia gripped the door frame tightly. She wanted to rush back and ask Oliver what exactly happened back then!
In the end, her remaining rationality controlled her.
Today's bluffing, forced composure, and air of mystery had already reached her current limit. Jasper's matter needed to wait a bit longer.
With that thought, Amelia let go of her hand. After leaving, she bowed to Oliver before closing the door.
"How did it go? How did it go?" Jeffrey outside was already so nervous he was about to explode.
The room had good soundproofing—he'd pressed his ear to the door crack but hadn't heard a single sound.
The other two were still watching. Amelia showed no expression and only said, "Let's go back."
Then she headed downstairs first.
Jeffrey, however, couldn't let it go and started arguing with Zaid, who was making snide remarks.
Amelia didn't want to hear any of that and just walked downstairs calmly.
But just as she turned a corner, someone blocked her way.
Amelia looked up.
It was someone from the Jenkins family.
Shadow City's three giants were the Brown Group, the Adams Group, and the Jenkins Group.
Each controlled different lifelines of Shadow City.
The Jenkins Group owned Shadow City's largest gem stores, jewelry stores, and so on.
Back then, her tanzanite was purchased from a gem store under the Jenkins Group.
"Lika?" The other person looked her up and down, his eyes somewhat playful.
"Mr. Jenkins," Amelia greeted calmly.
"You know me?" Otis said in surprise.
Amelia looked up: "Mr. Jenkins is so famous, how could I not know you?"
Otis thought that made sense, but that wasn't important.
"Why were you and Isabella fighting over that tanzanite?" Otis leaned in. "Can you tell me?"
Amelia just smiled without speaking.
"I just saw how popular that tanzanite was, so I immediately had the store check it out. Guess what I found?"
Amelia still didn't speak, her eyes looking straight ahead without any expression.
"Aren't you curious? Let me tell you—the original buyer was Amelia, William's wife, Amelia."