Chapter 153 When Can I Kiss You?
But Amelia only felt surprised for a moment before she understood.
Jeremy and York must have also noticed Samuel's feelings for her, which is why she was treated differently from others.
After realizing this, she couldn't say her mood was particularly good, but she felt that the moonlight tonight wasn't so bad after all.
The gate fully opened at that moment.
Amelia noticed there were no security guards at the entrance, so she drove straight in.
This was her second visit. She drove to find the main building.
After stopping at the entrance, Jeremy came jogging over with two subordinates.
As soon as the facial recognition succeeded, everyone at Maple Villa knew Amelia had arrived.
He bowed slightly with respect and opened the car door for Amelia.
"Ms. Richardson, why did you suddenly come over so late?"
Then, worried Amelia might misunderstand, thinking he wasn't welcoming her, he added:
"If you'd let me know in advance, I could have had them prepare things to receive you properly."
"No need, I'm not here as a guest. Where's Samuel?"
Jeremy said, "Mr. Crawford was just in the gym. When he heard you were here, he went to change clothes."
Amelia nodded slightly and said, "Open the trunk first."
When the car wasn't running, the air inside didn't circulate, and she was afraid the two people inside might suffocate.
Jeremy responded, "Yes," then opened the trunk with some confusion.
As soon as the trunk opened, the conscious man finally lost control and threw up immediately.
Some vomit splashed outside, and some landed in the trunk.
What a mess.
Jeremy's brows furrowed tightly.
Two people stuffed into Amelia's trunk, one in unknown condition—this was completely unexpected.
But since Samuel hadn't arrived, he didn't ask more questions, only instructing his subordinates: "Get them out."
Soon, the two men were dragged out.
"These two people..."
Just as Amelia began to speak, someone hurried out from the main building entrance.
The moment Samuel learned Amelia had arrived, he wanted to run out to meet her.
But when he passed a reflective mirror and saw himself covered in sweat, he changed his mind, had Jeremy go out first, and quickly went upstairs to take a shower.
Afraid Amelia would get impatient waiting, he didn't even dry his hair, just threw on a dark blue casual outfit and ran out.
But when he reached the entrance, he deliberately slowed his pace, trying to appear calm and unhurried.
He cared about her in his heart, but couldn't show it too obviously.
Otherwise, he'd seem cheap.
—This was the wisdom Samuel had gained from listening to romance radio while working out.
But seeing Amelia standing not far away, he forgot all about romance radio and male dignity, and rushed over in just a few strides.
"In the middle of the night, why did you..."
Halfway through his sentence, he saw the two guys Jeremy's men had thrown on the ground.
One had a face so swollen his own mother wouldn't recognize him, unconscious.
The other's face wasn't swollen, but was pale as a ghost.
"What's going on?"
Samuel's handsome brows drew together, his expression quickly turning cold and serious as he questioned Amelia.
Amelia glanced at Samuel.
His hair was still dripping water, his clothes loose and casual, not meticulous like usual, just relaxed and casual.
He was unexpectedly more charming.
Amelia swallowed, hiding the turbulence in her heart.
"These two, I ran into them at a bar entrance."
Amelia said carefully, "At the time, they were harassing the Sullivan family's daughter, Maeve."
Samuel glanced at the two men on the ground again, then suddenly stepped forward and kicked over the conscious one.
"Whose man are you?"
If they weren't connected to him, Amelia wouldn't have brought them both here.
The man was already dizzy from motion sickness, his consciousness blurred.
Now kicked over and questioned, he blurted out instinctively: "I'm from the Crawford family!"
Samuel narrowed his eyes, looking at Jeremy.
Jeremy's heart sank, then he quickly stepped forward, grabbed the man's hair, and tried to identify him.
Didn't recognize him.
He went to look at the unconscious guy's face.
That man was so swollen even his own mother wouldn't recognize him, let alone Jeremy.
Jeremy could only tell Samuel honestly: "I can't recognize them; they shouldn't be our people."
Just then, York returned from outside.
He'd been dragged around all day with Julie, so after nightfall, he found a place to relax.
He didn't expect to return and find Maple Villa brightly lit.
Samuel, Jeremy, and Ms. Richardson—all three standing there.
He hurried over.
"Mr. Crawford, what's...?"
"See if you recognize these as your men," Samuel asked.
York composed himself and went over to identify them.
He was even rougher than Jeremy—didn't even use his hands, just used the toe of his shoe to turn the unconscious man's face straight, staring at it—
Though the face was very swollen, he still recognized the man by a birthmark near his eyebrow.
But how did this person end up here?
And Amelia was here too.
York vaguely remembered these two had mentioned wanting to invite him to a bar for drinks, which he'd refused.
Could it be...
York's heart jumped with alarm, not daring to think further.
He turned back to face Samuel.
"Mr. Crawford, they're not my men."
He cleared the relationship first, then continued: "But I recognize them. They're people Julie brought from Thornfield, her personal bodyguards."
Samuel's gaze was exceptionally sharp.
No wonder these two said they were from the Crawford family.
Samuel let out an almost inaudible sigh of relief.
He was grateful these two weren't his people.
Otherwise, Amelia would push him further and further away, and these two would be beyond redemption.
He turned sideways, reaching out to hold Amelia's hand.
"Did they bully Maeve... and you too?"
Amelia uncomfortably withdrew her hand. Perhaps he'd taken a cold shower—his fingers were icy, but somehow she felt burned.
She worked to calm her emotions, saying as if nothing was wrong: "They're not qualified to bully me."
Samuel breathed another sigh of relief.
He asked, "Where's Maeve? She's okay, right?"
His words held only displeasure, not much worry.
Amelia said, "I arrived in time. This guy only kissed her cheek once."
Samuel frowned, telling Jeremy, "Make arrangements. Tomorrow we'll go to the Sullivan family to apologize in person."
Amelia spoke up: "Maybe that's not necessary."
Samuel looked at her.
She explained based on her guess: "Maeve went to the bar alone, and when she went home, she used the back door, so she probably snuck out without her family knowing. She most likely won't tell the Sullivan family about today."
Samuel understood.
"Thank you for the reminder."
Amelia's lips curved slightly: "You also helped me at The Hagen family, no need to thank me. But what do you plan to do with these two?"
"Deal with them directly."
Amelia was startled.
"Aren't you afraid Julie will give you trouble for this?"
Samuel laughed lightly, though his eyes were ice cold.
"If I don't go looking for trouble with her, she should be thanking me."
"In that case, I'll leave now."
"Won't you stay a bit? I had the servants prepare..."
"No need, it's very late. If I go back any later, my mom will worry."
As she spoke, she was already heading toward the car door.
Samuel caught up to her in a few steps.
"Take my car. Yours is dirty—I'll have it cleaned and delivered back to you tomorrow."
Amelia thought of the man who'd vomited all over the trunk. Even from a car's distance away, she could smell the disgusting odor.
She didn't hesitate, nodding in agreement.
Samuel personally drove her.
As he left, he said coldly to York: "Kneel here and reflect properly."
York understood what Samuel meant.
Samuel had him follow Julie not to protect her safety, but to watch her and prevent trouble.
He'd focused on watching Julie but hadn't kept an eye on her subordinates.
Today it was Maeve who was offended, not Amelia—he was already secretly grateful for that.
Just kneeling for one night—this punishment was what he deserved.
York said nothing in his own defense and knelt down directly.
The car soon left Maple Villa.
Amelia spoke first: "I thought of it at the beginning, too—these should be Julie's people. Originally, I wanted to deal with them myself, but I was afraid that if they turned out to be your people, doing so would offend you."
She didn't want to be his enemy.
Whether emotionally or rationally, she didn't want to stand opposite Samuel.
Samuel nodded, feeling a warmth in his heart.
At least she didn't hate him.
If she hated him, she wouldn't have considered so much—she would have just sent them directly to him to figure out whose people they were.
"Did you go out tonight for something specific?"
Amelia looked at him and said very seriously, "Samuel, if your feelings for me are genuine... don't ask too much about my business. And don't investigate anything about me anymore."
Samuel nodded in agreement.
Even though he did have many questions about Amelia and things he wanted to know.
Since she said not to investigate, he wouldn't.
After they got married, what secrets could there be anyway?
"So about me, do you..."
"Depends on your performance, and whether you can do what you've promised."
That meant...
Was she willing to give him a chance to prove himself?
Samuel's heart leaped with joy, and he gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter.
"I'll definitely perform well."
Amelia coughed dryly, uncomfortably looking out the window.
Samuel's peripheral vision caught Amelia's profile, and his throat involuntarily moved up and down.
"So when can I kiss you?"
He wasn't a saint.
Before, he was a virgin because he hadn't met someone he liked.
Now he'd met someone he liked—how could he not have feelings?
If a man had no reaction to a woman he liked, he'd probably lose his sexual function.
He wanted nothing more than to make love to Amelia right now.
Amelia suddenly turned her head, glaring hard at Samuel.
Her eyes held a clear warning.
Samuel calmed down, saying, "I was just asking casually. I'm driving seriously now. Don't talk, don't move around, so you don't distract me."
When had she moved around?