Chapter 37
Amelia watched through the rearview mirror. The car kept its distance, making it impossible to see clearly who was in the driver's seat. She frowned. Shee really didn't want to get tangled up with Jeremy again!
Sophia let out an envious sigh.
"Amelia, how are you so lucky! All these quality men circling you! Why can't a rich guy notice me? Tell me, should I go find a witch to pray for love or something?"
Amelia made a face that showed her unspoken frustration.
"Didn't you see how Luna tried to kill me last time? I don't want anything more to do with Jeremy!"
Sophia fantasized, "If Mr. Wright was interested in me, I wouldn't be scared of Luna! If Mr. Wright doesn't like her, that's her problem - who else can she blame? Actually, being a wealthy heir's mistress wouldn't be so bad. At least you'd get a lot of money!"
Amelia wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Sophia, that kind of thinking is dangerous. You can't think like that!"
Chatting away, they arrived at Sophia's apartment complex. Sophia got out and headed home.
Amelia drove back to the Martinez Villa and noticed that the car was still following her.
She stopped, and it stopped too!
What did Jeremy want anyway?
Amelia decided to ignore it. She didn't believe Jeremy would actually follow her all the way home!
When she got to the Martinez Villa, Amelia walked into the living room to find Aria and Karen sitting on the sofa, their faces dark and their eyes full of scheming.
Amelia couldn't be bothered with them. She planned to go to her old room to tidy up a bit - tonight she wouldn't be sleeping on the sofa.
"Wait!" Aria suddenly spoke up, questioning her. "Coming home this late, where have you been?"
Amelia stopped and replied sarcastically, "I went out to enjoy life with my best friend. What, I'm spending my own money - do I need to report that to you two?"
The word "money" ignited Aria's anger. Being humiliated by Amelia during the day had left her fuming!
Just as she jumped up to curse at Amelia, there was rough pounding at the door.
Aria opened it and snapped. "Who is it!"
The woman before her had delicate features and wore fashionable, beautiful clothes, but her eyes were red as fire.
"Are you Amelia's mother?" Luna's hostile gaze quickly swept past Aria and Karen, landing on Amelia's surprised face. "Like mother, like daughter indeed!"
Luna brushed past Aria and walked up to Amelia.
Aria's eyes darted around quickly, trying to figure out the relationship between this visitor and Amelia.
"Miss, I'm just Amelia's stepmother - we're not blood related! What bad thing did she do out there to make you come looking for her so late at night?"
Aria quickly determined that this visitor was here to settle a score with Amelia, so they were on the same side. She immediately distanced herself from Amelia.
"What bad thing?" Luna's thin lips were like blades, her eyes like tempered steel. "Ask Amelia - as a married woman, why is she shamelessly seducing my boyfriend?"
Aria was like a fly smelling blood, her body suddenly excited. She scolded Amelia, "Amelia, you're actually seducing someone else's boyfriend? How did your father raise you? How could you do such a thing! If I tell your father, how heartbroken he'll be!"
Amelia ignored Aria for now and shot back at Luna. "You're ridiculous. Mr. Wright has already made it clear he's not your boyfriend, yet you keep telling everyone he is! Who's the shameless one here?"
"And I never seduced him - he contacted me first!"
Luna insisted, "If you weren't loose to your core, would Jeremy come looking for you? Tell me, what did you brainwash him with to make him want to bid on that sculpture for you tonight?"
So Luna had been watching Amelia since the auction house parking lot!
"He wanted to give it to me on his own - what does that have to do with me!" Amelia responded calmly. "Aren't you claiming to be Jeremy's girlfriend? Go ask him if you have questions. Why are you coming after me!"
Luna's hands hung at her thighs, her fingers clenching into fists and releasing. She had no way to deal with Amelia at all!
"Amelia, I've never seen such a shameless woman! Seducing my boyfriend, ruining the Moore family's reputation, and still acting so righteous!"
Only then did Aria realize the visitor was Luna, the young lady of the Moore family!
"Amelia, you've gone too far!" Aria seized the opportunity, secretly pleased, putting on an act of upholding justice. "Apologize to Ms. Moore right now!"
Amelia's cold eyes glanced over, mocking, "Who are you? What business is this of yours? My business with the Moore family isn't for you to stick your nose into! Take your old witch of a mother back to your room!"
Karen's face turned pale as she covered her forehead, pretending to be dizzy.
"Layla, this is outrageous! A stepmother is still a mother!"
"Bitch!" Aria couldn't hold back anymore and swung her hand hard at Amelia. "If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll completely disgrace the Martinez family!"
Amelia had only been guarding against Luna and didn't expect Aria to suddenly strike. Her face immediately stung with burning pain.
"Aria, you're still part of the Moore family - you dare hit me? Will the Moore family let you get away with this?"
Aria cunningly observed Luna and found that not only was Luna not protecting Amelia, but she was actually quite pleased and happy.
"You were kicked out of the Moore family long ago - how dare you mention them! You've ruined the Moore family's reputation. Now, not a single person in the Moore family is on your side!"
Before she finished speaking, a voice full of authority came from outside.
"Who says no one in the Moore family is on Amelia's side!"
Aria's body shook violently. She hurriedly looked toward the door to see Matthew striding in with his driver and bodyguards.
Matthew's eyes were like knives, his brows cold as swords. Everyone in the living room was intimidated by his presence.
Amelia covered her face, tears of grievance welling in her eyes, looking at Matthew with a resentful gaze.
Matthew moved her small hand away. A red handprint appeared on her face. Matthew's teeth ground together.
"Who hit you?"
Amelia looked at Aria. Aria's face turned deathly pale, her heart pounding.
"It was her!"
Aria immediately tried to explain, "Matthew, just now..."
Matthew's voice was cold and heavy. "Don't call me Matthew. You're not worthy!"
Aria swallowed, her eyes filled with terror.
"Mr. Moore, Amelia was disrespectful to my mother, so..."
Matthew's cold, sharp gaze swept over the trembling Karen. "You mother and daughter don't look like people who deserve respect! Daring to hit my woman - you must be tired of living!"
Aria couldn't hold out anymore and begged humbly, "Mr. Moore, I was confused for a moment. For the sake of me being Amelia's stepmother, please let me off this time. I won't dare do it again!"
Matthew's expression was cold and stern, "Since you know you were confused, then you must pay the price for your confusion!"
He looked at the bodyguard and said, "I don't want to dirty my hands. However, she hit Amelia, you return it to her the same way!"
Luna saw that Aria was on the same side and timidly spoke up for her. "Matthew, it really was Amelia who was wrong first..."
"Shut up!" Matthew said sternly. "If you team up with outsiders against the Moore family again, I'll hit you too!"
Luna's face flushed red with embarrassment. She didn't dare make another sound.
A crisp slap suddenly rang out in the living room, accompanied by Aria's shrill scream.
The bodyguard's slap sent Aria stumbling onto the sofa, tears streaming from her eyes.
"Oh my God, a son-in-law hitting his mother-in-law - this is disrespectful!"