Chapter 52: Meeting Ella

Lunch was a simple, home-cooked meal. Ella kept piling food onto Amelia's plate, her fondness clear in her eyes. "Eat up, sweetie. You need to keep your strength up."

Henry teased from the side, "Mom, you see a pretty girl and forget all about your son."

"You're too old to be jealous," Ella laughed, giving his hand a playful pat. The earlier awkwardness seemed like a distant memory.

Amelia didn't say much, quietly eating her meal. She watched Henry gently wipe soup from Ella's mouth and patiently answer her repetitive questions.

Suddenly, Amelia realized that Henry might have brought her here not to show off, but to let her see him without his usual defenses.

As they were leaving, Ella stuffed a large bag of fresh tea into their bag, wrapped in brown paper with a pretty bow. "This tea is calming. Take it and drink it," she said, holding Amelia's hand and repeating her advice. "He's a good boy, just not very eloquent. Be patient with him. Take good care of him, and yourself too."

At the car, Amelia looked back and saw Ella standing at the cabin door, waving a blue cloth. The sunlight highlighted her graying hair.

No one spoke as the car descended the mountain.

It wasn't until they rounded the last bend that Henry broke the silence, his voice a bit hoarse. "Is this reason enough?"

Amelia looked at the shrinking figure of Ella at the cabin door, the scent of tea still lingering in the air, and Ella's words about taking care of Henry echoed in her ears. She glanced at Henry's calm profile and felt a tightness in her throat.

This was the first time she had seen Henry like this—without his sharp business demeanor, without the aloofness he showed around the Phillips family. He seemed deeply lonely, like tea cooled by moonlight, bitter at first but leaving a lingering astringency.

"Your grandfather..." she began, then changed her mind. "I thought he always favored you the most."

Henry was brushing grass off the car tire. He paused at her words, then straightened up with his usual faint smile. "To him, whoever brings the most benefit to the Phillips Group is the best grandson." He flicked dust off his pants, his tone indifferent but with a hint of sarcasm. "When I secured the Novaria Energy deal, he looked at me more warmly than he ever did at Hayden. That was when he favored me the most."

Amelia didn't argue. She had spent enough time with the Phillips family to understand Erik's nature—shrewd, pragmatic, and placing family interests above all else. Henry's position in the family was earned through achievements, not blood ties.

"Let's go." Henry opened the car door, his gaze falling on her furrowed brow. He suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair, a gesture that was both familiar and natural. "Don't pity me. I'm used to it."

Amelia was taken aback by his sudden action and stepped back into the passenger seat. "Who's pitying you?"

As the car left the tea garden, the setting sun painted the sky a warm orange-pink. Amelia leaned against the window, about to close her eyes for a rest, when her phone buzzed.

It was a message from Ralph.

[Amelia, when are you coming back to the show? Are you coming back for dinner?] He added a sad face emoji.

Just as she was about to reply, Henry gently pressed her wrist. He glanced over, his eyes curious but his tone casual. "Ralph?"

"Yes." Amelia pulled her hand away and quickly replied, [Back tomorrow.] Then, she locked her phone.

"He seems pretty concerned about you," Henry said, his voice calm but with a hint of tension. "Does he like you?"

Amelia was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing. "You're overthinking it. He was just asking about the show."

Henry raised an eyebrow, glancing at her phone on her lap. "Does the show require daily updates on your whereabouts?"

"It's work," Amelia said, turning to look out the window, not wanting to continue the topic. "He's an artist with the Phillips Group. I need to keep an eye on him."

Henry didn't press further, and the car fell silent again.

Amelia stole a glance at him, seeing him focused on the road ahead. She suddenly felt that the day had been surreal.

No scheming from the Phillips family, no annoying work. Just two friends visiting an elder and enjoying the mountain breeze, a rare moment of relaxation.

The car rounded a bend and came to a stop at a warning sign.

The road ahead was blocked due to a landslide. Henry got out to talk to a maintenance worker and returned with a slight frown. "We can't go any further tonight. We'll have to stay on the mountain."

Amelia looked at the darkening sky and nodded. "Is there a hotel nearby?"

"There's a bed and breakfast up ahead. I saw it last time I was here." Henry started the car. "The moonlight on the mountain is quite nice."

The bed and breakfast was nestled in a bamboo grove, with a wooden sign that read "Serenity Lodge." Warm yellow light spilled from the windows, giving it a secluded, peaceful feel. The receptionist, a young girl with braided hair, looked up and smiled. "Good evening. Would you like one room or two?"

"Two," Amelia quickly said.

"One," Henry said right after, his tone firm.

Their voices overlapped, and the receptionist hesitated, then checked the computer. "I'm sorry, but it's the weekend, and we're fully booked. We only have one room left, a twin room. If you don't mind..."

"We don't mind," Henry immediately replied, a satisfied smile on his face. He turned to Amelia. "It's too late. We'll make do for one night."

Amelia knew he did it on purpose, but had no choice. They couldn't wander around the dark mountain. She nodded. "Thank you."

The room was on the second floor, with a view of the bamboo forest. Henry placed the suitcase in the corner and naturally picked up the remote to adjust the air conditioning, moving as if he were at home. Amelia stood at the door, feeling a bit uneasy. She grabbed a bathrobe and headed to the bathroom. "I'll... I'll take a shower first."

"Okay." Henry turned, his gaze lingering on her flustered figure, his tone playful. "There are disposable toiletries in the bathroom. I already got them for you."

Amelia didn't respond, quickly stepping into the bathroom. The warm water washed over her, and she reviewed the day's events. Over the years, she had developed a habit of reflecting on the day's happenings while showering. The bathroom served as a natural barrier, allowing her to detach from the outside world and think more clearly.

She finished her shower quickly and emerged in a large bathrobe, only to see Henry leaning against the window, talking on the phone.