Chapter 51: How Did It Involve Amelia Again?
She suddenly looked up at James, her eyes filled with anger. "Where's the housekeeper?"
"I let her go."
James answered quickly.
Mia's suspicion was confirmed.
He really fired the housekeeper who had been so good to her, all because of Amelia.
Her voice sharp with anger, she demanded, "James, what gives you the right to fire the housekeeper?"
Throughout her life, very few people had genuinely cared about her.
The housekeeper was one of them.
And she had caused the housekeeper to lose a good job.
The housekeeper had felt sorry for her and targeted Amelia only to protect her.
Mia's chest heaved violently with anger, her gaze like a knife aimed at James. "James, what kind of man takes it out on the housekeeper? If you're so capable, why don't you kick me out too!"
Wouldn't that please Amelia even more?
James looked at the furious Mia.
He had indeed taken his anger out on the housekeeper for not taking proper care of her.
He had specifically instructed the housekeeper before that Mia was pregnant and must be well looked after.
But how had she taken care of her?
At the hospital, he learned that part of the reason for Mia's weakness was that she hadn't been eating properly.
Looking at the frail Mia then.
In his rage, he had immediately called Robert to fire the housekeeper who wasn't attentive to Mia and find a new one who could take proper care of her.
He hadn't expected that doing this for her own good would make Mia so angry. "You want her to stay?"
Wasn't he stating the obvious?
Mia's face was tense, the anger in her eyes intensifying.
[Would you let her stay just because I want her to?]
The retort was on the tip of her tongue when James spoke first, "If you like her, she can stay."
Though he wasn't satisfied with how the housekeeper had cared for Mia, if Mia liked her, then she could stay.
Such a small matter wasn't worth making her angry.
Mia was stunned.
Confused, the words slipped out, "Aren't you afraid Amelia will make a scene?"
James's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Why do you have to bring Amelia into everything?"
What did this have to do with Amelia?
"Am I the one bringing her into this?"
Seeing James's expression, Mia's anger flared up.
The other woman came to the door to show off, and somehow it was her fault?
James was at a loss for words.
After she recovered and came home from the hospital, he didn't want to fight with her—he wanted to solve their problems.
Some things hadn't been cleared up yet.
Before leaving the hospital, Mia's words made James realize she had deep misunderstandings about his relationship with Amelia.
No wonder she became so sharp whenever Amelia was mentioned.
James backed down a step, avoiding the topic of Amelia for now, changing the subject. "Go rest for a bit. I'll call and have her come back."
They needed to talk.
Mia didn't respond or move. "I want to eat the housekeeper's cooking tonight."
Right in front of her, James called Robert and put it on speaker, instructing, "No need to hire a new housekeeper. Have the previous one come back."
"Yes, Mr. Smith."
Robert, who was finishing up work at Apex Global Enterprises, answered immediately.
He didn't dare complain about James's fickleness.
...
James ended the call and looked at Mia. "Satisfied now?"
Mia just gave him a cold glance.
She had only blurted out that comment about Amelia making a scene because she was so surprised.
If Amelia wanted to make a scene with him, that was between the two of them.
It had nothing to do with her.
She just wanted the housekeeper back.
Goal achieved, Mia changed her shoes and sat down on the sofa.
The housekeeper would be back soon, so there was no point in talking now. James went upstairs to his study to handle some documents.
...
The housekeeper lived nearby. When she got Robert's call and learned she could come back, she hurried over immediately.
"You're back."
Seeing the housekeeper, Mia's eyes lit up with a smile.
She was genuinely happy.
James hadn't lied to her after all—he really had the housekeeper come back.
Having been through the firing, the housekeeper was a bit reserved. After greeting Mia, she immediately went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
The housekeeper worked quickly, soon bringing three hot dishes to the table.
The last dish was shrimp, Mia's favorite.
James naturally took a disposable glove and put it on, beginning to expertly peel the shrimp.
After peeling one, he placed it in Mia's bowl.
The shrimp fell onto the table.
Mia had moved her bowl away.
James's expression darkened instantly.
The atmosphere at the table froze again.
But she acted as if nothing had happened, taking a disposable glove herself and putting it on, clumsily peeling shrimp for herself.
She loved eating shrimp, but after losing the person who had once said he would peel shrimp for her for the rest of her life, she had never touched shrimp again.
Until she met—James.
She remembered once having a meal with James, his treat.
She had pushed back the menu with its terrifying prices.
He didn't insist, ordering the food himself, including shrimp.
As she had said, she wasn't picky and ate everything.
Except the shrimp—she didn't touch a single one.
Noticing this, he asked, "Don't you like it?"
Not knowing how to explain the reason, she casually said, "I'm lazy, don't want to peel them."
Then she continued eating with her head down.
Suddenly, a peeled shrimp appeared in her bowl.
She stared at the shrimp in a daze, and after a long moment slowly looked up to see the distinguished James, sleeves rolled up, wearing disposable gloves, elegantly peeling shrimp.
Her throat suddenly felt blocked.
Until he finished peeling the second one and looked up, seeing her state, he asked gently, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing—nothing, thank you."
She quickly lowered her head, acting casual as she picked up the shrimp and put it in her mouth.
After that time, whenever they ate together and there was shrimp, he would peel it for her.
He gradually replaced that person's place, making her dependent on him.
And she naively thought she could depend on him for a lifetime.
When the truth was revealed, it was brutal.
Only then did she understand.
Love can disappear and transfer.
Love can not only disappear and transfer, it can also be fake.
...
The two finished dinner in silence.
Mia went upstairs right after eating. After she left, James looked at the housekeeper with cold eyes.
"If it weren't for Mrs. insisting on keeping you, I would never let someone who can't properly care for Mia stay in this house."
James said this both to warn the housekeeper and to make her grateful to Mia.
From now on, the housekeeper would take even better care of Mia.
"Mr. James Smith, rest assured, I will definitely take good care of Mrs. Mia Smith from now on."
"Good." James stood up and said coolly, "Your salary will be doubled."
Mia, who seemed easy-going and approachable, actually had very strong boundaries.
She guarded her heart closely and didn't let people in easily.
For such a Mia to speak up for her meant the housekeeper had been very good to her normally.
When it came to money, he was never stingy.
As long as she took good care of Mia.
"Thank you, Mr. Smith."
James said nothing more, told her to leave early after cleaning up, and headed upstairs.
Some things he had to clear up with Mia.