Chapter 109

Chapter 109

Ainsley bit down hard on her lower lip, glaring at Imogen. "You're pathetic! You ignore your own daughter but put an adopted daughter on a pedestal. Actually, I pity you!"

She'd completely dropped the act now. No more pretending.

"Have you ever really seen her for who she is? Did you ever wonder why she showed up so conveniently right after Evelyn was kidnapped? How she just slipped into the Taylor family and took Evelyn's place? And since Evelyn came back, she's been targeting her at every turn. It was all calculated from the start! She's not the innocent angel you think she is!"

Imogen's voice rang out with absolute conviction. "Ridiculous. Why would I believe you over my own daughter?"

Ainsley felt the irony cut deeper.

"Isn't Evelyn your daughter too? You two share actual blood, but you're so hung up on twenty years of raising Amelia that you completely disregard your real daughter's feelings. You're a joke."

She'd once wanted to take Evelyn's place for so many reasons. But now? She almost felt sorry for her.

Ainsley herself had grown up pampered—not quite the precious princess Amelia had been, but still spoiled and adored by her parents. They'd never let her suffer. It wasn't until today that she realized some mothers didn't love their own daughters.

Imogen was the textbook example.

"I was planning to tell Benjamin all this today, but telling you works just as well. Amelia isn't what you think she is. From the beginning, she was running away because her real mother tried to sell her off. She escaped, stumbled into that situation, and seized the opportunity. She wasn't even the one who saved Benjamin—she stole Evelyn's entire life!"

Ainsley's words poured out with raw emotion, her eyes locked on Imogen.

"There are no coincidences like that in this world. Don't you find it suspicious how perfectly timed her appearance was? And here's something else—she's never known how to swim!"

At those words, a crack finally appeared in Imogen's expression.

Because she knew Ainsley was right.

Amelia had never learned to swim.

Imogen had looked into it later. Amelia's hometown was an inland city.

Under those circumstances, how would she have ever had the chance to learn swimming?

All these glaring inconsistencies—she'd never questioned any of them.

It was all because she'd treated Amelia as her own flesh and blood, unconsciously choosing to overlook the red flags.

Now that Ainsley had laid them all out, these weren't just questions anymore.

Seeing her silence, Ainsley knew her moment had come. She pressed harder. "If a single word I've said today is a lie, may I die a miserable death. May I never find true love. May my family suffer for my sins. There—do you believe me now?"

Such a vicious oath coming from her lips did carry weight.

Imogen's fists clenched involuntarily.

She'd only come here to threaten Ainsley, to make her stop interfering between Benjamin and Amelia. Hearing all this had completely blindsided her.

Ainsley saw her opening and began struggling. "I've laid everything out for you. Don't you get it yet?"

Fortunately, the ropes binding her hands and feet weren't very tight. With a bit of effort, she worked herself free.

The moment Imogen stood frozen in thought, Ainsley shot to her feet, shoved her aside, and bolted for the door.

Imogen snapped back to reality and gave chase, but she was a step too late. Ainsley had already vanished through the doorway.

Meanwhile, at the banquet hall.

The moment Amelia and Benjamin appeared together, all eyes turned to them.

She stood at the entrance, making no move toward the staircase.

Benjamin frowned. "You said you had something to give me. Why aren't you moving?"

By now, he'd guessed what this was about, but he was waiting for Amelia to make the first move.

Sure enough.

Amelia turned to face Benjamin, her eyes brimming with affection.

Just then, a server passed by them. Amelia smoothly plucked a box from his tray, opened it, and held the contents out to Benjamin.

"Benjamin, do you remember? This is the gift you gave me. You said I could use it to ask for one favor, and you'd grant it unconditionally."

It was true.

When Benjamin first learned Amelia was the one who'd saved him, he'd wanted the White family to offer her money.

But Amelia had refused.

Her reasoning was simple: when she saved someone, she never thought about what came after. Even if the person she pulled from the water had nothing to their name, it wouldn't have changed her decision to save them.

Because of that, young Benjamin had made this promise instead.

All these years, Amelia had never brought it up. Even Benjamin himself had nearly forgotten.

"Benjamin, I know a lot has happened recently. You might have some misunderstandings about me, but you have to believe I love you. We've grown up together, been through so much—how can we let some people's interference ruin what we have?"

The pointed reference wasn't lost on Benjamin. He knew exactly who she meant.

More than that, he was a man who valued his word. Once he made a promise, he kept it. No exceptions.

"Fine. Tell me what you want me to do."

The moment he agreed, Amelia could barely contain her joy.

She drew a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm, but her voice still trembled when she spoke.

Gathering all her courage, she said, "Benjamin, I don't have many demands. I just want you to hold me. Is that okay?"

Just a hug.

To most people watching, it seemed like something Benjamin couldn't possibly refuse.

Feeling all those eyes on him, Benjamin finally understood what she was really doing.

He started to speak, but Amelia cut him off.

"Benjamin, you said you'd grant any request."

Her words served as a reminder—don't forget what you promised.

At least in her mind, this wasn't such a difficult request.