Chapter 475

Chapter 475

Amelia pushed down the complicated feelings in her heart and handed the phone back to Hatty.

She was thinking that if Evelyn found out about this, she'd probably be furious.

"Continue shooting." Amelia's voice was so calm you couldn't detect a ripple of emotion.

Three hours later, when Amelia walked out of the studio, it was already dark.

She had just gotten into the van when her phone rang.

The caller ID showed "Ms. King."

"Mom Evelyn." Amelia answered the call.

Later she also felt that calling her "Evelyn" was too distant, so she came up with this form of address that both of them could accept.

"Amelia, have you seen the news?" Evelyn's voice carried a rare note of anxiety. "Sandra has lost her mind! Louis is nearly twenty years older than her, they're completely mismatched. How could she be so impulsive?"

Amelia rubbed her temples. "I just found out about this too."

"Don't worry, I'll go talk to her tomorrow," she said.

"No need." Evelyn sighed. "I'm going straight to her apartment. This is too abnormal. I suspect..."

"Suspect what?"

"I suspect she made this decision just to compete with you." Evelyn's voice dropped. "That's just how she is—she'll do whatever it takes to achieve her goals."

Amelia felt a wave of irritation.

Sandra's hostility toward her had never been a secret, but using her own marriage as a bargaining chip really went beyond the scope of normal competition.

After hanging up, Amelia got in the car and headed home with Judith.

Just then, Hatty sent a photo—a gold-embossed invitation.

"Sandra had someone deliver it," she said.

Rain started pattering outside. After getting home, Amelia helped the two kids with their homework, played with them for a while, then put them to bed.

Afterward, she called Evelyn.

The call wouldn't go through.

For the next several days, Evelyn remained out of contact.

Until the day of Sandra's engagement.

Outside Galaxy Hotel, owned by Louis, luxury cars gathered, and reporters crowded both sides of the red carpet.

Amelia wore a dark green velvet gown with just a simple diamond necklace at her neck, yet it made her look exceptionally elegant.

She held Evelyn's arm, and neither of them looked particularly relaxed.

"I saw her that day." Evelyn said in a low voice, her eyes fixed on the constantly flashing lights ahead, a trace of tears crossing her eyes. "She wouldn't listen to any advice at all. These past few days I've been thinking, why am I such a failure..."

Amelia gently squeezed her mother's hand. "Don't get into a conflict with her today. So many media are watching. It's just an engagement, not a marriage. We still have a chance."

Evelyn nodded reluctantly.

Sandra stood at the entrance in a white dress greeting guests, with Louis beside her wearing a smile, occasionally bending down to whisper in her ear.

Seeing Evelyn and Amelia, Sandra's smile froze for a moment, then she came forward with an even brighter expression.

"Hello Ms. Tudor, hello Ms. King." She smiled and leaned in, but the moment she met Amelia's eyes, a sharp look curved at the corner of her lips. "You really dared to come. Aren't you afraid I'll poison your drink?"

Amelia's smile didn't change. "You don't have the ability."

Louis extended his hand like a gentleman. "I've heard so much about you, Ms. Tudor. Sandra mentions you often."

Amelia shook his hand briefly. Unlike Chris's perpetually warm palm, Louis's hand was like a block of ice with no warmth.

She looked up to meet Louis's gaze—there was no warmth there either.

Amelia felt she couldn't see through this man.

Maybe Chris could, she thought.

"I've also often heard that Mr. Murphy is extraordinary." A perfectly measured smile appeared on Amelia's face. "Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation."

A flash of satisfaction crossed Sandra's eyes.

Then Louis put his arm around her waist. "Let's go greet the other guests. Please make yourselves at home, ladies."

Watching their retreating figures, Evelyn said worriedly, "Amelia, I have a bad feeling about this."

Amelia was about to respond when the music suddenly started, and spotlights hit the stage.

Belinda and Clinton appeared in formal attire and performed a love duet. The two were already good-looking, and singing at their boss's engagement party, they stole the show.

Countless reporters photographed them from every angle, and within minutes, videos of their duet were all over the internet.

After the performance, Sandra walked gracefully onto the stage, drawing everyone's attention to herself.

"Thank you both for that wonderful performance." Her voice was sweet, her smile even sweeter. "As new members of Galaxy Entertainment, they not only sing beautifully but are also first-rate actors."

She deliberately paused, her gaze sweeping across the room before finally landing on Amelia. "They're currently filming our company's investment project, the new series Love Like Fire. This show will meet everyone next month. I hope you'll all like it."

The champagne glass in Amelia's hand nearly slipped.

Love Like Fire?

Wasn't that the short drama her company was filming? With Estella and Malcolm as the leads.

Sandra had also gotten the rights? And kept it completely secret, filming it as a full-length series?

Everyone knew that full-length series were generally better produced than short dramas. If the same story was made into both formats, people would definitely prefer the full-length version.

The banquet hall filled with applause.

But Amelia felt stifled inside.

Amid the applause, Sandra walked off the stage and came straight to Amelia. "How about that? Are you satisfied with this surprise? Do you dare make a bet with me?"

Eyes from all around turned their way. Amelia forced herself to stay calm. "Bet on what?"

"Viewership ratings, of course." Sandra put her hands on her hips, her smile mocking. "I'm filming this show, and so are you. You clearly want to compete with me. What, now that I've set up the ring, you don't dare step into it?"

"Sandra, what are you doing? Your sister..."

"This is between the two of us." Sandra cut off Evelyn in a low voice. "It has nothing to do with Ms. King."

"Fine." Amelia wasn't the timid type. She said coldly, "Let's bet then."

"If my show has higher ratings, you have to livestream and tell everyone that you're not as good as me."

"That's it?" Amelia scoffed. "Fine. But if you lose, you not only have to issue a statement, but also pay me ten million dollars in emotional damages."

Sandra's expression changed slightly. She glared at Amelia with disdain. "Is your husband going bankrupt? Is he making you come out and beg?"

"That's none of your business." Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Just say whether you dare or not."

"It's a deal." Sandra snorted coldly.

Three days after the Love Like Fire series went online, views exceeded three hundred million.

Amelia stood in front of the projection screen in the company conference room, watching the data curve climb upward, her expression growing serious.

"Ms. Tudor, our version..." Estella sat at the end of the conference table, her fingers twisted together, looking somewhat anxious. "Should we still continue?"

A dozen pairs of eyes in the conference room all turned to Amelia in unison.

As if waiting for the final verdict.

Amelia closed the data report, turned around and swept her gaze across everyone in the conference room, her eyes blazing.