Chapter 171 Chapter 171

Chapter 171 Chapter 171
Kai's POV

It had been a month since our last argument.
Since that day, I had gone back to living at the office like before. I only came home late at night to grab a change of clothes and catch a glimpse of Amelia.

I deliberately waited until midnight, making sure she was already asleep before entering her room. That was the only way I could see her without having to face her directly.

I stuffed three shirts and several pairs of slacks into my backpack. After that, I walked out to my office to collect some important documents I needed.

My hands moved faster than usual.
I wanted to get home as soon as possible.
I wanted to see Amelia. Even if it was only watching her sleep, it was enough to ease my longing, if only a little.
I missed her. So much.

Yet I didn't have the courage to look directly into her eyes.

The regret still haunted me.

Yes.
I deeply regretted defending Tania back then.
If I had known the truth from the very beginning, I would have punished Tania myself.

I had already hired people to find her whereabouts.
I would make sure she received a punishment far more painful than the pain Amelia had endured.
After finishing all my work, I intended to visit Amelia's room.

She no longer occupied our bedroom.
Instead, she had moved into the room right next to my study.

Before entering, I pressed my ear against the door.
I wanted to make sure whether she was asleep or not.

"Yeah. I miss Mommy Julie too."
Amelia's voice drifted from inside.

It sounded like she was talking to someone on the phone.

"I had a video call with Mommy Julie yesterday."
I stood still and listened.

"I'm bored here." Her voice carried a hint of complaint.
"Kai won't let me go out, and he doesn't allow visitors either. I'm practically a prisoner."

A small smile appeared on my lips without me realizing it.

The image of Amelia immediately formed in my mind.

She was probably pouting right now, her lips sticking out the way they always did when she was annoyed.

Cute.

"Yeah, Kai really is crazy."

I chuckled softly upon hearing her curse me.
And honestly, if I thought about it, she wasn't wrong.

Tomorrow, I would ask Mom to take her out somewhere.
At least then she wouldn't feel trapped in this house.

"No. I'll keep my promise. There are only a few months left. Sorry for complaining to you."

My brows instantly furrowed.

"A few months."

Those words felt like a knife reminding me once again of the deadline Amelia had given me.
Then who was she talking to?

Ryan?

Was Ryan encouraging her to leave?
"Thank you. You've always been there for me."

A surge of heat spread through my chest.
Of course.
It had to be Ryan.
Who else could it be?

Jealousy immediately tightened around my heart.
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself not to walk into the room and start another argument.

"I was wrong too. I should've told the truth from the beginning. Whether Kai believed me or not was his choice. But it was my responsibility to tell him the truth."

I lowered my head.

Amelia...
Why are you blaming yourself?

"He must be feeling pressured right now, loving the woman who caused his unborn child to die."
Wrong.

That's completely wrong.
You're wrong, Arana.
I don't love that woman.
I never loved her.

I shouted those words inside my head, but of course, Amelia would never hear them.

Should I go in now?
Should I explain everything?
Should I tell her that I've been wrong all along?

"I'm fine. Don't worry."

Once again, I abandoned the idea.

"I still have my medicine. Besides, I don't get shortness of breath that often anymore."

My entire body tensed.

Medicine?
Shortness of breath?
My frown deepened.
Was Amelia sick?

As far as I knew, she had never had any history of breathing problems.

Then what medicine was she talking about?
Was there something she was hiding from me?

"Tch, Ryan is still here. If I run out, I'll let you know."

I clenched my fists.
Ryan again.
So my suspicion was right. She was talking to Ryan.

For some reason, I had always felt that Ryan knew many things about Amelia that even I didn't know.
And that bothered me.

I was certain Ryan liked Amelia.
Maybe Arana saw him only as a friend. But Ryan didn't.

As a fellow man, I could see it clearly.

The way Ryan looked at Amelia was never the way a friend looked at a friend.
"Okay. Bye-bye."

Finally, Amelia ended the call.
Silence returned.

I waited for a while. No sound came from inside.
Maybe she was getting ready to sleep.
Maybe I should just leave.

I could come back tomorrow night and see her again.

I started to turn around.
But my steps came to an abrupt halt.

Hiks... hiks...

The sound of quiet sobbing came from inside the room.
My entire body froze.

"Don't be such a crybaby, Amelia. You can do this."
Her voice trembled between her sobs.

A painful tightness immediately spread through my chest.

"Don't be afraid. You're not alone."
Her crying became more noticeable.

"Don't be such a crybaby, idiot. You're so stupid, Amelia."

Thud!
Thud!
Thud!

The sound of something being struck echoed from inside.

As if she were venting her frustration on an object.
"I hate it. I hate crying. So stop crying!"

Every sob felt like it was tearing through my chest.

"Please... you're not alone. There are still people who love you."

I stood rooted to the spot.
My feet felt impossibly heavy.

As though they had been cemented to the floor.
I couldn't move at all.

A dull ache slowly spread through my chest as I listened to Amelia's restrained sobs.
She was crying alone.

Trying to comfort herself alone.
And I...

I didn't even know what she was truly going through.

"What's wrong with you, Amelia?" I murmured softly.

For the first time in a long while, I felt that there was something far bigger than Amelia's hatred toward me.

And for some reason...

That realization terrified me.