Chapter 97: Being William's Wife While Spreading Rumors with Other Men
Felicity said a few more words, then started inviting everyone to taste the wine.
"To keep things mysterious, and since this is a wine tasting event, I won't reveal the names of these wines. I'll announce them one by one at the right time later. For those who guess correctly, I've prepared small gifts."
After speaking, Felicity stepped down from the stage.
Everyone began gathering together, tasting the wines Felicity had carefully selected and brought back from Seraphim.
This was Felicity's homecoming reception, so they all had to show respect, even though they didn't care about the small gifts at all.
While everyone was drinking and socializing, Felicity walked straight toward Amelia in the corner.
Amelia also stood up and went to a nearby server to get a fresh glass of wine.
"Amelia." As Amelia turned around and lowered her head to smell the wine in her glass, Felicity's voice came.
Amelia calmly raised her head, holding her wine glass, thinking for a moment, then turned around to look at Felicity in front of her.
"I almost thought you wouldn't dare to come." Felicity said with a smile. Under the dim lighting, the gemstone necklace around her neck sparkled with dazzling light, making her look especially beautiful.
Amelia didn't respond, just looked at Felicity, waiting for what she would say next.
Felicity said, "Guess which wines on that table over there are the 'Amelia.'"
"Nothing to guess," Amelia replied. "All the wines here are fine selections you brought."
Amelia paused slightly, smiled, and said, "They're all good wines."
But Felicity's eyes were full of warning.
"No, you have to guess," Felicity said forcefully.
Amelia lifted her chin slightly, looking straight at Felicity in front of her.
Felicity took a step forward, entering Amelia's personal space.
"Jasper, graduated with a master's degree at 24, then worked at a top investment bank. In just four years, he jumped from Analyst to MD. At 28, he returned home with capital and became one of the country's top independent investors."
Felicity spoke softly. Amelia's gaze remained straight ahead, her face showing no emotion, but her hand gripping the wine glass tightly revealed her current state of mind.
"I've heard from the older generation that Shadow City's power structure was already set back then. Over all these years, only a few top forces have been entrenched in Shadow City."
"And Jasper was the only person in recent years who had the best chance of breaking through the capital blockade, changing Shadow City's structure, and becoming Shadow City's fourth giant."
"And he wasn't from my grandfather's generation, but from my father's generation. Shadow City's distribution was completed in my grandfather's generation. For him, a junior and rising star, to achieve this was truly remarkable. In everyone's words, Jasper was outstanding, his information network reached everywhere, and he was especially good at psychological warfare."
"But he still failed."
Felicity smiled and took a light sip of her wine. She said, "He died, and it was by jumping off a building, leaving behind his beautiful wife and his only daughter."
Then Felicity looked at Amelia beside her and said, "Am I right? Jasper's only daughter, Amelia."
Amelia lowered her eyes slightly, looking at the wine glass in her hand, watching the amber liquid slowly flowing in the glass.
The glory Jasper brought had accompanied almost her entire childhood.
But later...
Over all these years, she had guessed countless times who was behind Jasper's death.
But there were too many suspects, with no way to start investigating.
"Amelia, I thought you would have some of Jasper's brilliance, but I never expected you to be that kind of person! Seeking fame and reputation, able to endure anything for a comfortable life."
Felicity's voice was full of disdain. "Do you know how much I hate people like you?"
Amelia closed her eyes.
"So if you hate me so much, why have you suddenly started treating me differently lately?" Amelia said.
When she opened her eyes again, Amelia's eyes were completely calm.
She looked straight ahead and said, "Is it because of Alvin? Or something else?"
"I do like him, but if you think I'm targeting you because of him, you're underestimating me," Felicity said.
"It's several reasons," Felicity said, looking at Amelia. "I studied at Seraphim for many years, and even now Jasper is still a legend in the industry, so I'm curious about it, even fascinated."
"Then, most importantly, I can't stand that you, someone who seeks false fame, would become a great hero in the Brown family's transformation! This is an insult to me, to William, to the entire Brown family!"
"The Brown Group clearly made real technological breakthroughs, and then everything else followed. Why does everyone say you're the most important part? And you're William's wife, yet rumors about you and Alvin are flying everywhere. I can't stand it!"
Amelia looked deeply at Felicity, seeing the resentment in her eyes, and smiled.
"I didn't spread the rumors," Amelia said. "I've never said I was the most important part. Last time at the Brown Villa, I made it very clear to you."
Perhaps Felicity didn't understand yet that every gift from fate has a price already marked in secret.
To gain something, you must pay a price.
And sometimes, that price is something the person themselves is unwilling or unable to bear.
Amelia had also once been a daughter of a prominent family and could understand Felicity's sense of family honor.
But none of this was a reason for Felicity to force all this onto her.
"Is this what you told William?" Felicity's slightly cold voice came.
Amelia didn't answer.
She and William rarely talked about what happened at Seraphim back then, because the child they lost was a shared pain for both of them.
"Tell me, what exactly happened at Seraphim back then?"
"Why does everyone avoid talking about it?"
Felicity's face showed some urgency. "I asked him, and he said nothing. I also asked William, but William wouldn't say anything either."
"And that wine."
"Why?"
"Why is it called 'Amelia'?"
Amelia looked at Felicity. "I don't know about the wine, and what happened at Seraphim back then... it was just a very ordinary thing, not complicated, even a bit absurd. But it involves some of Alvin's secrets. If you want to know, you'd better ask him again."
"I want you to tell me!" Felicity moved even closer, her chest rising and falling with emotion, the gemstone necklace on it flashing with light.
Amelia felt helpless.
She said, "He has the right to decide whether to tell you."
The risk they took back then seemed reckless and youthful even now when she thought about it.
Alvin was no longer that playful young man with a somewhat ruthless nature. He had become the head of a powerful family. She had no need to offend such a formidable force.