Chapter 194 Her Heart
At the center of it all was Amelia.
She took a big gulp of her drink, feeling really happy about this success.
She said quite a bit, and the atmosphere was lively.
Although it wasn't the final victory yet, it was still a good start.
This put her mind at ease a little.
After dancing with Jeffrey and Mia for a while, she returned to Briar's side.
York handed her things from the side, while keeping an eye on Briar.
Briar was also very happy, eating while chatting with York.
"Mr. Jenkins, I'm just like other kids now, so can I come visit your cat often?" Briar said hopefully.
"Last time Mr. Jenkins showed me that video, saying Whiskers learned something new, but I haven't had a chance to see it yet."
York wiped the food from the corner of Briar's mouth and said gently, "Sure, just check with Amelia first, then you can go play with Whiskers."
Briar immediately looked at Amelia with eager eyes.
Briar was treating her less like an outsider and slowly starting to accept her.
Amelia felt happy about this change in Briar.
So she pinched Briar's little cheek and said, "Of course you can go see her if you like, Briar. You're my daughter, you don't need to be formal with me."
York beside them also nodded and said, "Same goes for me."
Briar's big eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, then she smiled.
"Okay!" Briar said cheerfully.
...
While things were cheerful here, on the other side, William and Isabella had just finished dinner, and William was driving Isabella home.
There was an awkward silence between them.
Finally, the car stopped downstairs from Isabella's place.
But Isabella didn't immediately get out and go upstairs.
"William." Isabella suddenly spoke.
William lowered his eyes slightly, waiting for her to continue.
"I heard from Rhys," Isabella continued, "the Brown Group has cut ties with me."
"Yes." William responded, looking at the scenery outside the car window.
Then there was another stretch of silence.
"William, do you look down on me?" Isabella's voice came.
William withdrew his gaze and took out a document from the side, handing it to Isabella.
Isabella took it with confusion and opened it.
"Short dramas are too risky, the Brown Group can't take on these risks," William said. "This is something Rhys found, more suitable for what you're doing now. You can combine it with your studio."
Isabella threw the document aside.
"I don't want it," she said.
William felt a headache coming on.
He didn't understand why Isabella had to be so fixated on short dramas.
With so many problems right in front of her, Isabella seemed obsessed.
But he didn't need to understand.
"Choose one," William said.
Isabella became completely angry.
She looked furiously at William, who sat there calmly.
"William, don't you want to work hard for our wedding?" Isabella said. "Everything I'm doing now is for us."
But William just looked calmly ahead without saying anything.
"Are you looking down on me because you saw Amelia's success today?"
Isabella's eyes reddened. "But you know York is helping her."
William's lips pressed tightly together.
"William." Isabella said through tears, "She's with someone else now, are you still going to take her side?"
"What about me?"
"William..." Isabella coughed and said, "I know I'm too hasty in doing things, but I... really don't have time."
"William, I really, really want to have a wedding with you."
Isabella's tears streamed down, looking pitiful.
William turned his head to look at Isabella's tearful face.
Finally, he let out a long sigh, then took a tissue from the side and wiped the tears from her face.
"Stop crying," he said.
Seeing Isabella still looking at him.
William said, "I'm already divorced from her."
Isabella grabbed William's hand. "William, you love me, don't you?"
William didn't answer immediately, his lips pressed tightly together.
Looking at Isabella, hearing her talk about "love," what appeared before his eyes was Amelia's face.
Thinking of how happy she looked when she was with York, jealousy drove him crazy.
He must be losing his mind.
...
On the other side.
The celebration party had ended.
York drove Amelia and Briar home.
Briar hugged both of them in turn before going inside.
Amelia watched Briar's retreating figure, feeling a strong urge in her heart to hurry up and finish the paperwork.
But everything still needed to wait.
"Let's go, it's fine. I've already arranged for medical staff to be here, don't worry," York said, looking at her worried profile.
Amelia nodded.
She actually knew that.
Maybe it was because she'd had a little bit to drink and was feeling emotional.
The two turned around, the driver waiting for them in the car.
"Let's take a walk," York said, seeing she was in a bad mood.
She did want to walk.
Under the dim streetlights, the shadows of the trees were long, and their shadows were also stretched very long.
They didn't say much, he just quietly accompanied her, staying by her side.
After walking for who knows how long, he asked her to stop.
"Your shoelace is untied," he said, then crouched down and reached out to tie her shoelace.
Amelia wanted to stop him, but he had already grabbed the lace.
Amelia looked at his serious profile, watching him with his head lowered.
He was always so gentle, as if he could accept everything.
Briar got along well with him too.
Under the streetlight's glow, everything was bathed in a yellow hue.
He would be good to Briar.
Amelia thought.
"Done," York said, wiping his hands with a handkerchief, then looking up to meet her gaze.
He didn't stand up immediately, but maintained his kneeling position, looking up at her from below.
Then he frowned slightly.
"Amelia," he said.
"What's wrong?" she asked, puzzled.
"I don't want you to accept me because of Briar," he said.
Amelia's eyes lowered slightly. He had guessed her thoughts again.
He reached out and touched her face, making her look at him.
He was still kneeling on one knee, looking up at her from below.
"Amelia, I want you to love me," he said.
"I want you to see me."
"Not because of Briar, not because of the bet."
His eyes were deep.
He said, "Amelia, not because of any other external things. I hope what you see in your eyes and heart is me, and what you love is me, York."
A gentle breeze blew by. Amelia looked at York kneeling before her.
Her heart seemed to be gently pushed by the breeze as well.