Chapter 148 Confession?
After ordering her people to investigate Isaac, Maeve left without looking back.
Steven quickly chased after her.
He grabbed Maeve's hand.
"The birthday party isn't over yet. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Mr. Hagen hasn't even shown up."
Maeve looked at Steven like he was an idiot.
"Mr. Hagen won't show up. Mrs. Hagen said he is sick from not adjusting to the new place."
"Even so, we should wait until everyone else leaves before we go. Mom and Dad sent us here specifically to show goodwill to the Hagen family. If we leave this early, it's not proper."
Maeve looked at Steven intently.
"You don't care about the Hagen family. You care about Amelia, right?"
Having his thoughts exposed, Steven didn't get angry.
"I've completely broken up with Yasmin. Can't I pursue someone else?"
Maeve sneered.
"You can pursue anyone, but not Amelia."
"Why? Just because she took your herb? Don't forget, when she competed with you for that herb, it was also to save Grandpa. You had the same goal."
"That's ancient history. I just think you won't be able to win her over."
Steven was dismissive.
"She may be highly skilled in medicine, but the Richardson family is bankrupt now. Today she only gave a cheap cake as a gift. If she marries me, she'd be lucky. My parents are grateful to her, too. Marrying me is her best option."
"Idiot!"
Not to mention Amelia's connection with Samuel, just Amelia's methods alone were beyond what her brother could handle.
Amelia was not simple.
Though she didn't want to admit it, Amelia's move today did impress her.
And her brother, aside from having the Sullivan family background, wasn't worthy of Amelia in any other way.
Steven's face darkened.
"Maeve, do you even see me as your brother anymore?"
"It's you who doesn't see others, thinking too highly of yourself."
After saying this, Maeve turned and left.
After arguing with Maeve, Steven was in no good mood either. Before long, he also said goodbye to Anna and left.
Meanwhile, Amelia found a moment to explain Lisa's situation to Anna.
Anna's eyes showed no surprise.
She had already guessed that her son was involved in this matter at Amelia's direction.
Otherwise, Lisa wouldn't have dragged Adrian into it.
Though she felt slightly unhappy—after all, no mother wants her son to be used by others.
But seeing Amelia voluntarily confess, that bit of displeasure immediately vanished.
"She's absolutely vicious! Good thing you're smart and turned the tables on her."
"I'm glad Anna doesn't blame me."
Anna smiled and said, "To be honest, I was a bit unhappy just now. But you're willing to tell me about this, which shows you consider me a friend."
"I'm very happy to be your friend."
Anna's smile deepened.
Amelia continued, "Adrian helped me a lot today. As thanks, I can help treat his asthma."
Anna's eyes widened in surprise.
"You can treat asthma, too?"
"I'll do my best."
"Then I'm counting on you. Once Adrian's illness is cured, I'd like Adrian to recognize you as his godmother. Would you be willing?"
"It would be my honor."
From then on, Anna and Amelia's relationship grew closer.
Soon, the banquet was winding down, and guests were saying goodbye and leaving.
Amelia and Natalie were asked to stay by Anna's arrangement.
Anna had felt a bit tired earlier and took a short rest in the car, but now she was back and refreshed.
Of course, Samuel was also asked to stay.
"Wait here, I'll go upstairs and call him down." Anna left this message and went upstairs.
Natalie felt a bit nervous.
Her purpose in coming today was just to test Frank's attitude.
But things had developed beyond her expectations.
She thought it would be best if they could win Frank over.
However, after a moment's hesitation, Natalie decided to let Amelia handle the persuasion.
Amelia had a closer relationship with the Hagen family. If she spoke for herself, it might not go as well.
So Natalie said, "Amelia, I still feel a bit tired. How about..."
Before she finished, Amelia understood.
"Mom, go rest in the car. I'll give the gift to Mr. Hagen for you."
Natalie nodded and got up to leave.
But she still felt uneasy, wondering if letting her daughter handle this was the right decision.
She could only take a gamble.
If she won, everything would be fine. If she lost, at least Frank wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for Quinton, considering that Amelia had saved Mrs. Hagen and Adrian.
But once Natalie left, only Samuel and Amelia remained in the living room.
Neither looked at the other, as if sulking.
Of course, in reality, only Samuel was sulking.
Amelia's words that day had bothered him all night, and he'd drunk all evening.
The Richardson family's status didn't really warrant him personally going to please them one by one.
But he had done exactly that, and in return, he got Amelia's rejection.
He always felt like his enthusiasm wasn't reciprocated.
This was a first for him.
Samuel had his own pride, and he certainly had the credentials for it.
So when he unexpectedly saw Amelia today, he deliberately didn't talk to her, only chatting with Natalie.
He thought Amelia would be at least a little unhappy. After all, even if she wasn't attracted to him at all, who likes being ignored?
But unexpectedly, she acted like nothing was wrong.
Just now, she had carefully schemed against Lisa, clearly not affected by him at all.
Someone whose emotions are affected can't coordinate with a behind-the-scenes operator.
This made him even more unhappy.
So even though only the two of them were left, he still didn't talk to Amelia, just drinking his coffee sip by sip, eyes straight ahead.
He didn't believe Amelia could resist talking to him.
But Amelia really couldn't resist.
She was calmly thinking about how to approach Frank in a moment.
This matter required serious thought.
Upstairs, Anna was probably telling her husband about how she and her son were rescued.
Since they were both saved separately, it would take a while to explain everything.
Time passed minute by minute. Samuel deliberately used the motion of refilling his coffee to glance at Amelia quickly.
He saw her eyes gently closed, looking thoughtful and serene.
At that moment, he knew he had lost.
Lost completely.
Or perhaps he had lost much earlier.
The person who falls in love earlier and deeper is destined to lose.
Samuel suddenly let it go.
He stopped being difficult with himself.
This tantrum wasn't doing him any good.
Samuel put down his coffee cup and cleared his throat to get Amelia's attention.
But Amelia kept her eyes closed, as if asleep.
Samuel took a deep breath and finally spoke: "Amelia."
His voice carried obvious helplessness.
Amelia finally looked at him, her eyes questioning.
She truly hadn't been affected by him in the slightest.
Samuel completely gave in.
"I remember your warning to me before. I was talking to Mrs. Richardson just now, only because I saw no one else paying attention to her. I was worried she'd feel bad, so I deliberately went over to chat with her."
Samuel was explaining.
Amelia nodded. "I understand."
The topic couldn't continue. Samuel had to bring up something else.
"You've done favors for the Hagen family. You'll achieve your goal."
Amelia nodded. "Thank you. I hope you're right."
The conversation was cut off again.
Samuel felt like he couldn't express his frustration.
Actually, since becoming the head of the Crawford family, countless people had admired him, but he only found it annoying.
But now, he could understand how those who admired him felt.
Loving without being loved back—so this is what it feels like.
"Amelia." He sat up straight and said seriously, "I want to ask you, do you have any feelings for me..."
"Mr. Crawford." Amelia interrupted him. "I'm happy to be your friend, but we can only be friends. Please understand."
"Why?"
Amelia couldn't give a reason.
Because her identity as head of the Shadow Operations Division couldn't be made public.
She considered her words and said sincerely, "I went through a relationship before. In that relationship, I was badly hurt. So I don't want to be hurt again."
This was the first time Samuel heard Amelia talk about her romantic life.
His expression froze slightly. He hadn't expected Amelia to have dated before.
But then again, she was so outstanding—how could no one have pursued her?
Samuel's lips moved slightly. "But if you don't try, how do you know I'll hurt you too?"
"Maybe you won't, but there's still a chance, isn't there?"
"I can promise you the chance is zero."
Amelia looked at Samuel intently.
His eyes were full of complex emotions.
She could tell Samuel was serious.
This person usually acted casually when interacting with others, but when serious, showed no frivolity at all.
But in the end, she still said, "I'm sorry. I don't want to try. I never do things with risk."
"When you went to the Combat Arts hall alone, didn't you think about the risk?"
"Saving Anna during the typhoon—that was also very risky."
Amelia said, "That's different."
"How is it different?"
"I won't fall in the same place twice."
"Can I take that to mean you're running away?"
"You can think whatever you want. But it's better if we go back to being friends."
As she said this, Amelia's heart also rippled slightly.
But her sense of responsibility to the Shadow Operations Division told her she couldn't fall in love again.
That one time had already severely damaged the Shadow Operations Division.
She wouldn't let the Shadow Operations Division fall into crisis again because of her.
But Samuel suddenly said, "What if I can guarantee one hundred percent no risk? Would you be willing to try then?"
"How can there be one hundred percent no risk in matters of the heart? People's hearts can change."
"Other people's hearts may change, but mine won't."
"Everyone says they won't change before they do."
"Then just wait and see. I'll make all the things you're worried about no longer a concern for you."
Amelia's brow furrowed slightly.
What did Samuel mean by that?
Did he know what she was worried about?
Had he already discovered her identity?
Amelia was about to probe when Anna came downstairs.