Chapter 150 Using Him Openly
Amelia remained calm as she met Samuel's gaze.
Though they hadn't known each other long, there was an inexplicably strange understanding between them.
Samuel understood with just one look—this matter was only seventy percent done. Amelia wasn't one hundred percent certain.
And Amelia was also sending Samuel a signal.
He had just promised to make her completely comfortable, so the remaining thirty percent depended on whether Samuel's sincerity was enough.
If he couldn't even handle this, it would be impossible to eliminate her concerns completely.
In other words, she was openly using him.
Samuel hated being used by people most of all.
But being used by Amelia, he was quite accepting of it.
At least, this was a chance to earn Amelia's trust.
He didn't want to lose this opportunity.
Their eye contact lasted only two seconds before Amelia had already returned to her usual expression and walked over to Anna.
"Mrs. Hagen, I've disturbed you too long today. My mother is also a bit tired, so I'll head back with her now."
Anna nodded, then said, "Your way of addressing me is too formal. Just call me Anna, like Samuel does."
Amelia smiled and said, "Anna."
Anna nodded and personally saw Amelia out.
Samuel, meanwhile, walked upstairs as if he owned the place, completely familiar with the layout.
He didn't even knock before opening the door to Frank's study.
Hearing the noise, Frank frowned.
But when he saw who it was, his furrowed brow immediately relaxed.
Their relationship was clearly very good.
"You're here. Come in quick, there's something I want your opinion on."
Frank waved Samuel over.
Samuel walked over and saw Frank staring at a box in a daze.
Getting closer, he saw a copy of "The Master's Gambit" inside the box.
"This is Mr. Sanchez's collection. How did it..."
Before he finished speaking, Samuel had already guessed its origin.
It was from Amelia to Frank.
The gift she gave was indeed very practical.
His thin lips curved slightly as he said, "Haven't you always wanted this book? Why do you look so worried now that you have it?"
Frank gave a bitter laugh.
"Samuel, you understand me. You know why I'm worried."
Samuel laughed again.
"If you ask me, just accept it."
"But this doesn't fit with my usual way of doing things. And Adrian is still young, Anna is too young too. I don't want them to go through turmoil with me."
"But have you considered that not taking sides is also a form of taking sides? And you'll become a point of contention between both forces. The conflicts you'll face staying neutral won't be any less than after taking a side."
Frank looked up at him.
"But isn't the Crawford family also neutral?"
Samuel said meaningfully, "We're neutral because we haven't made our choice yet."
"So what's your choice?"
"Amelia and I have an arranged marriage. We'll get married sooner or later."
A statement that seemed completely unrelated to the matter at hand, yet it explained everything.
Samuel was standing with the Porter family.
But before this, Frank had always thought the Crawford family was neutral on the surface but secretly sided with the Hays family.
While he was still stunned, Samuel had already picked up "The Master's Gambit" and placed it in Frank's arms.
"You've finally gotten something you've longed for but couldn't have. Why would you push it away? Keep it. I guarantee you won't pick the wrong side."
Frank held the book, saying nothing for a long time.
But the look in his eyes had already changed.
The next day, Samuel came to the Richardson family home.
He realized that each time he came to the Richardson family, his mood was different.
The first time, he came with curiosity, attending Amelia's welcome party.
The second time he was invited for dinner, he came with the determination to win.
The third time, which was now, he felt inexplicably nervous.
After making his feelings clear to Amelia, she showed none of the shyness a girl should have. Instead, she used practical actions to talk business with him.
Treating romance like a business deal—only Amelia would do that.
Holden soon notified Natalie.
Amelia came downstairs with Natalie.
Samuel first drank the coffee Natalie poured for him, then placed a list of supplement recommendations on the coffee table.
"Mr. Hagen got sick from not adapting to Goldenvale's environment. Amelia left him a list of supplement recommendations, but probably because she was concerned about your health condition, she didn't include the specific dosages or usage instructions. So Mr. Hagen asked me to bring this list over to ask."
Amelia understood immediately, though Natalie was still confused.
It wasn't until Amelia filled in the specific dosages and usage instructions that Natalie realized—her daughter had accomplished something that was nearly impossible for her to do herself.
Overjoyed, she stood up and said, "Samuel, you haven't had lunch yet, have you? If you don't mind, stay and eat? I'll cook myself."
Samuel didn't answer, but looked at Amelia, using his eyes to ask if he could stay for the meal.
His questioning look was too obvious, causing Natalie to look over as well.
Amelia couldn't refuse. For both emotional and practical reasons, she couldn't send him away.
"It's mealtime anyway. If you're not in a hurry to leave, stay for lunch."
"I'm not in a hurry," Samuel said.
So Natalie went to the kitchen to get busy.
Amelia didn't want to be alone with Samuel.
She knew his good qualities and saw his sincerity, but she was afraid that if Samuel learned her identity, it would bring trouble to the Shadow Operations Division.
So, looking at Samuel, she couldn't stay calm, which is why she also went to the kitchen to help.
Today, the other brothers weren't home, busy with their own matters. Only Liam, who had mobility issues, stayed home.
He talked with Samuel in the sitting room for quite a while.
He eventually brought up Amelia.
"Amelia is a good girl. Though she grew up away from home, she's actually many times more outstanding than the rest of us brothers."
Samuel nodded. "She is indeed very outstanding."
"So..." Liam looked deeply at Samuel and said, "We brothers all treat her as the most precious gift in the world. We can't bear for her to suffer even the slightest grievance. If anyone bullies her, even if it costs us our lives, we'll make that person pay."
This was both a warning and a test.
Samuel naturally understood.
He showed an unprecedentedly serious expression and said, "Please believe me, like you all, I also can't bear for her to suffer any grievance. Of course, you don't have to believe me, but you should believe Amelia. She's not someone who would let herself be wronged. If I wrong her, you won't need to lift a finger—she'll make me pay a painful price herself."
That was true.
Just then, dinner was ready.
Samuel had come unexpectedly, so the meal wasn't as lavish as last time, but it tasted even better.
He was very particular, but he couldn't find a single fault with today's food.
Samuel looked at Amelia.
"Did you make this?"
Amelia hummed in acknowledgment, then heard Samuel say, "It's delicious."
Amelia said "thank you" and nothing more.
After lunch ended, Natalie asked Amelia to see Samuel out.
She had something to ask Samuel privately.
When they went outside, walking along the marble path, Amelia spoke up, "Thank you for the Hagen family matter."
Samuel stopped and looked intently at her.
His eyes were both bright and deep.
Being looked at by him directly felt like nothing could escape his grasp.
Amelia didn't like this feeling.
She had always held power and didn't like being controlled by others.
Amelia looked away slightly, avoiding eye contact with Samuel.
Samuel asked, "Have I passed your first test?"
Amelia showed a puzzled expression.
Samuel smiled helplessly. "Did I misunderstand? Yesterday at the Hagen family, that look in your eyes—wasn't it asking me to help speak for you?"
Amelia said frankly, "I was asking for your help, but it wasn't a test."
"Then what was it?"
"I thought our goals aligned. Having Frank side with the Porter family is what you wanted too, isn't it?"
"I'm asking what your test for me is."
Amelia moved her lips and said, "Are you saying that to you, I'm more important than the struggle between the Porter family and the Hays family?"
"Of course."
"You're lying."
Samuel suddenly reached out, his muscular arm wrapping tightly around her slender waist, pulling her into his embrace.
"Let go!"
She immediately tried to restrain Samuel's hand, but her own hands were caught by Samuel.
His strength and ability were actually greater than hers.
Annoyed, she was about to kick him when she heard him say, "Don't misunderstand. I just want you to look at me up close, to see if my eyes are lying."
Amelia stopped struggling and carefully examined Samuel at close range.
In those eyes, there was only her reflection.
He was very serious.
Amelia couldn't detect any hint of deception.
She suddenly bit her lower lip and looked away. "Men have a talent for lying, or rather, men are good at deceiving themselves."
Once they've deceived themselves, it's easier to deceive others.
Samuel laughed self-mockingly. "I really should find out who hurt you before and kill him."
Amelia's brow furrowed.
Then she heard Samuel say, "That man committed a grave sin, making you have such huge misconceptions about all men."
"It's not a misconception, just the truth."
"Fine, then I'll show you that not all men are like your ex-boyfriend. Or rather, that man you knew before doesn't count as a man. And I am a real man. Real men don't change their hearts. They understand what responsibility means."
Amelia unconsciously clenched her fists.
"Can you let go of me now?"
Their bodies were pressed together, separated only by two layers of clothing, allowing heat to transfer between them, making her very uncomfortable.
Samuel raised an eyebrow and finally released her.
As he was leaving, Samuel asked her a question.
"Do you really not remember what happened at Crystal Springs Resort?"
Amelia was confused.
"What happened at Crystal Springs Resort?"
Why did he keep bringing it up?
Samuel said nothing more.
Seeing him approach, Jeremy quickly got out of the car and ran to the back seat to open the door for Samuel.
After getting in, he said, "Tell Lucas to be careful. Julie has come to Goldenvale."