Chapter 195: The Trap of Jealousy
After Max finished listening, he quickly came up with an excuse.
"Last time Aurora Media made a public service video that got a great response. We at Aurevia Studio haven't done anything like that yet. We could make one too. But instead of just having our artists participate, we could also invite some rich kids to join in and shoot a public service short video together."
Amelia nodded.
Wealthy people nowadays all like doing charity work.
First, charitable donations can reduce taxes, and second, it's good for their reputation.
Those rich kids would definitely jump at the chance to make an appearance like this.
"Then you go ahead and send out the invitations. Make sure to send one to Julie."
"But what if she doesn't participate? After all, it's our Aurevia Studio's event, and she controls Aurora Media."
Amelia smiled and said, "Don't worry, she'll refuse at first, but she'll definitely end up participating."
Max said "yes" and went to make arrangements.
The next day, the invitation was delivered to Julie, and just as Amelia predicted, Julie refused right away.
Amelia waited at home for a few days, picked a good day, dressed up properly, and went out to Lakeside Hotel.
Julie had been staying here ever since she came to Goldenvale from Thornfield.
Amelia didn't go alone - she brought Faith with her.
Before leaving, she specifically instructed Faith: "Dress up beautifully, so beautiful that other women will be jealous the moment they see you."
Faith laughed and said, "Amelia, are you making fun of me? No matter how I dress up, how could I be as beautiful as you?"
Amelia was combing her hair in front of the mirror.
Hearing Faith's words through the speakerphone, she couldn't help asking, "Am I really that beautiful?"
Faith hadn't expected her to ask such a question.
Amelia had never paid much attention to her own appearance.
In fact, she often deliberately ignored her looks.
She felt that being too beautiful would only bring unnecessary trouble.
But today she suddenly asked this question.
Faith was silent for two seconds before asking, "Amelia, do you have someone you like?"
Amelia's heart skipped a beat, though her tone remained calm.
"Why are you suddenly asking that?"
"A person only starts paying extra attention to their appearance when they have someone they care about. Amelia, tell me the truth - do you have someone you like?"
Amelia looked at herself in the mirror, bit her lip, and didn't deny it.
"Maybe."
Faith was instantly shocked, like a bomb had just gone off.
"It's actually true? Who is it? Who's so lucky?"
"I'll tell you later. You go get dressed up first."
"Okay." Faith hung up the phone.
She wasn't good at keeping secrets, but she knew what was important and what wasn't.
So she only told Byron.
"Amelia has someone she likes!"
"Impossible." Byron denied it without thinking. "Use your brain for something serious for once. Don't make a big deal out of nothing, and you dare to gossip about Amelia? Watch out or she'll punish you."
Ever since Amelia got hurt by Finn, forget about liking men - for a while she even started disliking all men indiscriminately, and even he got caught in the crossfire.
Someone she likes?
Unless it was a woman, it was impossible.
Faith frowned.
"I'm not making things up. Amelia admitted it herself."
"She's messing with you." Byron said without hesitation.
Faith suddenly widened her eyes and looked Byron up and down carefully.
Byron felt his back go cold under her gaze.
"Why are you looking at me like that!"
Faith stared straight into Byron's eyes and suddenly asked, "Tell me the truth - do you like Amelia?"
Byron's eyes widened.
"What are you talking about?"
In his heart, Amelia was a leader, a friend, a comrade-in-arms, but she could never be a lover.
They had supported each other all this way. If romance developed, it would actually diminish their relationship.
What they had was something higher than romantic love - the love of family.
Besides, the person he liked was someone else.
Faith rolled her eyes and made her own analysis.
"When I found out Amelia has someone she likes, my first reaction was surprise and happiness for her. But you - the moment you heard it, you denied it without thinking. If you don't like Amelia, what is it?"
"It's because I understand her. She won't easily open her heart again - when it comes to romance."
"You really don't like Amelia?"
"I like her - the way family likes each other."
"Fine, anyway I'm telling the truth. Amelia admitted it herself. As for you, you're not getting any younger. Why don't you think about your own love life?"
"Because."
Byron didn't continue. He just stared at Faith without blinking.
Faith felt her face getting a bit hot for some reason.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Nothing, just think you look ugly."
Faith was confused.
"Your makeup doesn't look good." Byron said.
Without makeup, she actually looked better.
But Faith didn't catch his underlying meaning. She immediately got angry, her face darkening, and turned and walked away.
Byron watched Faith's retreating figure and let out a very soft sigh.
The person he liked was Faith.
Unfortunately, Faith couldn't sense it.
And he didn't think he was worthy of Faith anyway.
An orphan who crawled out of an orphanage - how could he be worthy of Faith, who was born with a silver spoon?
He could only suppress his feelings deep in his heart.
He'd just let Faith keep treating him as a friend.
However, after Faith got in Amelia's car, she kept spacing out.
She was thinking about that look Byron gave her.
They usually joked around all the time, but today, when she saw Byron staring at her, her face actually got a bit hot.
How strange.
Normally, even when they drank together until late at night, just the two of them alone, she never felt anything unusual.
What was wrong with her today?
"Faith. Faith?"
Amelia called Faith's name twice before she snapped back to reality.
"What is it, Amelia?"
Amelia frowned slightly.
"What's wrong with you? If you're not in good shape, I'll get someone else to come with me."
"No need," Faith quickly apologized. "I was just spacing out, but I won't anymore. Say it again, I'll listen carefully."
Amelia wasn't angry, just worried about Faith's state.
After explaining the plan again, she reminded her, "Don't reveal my identity."
"Got it, Amelia."
She dragged out the words, deliberately using a cutesy voice that made Amelia want to hit her.
But then Amelia thought about it and said, "Use that tone, talk in that affected way."
Faith's face flushed with embarrassment.
"Let me practice first, I'm afraid my voice won't hold up later."
Amelia laughed, then asked why she had been spacing out earlier.
Faith's face turned a bit red.
"Don't laugh at me when I tell you."
"I promise I won't laugh."
Only then did Faith dare to speak.
Learning it was because of Byron, Amelia felt mostly relieved.
Byron was a good person, except for one thing - he was too insecure.
Amelia had long noticed that Byron had feelings for Faith, but Byron hid it well. Faith didn't know, and Byron had never told her, so she pretended not to know.
Now that Faith herself was developing unusual feelings for Byron, perhaps they could move beyond being just friends.
But Amelia didn't plan to interfere too much.
Matters of the heart were hard to explain. Sometimes when outsiders got involved, it backfired.
But if they needed her help, she would be there without hesitation.
"Think it through yourself first."
Amelia didn't say much more, just that one sentence.
Faith nodded.
But she quickly stopped dwelling on it, because they had arrived at Lakeside Hotel.
Compared to her own hazy feelings, Amelia's business was more important.
The two got out of the car one after the other.
The hotel doorman took the keys from Amelia and parked the car for them.
Amelia looked up at the Lakeside Hotel sign.
This was the Crawford Group's property - they really did everything with attention to detail.
Julie must be very comfortable staying here.
Unlike her, who had to constantly worry about Lucas as long as Julie didn't make a move.
Amelia had called Samuel in advance, so as soon as they entered the hotel lobby, the lobby manager came over warmly.
"Ms. Richardson, please come this way. I've made coffee for you both in the lounge, and we can chat about your ideas."
Amelia nodded and walked slowly toward the lounge with Faith.
She was calculating the timing.
Just then, the elevator dinged and Julie came downstairs.
She didn't look too happy, with York following behind her.
She was grumbling about something, and York just pretended not to hear.
But suddenly, she spotted two women not far ahead.
One of them was Amelia.
Even though this was Julie's first time seeing Amelia in person, she recognized her immediately.
She had already seen Amelia's photos in her file - she was even more beautiful in person than in the pictures.
If she wasn't certain that Amelia was Lucas's real sister, seeing Amelia's beauty would have made her very uncomfortable.
But since she was Lucas's real sister, there was no need for jealousy.
Only worry.
When she was still in Thornfield, she had called Lucas's phone and Amelia answered. Not knowing Amelia's identity, she had been very rude and offended her.
She didn't know if Amelia held grudges.
If she didn't hold grudges, Julie would naturally reward her in the future.
If she did hold grudges, then even if she was Lucas's real sister, Julie couldn't tolerate Amelia.
She saw Amelia holding Faith's hand and saying casually, "Don't worry, Lucas definitely likes you. At dinner tonight, I guarantee he'll see you and his heart will race."
The voice wasn't loud or soft, but just enough for Faith to hear.
Her guard immediately went up, and she looked straight at Faith beside Amelia.
Earlier, her attention had been entirely on Amelia, so she had overlooked the person next to her.
Now looking carefully, she could see Faith's face clearly.
Faith had a round face with big, round eyes - even bigger than Amelia's eyes.
Her eyes were clear, her face had a light layer of foundation with healthy-looking rosy skin, making her look innocent and cute.
She probably didn't wear makeup often - the makeup actually covered up some of her cuteness.
But she was still very pretty, and even standing next to Amelia, she wasn't completely overshadowed.
But in Julie's eyes, this was an ugly woman.