Chapter 285: All Alone
Amelia knew she couldn't stop Quinton and Mason. They were going back to take care of business, so there was no way they could stay in Thornfield the entire time.
So she chose the next best option.
"Then let Dad and Mason go back first. You can stay here with me for a few more days."
As soon as she finished speaking, Quinton's voice came from the spiral staircase.
"I didn't raise you so you could compete with me for my wife."
Amelia looked up.
Quinton was already fully dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.
The few strands of white hair at his temples had been dyed back to their original color a few days earlier, making him look especially refined and composed.
But this seemingly composed man was now competing with Amelia for Natalie.
At first, Amelia had been a little afraid of Quinton because he liked to put on a stern face whenever he was upset.
But by now, she had learned to ignore it.
Although Quinton always seemed as if he only cared about Natalie, he was actually very good to all of them.
Once, Amelia had suddenly craved pizza from a specific restaurant in the middle of the night. She had only mentioned it casually, but Quinton had actually gone out to get it for her.
She had no idea what method he used, but the restaurant, which had already closed, turned its lights back on and made a pizza just for him.
Later Amelia found out that Quinton had promised to wash dishes there for a week. tTheir cleaner had gone home because of an emergency, and they had not been able to find a temporary replacement.
He didn't ask anyone else to do it for him. He had gone himself and washed dishes for a whole week.
Later, when the owner found out he was Quinton, he almost knelt down before him.
But Quinton had only smiled and asked whether he could learn the pizza recipe, saying his daughter loved it.
After that, Amelia often got to eat Quinton's homemade pizza.
It was through that incident that Amelia truly came to understand what kind of person Quinton was.
So now she was not afraid of him at all.
She immediately wrapped herself around Natalie's arm and said, "Mom and I are blood relatives. If anyone stole anyone, then you're the one who stole my mom."
Quinton's face darkened. But the next second, he said, "Natalie, if you want to stay, then stay. You can go back after the holiday ends. Or I can come pick you up then."
Amelia was surprised. Was Quinton really being this generous today?
"Dad, are you planning something behind Mom's back?"
Quinton glared at her. "Don't slander me!"
"Then why are you willing to let Mom stay with me this time?"
Quinton pursed his lips and said reluctantly, "Isn't it because of you? Your mom cried all night last night thinking about how you're about to get married and leave home."
Amelia turned to look at Natalie.
Natalie looked a little embarrassed.
"I just can't bear the thought of you getting married yet."
Amelia hugged her arm even tighter.
"I can still live at home after I get married."
"What would that look like?" Natalie asked.
"Then I'll come home for dinner every day."
Natalie fell silent for a moment before asking, "Samuel won't be staying in Thornfield in the future. He'll be in Goldenvale, won't he?"
Amelia paused, then realized that Samuel had only been staying in Goldenvale because of the branch office there.
Now that the branch office no longer needed his constant attention, he would definitely return to Thornfield in the future.
In other words, if she married Samuel, coming home for dinner every day would be hard.
She and her family would be separated by thousands of miles.
Thinking of it that way, Amelia's eyes turned red as well.
She realized she couldn't bear to leave Natalie either.
"Then maybe I just won't get married."
Natalie tapped her nose with her index finger.
"Don't say silly things What girl doesn't get married?"
"Lots of girls don't get married."
"If you don't get married, then what about Samuel?"
At the mention of Samuel, Amelia let out a soft sigh.
"Then I'll just have to abandon him."
"Who are you abandoning?"
Suddenly, Samuel’s voice came from the doorway.
The three of them instinctively turned to look.
Seeing it was Samuel, Natalie smiled and said, "Samuel, you're here? Amelia was just saying—"
Amelia immediately covered Natalie's mouth.
"Mom, don't say nonsense!"
Natalie pushed her hand away, her smile deepening, and said to her, "Don't worry. I still have your dad and your brothers with me. You're the one who'll be all alone."
"What do you mean, all alone?" Samuel asked as he walked over, looking even more confused.
Natalie was about to explain, but Amelia spoke first. "Mom and Dad are going back, and I asked Mom not to abandon me. I'll be all alone in Thornfield. Isn't that pitiful? Hurry up and help me convince Mom."
But instead, Samuel stepped forward, took her hand, and said, "How are you all alone? Am I not a person?"
She had known Samuel wouldn't help her.
However, the very next second, Samuel looked at Natalie and said, "Mrs. Richardson, if there's nothing urgent, why don't you stay and relax for a few more days? I'm planning to marry Amelia after the holiday, and I'd like to talk through the the details with you over the next few days. I can't just let Amelia marry me so casually."
That was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Even Quinton couldn't find find anything wrong with that.
Amelia started acting cute again, and Natalie had choice but to nod, saying, "Then I'll go back after the holiday ends."
Amelia immediately beamed.
"After the holiday ends, I'll go back with you. I should be able to finish handling everything here in the next few days anyway."
"Okay."
Once Amelia and Natalie had settled it, Quinton became the one left behind.
He sighed, but he did not try to stop them.
Soon, it was afternoon, and the group went to the airport to see Quinton and Mason off.
Quinton dragged his feet the whole way, unwilling to let go of Natalie's hand. It was not until the the boarding announcement sounded that he finally released it reluctantly.
"I'm leaving."
"Okay," Natalie said, nodding.
Quinton hugged Natalie and whispered something in her ear.
Natalie's expression changed slightly, but it quickly returned to normal.
"Go ahead. I’ll see how things go on my side."
"Okay." Quinton nodded. After reminding Amelia and Samuel to take good care of Natalie, he finally turned and walked the security checkpoint.
On the way back, Samuel had something to do, so Amelia rode in Natalie's car.
As soon as she got in, Amelia could clearly sense that Natalie's mood was a bit off.
She thought Natalie couldn't bear to part with Quintonand was still debating whether to convince her to return to Goldenvale when Natalie suddenly asked, "Amelia, do you want to go see your grandmother?"
Amelia froze.
From New Year's Eve until now, Natalie hadn't mentioned the Wood family even once.
This was the first time.
Amelia had assumed Natalie did not intend to have any more contact with the Wood family, so she had not expected her to suddenly ask now whether she wanted to visit her grandmother.
"Mom?"
Confusion was plain in her eyes.
Natalie patted the back of her hand and began telling Amelia about her past.
Natalie's mother, Madeline Wood, had given birth to four children. Natalie was the second.
She had an older brother, and younger twin siblings—a brother and a sister.