Chapter 289 Returning to the Country
Amelia had a hunch there might be a surprise. As soon as she walked in, she indeed saw Samuel.
And another person she hadn't expected.
Maeve.
"Maeve?!" Amelia's joy nearly overflowed from her eyes.
Maeve was equally delighted, almost flying over to her.
If Amelia hadn't practiced Combat Arts, she probably would have been knocked over.
"When did you get back?"
"Today."
"You didn't go back to Goldenvale?"
"There's only one direct flight today, and it landed in Thornfield. I heard you were in Thornfield, so I quickly called you. When I couldn't reach you, I contacted him instead."
Maeve gestured toward Samuel with her lips.
"He was just about to come find you, so I hitched a ride with him!"
Amelia thought to herself, no wonder there were two cars.
Samuel was someone with a strong sense of boundaries—sometimes so much so that Amelia felt it wasn't necessary.
Amelia explained, "I forgot to bring my phone when I left today."
"No worries, I got to see you anyway, right?"
Samuel walked over, looking displeased.
"How long are you going to monopolize my fiancée?"
Maeve clicked her tongue in protest but tactfully released Amelia and went to greet the others.
"Mrs. Richardson, I brought you gifts from this trip."
As she spoke, she had someone bring out the presents she'd brought back.
They were Vesperia specialties—not particularly expensive, but hard to find in Phoenicia.
She wasn't just giving gifts, she was giving thoughtfulness.
Natalie was very happy, though puzzled why Maeve would specifically buy her so many gifts.
Amelia had a vague idea why.
After everyone had exchanged greetings, Amelia left Samuel and went to talk privately with Maeve.
"Tell me, why did you bring my mom so many gifts?"
Maeve was usually straightforward in speech and action, but this time she was uncharacteristically hesitant, her face already flushed before she'd even spoken.
Amelia simply said it for her.
"You and Hunter are together, aren't you?"
Hunter was Lucas's twin brother.
They looked very similar but had completely different personalities.
Lucas was eloquent and outgoing; Hunter was more reserved and quiet.
By logic, compared to Hunter, Lucas's personality matched Maeve's better.
But Maeve had fallen for Hunter.
She sighed and said, "We're not together. I confessed my feelings twice, and he rejected me both times."
"He rejected you?"
"Yes, the first time he didn't say it outright, afraid of hurting me. But after my second confession, he refused to see me anymore. Even when I was leaving to come back, he didn't show up."
At this, Maeve grabbed Amelia's down jacket sleeve.
"Amelia, please help me, okay? If I really get together with him, we'll be family in the future and can hang out every day."
She also promised that after marriage, she'd change her old ways and wouldn't be willful anymore.
Amelia felt a bit awkward.
"I'd love to be family with you, but I haven't even met Hunter. I don't know him at all."
"What about when he comes back? After he returns, you can help me then, right? At least help me arrange a couple of dinners with him."
Amelia nodded, "That I can do. But when is he coming back?"
"I asked around before—he'll be back next month because they're sending someone new to replace him."
"You're pretty well-informed. Even my mom doesn't know that."
Maeve laughed a couple of times, then asked her not to tell anyone yet.
"Especially your mom. I want to win her over first, then let her know."
"Don't worry, my mom is the kindest person in the world. She'll like you. Besides, she already likes you now."
"That's great."
Samuel came out at that moment.
"Aren't you two cold, chatting out here in the freezing weather?"
As he spoke, he wrapped his scarf around Amelia's neck.
Maeve had finished talking about her situation and didn't want to intrude on Amelia and Samuel anymore, so she waved and ran back inside.
"She's so impulsive—you like hanging out with her?" Samuel asked Amelia.
Amelia smiled, "People complement each other. Look at Faith and Maeve—they both have personalities opposite to mine. Being with them makes me very happy."
"As long as you're happy, but don't forget about me even when you're happy."
He cupped her face with his warmed hands.
"Haven't seen you for two days. Did you miss me?"
Amelia's face reddened a bit, but she didn't deny it.
"I did."
Samuel's spine stiffened, and the next second he kissed her without caring that someone might come out at any moment.
But in fact, they kissed for a long time and no one came out.
Amelia knew this was Maeve's doing.
Maeve seemed carefree, but once she decided on someone, she'd go all out to treat that person well.
When Maeve was about to go abroad before, she'd wondered if there might be something between Maeve and Hunter. Now it seemed there really might be.
She just had no idea what Hunter was thinking.
She'd have to wait until he came back.
That night they still slept separately by gender.
Amelia worried Samuel wouldn't be used to it and wanted to check if there were any available guesthouses nearby.
Samuel refused.
"I'm not that picky. I've lived through all kinds of conditions before—what's a shared dorm?"
Hearing this, Amelia felt a pang in her heart.
They'd both been through hard times, so they cherished their current happiness even more.
She used to worry about what would happen if they stopped loving each other in the future, but she didn't think about that anymore.
Because the future was also something you held in your own hands.
Whatever future you wanted, with effort, you could achieve it.
Even if you couldn't, at least you'd tried, and you'd have no regrets.
She squeezed Samuel's hand tightly, interlacing their fingers.
Neither of them spoke again, just watching the snow falling all around.
After a while, Amelia finally asked, "Have you finished handling everything you needed to?"
She was asking about Nash and Zachary.
Mainly Zachary.
Samuel first answered about the less important matter of Nash.
"My dad had Rex handle it, with no intention of showing mercy. Nash will probably be transferred to prison soon. As for Zachary."
Samuel glanced at her and said, "He's dead."
Amelia looked up in shock.
She was about to ask if Samuel had done it, but then thought better of it.
If Samuel had really done that, he would have told her beforehand.
This wasn't a small matter.
Sure enough, Samuel explained, "They said it was cardiac arrest. It happened last night, discovered this morning. By the time they found him, his body was already stiff."
"Who did it?"
Samuel didn't speak, just looked at her deeply.
That look carried an obvious bitter smile.
Amelia understood.
It was Stanley.
"I really didn't expect that."
"Neither did I. But either way, it's good for us."
"Yes."
Amelia wanted to say more, but Samuel, worried she'd get cold, pulled her inside.
Everyone had already washed up and gone to bed, so Amelia said goodbye to Samuel and went to their respective rooms.
The next day arrived in a flash.
They still couldn't go into the mountains that day, so everyone decided to go ice fishing.
Samuel used his money to rent out an entire ice fishing area, and everyone had a great time.
Dinner was the fish they'd caught ice fishing.
Amelia had invited Stella, but Stella didn't come.
Soon it was time to go back.
Stella came early in the morning.
The whole time she only talked with Amelia and the other girls, not saying a word to Yosef, but Samuel still noticed something was off.
He asked Amelia privately what was going on.
Amelia told him to ask Yosef himself.
"I can't betray them."
"That statement already betrays them."
"Stella is already divorced. They don't need to sneak around," Samuel said.
Amelia replied, "It's a problem with Stella's family. I won't tell you the details for now. Once the plan starts, I'll tell you."
"Okay."
After saying goodbye, the group returned to Thornfield.
Eight days had passed since the New Year. Natalie took Amelia to the mall to buy gifts, preparing to visit the Wood family.
She carefully told Amelia about each Wood family member's preferences.
Amelia bought gifts according to their individual tastes.
But on the day they were supposed to visit, Natalie slipped during her early morning walk and twisted her ankle.
Amelia examined it for her.
"The bone is fine, it's a ligament sprain. You need to rest for a week."
"But I already called Reid and said we'd come today."
Amelia thought for a moment and said, "How about this—I'll go in your place. If they care, they'll come visit you."
"I'm afraid you'll be wronged. They have so many rules over there, all outdated customs. I'm worried you won't be used to it."
"Don't worry, what kind of people haven't I dealt with? Would I be afraid of something this small?"
Natalie's eyes reddened, knowing Amelia had suffered many wrongs before.
Amelia had to find ways to make her laugh.
Natalie's mood quickly turned from cloudy to clear.
She said, "On this trip, you're not there to beg them for anything, just to see their attitude. If they make things difficult for you, just leave. Whether I have this family or not makes no difference. I have you siblings, and your father—I'm very happy."
"Okay, if they bully me, I'll teach them a lesson before coming back. Just don't scold me then."
Natalie laughed.
"I won't. If you hit someone, it'll definitely be because they were wrong first."
With that assurance, Amelia felt at ease.
...
Natalie had arranged with the Wood family to visit at eleven, so Amelia left home at ten.
She didn't bring anyone else, just Byron.
As she was leaving, Samuel asked if she wanted to have lunch together. Amelia briefly told him she was visiting the Wood family and wouldn't be eating with him at noon.
Samuel replied, "Okay."
Forty minutes later, the car arrived at the Wood Villa entrance.
Their family lived in a lakeside villa. The villa had four floors with a large yard planted with many flowers and plants, but winter had come and the plants had withered, making the yard look rather desolate.
Byron carried the gifts for Amelia while she rang the doorbell herself.