Chapter 203

Chapter 203

Matthew was mentally prepared to bid hundreds of millions of dollars. If Zander wanted to fight, he'd fight to the end!

This wasn't just about Elise. It was also a business warning to Zander!

Everyone's eyes fell on Zander's face, making him extremely uncomfortable.

"Mr. Lawson?" the organizer reminded him.

"I bid fifty-six million dollars!" Zander's momentum had weakened considerably.

Matthew sneered, "Sixty million dollars!"

Zander froze, his face turning from red to deathly pale.

He had thought that bidding close to fifty million dollars would scare Matthew off, but he never expected Matthew would fight him to the bitter end!

Elise comforted him, "Zander, we came here today for charity. Whether we win the necklace doesn't matter—as long as we've encouraged others to give, we've achieved our goal. The fact that Mr. Moore is willing to bid such a high price for the necklace shows his charitable heart and dedication to public welfare. We should be happy for him!"

With just a few words, gracious and composed, she rescued Zander from his embarrassment. People couldn't help but admire Elise's wisdom!

With this excuse, Zander quickly changed the subject, "Yes, yes! It's all for charity. Thank you, Mr. Moore, for making such a huge contribution to the cause!"

Matthew's displeased gaze fell on Elise's face, feeling lost. Her name had changed, but the wisdom that came from Amelia hadn't!

"Congratulations to Mr. Moore for winning Ocean's Tear!" the organizer announced happily, "And thank you, Mr. Moore, for making such a tremendous contribution to charity! The collector who owns Ocean's Tear has stated that all the difference from the auction, no matter how much, will be donated to charity! That means today, Mr. Moore and the collector have together donated twenty million dollars to charity! Let's give them a warm round of applause!"

Thunderous applause erupted.

Amid the applause, the organizer handed the necklace to Matthew.

Out of the corner of his eye, Matthew noticed Elise and Zander holding hands, fingers intertwined, intimate and close. Jealousy burned in his heart.

Then his gaze fell on Mia, and he walked toward her, "Mia, I'm giving you this necklace!"

"For me?" Mia was overwhelmed with surprise, her mouth hanging open.

Matthew said in a tone that brooked no argument, "Let me put it on you!"

Mia was stunned, "Okay! Thank you, Matthew. You're so good to me! I thought..."

Mia's gaze moved past Matthew's shoulder and saw Elise looking their way, her expression complicated.

Only then did Mia realize—Matthew had no intention of giving her the necklace. He just wanted to make Elise jealous!

Mia felt both disappointed and angry.

But she quickly regained her composure. As long as Elise was with Zander, she still had a chance to become Matthew's wife!

Zander noticed Elise staring at Matthew putting the necklace on Mia and quickly stirred the pot, "See that? Matthew only has eyes for Mia!"

Elise let go of Zander's hand, putting on a cold expression, "Who Matthew cares about has nothing to do with me! I'm a bit tired. I want to go back!"

"Okay, I'll go with you!" Zander, having been upstaged by Matthew, didn't want to stay either.

He left the charity event with Elise.

Matthew caught this out of the corner of his eye, feeling terrible inside. He let go before even finishing putting on the necklace.

"Matthew, it's not on yet!" Mia said.

Matthew's voice was cold, "Put it on yourself when you get back!"

With that, Matthew turned and left.

"Matthew?" Mia's face turned purple with anger. She chased after him and grabbed his hand, "Where are you going? The event isn't over yet!"

Matthew shook off her hand, "I'm just going to walk around the streets!"

Mia said, "I'll come with you, get some fresh air!"

Matthew suddenly turned and gave her such a stern look that she immediately froze in place, "I'm going alone!"

Mia didn't dare follow!

Matthew drove to that bar from the other day and called Chris out to drink with him.

Elise drove through the streets of Emerald City, trying to recover her past memories.

As if guided by fate, her car ended up at Emerald City University.

Sophia was just coming out of the nursing school when she saw Elise. Excited and happy, she quickly waved at her, "Amelia, stop the car!"

Elise was surprised to see Sophia. She quickly stopped and rolled down the window, "Isn't this Ms. Brown? What are you doing here?"

The distant words made Sophia's nose sting, nearly losing control of her emotions, "Amelia, you still can't remember anything?"

Sophia's voice choked up.

Elise sighed, her expression complicated, "You should call me Elise! Even though I know I'm Amelia, I can't remember anything from the past! Maybe this is fate's arrangement, letting me start over!"

Sophia nodded. She was already relieved that Elise could admit she was Amelia, "You're right. You suffered in the past, and now you're starting a new life. That might not be a bad thing! We don't have to force you to become Amelia again!"

"Suffered?" Elise's eyes rippled with emotion. After thinking for a moment, "Sophia, do you have time to talk? I want to understand who I was in the past, and what Matthew was like."

Sophia couldn't have asked for more and got into Elise's car.

Following Sophia's directions, they arrived at the cake shop they used to frequent. Each ordered a slice of cake and a drink.

"Sophia," Elise looked at Sophia, "what was my relationship with Matthew like before? Was he good to me?"

Sophia didn't know how to answer at first and sighed, "How should I put it? He's a strange person. Sometimes he was very good to you—so good it made me jealous! The nursing school at Emerald City University was something he set up for you."

Warmth flooded Elise's heart.

But then Sophia continued, "But he also hurt you often, making you suffer terribly. However, during the three years you were gone, he searched for you every day. I guess that makes up for how he treated you in the past!"

Elise asked, "The reason he wasn't good to me was because of Mia, right?"

Sophia snorted angrily and stabbed her fork hard into the cake, "Yes, because of that shameless woman! I've never seen anyone with such thick skin. During the three years you were gone, she stayed in your and Matthew's house for three years. No matter how much Matthew tried to make her leave, she wouldn't go!"

A hint of coldness showed beneath Elise's long lashes, "If Matthew really wanted to get rid of her, how could Mia have stayed for three years! He's clearly greedy—searching for me on one hand while keeping a backup option on the other!"

Sophia frowned, skeptical of Elise's words, "Is Matthew really that kind of person?"

Elise looked into the distance, her eyes confused. Suddenly she asked, "Sophia, what do you think I should do? Should I become Amelia again and be Mrs. Moore, or stay as Elise and become Mrs. Lawson?"

"That?" Sophia was troubled, her brow furrowed, "I can't answer that. This is about your personal happiness—you have to decide for yourself! Is Zander good to you now?"

Elise nodded, "He loves me very much! Everyone in the Lawson family loves and cares for me. I've never been wronged during these three years with the Lawson family!"

"Really?" Sophia touched her face, "I really don't know what to say!"

Since the past was painful and the present is happy, why go back to being your old self?

Elise had already made a decision in her heart.