Chapter 16

Every second Landon waited for Wesley to bring the antidote was torture. The heat in his chest was unbearable, his patience being tested to its limits as Amelia continued to touch him, each brush of her hands sending his mind into a whirlwind of chaos.

At long last, a knock came at the door. “Mrs. Amelia, Mr. Harrington asked me to deliver something to you,” the maid’s voice called out politely from the other side.

Amelia, get up and take the antidote. You’ll feel better once you take it. Landon’s inner voice was sharp, his frustration barely contained.

But Amelia was oblivious to his silent urging. She clung to him like an octopus, her soft body pressed against his. She rubbed against him in desperate, feverish motions that sent a searing jolt of heat through his every nerve.

When her lips brushed over his chest, it nearly undid him. The sheer intimacy of the moment, combined with her soft, heated breaths, was enough to make any man lose his sanity.

“Ugh, it feels so weird…” Amelia murmured, her voice trembling as she mindlessly searched for relief, her mind clouded by the overpowering effects of the aphrodisiac.

Landon’s internal monologue turned into a litany of frustrated shouts. Amelia! Amelia, snap out of it!

The maid knocked again, her tone a touch more insistent this time. “Mrs. Amelia, Mr. Harrington’s delivery is here.”

The dual forces of the maid’s knock and Landon’s mental cries finally broke through the haze clouding Amelia’s thoughts. With great effort, she pulled herself away from him and stumbled toward the door.

Her sleepwear was a mess, half falling off her shoulders, leaving very little to the imagination. The disheveled state of her attire hinted at a scandalous allure, though it was entirely unintentional.

Fortunately, the maid was seasoned and didn’t bat an eye. She handed over the package with professional detachment, then turned and walked away without comment.

The maid didn’t go far. She headed straight for Gloria’s room, her tone excited as she reported, “Mrs. Gloria, it’s done.”

“Really? Are you certain?” Gloria’s face lit up with delight, her voice quivering with excitement.

“I’m sure. Mr. Harrington sent something to Mr. Landon, and when Mrs. Amelia opened the door, she was blushing all over. Her clothes were barely hanging on her.”

“That’s wonderful, wonderful news.” Gloria’s eyes filled with tears of joy, and she clasped her hands in fervent gratitude. “I just hope she gets pregnant this time. Although poor Amy… But never mind, have Aaron deliver the deed for the estate at Stonefield tomorrow.”

Back in the room, Amelia finally managed to take the antidote under Landon’s guidance. As the burning heat coursing through her body subsided, her mind began to clear.

That clarity, however, brought a fresh wave of mortification. Looking down at herself, she realized her clothes weren’t just disheveled – they were practically nonexistent. Her cheeks flamed again as she hastily adjusted her outfit, wrapping herself up as tightly as she could.

Once she was decently covered, she stole a guilty glance at Landon, who was still lying in bed.

The sight that greeted her made her want to dig a hole and disappear. The sheets were in complete disarray, and Landon’s shirt had been half-stripped off, leaving his chest exposed. His skin still bore the faint, telltale trace of her saliva.

It didn’t take her long to realize it was all her doing. Her heart sank as she pieced it all together. Oh my goodness. Did I... Did I really do this to Landon? Amelia froze, her limbs stiff with embarrassment, as if standing still might erase the memory of what had happened.

“I-I’m so sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I just felt so awful…” she stammered, her voice growing smaller and tinged with a pitiful sniffle as she tried to explain.

You nearly pulled off a full-blown seduction, and you’re the one who feels wronged? Landon’s exhausted inner voice quipped, his tone caught between amusement and disbelief.

He had initially assumed, given her relationship with Zachary, that she’d have some experience in these matters. But this whole ordeal had revealed the truth – she was utterly clueless, an innocent through and through.

Strangely, that realization brought him a deep, inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

Amelia lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. “I’m sorry…”

Today’s mess was my mother’s doing. It’s not your fault, Landon comforted her in their minds, his internal voice filled with weariness.

Hearing his unspoken words of forgiveness, Amelia felt a bittersweet mix of gratitude and grievance rise in her chest. Her eyes stung as tears began to well up.

My mom won’t give up until she has a grandchild. Tomorrow, just play along. Pretend like we’ve already… you know, done the deed, Landon’s internal voice carried a resigned note as he mentally nudged her.

“I understand…” Amelia whispered, nodding reluctantly.

Get some rest. By tomorrow, this will all blow over, Landon added before finally succumbing to exhaustion. After being put through such a relentless ordeal, both his body and spirit were utterly drained. He fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.

Amelia curled up on the sofa, her mind replaying the events of the night. Every time she thought about how close she had come to forcing herself on Landon, her face burned with shame. How could I do something so outrageous? Thank goodness it didn’t go any further…

The next morning, Amelia woke up late, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. She yawned widely, her body moving sluggishly as if protesting the morning light.

Gloria, instead of being upset, was beaming with delight. “Amy, you should’ve slept in longer. Are you hungry? Come, let’s have breakfast,” she chuckled.

Her tone was cheerful, and her smile carried an unmistakable undertone of satisfaction. It was evident she believed last night had gone exactly as planned, unaware of the true nature of the “medicine” Wesley had provided.

Amelia exhaled silently in relief. Let her keep misunderstanding. At least Gloria won’t pull anything else for the next month.

The maid from the previous night appeared, carrying a steaming bowl of clam chowder. “Mrs. Amelia, today’s clam chowder is especially appetizing. Please have a taste.”

The sight of the maid immediately reminded Amelia of her mortifying state the night before – disheveled, flushed, and barely dressed as she had opened the door. Her face turned crimson in an instant and she felt utterly humiliated.

Gloria, mistaking her embarrassment for shyness, beamed even brighter. “Oh, and try the lemon cheesecake. It’s made fresh by our kitchen staff – not too sweet, just light and refreshing.”

“Thank you…” Amelia murmured awkwardly, unsure what else to say. She couldn’t deny anything, nor could she explain.

After finishing the clam chowder, she was coaxed into eating some lemon cheesecake and other dishes, all of which were high in calories, designed to quickly revive her energy.

Just as she was trying to gather her composure, Aaron walked in holding a sleek document folder. “Ma’am, the property at Stonefield has been purchased.”

“So quickly?” Amelia blurted, startled.

“Aaron will take you to complete the transfer later,” Gloria said casually, flipping through the contracts before handing them to Amelia.

The papers felt scalding hot in her hands. The value of this land was expected to skyrocket from $300 million to billions of dollars. It was far too much for her to accept.

Amelia had intended to provide the lead on this lucrative deal purely to strike back at the Edwards family and Zachary – to cut off their financial lifeline. That was all.

“Mrs. Gloria, Mr. Edwards is here again,” Ethan announced from the doorway.

Amelia’s tone darkened as her fingers tightened around the contract.

In her last life, the Foster family hadn’t been able to afford the $300 million needed to buy the property. They had teamed up with the Edwards family to make the purchase.

She had even sold the diamond hairpin Debra left her, raising $60 million to help Zachary secure the deal. That investment had turned him into one of the youngest tycoons of their generation.

But the wealth he accumulated had all gone to pampering Sandra and their illegitimate son.

This time, she wasn’t going to let them get rich off her again.

She decided to hold on to the land for now. Once Landon woke up, she’d return it to him. But one thing was certain – there was no way the Edwards family would profit from this deal.

“Thank you, Gloria, I’ll go change now,” Amelia said politely, rising from her seat.

“Go ahead. And if you’re still tired, feel free to lie down for a bit,” Gloria replied with a casual wave of her hand. Inwardly, though, her thoughts were sharper. The Edwards family thinks they can bully Amelia because she’s young and lacks a mother’s protection. Well, not on my watch.

Before Amelia could leave the room, a familiar voice interrupted. “Oh, Mrs. Kingsley, having breakfast, are you?” Walter and Melissa appeared at the door, laden with gift bags and wearing smiles so wide they seemed almost painted on.

Gloria’s brows knitted together in irritation. “What’s all this?”

Walter placed the bags down with an air of exaggerated humility. “Mrs. Kingsley, we were terribly rude the other day. We’ve come to apologize and make amends.”

Gloria let out a soft, icy laugh. “Indeed, you were. But as your family has little to do with Amy anymore, there’s no need for apologies.”

Her tone was calm, but her meaning was sharp. She wasn’t about to forget how this same family had tried to drag Amelia back to perform an unnecessary surgery just days ago.

Gloria knew exactly why they were here now. The Edwards had finally realized that the Kingsley family’s wealth and status far outstripped their own.

Trying to curry favor with my family? Please. You’re not even close to being in our league, Gloria thought with a smirk.

“You misunderstand,” Walter insisted, his tone pleading. “Amy is my daughter – she always will be.”

Melissa chimed in with a self-serving smile across her face, “Amy may not be my biological child, but I’ve loved and raised her as if she were my own. In fact, I’ve doted on her even more than my own flesh and blood.”

Gloria raised her coffee cup delicately, her expression cold and unbothered. “How generous of you. I’m afraid I’m not quite so magnanimous. When I hate someone, I make sure they pay for it.”

The chilling finality of her words hung in the air, and Walter was at a loss for how to respond. He coughed awkwardly before trying to change the subject. “Mrs. Kingsley, where is Amy? We’d love to see her.”

“She’s resting,” Gloria answered curtly, her eyes as cold as ever.

“Resting? At this hour?” Melissa’s face betrayed a flicker of surprise before she quickly caught herself, pressing her lips shut to avoid further blunders.

Is this how the Kingsley family operates? Melissa wondered, alarmed. I’d heard they were strict about discipline. Yet Amelia is still sleeping in? How improper. How is she ever going to establish herself in this family if she keeps this up?

Weighing the situation, Melissa rose to her feet, her expression shifting to one of maternal authority. “Mrs. Kingsley, Amy has been spoiled by me since she was a child. I’ll go wake her up now.”

Gloria set her coffee cup down with an audible clink. “Oh? Is it a rule in your family that everyone must wake up early?”

Melissa hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Isn’t that standard etiquette for families like ours? she thought, flustered. Walter tried to salvage the situation. “Please, Mrs. Kingsley, we just want to see Amy for a moment.”

But Gloria had no intention of allowing their presence to upset Amelia. These first few days after sex are critical for conception. I need to keep Amelia in good spirits.

“Mr. Edwards,” Gloria said firmly, rising to her full height, “now that Amy is part of my family, she is under our protection. There’s no need for you to concern yourselves. Please, see yourselves out.”

Walter’s expression faltered, a mixture of embarrassment and irritation playing across his face. I brought gifts here in good faith – how can she just dismiss us like this?

Just as he was about to voice his frustration, his phone buzzed loudly. Answering it, he heard Sandra’s panicked voice on the other end. “Dad, something terrible has happened. That property at Stonefield has been taken.”