Chapter 56
This wasn’t good news at all. Amelia clutched the medical report, turning to Landon with concern in her eyes. “Is it serious?”
Landon looked completely confused. “What?”
“The report sounds pretty serious. I’m worried you might lose the baby,” Amelia asked.
Wesley glanced between them, baffled by their cryptic exchange. “Don’t worry, Amelia. The medical terminology might sound scary, but it’s just technical language. Any slight disturbance during pregnancy is technically called ‘threatened miscarriage.’ It’s a standard medical term.”
“Thank goodness,” Ansella let out a deep breath, putting a hand over her chest in relief. She was still shaken but much calmer now.
Deep down, Amelia wished for the smooth pregnancy and delivery of the woman carrying Landon’s child.
“Amelia, this is just a medical report made for you,” Wesley said with an amused smile.
“Oh, for me?” Amelia finally noticed her own name on the patient form. A wave of relief washed over her as an idea formed in her mind. “I’ll leave this on my desk tomorrow. Let Henry get a good look at it.”
“No, I’m taking this document to file a complaint at Kingsley Manor,” Wesley said, following Landon’s prior instructions.
Amelia stared at him in shock. “Why?”
“This will sway Henry. He won’t dare touch you again,” Landon scoffed. “How stupid can you be not to understand something so simple?”
Realization dawned on Amelia’s face. “Oh, I get it now. With this document, even if I don’t end up pregnant in a few months, Henry will still take the blame.”
“Exactly,” Wesley nodded. Next, he turned to Landon. Since he was already here, he figured he might as well check on Landon’s condition.
“You’re recovering well, but I’m noticing some signs of a stress-related disorder,” Wesley said, frowning as he examined Landon with his stethoscope.
Landon’s been bedridden this whole time. How could he have a stress-related disorder? Wesley wondered. Could Amelia be the cause? He glanced from Amelia to Landon, his mind conjuring up a dozen dramatic scenarios.
“Does he need medication?” Amelia asked. Deep down, she strongly suspected that her divorce proposal had triggered this condition in Landon, though she wasn’t about to admit it.
“No need for that,” Wesley smiled. “Amelia, why don’t you keep Landon company? Some fresh air and sunshine might help lift his spirits.”
“Sure.” Amelia felt relieved, thinking to herself that cheering up Landon shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Amelia, please stay with Landon, Mrs. Gloria and I need to head over to Kingsley Manor,” Wesley announced.
“Of course,” Amelia said, ushering Wesley out. She turned back to Landon, plastering a sweet smile on her face. “Landon, if you’re not quite ready to talk about the divorce, we can take things slow.”
She leaned in, grinning ear to ear. “We can always discuss it once you’re feeling better. Right now, you need to focus on your recovery. Getting all worked up isn’t going to help you heal.”
Landon watched her with cold, hard eyes. He knew exactly what she was playing at—she wanted him to bounce back quickly so she could get this divorce over with.
“Are you thirsty? Hungry?” Amelia asked with a gentle smile.
Landon ignored her. He’d been surviving on IV nutrition for months now—normal food and drink were unnecessary. It had been over three months since he’d last eaten real food or taken a sip of water. Suddenly, he found himself missing his mother’s cooking.
Chapter 56
“The sun’s already set, but I can still show you the twilight,” Amelia said.
Landon remained silent, his expression cold and distant.
“Let me give you a thorough massage,” Amelia said, rolling up her sleeves with determination. Her tone left no room for objection.
To set the mood, she put on some soft instrumental music and lit a scented candle. The gentle jasmine fragrance created a peaceful, elegant atmosphere.
As Amelia’s gentle hands worked their magic, Landon felt the tension slowly melting away from his shoulders.
Twilight crept in through the windows, the last traces of daylight slowly bleeding into darkness. The room was bathed in the warm glow of scented candles, their honey-sweet fragrance hanging in the air.
The flames wavered softly, casting shifting shadows that danced along the walls like phantom dancers. In the intimate lighting, the room seemed to pulse with an almost tangible romantic energy.
Landon felt his heart melting as he gazed at Amelia, his eyes softening with tenderness.
Her face is so delicate and small, he mused, like a perfect porcelain doll. Those long, curled eyelashes flutter like butterfly wings every time she blinks. All her usual sharp edges have disappeared while she’s focused on the massage, leaving only a gentle, captivating beauty.
As his thoughts wandered, Landon could feel his heart pounding.
“Landon, I’m terrified of hospitals,” Amelia confessed softly. “If it weren’t for Brooke today, Henry would have dragged me there. You know how ruthless he is. He probably would have pushed for a hysterectomy even if I wasn’t pregnant.”
Even now, the memory sent Amelia’s pulse racing. Deep down, she knew there was only one way forward if she and Landon were going to salvage their marriage—they needed to lay everything on the table. No relationship could survive on secrets and silence.
Landon emerged from his thoughts, his eyes half-closed as he spoke, “From now on, Brooke will be your personal security.”
“Yes,” Amelia nodded, having already reached the same conclusion herself.
But something still bothered her. “How did Henry find out about my pregnancy?” she wondered. The news had been kept strictly confidential. The only time it had been mentioned was when Gloria brought lunch to the office, and that day, Sandra had visited.
“Her again,” Amelia muttered through gritted teeth, unconsciously tightening her grip.
Landon yelped, shooting her an accusatory look. “Are you trying to murder your own husband?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Amelia quickly withdrew her hands, guiltily eyeing the nail marks she’d left on Landon’s arm.
Landon fixed her with a cool stare. “Is a simple ‘sorry’ supposed to make it better?” He wondered to himself, “She was giving me a massage until now. What suddenly crossed her mind to make her grip so hard?”
“So what do you want me to do? Bandage it up?” Amelia’s eye twitched in annoyance as she went to search for some antiseptic and Band-Aids. Talk about being dramatic, she thought to herself, there’s not even a scratch or a drop of blood. It’s not like you need the ER.
Landon narrowed his eyes, taking a few seconds to consider before speaking. “I need you to visit someone from my past!”
“Sure, no problem,” Amelia agreed without hesitation. “Just give me their name and number. I’ll head over after the meeting tomorrow. I can take Aaron with me.”
“No,” Landon said firmly. “You need to go alone. This needs to stay confidential.”
“What?” Amelia jolted as if she’d gotten a shock. The bandage she’d been holding fell to the floor. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who Landon wanted her to visit—his child’s mother.
Chapter 56
Landon’s condition showed no signs of improvement, and Henry’s family was watching like hawks. Everyone had pinned their hopes on this baby; it would be devastating if anything went wrong.
Even though Amelia had mentally prepared herself when she first saw the pregnancy test, she felt sharp pings in her heart.
“Is that a problem?” Landon’s expression darkened with displeasure when she remained silent.
“No, I’m completely fine with it,” Amelia quickly nodded. Her inner thoughts raced. “It’s not a big deal to meet the woman who’s carrying Landon’s child. Besides, I won’t be Landon’s wife for much longer anyway!”
Her plan was simple. Once Landon recovered, she would file for divorce immediately. If the child’s mother had any issues, Amelia was to step aside even sooner.
But then another thought crossed her mind. “I might be generous and open-minded, but who knows if that woman will feel the same way?” Amelia frowned slightly. “What if she tries to cause drama during our meeting? Landon would absolutely destroy me if anything went wrong.”
Amelia made a mental note to be extra careful. She couldn’t afford any risks during this delicate time. On her phone, she started Googling “safe foods during pregnancy” and “pregnancy diet guidelines.”
Landon caught a glimpse of her screen, and his heart felt like it had been stabbed repeatedly. His face burned ashen as the reality hit him. “She’s actually carrying Lanny’s baby…”