Chapter 83
“You’re also looking for your mother?” Amelia’s tears welled up again as she thought, ‘So I’m not the only one searching for Mom. Is his mother still…' Amelia didn’t dare to ask directly, as that would be too rude.
“So, don’t cry. You’re not the only one looking for Mom.” Daniel handed her a checkered handkerchief. “Wipe your tears. Your makeup is all messed up.”
“Thank you.” Amelia shyly accepted the handkerchief. She usually didn’t wear makeup, but she did for work to appear more imposing.
This time, Amelia had come directly from the company to Pinecrest and hadn’t had a chance to remove her makeup. Amelia thought, ‘After crying like this, my face is indeed a mess now.’
Daniel smiled and patiently waited for Amelia to calm down. He noticed that Amelia looked even more refreshing without her makeup. He couldn’t help but say, “You look better without makeup.”
“Is the difference too obvious?” Amelia asked.
“No, you just look better without it,” Daniel replied.
Amelia was momentarily taken aback, and then blushed slightly. “I’m sorry. I got your handkerchief dirty.”
She thought, ‘In such situations, women usually say, ‘I’ll wash it and return it to you.’ And men would say, ‘No need. Just throw it away.’ Daniel looks like a wealthy man who doesn’t lack handkerchiefs.’
‘I also don’t want to have any more connections with him over a handkerchief.’ Amelia’s upbringing taught her that, as a married woman, she’d better stay away from other men.
However, Daniel said, “Wash it and return it to me.”
Amelia was shocked. ‘I’m a married woman. How can I accept another man’s handkerchief?’
“Mrs. Kingsley, you don’t know how to wash a handkerchief?” Daniel teased deliberately.
Amelia frowned and suddenly noticed the familiar vase pattern embroidered on the corner of the handkerchief. After a moment’s hesitation, she accepted it. “Then let’s exchange contact information. I’ll reach out to you later.”
“Sure.” After they added each other on WhatsApp, Daniel asked, “Do you want to keep exploring around here, or are you ready to go back?”
“I…” Amelia looked up at the completely unfamiliar Kea Lane. Unable to contain her hope, she said, “Let’s hang around.”
“Then shall we go together?”
“If it doesn’t take up too much of your time.”
“It won’t,” Daniel smiled warmly. He didn’t know why, but he felt incredibly fond of this unexpectedly met girl.
The night breeze gently brushed against Amelia and Daniel as they wandered together through every corner of Kea Lane. They walked in silence, watching the bustle around them, taking in the vibrancy of the night market.
Amelia’s feelings of sadness gradually calmed due to Daniel’s company. It wasn’t until they grew tired from walking that she realized it was already nine thirty. She had promised Landon she would be back in an hour.
‘Oh no, Landon’s going to be angry again,’ Amelia thought.
“Mr. Zuckerberg, I have to go back now. I’ll contact you tomorrow,” Amelia said, her expression changing as she reached out for a taxi.
“Okay.” Daniel waved goodbye, watching as Amelia got into the taxi and left.
Two burly male assistants approached from the shadows and respectfully greeted Daniel. “Mr. Zuckerberg,”
“The latest showing of the Amber Vase was here. Make sure to investigate thoroughly.” Daniel’s expression darkened, exuding an air of control that gave off significant pressure. It contrasted sharply with the gentleness he had shown while accompanying Amelia!
“Yes, sir.” The two assistants quickly faded back into the darkness.
Standing under the night sky, with his hands in his pockets, Daniel softly murmured, “Mom, are you still alive?”
In the hotel, Landon checked the time and watched the darkening night outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. He was becoming increasingly anxious. ‘Damn it. She said she would be back in an hour. How long has it been, and she’s still not back?’
Several times, Landon picked up his phone, wanting to call Amelia, but he ultimately held back, thinking, ‘I won’t rush her. When she comes back, I’ll be sure to punish her.’
“I’m back,” Amelia called as she opened the door.
Landon was feeling dejected when Amelia hurriedly ran in. She threw down her bag, leaned against the door frame, and took off her shoes while breathing heavily, showing just how urgent her run had been.
‘Huh. You finally found your way back?’ Landon looked coldly at Amelia.
“I got so caught up in the atmosphere over there that I lost track of time,” Amelia said as she opened a bottle of water and drank half of it before stopping.
Anger simmered in Landon’s eyes, but he waited for Amelia to finish drinking before saying, ‘I’m going to deduct your pay for today.’
Amelia felt as if a large bag of cash had just slipped away from her, and she was instantly sad. “That’s just an early leave. You can’t take it all away.”
‘That’s true. You did leave early. According to Kingsley Group policy, leaving early means you’ll get three days’ pay deducted,’ Landon sneered.
Amelia couldn’t believe it. ‘Six million dollars is gone?’
‘Are you questioning it? If anyone argues with their supervisors, there are consequences,’ Landon continued.
“I accept the punishment.” Not waiting for Landon to finish, Amelia hurriedly stated her acceptance, though in her heart she complained, ‘This rule is too unreasonable. I don’t even have the freedom of speech anymore.
‘When I get back, I’ll change the company rules and see how you’ll deduct my pay in the future.’
‘Did you find anything?’ Landon examined Amelia from head to toe, thinking, ‘Her makeup is gone, so she must have cried. But she looks fine now. So, did she give up after finding no traces of the past?’
“I didn’t find anything. It has already been transformed into a new district. The scenery has changed, and the people are no longer the same,” Amelia sighed, not feeling overly sad.
Perhaps having shed tears earlier, Amelia felt relatively calm now. She thought, ‘Since I can’t find the house where my mom lived, I might as well look for her grave.’
‘I’ll go to the City Hall tomorrow to check the death records and then search through all the cemeteries in Pinecrest. I’m sure I can find something.’
‘Amelia, why don’t you ask me for help?’ Just as Landon intended to tell Amelia that the house where Debra had lived was now a café, he noticed a man’s handkerchief fall from her bag, drifting onto the carpet.
Landon’s gaze suddenly sharpened. “Whose is that? How dare you bring it back?”
“It’s Daniel’s. He’s the one we met at the service area today.” Amelia picked up the handkerchief, once again attracted by the embroidery on it. ‘There is a phoenix on this vase. Where have I seen this pattern before?’
To Landon, every move Amelia made revealed how much she cherished the handkerchief.
Landon’s breath quickened as overwhelming anger was about to burst forth, but he still gritted his teeth to confirm, “You were with Daniel all night?”
“Sort of,” Amelia replied dismissively, preparing to wash the handkerchief. She was here on a business trip and wouldn’t be staying long in Pinecrest, so she decided to return the handkerchief to Daniel as soon as possible.
‘Amelia, come here.’ Landon tightened his grip on the bedsheet, controlling himself from unleashing a thunderous shout.
“What’s wrong?” Amelia asked, confused, as she walked over and leaned down. “What do you need?”
Suddenly, Landon gripped her chin with enough force that it felt like he could crush her bones, making her finally see the raging fire in his eyes. Almost immediately, another hand appeared around her waist.
Amelia’s eyes widened, thinking, ‘His right hand can move now?’ However, before she could express her surprise, the hand at her waist suddenly tightened its grip, forcing her to lean against Landon.
When Landon’s hot lips pressed against Amelia’s, her mind went completely blank.