Chapter 196

Aiden watched Amelia closely, admiration flickering in his eyes. “Sandra said you had a strong mental fortitude. She wasn’t wrong.”

“You told me all this just to test my limits?” Amelia steadied herself. “So, what exactly did Sandra say about me?”

“She praised you to the skies. I was genuinely curious. That’s why I went to Norava to see you for myself.”

“Your beauty captivated me at first sight. If only I’d met you sooner, you wouldn’t have had to endure the pain with Zachary.”

Aiden sounded genuinely regretful.

Amelia felt nauseated. ‘Is he trying to disgust me on purpose?’

“See that pink house up ahead on the left? I got it just for you. There’s a rose garden right next to it–totally matches your vibe.”

Aiden kept trying to win her over, acting like he’d completely forgotten Amelia was a pregnant, married woman.

Amelia couldn’t stand his constant fawning anymore. She grabbed the car window and started gagging.

“Throwing up again?” Aiden quickly took out an anti-nausea aromatherapy bottle and held it up to her nose. “Pregnancy is really tough for women.”

Amelia wasn’t actually throwing up, but with Aiden so close, it was the perfect chance to teach him a lesson.

Amelia forced up a few mouthfuls of bile and threw up all over Aiden.

Aiden’s face turned pale with disgust.

And the driver freaked out.

He immediately pulled over and opened the car door. “Mr. Kyle, I’ll take care of this right away…”

Everyone in the estate knew Aiden was a total clean freak. And yet, the new lady of the house just went and puked all over him.

The driver thought, ‘Mr. Kyle isn’t going to take this out on me, is he?’

“Sorry, I just couldn’t help it,” Amelia said, secretly enjoying the moment.

‘He’s a clean freak? Perfect!’ she thought.

“It’s… fine,” Aiden gritted his teeth as he got out of the car, stripping off his coat and shirt and tossing them onto the ground.

The driver immediately sprang into action, first spraying him down with alcohol disinfectant, then wiping him off with wet wipes.

Amelia was utterly speechless.

Only a true neat freak could take OCD to a whole new level like this.

Once he was finally clean, Aiden’s expression eased.

Aiden offered his hand to Amelia. “We’re almost there. We can walk the rest of the way.”

“Are you afraid I’ll get carsick again?” Amelia asked.

“Ahem, yeah,” Aiden admitted, trying not to let his annoyance show.

Not wanting to make his disgust too obvious, he vented on the driver instead. “Look at how you drive. Your pay’s getting docked this month.”

The driver breathed a sigh of relief.

Just a month’s pay cut was not that bad.

In her head, Amelia just called him one word. ‘Tyrant.’

They made their way to Paloma’s house, where Landen was practicing the piano.

Paloma was reclining gracefully on the sofa, eyes half-closed as she listened to her son play.

Her thick, waist-length hair framed her figure, and the black lace mask on her face made her seem even more mysterious.

“Paloma, I brought Amelia,” Aiden said.

Paloma opened her eyes, and the two of them sized each other up.

Then, a gentle smile appeared on her face as she couldn’t help but praise, “You’re stunning. You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

“Mm,” Amelia replied.

She instinctively glanced down at her belly.

‘It had only been a little over a month, is it really showing already?’ she frowned.

“Please, have a seat,” Paloma said.

“Thanks,” Amelia replied.

Amelia found herself feeling unexpectedly self-conscious.

Aiden smiled with a gentle curve of his lips. “My sister’s really easygoing, you don’t have to be nervous.”

“You don’t get it. This is that bloodline pressure,” Amelia shot him a look.

Aiden was not even Kayla’s real brother, so he had no idea what this felt like. But she was Kayla’s actual sister-in-law by blood.

“Welcome to my home,” Paloma said, instructing someone to make fresh juice and prepare some snacks. “Ms. Edwards, please.”

“You can call me Amelia,” Amelia said.

Paloma smiled. “Wouldn’t that be a bit impolite?”

“The eldest sister is like a mother, so it’s totally fine!” Amelia nodded enthusiastically.

Paloma stared at her in shock, then shot a look at Aiden. “Wait, are you two getting married?”

Amelia ended up choking on her juice.

‘What on earth are you thinking?’ Amelia thought.

“You’re right, we’re actually planning to get married,” Aiden jumped in shamelessly.

Amelia shot him a glare and explained, “I already have a husband. Mr. Kyle and I are just friends.”

“Oh! But he told me you were widowed,” Paloma said.

Amelia was utterly speechless.

She seriously wanted to deck this control freak.

“No, I’m not!” Amelia shook her head. “Even if that were true, I’d stay loyal to him for the rest of my life. I’d never marry anyone else.”

Paloma narrowed her eyes in confusion. “Is he really worth all that?”

“Definitely!” Amelia replied.

She thought, ‘Just wait till you meet your brother, then you’ll know exactly why he’s so worth it!’

“Then you two must really love each other,” Paloma said.

“Yeah. We’re one as husband and wife–inseparable, always together,” Amelia replied.

She said it on purpose, making sure Aiden heard every word.

She came here today, half for Paloma, and half for Landon.

She needed to get to the bottom of Aiden’s ties to the Kington Gang and track down Landon.

Dead or alive, she had to find Landon herself.

“I really envy you,” Paloma murmured, her eyes growing more unfocused.

Amelia sensed something was off. Maybe talking about relationships was a touchy subject for her.

But then she remembered, neither Edith nor Aiden ever mentioned Paloma’s husband.

Her gaze shifted to Landen, taking in that blond hair of his.

He’s obviously biracial. Amelia wondered which country his father was from.

“Alright, Paloma, time for dinner,” Aiden said as he walked over and patted her on the shoulder.

Paloma gave a little start, the confusion on her face instantly fading away.

She put on that gentle, elegant smile again. “Yes, I’m hungry too.”

“Landen, that’s enough piano for now. Let’s eat,” Aiden called out.

Landen immediately jumped off the piano bench and ran over to Amelia. “Ms. Edwards, we meet again! I’m so glad you came to our house!”

“Good boy,” Amelia said, ruffling his hair. “Why don’t I see your daddy around?”

“I don’t have a dad,” Landen replied, tilting his innocent little face up at her.

Amelia just couldn’t bring herself to ask anything more.

But inside, shock kept crashing over her in waves.

‘Was it a divorce and then a child? Or did her husband pass away?’ she wondered.

“He’s gone. Don’t ever bring him up again,” Aiden said, his tone uncharacteristically harsh and his usually warm eyes turning cold.

Amelia nodded, her grip tightening around Landen’s small hand.

Dinner was a lavish spread, but it was all Dreicean food, which Amelia didn’t like.

Paloma, on the other hand, ate with great delight, like she’d grown up in Dreicea.

“Ms. Edwards, why aren’t you eating?” Paloma asked.

Amelia frowned slightly. “Sorry, I’m just not used to Dreicean food.”

“Then I’ll have the kitchen make some Norava dishes instead,” Aiden offered, looking concerned.

Amelia thought for a second and said, “Your chef probably can’t make it authentic. I’ll cook for myself.”

“You know how to cook?” Aiden was genuinely shocked.

Sandra never said Amelia could cook.

“I can take care of my own meals,” Amelia said, heading to the kitchen. She made three dishes and a soup, just like the Kingsley family would have.

Aiden couldn’t help but click his tongue in admiration. “You’re seriously something else! Gorgeous, sweet, and totally wifey material.”

Amelia shot him a dramatic eye roll and told the servants to bring the food to the dining room.

She wanted to see if these dishes would spark any childhood memories for Paloma.