Chapter 217
Hearing that, Gloria was so devastated that she couldn’t even try. She had seen the video of her son getting engaged to another woman with her own eyes–there was no denying it. Besides, Amelia was nothing if not proud. Would she swallow that?
With that in mind, Gloria felt like she was about to have a heart attack, especially when she saw the gloomy look on Daniel’s face. She really had no idea how to deal with this.
“Mom,” Amelia stepped forward and took Gloria’s hand.
“Amelia?” Gloria froze, her eyes lighting up with surprise.
“Mom, I’m still your legal daughter-in-law, right?” Amelia asked.
“Of course!” Gloria exclaimed. “In my heart, you’re the only one who’s part of the Kingsley family. That woman means nothing to me–I’ll never let her into this family!”
But Patrick sneered, “Amelia, I suggest you wake up. Don’t let yourself be fooled anymore. When Landon comes back with Monica Montgomery, there won’t be any place for you in this family!”
“No, that’s not true…” Gloria held Amelia’s hand tightly. “Amelia, you have to believe me…”
“I do,” Amelia said.
She showed Gloria her firm stance before Gloria could finish, and she also gave Gloria an assuring smile. Gloria was so overwhelmed with emotion and guilt that she could barely speak through her sobs.
“Are you crazy or something?” Patrick narrowed his eyes at Amelia.
“You’re the crazy one.” Amelia strode over to the desk.
That was the desk she and Landon used to share!
“Get out of my way!” Amelia snapped, and the bodyguards immediately pulled Henry aside.
As Henry wasn’t prepared for it, he was yanked two meters away. He became so furious, shouting, “Landon’s not coming back! He’s never coming back! He’s already the Montgomery family’s son-in-law!”
“He can be their son-in-law, but Amelia will always be my daughter-in-law!” Gloria retorted.
This time, she was quicker at responding, and after saying that, she stepped up behind Amelia. Standing tall and proud behind the wide desk, Amelia and Gloria looked unstoppable.
“Amelia, are you seriously still not letting him go?” Patrick asked, disbelief all over his face.
“I’ve let him go. But I’m not letting go of Kingsley Group! This is what rightfully belongs to my son.”
“Exactly!” Gloria chimed in, nodding firmly, “Even if my son turned out to be a scumbag, I still have my grandson!”
“You’re both insane!” Henry shouted, his veins bulging. If the bodyguards hadn’t been holding him back, he would’ve lunged at them.
‘Now that things have come this far, why not hand over Kingsley Group? Amelia is even dumber. Does she think that stubbornness will let her keep the Kingsley Group for her kid? Not to mention Landon–the Montgomery family would be the first to say no! They’re the number two in the Kingstown Gang–the Zuckerberg family is nothing compared to them!’ Henry thought.
As he soaked in his thoughts, Amelia said, “You can get out now.” She sat down in the CEO’s chair, her face icy cold, exuding an aura that dominated the entire room. Standing behind her was Gloria, the very person who symbolized the rightful ownership of Kingsley Group.
“Amelia, what are you really fighting for?” Patrick asked.
“Even the gods demand their due, and a man must stand his ground,” Amelia replied firmly. Her slender fingers struck the desk with force–each knock echoing her fearless resolve.
“Even without a man, I’m still the top of Norava’s elite families! That alone is enough!” she snapped.
At this, Patrick fixed her with a venomous glare, as if his eyes could strangle her like poisonous threads.
“Escort them out. And from now on, don’t ever let them set foot in this company again,” Aaron ordered.
Immediately, the bodyguards unceremoniously escorted Henry and his group out. But Patrick, still unwilling to accept defeat, grabbed Aaron’s hand and demanded, “What’s your deal? Weren’t you always on Landon’s side…”
“People change, Mr. Patrick, especially for love,” Aaron said with a slow smile, as someone stepped out from behind him.
It was Maisie!
Patrick was stunned, and even Amelia was left speechless.
‘Daniel picked Maisie?’ Amelia thought.
She glanced from Maisie to Aaron and back again, and just couldn’t picture the two of them as a couple, no matter how hard she tried. They were a total mismatch!
“Nice job. You really are the Zuckerberg family’s son-in-law,” Maisie said, standing on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on Aaron’s cheek.
With that kiss, Aaron looked all smug, but the tips of his ears were turning red, totally giving away how flustered he was.
“The Zuckerberg family…” Patrick’s head was buzzing. “Gloria, did you see that? They’re teaming up to turn Kingsley Group into the Zuckerberg family’s prey!”
“That’s my business, and it has nothing to do with you,” Gloria declared, standing resolutely behind Amelia, making her stance crystal clear.
But Patrick couldn’t accept this. He kept cursing as he was dragged away, “You’re all insane… all insane…”
After that, Amelia swept her gaze over the Kingsley Group executives and shareholders, saying, “From this moment on, I’m taking over Kingsley Group. Do you accept it or not?”
Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Amelia had single-handedly kept Kingsley Group afloat when Landon was in a coma. Her abilities were nothing short of legendary.
They really didn’t suffer any losses. Thus, everyone responded respectfully, “Mrs. Kingsley, we’re all behind you!”
“Alright, everyone, back to work. If anything comes up, report to Aaron first, just like before,” Amelia said.
“Yes, Mrs. Kingsley!”
Then the executives and shareholders filed out, and Daniel and Maisie left with their bodyguards. Only Amelia, Gloria, and Aaron remained in the spacious office.
With the chaos finally over, Gloria let out a heavy sigh of relief and slumped onto the sofa, rubbing her chest. “It’s finally settled…”
“Mom, the Zuckerberg family won’t get a single thing from Kingsley Group,” Amelia said as she walked over and sat down on the sofa across from her, letting go of her usual tough CEO demeanor.
‘If I want to secure the external situation, I must first secure the internal situation,’ she thought. She knew she needed Gloria’s full support.
“Amelia, how could Landon betray you like that?” Gloria asked, clutching her chest. “What happened between you two?”
“Mom, whatever happens, I’ll make sure to have this baby and leave the child in your care,” Amelia said.
At this, Gloria’s face turned pale. “Amelia, are you leaving me too?”
“No,” Amelia shook her head, gently caressing her belly. “This child means everything to me. As long as you don’t object, I’ll always be Mrs. Kingsley. Kingsley Group will always be ours–no one can take it from us.”
Gloria understood–Amelia was trying to reassure her. But she just couldn’t understand how Amelia could stay so strong after everything Landon had done.
“I’m willing to wait for him to come back, even if it takes my whole life,” Amelia said, lowering her gaze, her heart trembling uncontrollably. God knew how much strength it took for her to say that!
Could Landon make it out unscathed, as undercover work was so dangerous, and with the Montgomery family constantly testing him? Would he end up caving under the pressure and actually become Monica’s real husband… Amelia had no idea.
She felt completely lost and uncertain.
‘But when standing in the fog and unable to see the direction, steadfastness is the best choice,’ Amelia thought. If Landon did betray her one day, she could always walk away then. After all, this child was something she had longed for in two lifetimes–she would not give up.
“Amelia, thank you…” Gloria said, her doubts finally gone, replaced by nothing but sadness. As a woman, she knew just how much love could hurt.
Back then, when her husband had suddenly passed away, she wanted to kill herself more than once. But considering her son, who hadn’t even started a family yet, and the hungry wolves from Henry’s side of the family, she managed to hang on.
Right now, Amelia was suffering even more than she had back then. But the fortunate thing was, Amelia was far more capable than she had ever been.
“Amelia, I promise you. No matter what happens in the future, the Kingsley Group you’ve protected will always belong to your child,” Gloria said, gripping Amelia’s hand tightly. “Trust me!”
“Mm,” Amelia’s voice almost choked. A smile slowly bloomed on her face, though tears shimmered in her eyes.
Who could say what the future might hold? All Amelia wanted was to stay true to herself and have a clear conscience.
“Mrs. Gloria, I never betrayed the Kingsley family,” Aaron said, dropping to one knee, deadly serious. “Maisie and I were just putting on an act to help Mrs. Amelia make her presence known.”