Chapter 69
“Gloria, you wanted to see me?” Amelia walked into the living room, well-dressed, and her eyes swept across the scene. Her gaze fell on several intimate photos scattered across the table and floor. At first glance, she almost thought she was looking at pictures of herself.
‘So this is Henry’s attempt to frame me? How amateur,’ Amelia thought with contempt.
Gloria stepped forward quickly and then hesitated, her eyes filled with conflict as she looked at Amelia, “Amy…”
“Gloria, if you can’t handle this, I will,” Henry barked.
“No.” Gloria’s response was immediate as she instinctively moved to stand between Amelia and Henry. No matter what Amelia did to the Kingsley family, Gloria would never hand her over to him.
Knowing Henry’s reputation with women and his darker proclivities, Gloria feared what might happen if Amelia fell into his hands.
“Gloria, how can you still defend her after all this?” Henry’s eyes raked over Amelia with a predatory smirk.
‘Ah, youth…so fresh and delicate, like a flower in bloom. The more I look, the more tempting she becomes,’ Henry thought.
“Amy, do you know this person?” Gloria pointed at Lanny.
Amelia’s face remained composed as she nodded. “Isn’t he the new employee at the company? I’ve run into him twice at the office.”
“Twice?” Henry sneered. “You’ve had a child together, and you’re still trying to lie your way out of this?”
“Ms. Edwards, I’m sorry,” Lanny added. “I didn’t want to betray you, but the truth was bound to come out sooner or later.”
“What truth? Since when were we even close?” Amelia’s lips curved into a cold smile as she fixed him with an icy stare.
“Our relationship has been exposed.” Lanny hung his head, his eyes darting nervously around the room, afraid to meet Amelia’s gaze. “Let’s just admit it. Your plan to get pregnant with my child to steal Kingsley Group… It’s over.”
“Amelia, we have witnesses and evidence. What do you have to say for yourself?” Henry snatched up several photos and threw them at her feet.
Amelia barely glanced at them before pulling out her phone and dialing. “Hello, 911?”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Henry’s face darkened as he grabbed the phone from her hand.
“Call the police,” Amelia said confidently. “Let them investigate where these photos came from.”
Gloria’s face lit up with relief as she clutched Amelia’s arm. “Amy, they’re trying to frame you, aren’t they?”
“Yes.” Amelia looked at Gloria’s tear-filled eyes without a hint of resentment. She understood how difficult it must be for Gloria to manage such a powerful family.
“Amy…” Gloria’s tears finally fell as guilt and sorrow overwhelmed her. “I’m so sorry. It’s not that I didn’t trust you…”
“Gloria, I understand,” Amelia said with a gentle smile. “When doubts like this come up, they need to be addressed properly.”
“The evidence is right here. You can’t get away with it.” Henry slammed his fist on the table and bellowed. “Get her out of Kingsley!” guards moved forward on command.
His two security personnel...
Gloria steadied herself and raised her hand with authority. In an instant, a line of security personnel formed a barrier between Henry and Amelia while others forcefully threw Henry’s men out the door.
“Gloria, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Henry’s face contorted with shock and rage.
“If you’re so convinced of Amy’s guilt, why not let her defend herself?” Gloria’s voice cut through the air like steel.
“The evidence is right here. Why involve the police?” Henry’s eyes blazed as he glared at Gloria. “Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough? Do you want all of Norava to know about Landon being cheated on?”
The sight was intimidating enough to make even Amelia uneasy, let alone the petite Gloria. Thank goodness for the security team in the house; they'd keep them both safe.
“You really think you can accuse me of cheating with fake evidence?” Amelia straightened her spine, projecting confidence. “These photos are AI-generated. That’s not even my face.”
“What about Lanny then? He’s real enough, isn’t he?” Henry roughly yanked Lanny forward, shoving him in front of Amelia. Lanny was trembling, too terrified to make a sound.
“Having contact with employees is perfectly normal,” Amelia replied with icy composure.
“Bullshit. You’ve been fooling around with him at the office every day. You’re even carrying his child,” Henry sneered.
Amelia let out a short, cold laugh. “Heh.”
“What’s so funny?” Henry’s brow furrowed in anger.
Despite having everything under his control, with Amelia seemingly as powerless as an ant, Henry couldn’t shake the chill that ran down his spine at her smile.
“We can do a DNA test on my baby,” Amelia said, her hand resting on her stomach.
Henry relaxed, smirking inwardly. ‘So that’s her game.’ A wave of smug satisfaction washed over him. ‘No matter. I’m already one step ahead.’
“I’ve already consulted with doctors. Fetal DNA testing requires at least 65 days of pregnancy. Do you really expect the Kingsleys to keep supporting you until then? If we wait any longer, you’ll bleed our family dry,” Henry sneered.
“Henry, you’ve certainly done your homework,” Amelia replied, her smile unwavering, showing no trace of fear.
“What’s the rush? It’s just two months,” Gloria interjected. She had no idea what Amelia was planning. “Amy only has temporary control of the company. She can’t actually steal anything.”
“Let’s wait for the police,” Amelia said calmly.
“Yes, let’s.” Gloria nodded, reaching for her phone. This time, she would be the one making the call.
“Don’t you dare,” Henry shouted, panic rising in his voice.
“Why not?” Gloria challenged him. By now, she was absolutely certain this was all Henry’s elaborate scheme.
“Everything I’ve done was for you and Landon, for the Kingsley family. Why can’t you understand that, Gloria?” Henry exploded.
“We should call a doctor,” Amelia suggested coolly.
Gloria’s face instantly filled with concern. “Amy, is something wrong with the baby?”
“There never was a baby.” Amelia lifted her chin, taking satisfaction in watching the color drain from Henry’s face.
“That’s… That’s impossible,” Henry stammered, his composure cracking. “The pregnancy test, the medical records about the threatened miscarriage…”
“It’s all fake.” Amelia gently squeezed Gloria’s hand. “Gloria, I’m sorry I deceived you.”
“What?” Gloria stood there stunned.
“I was planning to tell you later, but since Henry’s determined to make my pregnancy an issue, I had to come clean now.” Amelia’s voice was apologetic.
Gloria felt a whirlwind of emotions. While relieved that Amelia’s reputation remained intact, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed about losing the prospect of a grandchild.
“So, Henry, Lanny, what do you have to say for yourselves?” Amelia asked with a slight smirk.
Henry’s face had turned a deep shade of red as he stared at Amelia’s stomach, refusing to believe the pregnancy was fake.
As for Lanny, he was trembling even more violently now. Not only would Henry withhold payment for the failed setup, but Lanny’d also lose the job he’d struggled so hard to find.
Henry, having regained his composure, snapped, “Lanny. Tell her.”
Lanny understood what Henry wanted. His voice trembled as he spoke, “Amy, how could you lie to me too? I really thought I was going to be a father.”
“With that twisted mindset of yours, I hope you never have children.” Amelia rolled her eyes, not bothering to argue with someone who was clearly being manipulated.
Lanny fell silent, having no response.
“Amelia, is this how you speak to the man you supposedly love?” Henry’s voice dripped with malice as he changed tactics. “Even if you’re not pregnant, you have cheated, and that’s unforgivable.”