Chapter 52
“You don’t need to know,” Landon replied in his mind as he kept scrolling through the news on his phone, not sparing even a glance in Amelia’s direction.
A wave of bitterness hit Amelia harder this time, and she wondered, "He has a mistress, and she's pregnant? Yes, that has to be it. Otherwise, could a pregnancy test pass so conveniently?"
“So, you were prepared all along, huh? No wonder you don’t seem worried at all,” Amelia joked, pretending to stay casual, as always. Landon didn’t bother responding.
“Is it an older woman or a younger one?” Amelia asked again, her tone forced.
“What?” Landon asked inwardly while giving her an odd look. “You think a pregnancy test can tell you that?”
Amelia cleared her throat and said, “What I meant was…”
“Amy, are you done? Let me see it,” Gloria, unable to hold back any longer, called from outside before bursting through the door. Amelia had no choice but to hand over the test in her hand.
“Two lines. You’re pregnant! Oh my gosh.” Gloria’s tears started streaming as she clutched the tests. “Thank the heavens! The Kingsley family finally has an heir.”
Amelia felt a pang of discomfort in her chest. Gloria was kind, and Landon wasn’t bad either. Living here gave Amelia more security than her own home ever did. But now, all of that – the kindness, the stability – was slipping away.
Amelia couldn’t help but feel a little sad. She then lowered her gaze, trying to hide her emotions.
“Amy, thank you. You’re truly our lucky star,” Gloria cried and laughed, wrapping Amelia in a tight hug.
Amelia shot a glance at Landon, feeling awkward. But he remained silent, lying there like an outsider, watching the scene unfold.
Swallowing her reluctance, Amelia prepared to speak the truth, “Gloria, actually, the one who’s pregnant isn’t…”
“Shut it, Amelia!” Landon’s angry inner voice cut through her words. Amelia froze, stunned.
Amelia looked at him in confusion, blinking her eyes. She wondered, "Your woman is already pregnant, and you still want her to be left out in the cold?"
“You’re Mrs. Kingsley. The one who’s pregnant is you,” Landon snapped inwardly, glaring at Amelia. He thought, "How stupid can she be? I already had everything ready for her, yet she didn’t even know how to act!"
Amelia was even more shocked and pondered, "Is he asking me to fake a pregnancy?"
“Amy, what were you about to say just now?” Gloria released Amelia, her eyes nervously fixed on her face.
Amelia glanced at Gloria and then at Landon, steeling herself before speaking, “Is being pregnant a good thing right now?”
“How could it not be? It’s a wonderful thing,” Gloria sighed in relief. “Amy, I know the company’s affairs are overwhelming, and Landon fully relies on you now, but having a baby is something that can’t wait.”
“I see…” Amelia lowered her head guiltily, unable to meet Gloria’s eyes.
Amelia thought, "Landon had been in a vegetative state for three months, during which no strangers had been allowed near him–especially not women. Since I had come into his life, no other women had shown up."
“So this so-called 'pregnant woman' must have been someone he knew before the accident. Maybe a one-night stand. Maybe a long-term secret lover. Or maybe…someone he’d hired to have a child just to cover up his true sexual preferences."
“Whatever it is, it is good news for the Kingsley family to have an heir. But why did my chest feel tight and bitter?”
Gloria gave her a long list of pregnancy precautions, but Amelia didn’t absorb a single word. She didn’t even notice when…
“Amelia, what are you spacing out about?” Landon asked in his mind as he studied her closely.
“Oh. Uh…nothing,” she forced a smile and grabbed her bag. “I’m heading to the office.” Without waiting for a reply, she bolted out of the bedroom, fleeing.
Landon frowned in confusion and pondered, "I have resolved her predicament, so why isn’t she happy?" Then, his eyes caught the discarded pregnancy test on the dresser. A thought crossed his mind–did she think I had a pregnant mistress out there? Was she jealous!
With that in mind, a slow grin spread across Landon’s face. His mood instantly lifted.
A few days later, Walter and Melissa were sentenced to five years in prison, and Edwards Group’s equity transfer documents were sent to Kingsley Group’s CEO’s office.
Amelia picked up the documents with a smile. Adding the 30% equity she already held, her shares now totaled 80%. Edwards Group was finally hers.
Although Walter had founded the company, the initial funds had come from Debra’s assets. Without Debra, there would be no Edwards Group today. Amelia couldn’t let Walter and Melissa trample over her mother’s legacy any longer.
“Mom, I’ve taken back what’s yours,” Amelia murmured, opening the equity transfer documents. But as soon as she saw the signature, she froze.
She wondered, "Landon? The new owner of Edwards Group is Landon? Huh?"
Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Aaron explained, “Mrs. Kingsley, Mr. Kingsley said you’re not ready yet to manage the company independently.”
“So, this was his decision, wasn’t it?” Amelia slammed the documents onto the desk, her frustration evident. Aaron just smiled without saying a word.
“He’s unbelievable,” Amelia fumed but had no choice in the matter. After all, the money was Landon’s–he had every right to give Edwards Group to whoever he wanted. It was only fair if he chose not to give it to her.
“Mrs. Kingsley, Sandra, as the second largest shareholder, is requesting to meet you,” Aaron said.
“What does she want with me? Landon is the major shareholder, tell her to go talk to him,” Amelia scoffed, glancing at the mountain of paperwork on her desk, tempted to drop everything altogether.
Aaron chuckled, “Mrs. Kingsley, isn’t Mr. Kingsley’s everything already yours?”
“Not at all,” Amelia replied and took a deep breath.
She mused, "Landon is reminding me that I’m just a puppet. As long as he didn’t agree, I could be sidelined at any moment. Fine. Perfect!"
Amelia took two more calming breaths and said, “Let Sandra in.”
“Amelia, I’m begging you. Please help me…” Sandra, who was always so arrogant, now looked utterly drained and defeated.
“Stop the act already.” Amelia sat behind her desk, her expression cold and unyielding.
Sandra faltered, clutching her stomach as she sat down, tears spilling. “I was bullied…”
“And what does that have to do with me?” Amelia’s tension eased slightly. She pondered, "Oh, so she isn’t here to fight? But who bullied her?"
“It’s Elizabeth, that shameless woman. She keeps clinging to Zachary, even making out with him right in front of me. They’re so cruel.” Sandra’s voice cracked as the memory of it made her heart ache. “Can you help me deal with Elizabeth? Please?”
Amelia chuckled, her voice dripping with irony, “When you were all over Zachary back then, did you ever think about how I felt?”
Sandra froze, her guilty conscience silencing her tears. It was karma. The pain she’d inflicted on Amelia was now being returned tenfold by Elizabeth.
Amelia narrowed her eyes and asked, “Sandra, do you even realize how ridiculous it is for you to cry to me about this?”
“You’re the only family I have who can help me now. Blood is thicker than water; if you don’t help me, who will?” Sandra’s lip trembled, wanting to cry again. It was as if Amelia refusing her would be a sin against heaven and earth.
Graceful and composed as Amelia was, she couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Sandra, please get this straight. There is no family bond between us anymore. We’re enemies.”
“If you won’t help me, I’ll ruin this.” Sandra threatened as she pulled a diamond bracelet out of her bag.
It was the keepsake Zachary had once given Amelia, something she had treasured dearly. Sandra believed Amelia would definitely cave for it. Sandra also wholeheartedly believed that if Elizabeth were dealt with, Zachary would be hers again.
Amelia sneered, unfazed, “It’s just a bracelet. Go ahead and destroy it.”