Chapter 60

Zachary’s piercing scream echoed through the room as Amelia made her move. The men present winced collectively, instinctively startled at the sight.

It was shocking to see Amelia, known for her gentle and elegant demeanor, stomp down between Zachary’s legs without hesitation.

“Ah…” Zachary doubled over, his hands cupped protectively over his groin. He couldn’t feel anything at that moment.

“If you ever pull a stunt like this again, I’ll cut your dick off,” Amelia snarled, her teeth clenched. If it weren’t for the law, she wouldn’t have hesitated to grab a pair of scissors and make good on her threat.

“I won’t. I swear I won’t ever do it again,” Zachary begged pathetically, trembling with fear.

Amelia had cleaned up and changed into fresh clothes. As she towered over Zachary, her expression was nothing short of murderous.

To Zachary, she looked like a completely different person—cold, distant, and utterly terrifying. If he hadn’t seen her with his own eyes, he’d never believe this was the same woman he once knew.

“Mr. Kingsley, we should go,” Aaron said quietly.

Amelia nodded and left with them, leaving Zachary alone in the hotel hallway like a drowning dog. The hotel’s security cameras kept their silent watch, but no one came to his rescue.

Finally, Zachary managed to drag himself back to the bedroom to seek Elizabeth’s help. “Elizabeth, please, I need your help,” he pleaded.

“Help you with what?” Elizabeth sat on the bed, her silk robe sliding carelessly off one shoulder, revealing smooth skin and tantalizing curves. Though her sideways glance was seductive, her smile was as cold as ice. She showed absolutely no concern for Zachary’s injuries…

“Elizabeth, I was nearly beaten to death out there. Didn’t you hear anything?” Zachary complained as he collapsed onto the bed.

“Oh, I heard you. I just don’t feel like helping,” Elizabeth shrugged.

Zachary’s eyes widened in confusion.

Elizabeth gave a slight, knowing smile. “You have Sandra at home and me on the side, Zachary. Why are you still so hung up on Amelia?” Her tone was casual, but there was an edge to her words.

A knot formed in Zachary’s stomach as realization hit him. His actions today had angered both the Kingsley family and Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth, let me explain,” he rushed to defend himself. “It’s not that I still have feelings for her. I just wanted to teach her a lesson.”

“You want to screw her, right?” Elizabeth’s lips curled into a contemptuous smirk as she shrugged. “At my dad’s dinner, you thought I was her while you slept with me. Now, one look at her and you’re falling all over yourself again. Why should I trust you with another dime of investment?”

Zachary felt a cold sweat break out. “Elizabeth, it’s not what you think. She stole the Stonefield property from me. I hate her guts for that. All I want is to get it back.”

“The Stonefield property?” Elizabeth’s eyebrows shot up. “Go on.”

Wincing through the pain, Zachary explained, “I have some inside information. In three months, that property’s value is going to explode. We’re talking over three billion dollars.”

Zachary snarled through gritted teeth. “Amelia must have caught wind of my plans and used Kingsley Group to snatch that land right from under me. A project worth three billion dollars in just three months. How could I not be furious?”

“That’s some serious money,” Elizabeth mused, studying Zachary with newfound interest. The Foster family is practically nobody in Norava, she thought. How did Zachary get his hands on such valuable insider information? I’ve clearly underestimated him.

“Elizabeth, she’s got control of that property,” Zachary said with malicious intent. “If I screw her up, the Kingsley family will throw her out. You can blackmail her with a sex tape to get the land. When I make it big, you get your share too.”

After Zachary’s persistent manipulation, Elizabeth finally gave in. Her demeanor softened as she stood up to pour him a cup of water. “Here, have some water first. I’ll call a doctor to check on you.”

While waiting for the doctor, he found himself reevaluating his relationship with Elizabeth.

“Thank you, Elizabeth,” Zachary let out a heavy sigh of relief. As he endured the pain...

She seems to want more than just a fling, Zachary thought.

It was a pristine day with crystal-clear skies. Landon sat anxiously in his wheelchair, waiting with mounting tension.

Elizabeth told him that Zachary had made his move on Amelia. Landon just hoped Aaron got there in time before something terrible happened.

Gloria, unaware of the full situation, only knew that Landon had driven away Amelia, who had finally married him after all this time. After taking Landon to the living room, she completely ignored him. She hadn’t even let a single servant attend to him.

The wait was excruciating for Landon. Each passing second felt like torture as if he were being roasted alive over hot coals.

The sound of a car pulling up outside finally broke the silence. Landon tensed, straining his ears and craning his neck to see through the window.

Amelia returned with Aaron by her side, but she was wearing different clothes than when she’d left last night. It didn’t take much imagination to figure out why her previous outfit would never be worn again.

What happened to her? Landon thought, his heart sinking with regret for sending her away the night before.

“Mr. Kingsley, Mrs. Kingsley is just shaken up, but she’s okay,” Aaron reported diplomatically.

Only after confirming she wasn’t hurt did Landon’s heart finally settle. He gestured for Aaron to wait outside.

Once they were alone in the living room, Landon thought, Now you see what happens when you leave the protection of the Kingsley family.

Amelia felt her heart sink like a stone in a frozen lake, but she stubbornly replied, “This was just an accident.”

Amelia had thought that since Landon saved her and brought her home, he would show some concern for her well-being. Instead, all she got was mockery. Heartless jerk, she scoffed internally.

“Amelia, without the Kingsley family’s protection, you don’t stand a chance against Zachary,” Landon’s voice softened as his eyes fell on her puffy, tear-stained ones. “Just be a good girl and don’t make me angry again.”

Despite his harsh words, he couldn’t bring himself to scold her any further when he saw how much she’d been crying.

Landon’s words cut Amelia deeply. She sneered, “Be a good girl? What am I to you, some kind of pet?”

That’s not what I meant, Landon said, taken aback, furrowing his brow.

Amelia was completely infuriated now. Her voice turned ice-cold as she spoke, “You’re so full of yourself, Landon. Yes, I’m under the Kingsley family’s protection. And yes, when I first came to the Kingsleys, I was looking for protection.

“But I’ve contributed plenty to the Kingsley family. I’m not just here taking advantage without pulling my weight.

“Think about it, Landon. Who else could you even talk to when you were practically a vegetable? How else would you have recovered so quickly? And don’t forget, I’m the reason you managed to get rid of Henry and save the family fortune.”

Her words hit him like a series of punches, each one landing squarely. Landon was speechless. He’d been trying to protect Amelia, but somehow, he’d ended up ticking her off.

“Well said,” Gloria clapped as she walked in from outside. “Amy’s absolutely right.”

“Gloria…” Amelia’s fierce expression melted away at the sight of Gloria, her anger fading instantly.

“Amy, I’m on your side,” Gloria gave Amelia a hug. “This whole mess is Landon’s fault. A man should be generous and understanding, especially toward his wife. How could he even think of kicking out his pregnant wife during an argument?”

Landon felt awkward under Gloria’s criticism. His lips pressed into a line as he remained silent. The truth was, Amelia wasn’t actually pregnant. He had jumped to the wrong conclusion last night.

If it hadn’t been for Elizabeth’s warning and Aaron’s timely arrival, Amelia might have ended up pregnant with someone else’s child. The thought made Landon shudder. He knew he’d been wrong to drive her away.

“Look at how red Amy’s eyes are. She must have been crying her heart out,” Gloria scolded, giving Landon’s wheelchair a light kick. “This is all your fault.”

Landon was speechless. Mom, you’re actually kicking your injured son for Amelia’s sake? I’m still a patient here, you know, he thought.

“Amy, don’t be sad anymore. I’m here for you.” Gloria soothed her with genuine maternal affection. There was nothing fake about her tenderness. It was the pure love of a mother for her daughter.

It had been so long since Amelia had felt this kind of maternal warmth. All the hurt she’d been holding back came rushing to the surface, and fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “Gloria,” she whispered.

“Let it all out, honey. I promise you, no one will ever try to drive you away again.” As Gloria spoke these words, she shot Landon a sharp glare.

Landon let out a weary sigh and tried to placate her sincerely. Amelia, I’m sorry. This is all my fault, he voiced in his mind.

Landon let...