Chapter 70
Noemi paused, her eyes becoming more searching.
“Amelia, are you two gonna face him with all these tumors floating around?”
“That’s enough,” Nathan frowned. “No need to bring this up again. I know wh really happened. Amelia has absolutely nothing to do with him.”
“Nathan!” Noemi shot him a frustrated look.
Kerian, who’d just been shut down, stayed quiet–just smiled and watched the show.
The Harrisons were a massive family.
Starting from William’s generation, they’d built their empire with tons of kids below them.
Quite a crowd had shown up tonight.
Nathan and Amelia were always the center of family attention. Since they’d been standing here for a while, everyone was slowly drifting over.
But only the younger generation was approaching–some direct family, some from the side branches.
The older generation was tactfully staying out of it, supposedly drinking tea, playing chess, and chatting on the third floor.
But Amelia knew better.
Tonight’s dinner was a setup.
Because she’d suddenly appeared with a kid, both Noemi’s interrogation and Kerian’s stirring the pot were being allowed, even encouraged by the
elders.
“Nathan.”
“Amelia.”
“Hey Nathan, Amelia! Good evening!”
Several people headed their way–all from their generation, cousins and more distant relatives.
Some were married and had brought their partners.
Seeing the crowd about to descend on them, Amelia jumped in: “Actually, what happened back then was pretty straightforward.”
“Like Noemi said, Harrison Group had the tech breakthrough first, then went to get the contract. We needed certain things from them, and some orders had to go through their channels.”
“Basically, we broke their technology monopoly.”
“As for the bet…” Amelia’s gaze dropped slightly. “Yeah, there was one. But that was just his personal thing. Wouldn’t have changed the business outcome either way.”
Nathan looked down at Amelia.
That year in France, whatever Amelia and that guy had said during those brief ten minutes when he’d been pulled away, whatever deal they’d made–he’d never found out.
He’d only gone to check the contract details. When he came back, he saw her jumping into that freezing water.
That icy pool, her blood, and the baby they’d lost–it was pain that would haunt them forever.
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Chapter 20
For years after, they’d never talked about that day again.
And he never wanted to see her cry like that again.
“That’s it?” Noemi still wasn’t buying it.
“That’s it.” Before Amelia could answer, Nathan had already spoken. “Noemi, he’s not who you think she is.”
He took Amelia’s hand and pulled her away from the group.
Noemi stood there, hands clenched into fists.
Kerian swirled his wine glass with a smirk.
“Pissed off?” Kerian chuckled. “Don’t you and Nathan usually get along great? You knew he was into Amelia, but you still made him pick sides. Oops, guess that blew up in your face.”
Noemi glared at him. “Screw off!”
Walking away, Amelia replayed Noemi’s words and weird behavior.
What stuck with her was that final comment: “Amelia, have you heard? Mr. Valmont is coming to New York soon.”
Frowning, Amelia tightened her grip on her wine glass.
Since Lord Harrison had said not to wait for him, everyone gathered around a long dining table soon after.
Amelia sat next to Nathan.
Same as always.
Conversation and clinking glasses filled the air, people talking about everything and nothing.
Halfway through dinner, one of the older relatives casually asked about their kid.
Amelia had expected Nathan to join in grilling her, but surprisingly, he shut it down.
“We’ll give everyone the full story about this later,” was all he said.
Since Nathan had spoken, nobody else dared ask directly–they could only hint around the edges.
Amelia watched Nathan ladle soup into her bowl, his face keeping that same unreadable expression.
Then it clicked.
While Nathan ran Harrison Group, there was still plenty of backstabbing going on. Since they were still officially married, he’d have her back in situations like this.
Plus there was what Noemi had mentioned… that kid.
After entering the restaurant, they’d ditched their coats.
Nathan studied Amelia in her long sleeves and pants. Even in loose–fitting clothes, he could tell she’d lost serious weight.
And she was freezing.
Setting the hot soup in front of her, he said, “You need to eat more.”
Dinner wrapped up pretty quickly.
Kerian tried fishing for info from every angle but came up empty.
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Chapter 70
So did everyone else.
Buzz buzz… Nathan’s phone went off call from Lord Harrison’s people.
Nathan stepped away to take it,
Right then, Noemi made her move on Amelia again.
Noemi grabbed a glass of white wine from a passing server and held it out to melia.
“Come on, just one drink?” Noemi asked.
Amelia didn’t say anything, just took it and gave it a shiff. Definitely high–quality white wine.
She took a small sip.
“Try some more–I brought this back from France,” Noemi said with hidden meaning. “Private collection, crazy expensive.”
She added, “And it’s got serious significance.”
Amelia looked up at Noemi.
“Relax, I didn’t spike it or anything,” Noemi smiled. “Nathan’s right here–I’m not that stupid.”
She watched Amelia closely. “I just wanna see if you can taste what makes this wine so special.”
Amelia frowned and tasted it more carefully.
But even then, she couldn’t pick up on anything beyond its obvious quality.
“Sorry,” Amelia said quietly.
But Noemi just grinned.
“So you really have no clue,” Noemi said.
Amelia was totally lost.
Just like everything about Noemi’s behavior tonight–made zero sense.
“Just tell me and I’ll get it,” Amelia said.
But Noemi just shook her head.
She gestured for Amelia to keep drinking.
By now, Amelia had polished off the whole glass.
Amelia waved her off. “I gotta see Grandfather later–can’t drink any more.”
“Fair enough,” Noemi nodded.
She said, “I’m throwing a wine tasting soon, like a homecoming thing. You and Nathan should totally come.”
Amelia thought about it and nodded. The separation period wasn’t over yet–she needed to show up at stuff like this.
Nathan finished his call and came back over.
He grabbed a coat and draped it over Amelia’s shoulders, gave Noemi a quick mod, and they headed out together.”
The wind was brutal over the lake at night.
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Chapter 70
Amelia hunched into herself.
Between the wine and the wind, Amelia felt pretty lightheaded.
“Grandmother just called–Grandfather’s already asleep and can’t see us tonight. She wants us to stay over and visit them in the morning.”
Nathan’s voice came from beside her. Amelia nodded hazily.
Her steps were getting wobbly, and she swayed.
The next second, Nathan caught her and steadied her.
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