She was desperate to escape, but she forced herself to stay calm.
At the main table, David finally coughed heavily. His weathered eyes, lined with years of experience, gave nothing away.
“They’re guests. Since they’re here, arrange seats for them.”
The butler immediately understood and stepped forward to lead Hannah and her daughter to an empty table nearby.
But Isla wasn’t having it.
She gripped Ethan’s shirt tightly, whining tearfully. “No! I want Ethan to sit with us!”
The unreasonable demand once again put Ethan on the spot.
He looked at Amelia uncertainly, as if seeking her opinion.
Amelia felt nothing but numbness.
She met his gaze indifferently, then looked away softly. “Go ahead.”
Those two words made Ethan feel a trace of unease.
He was always concerned with appearances, but he knew clearly that if he really abandoned his wife and in-laws to sit with Hannah and her daughter at another table, it would be a complete trampling on the Harlows’ dignity.
He could treat Hannah and her daughter well in private, but in such a public setting, Ethan’s wife could only be Amelia.
Ethan’s expression darkened.
No Sex for Six Years Because of Her? I’m Done!
“Isla, be good and go eat with your mother over there. Otherwise, I’ll have someone take you home right now.”
Perhaps having never seen him so serious, Isla froze in shock, her lips trembling, tears pooling in her eyes.
In the end, she let Hannah take her hand and followed the butler to the adjacent table.
Ethan returned to sit beside Amelia and raised his wine glass, explaining to the Harlows, who wore various expressions. “I apologize. Isla is the child of a late friend of mine. My friend made me promise on his deathbed to look after them, so I’ve indulged her perhaps too much. My apologies for the scene.”
David had wanted to smooth things over anyway, so he took the lifeline Ethan offered and said flatly, “Ethan, your loyalty to your friends is admirable.”
With David’s words, no matter how uncomfortable the Harlows felt, they could only pretend nothing had happened.
The atmosphere at the banquet grew lively again.
Ethan quietly breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to hold Amelia’s hand under the table, seeking some comfort.
But when his fingertips touched the back of her hand, he was startled by how shockingly cold it was.
And Amelia remained stiff-faced, not giving him a single glance.
The banquet ended in false harmony.
As guests gradually dispersed, Hannah suddenly came over again, holding a drowsy-looking Isla.
Her face was full of anxiety as she spoke to Ethan, who had just stood up. “Ethan, I think Isla has a fever.”
Hearing this, Ethan reached out to feel the child’s forehead, and his expression shifted.
He bent down and scooped Isla up, saying to Hannah, “I’ll arrange to have you both taken to the hospital right away.”
With that, he carried the child and led Hannah out, hurrying through the crowd until they disappeared at the entrance to the banquet hall.
As soon as they left, David finally couldn’t keep up the facade anymore.
His wrinkled face was dark as storm clouds as he said coldly to Amelia, who was still standing there, “Come to the study room with me.”
…
“Amelia, listen up!”
In the study room, David sat coldly in his leather wingback chair.
Amelia’s heart was full of resentment, but she could only listen to him.
“Look at what you’ve done today!” David scolded coldly. “A perfectly good birthday celebration, and you’ve made it into this mess!”
Amelia kept her head down, not defending herself.
She knew that in David’s eyes, the one at fault would never be Ethan, who could bring benefits to the Harlows, only her, the granddaughter who didn’t know her place.
“That woman brought her child right to our faces, and you can’t even control your own husband!” David’s fury burned hotter. “All these years of marriage, and not only can you not give him a child, now you’re making trouble, talking about focusing on your career!
“I think you’re just getting more and more out of line! Don’t forget that as a woman, your duty is to support your husband! That’s your place!
“Stop this personal studio nonsense immediately! Starting tomorrow, stay home and learn how to be a proper wife!”
Hearing this, Amelia finally raised her head.
“Grandpa, opening a studio doesn’t conflict with being his wife.” Her eyes showed unusual determination. “I won’t give it up.”
“You dare to talk back?” David was enraged. “This is outrageous! Someone … “
The two maids who had been waiting by the door walked in at his call.
“You will stand right there and listen to me!” David pointed at Amelia and roared. “If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll never learn your place!”
The maids looked uncomfortable but didn’t dare to disobey David’s orders.
One stood by, holding a notepad to formally record his demands, while two others stepped forward and grabbed Amelia’s shoulders from both sides, forcing her to stand still and preventing her from moving.
Amelia didn’t struggle.
She just stood there, like a soulless statue.
Just then, Ethan’s voice came from outside the study room.
“Beatrice, where’s Amelia? Is she in the study room talking with David?”
Amelia’s dead heart jumped uncontrollably.
A flicker of hope stirred within her.
“No, Grandpa is in the study room, but he’s alone. Amelia probably thought you left with Hannah, so she went home by herself.”
Outside the door, Ethan fell silent for a moment.
In that moment, time seemed to stretch infinitely.
Amelia held her breath through the searing pain.
If only Ethan would just push the door open to check.
Or if he took out his phone to call her …
He could expose Beatrice’s clumsy lie.
Would he?
Amelia heard only his indifferent voice. “Is that so? I see.”
Then came the sound of footsteps gradually fading away.
Ethan left.
He chose to believe Beatrice’s words and left.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.