Amelia no longer had to bow to Ethan.
The next day, after settling things, she moved everything from the old downtown studio into the villa with the garden.
No ceremony. No guests. Just her and Amanda are setting up the new space quietly.
It felt peaceful and warm, like a fresh start.
Amelia didn’t go back for days. She didn’t call Ethan either, let alone beg him like he expected.
At first, Ethan was angry. Then his anger slowly turned into something he hated admitting – unease.
He couldn’t hold it in anymore and drove to Amelia’s old studio.
But all he found was a locked door. The owner of the shop next door said coldly, “Ms. Harlow moved out long ago.”
Standing in the empty alley, Ethan tasted defeat for the first time.
His face darkened as he got back in his car. “Find out where Amelia moved her studio,” he told Kevin.
Ethan went home with a heavy heart. Once again, he imagined Amelia waiting for him in the living room, cooking dinner, softening her tone, admitting she was wrong.
But when he stepped into the house, the person cooking in the kitchen wasn’t Amelia.
It was Hannah.
And Isla was helping her wash vegetables.
Hannah had been doing all the cooking recently. She said she wanted to “repay” Ethan for letting her stay. But today, Ethan felt something else.
It felt like every trace of Amelia was being erased little by little.
Soon, Hannah finished the last dish and gently told Isla to call Ethan for dinner. Then she sat down right in Amelia’s usual seat, like it belonged to her.
Ethan walked to the table with a blank face – until his gaze landed on Hannah.
She was wearing one of Amelia’s silk blouses.
His brows snapped together as his voice turned cold. “Hannah, why are you wearing Amelia’s clothes?”
Hannah flinched and took a small step back, like she was scared. “I’m sorry, Ethan … I left in a hurry and didn’t bring many clothes. The outfit I wore earlier got dirty because of Isla. The rest are still drying, so I just borrowed Ms. Harlow’s shirt for now … “
When she saw that Ethan was heartbroken, her eyes instantly turned red. She lowered her head and apologized even more pitifully. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t touch Ms. Harlow’s things. I know I don’t deserve to wear her clothes.”
She exaggeratedly wiped her eyes, then asked carefully, “How much is this blouse? If Ms. Harlow gets mad, I’ll buy it. Or I can buy the same one and replace it.”
Isla spoke up in her innocent little voice, “Mommy, didn’t the bad woman take all your money? How can you buy new clothes?”
Hannah instantly put on a brave look and stroked Isla’s head. “It’s okay. I can go earn money.”
Their conversation left Ethan with nothing to say.
A fire was burning in his chest, but he couldn’t take it out on Hannah and Isla.
In the end, he pulled a card from his wallet.
“Take Isla to buy clothes tomorrow. There’s no password on this card, and there’s no limit.” His tone was stiff. “And don’t touch any of Amelia’s personal things again.”
Hannah stared at the card, pretending to hesitate. “How could I accept this? Ethan, I can’t spend your money for free.”
“Take it,” Ethan said coldly. “This is something
No Sex for Six Years Because of Her? I’m Done!
I owe you and Isla on Jack’s behalf.”
A pale shadow crossed Hannah’s face.
But she quickly hid it and forced a shy smile. “Okay … thank you, Ethan. I’ll change out of Ms. Harlow’s blouse later and return it to her closet.”
Ethan didn’t bother looking at her again and walked straight to his study.
The second he left, Hannah’s weak and pitiful expression vanished completely.
She picked up the card and smirked, then headed upstairs and opened the door to Amelia’s bedroom.
But instead of changing out of Amelia’s blouse, she pushed open Amelia’s walk-in closet and began trying on every expensive outfit she had secretly coveted.
She finally picked Amelia’s favorite dress and put it on. She admired herself in the mirror, then snapped a picture – and sent it straight to Amelia.
Along with the photo came a line of text dripping with provocation.
“I look way better in your clothes than you ever did.”
Hannah had gone into her room and stolen her clothes.
Amelia felt sick to her stomach.
Then she got angry.
For a moment, she wanted to send the photo to Ethan right away and demand an answer. Is this the poor, helpless mother he brought home? Is this the “duty” he kept talking about?
But just as her finger was about to hit “send,” the photo disappeared. Hannah had deleted it.
Amelia froze. And suddenly … she calmed down.
Hannah wasn’t stupid.
She knew Amelia might act on impulse. She even counted on it.
If Amelia went to Ethan without proof, she’d get nothing.
He wouldn’t blame Hannah. He’d blame her – say she was overreacting, jealous, or being petty because her card was frozen.
He might even think she was causing trouble on purpose.
Amelia felt tightness in her chest, but she forced a deep breath and pushed the anger down.
Then she opened her chat with Amanda. “Amanda, quick question. What do you usually do with clothes you don’t like anymore and will never wear again?”
She replied right away. “Sell them online, duh! Even if they don’t get much, money is still money! When it adds up, you can treat yourself to a nice meal!”
Amelia understood instantly.
Amanda was right.
Those clothes Hannah touched were like fresh food ruined by flies. No matter how expensive, they only disgusted her now.
Better to get rid of them all.
She decided that the next time she went back, she would empty the closet.
As for the Emberfall Villa, Ethan promised her – after this chaos, it was probably never happening.
So Amelia stayed at her new studio.
There was a sunny room on the second floor. With some simple decorating, it became a cozy bedroom.
That night, Amelia lay in the unfamiliar bed. Moonlight washed in through the window, and she could even smell faint hints of flowers from the garden.
She thought she would stay awake all night from stress.
But instead, a strange calm wrapped around her.
She fell asleep quickly … and dreamed a dream she hadn’t had in years.
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.