She had already given up. There was nothing left to care about.
Just then, her phone screen lit up. A text from Gianna showed up, only two words, “I won.”
Amelia looked at it and let out a small laugh.
She smiled, but it was a cold smile, laced with deep disdain.
If Gianna wanted leftovers, she could take them.
This marriage was just a deal between the Desters and the Nygards. Amelia was never the kind of person to beg or settle.
She took off her engagement ring and dropped it into a champagne glass.
Clink!
The ring sank to the bottom, making tiny splashes.
Josie’s eyes widened. “Amelia, you … “
“It’s over!”
Amelia turned around, held up her dress, and walked out of the banquet hall without a glance back.
The guests moved aside to let her pass. Everyone was stunned by the cold aura she gave off.
At Centria Hospital.
The VIP room smelled faintly of disinfectant.
Gianna sat in a hospital gown, white bandages wrapped around her head. Her eyes were red and watery, making her look weak and pitiful. “Vincent, I’m sorry. This is all my fault. You should go back. Today is your engagement with Amelia. Don’t let me ruin it … “
Vincent frowned and spoke in a calm, gentle voice. “This isn’t your fault. Just focus on getting better. Don’t say things like that.”
Gianna shook her head lightly. “But … I’m worried Amelia will misunderstand. I want to explain to her.”
“Gianna, don’t move! The doctor said you have a concussion and need rest! Silly girl, you’re injured yet still worried about others.” Emery held Gianna’s hand tightly, her face full of worry.
Then she looked at Vincent. “Vincent, Gianna has always been so thoughtful, not like Amelia, who’s so stubborn. You shouldn’t always spoil her.”
She spoke as if Amelia wasn’t even her own daughter.
Out of sight, Gianna’s lips curled into a proud, sneaky smile.
She had planned this. At the last moment of the engagement, she had struck Amelia where it hurt the most.
Everything that once belonged to Amelia, Gianna was going to take away.
She believed she should be the only one heiress of the Nygards.
And soon, she had another “surprise” waiting for Amelia!
Amelia walked out of the hotel. The cool night wind brushed past her, helping her clear her mind.
Josie hurried after her. “Amelia, wait for me!”
She had just reached Amelia when a black van stopped suddenly in front of them with a loud screech! The side door flew open, and two men wearing masks rushed toward Amelia.
“Amelia, watch out!” Josie shouted.
Amelia’s eyes turned sharp. She quickly moved aside, grabbed one man’s wrist, and twisted it hard!
Crack!
“Ahh!” the man yelled in pain, but before he could fight back, Amelia slammed her knee into his stomach. He fell to the ground, groaning.
The second man swung a bat at her, but Amelia only let out a small grin. She spun around, dodged, and kicked him right in the jaw with her high heel.
Thud! The man dropped to the ground and passed out.
Josie froze, her mouth wide open. “Amelia, since when can you fight like that?”
Amelia smoothed down her dress, speaking calmly. “When you grow up away from home, you have to know how to protect yourself.”
Back at the Nygards, she had always kept her skills hidden to protect the family’s reputation, pretending to be a graceful lady.
But they only saw her as weak, someone easy to control.
She had already accepted the arranged marriage, yet they kept stepping on her pride.
Amelia bent down and pulled the mask off one of the men. “Speak! Who sent you?”
This couldn’t be random. She had just left the hotel, and these men showed up right away.
They must have been waiting for her.
The man winced in pain but tried to lie. “No one sent us! We just thought you were rich and wanted to rob you!”
Amelia gave a cold smile and pressed her heel on his fingers, adding more pressure. “I’ll give you one more chance.”
“Ahh! Okay, okay!” Sweat ran down his face. “I-it was a woman! She told us if we kidnapped you and took some dirty photos, she’d pay us half a million. She even said we could … do whatever we wanted to you!”
Josie gasped. “Who would do something like that? Gianna?”
Amelia’s eyes turned cold. She snapped photos of the men’s faces with her phone. Her voice was cold as ice. “Call the police.”
The next day, Amelia came back home by herself.
As soon as she stepped into the living room, she saw her parents and three brothers gathered around Gianna, fussing over her.
Clearly, her injuries weren’t serious after all. She had already left the hospital.
Amelia stopped at the doorway, watching with cold eyes, her lips curving into a mocking smile.
She knew very well that Gianna was the one who planned the kidnapping last night.
As if sensing her thoughts, Gianna glanced over at her. She gave her a small smile, her eyes full of challenge.
Anger surged through Amelia. Fury exploded in her heart. She walked forward and slapped Gianna hard across the face.
Smack!
The sound echoed in the living room. Gianna’s head snapped to the side, and a bright red handprint appeared on her pale cheek.
Everyone in the Nygards froze in shock.
A moment later, Emery screamed and rushed forward. “Amelia! Have you lost your mind? I didn’t even question you about where you were last night, and now you come back and hit your sister?”
Marcelo jumped up, his face dark. “How dare you hit Gianna? Apologize to her, right now!”
But Amelia was faster. She slapped him across the face, too. “No way! Shut up. She deserved it!”
Miguel cursed loudly. “Are you insane?”
Smack!
She slapped him without a second thought. “Shut up!”
When Maxwell opened his mouth to speak, Amelia didn’t hesitate and smacked him as well.
Now it was even.
Unlike her family, who always took sides, she was fair. Everyone got the same treatment.
By now, Amelia’s patience was gone.
They had crossed her bottom line.
Raymond’s face turned red, looking like he was about to burst from anger. But before he could speak, Amelia snapped at him, “You better stay quiet, or you’ll get the same treatment.”
Gianna held her cheek, tears rolling down as her voice shook. “Amelia, why did you hit me? I never wanted to fight with you … “
Amelia glared at her, her eyes sharp and cold. “Gianna, you know exactly why. Those two thugs already told me everything.”
At that, Raymond’s brows furrowed. “What thugs?”
“I was almost kidnapped last night,” Amelia said coldly.
Gianna’s face turned white, but she quickly forced out some tears to look pitiful. “Amelia, why are you framing me? I was in the hospital last night … “
Emery rushed in front of her, glaring at Amelia. “What nonsense are you talking about? Gianna is badly hurt. How could she ever do such a thing?”
Marcelo gave a mocking laugh. “Amelia, have you lost your mind? Just to drag her down, you’d even stoop this low?”
Amelia looked at them all, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh.
“You don’t trust me? Fine. Ask the police. I’ve already reported it.” Her cold eyes locked on Gianna.
Gianna trembled instinctively and quickly hid behind Emery.
Amelia didn’t bother to argue anymore. “In this house, it’s either her or me. If she stays, I leave. If I stay, she’s out. You decide.”
At last, she saw their true colors.
She was done with this family. If they wanted to make her miserable, she’d make them even more pathetic.
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.