After finishing evening classes, Amelia was picked up by William.
On the way, Amelia never looked up and was engrossed in chatting with someone on her cell phone.
She didnât even hear two out of the three sentences William spoke to her.
Upon returning home, seeing her change into shoes while standing at the entrance, still texting, Young Master Lane couldnât bear it anymore.
William directly pulled the cell phone out of her hand.
âGive it back to me.â Amelia tried to snatch the phone back.
William raised the phone above his head.
Jumping twice, Amelia couldnât reach the phone, she puffed her face in anger, âGive it to me!â
âWho are you talking to?â William asked.
Amelia looked at him, âItâs my privacy.â
William turned off the phone without looking at it and put it in his pocket, âIâve confiscated it.â
Amelia wanted to get the phone from his pocket, but William grasped it firmly. She couldnât pull it away after trying twice.
âAny more force and my pants will fall.â William said calmly.
Amelia immediately let go and stepped back.
âI was talking to Miss Lane.â Amelia confessed.
âMiss Lane?â William asked in confusion.
âYour sister.â Amelia said.
âLila?â
Amelia nodded.
âHow did you two get in touch?â William asked suspiciously, âAre you two plotting to trap me?â
âHow could you think that of your sister?â Amelia asked.
William chuckled, âWhat were you two talking about?â
Amelia briefly told William about the conversation between her and Lila.
After listening, William said, âWhy not do it? Itâs a waste not to make money from Kevin.â
Amelia looked puzzled, âBut thatâs your sisterâs money too.â
âMy sister makes money, Kevin makes money.â William said, âItâs a win-win situation.â
Amelia ate a grape in silence.
William continued, âThis has nothing to do with the money I make. I didnât even know about the matter. Besides, you earned this opportunity yourself, it has nothing to do with me. Just like when you joined the Dance Association, we werenât involved either.â
Amelia ate another grape, her right cheek bulging, âReally?â
William couldnât help but poke her cheek, âYeah. It must be hard for Lila to find someone as well. She scoured the world just to find someone like you.â
Amelia dodged and ate the grape, âIâll talk to Miss Lane about it later.â
William was satisfied, âIs there anything else Lila told you?â
Amelia looked at him, and after a while said, âIâm not telling you.â
William: ââ¦â¦â
âShe said something bad about you.â Siting on the carpet to be closer to the grapes, Amelia popped one by one in her mouth.
âYouâre stirring up trouble between my sister and me.â Young Master Lane messed up her hair.
âHey!â Amelia swallowed the grape and grabbed her hair, glaring at William with what she thought was a fierce look.
But her deterrence failed.
Looking at her fierce little expression and crystal clear lips, William gently swallowed.
He always thought this young girl was unintentionally adorable.
All of a sudden, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into his arms, kissing her.
Amelia instinctively tried to break free.
But William held her waist, causing her to lose her strength. She fell into his arms, closer to him than before.
William gently bit her lip with a smile, then deepened the kiss.
The surroundings were very quiet, and the two peopleâs breaths intertwined, becoming gradually immersed in one another.
All of their senses came from each other.
William Lane was becoming a bit out of control, his actions growing more forceful, and the kisses more fierce.
Amelia Smith was completely led by him until her clothes were undone, then she suddenly regained some of her sanity.
She abruptly pushed William away and stepped back.
Both of their clothes were wrinkled, Amelia pressing down her clothes, a layer of mist in her eyes, her beautiful deer-like eyes seemingly washed by water, clear and clean yet with a confused panic.
In Williamâs eyes lay a terrifying lust, his breath unstable, lingering at the edge of losing control.
The long, tense moment stretched out until William leaned back on the sofa, letting out a long breath: âGo back to your room.â
After saying that, he paused and swallowed his dry throat, his voice hoarse: âHurry up and lock the door.â
Amelia, as if awakened from a trance, immediately got up from the sofa, but her legs went weak as she tried to walk away.
William leaned forward, but Amelia supported herself on the back of the sofa, preventing herself from falling.
William did not help her up, continuing to watch as she returned to her room before finally letting out a silent sigh.
He really had trouble controlling himself.
After calming himself downstairs, William sent a message to Felix Baker: [Isnât the ring ready yet? Canât you hurry up? Add money, expedite the order.]
Felix: [Young Master Lane, we are already working at the fastest speed. Have some patience.]
After replying to William, Felix turned to Charlotte Lane to gossip: [Why is your brother in such a hurry to get married? Iâve been pushed three times to add money, and Iâm almost feeling the heat.]
Charlotte replied: [You havenât finished yet after three additional payments, and you still have the nerve to charge him more?]
Felix: [â¦â¦.]
â¦
As expected, Amelia left early the next morning.
William didnât attempt to stop her, for fear she would feel uncomfortable, and watched her sneaking away from his home gym window.
He even recorded a video with the intent to send it to her one day.
Since Amelia decided to work with Charlotte, she didnât look for another job. All her spare time was spent in her room practicing carving.
It had been a long time since she had touched a carving knife.
A few days in, her fingers and the base of her thumb were cut.
She continued practicing with the band-aids on her hands.
William couldnât bear to see her hurt anymore, but after several failed attempts to persuade her, he locked Amelia in her room and confiscated her carving knives.
The two failed to come to an agreement through the door.
Amelia simply ignored him.
Back in her room, she watched William leave the house from the balcony. Amelia then pulled out another box from under the bed, took out a new carving knife, and continuedâ¦
However, she did not continue for long.
After over half an hour, an unfamiliar call came in.
Although it was unfamiliar, the phoneâs area code was her hometown.
Amelia hesitated for a moment before answering the call.
It was her father, Max Smith. As soon as she answered, his tone was full of flattery: âAmelia, what are you doing?â
Amelia touched the carving knife in her hand, her tone cold: âWhatâs the matter?â
âYour mother and I came to Imperial Capital,â Max said, âYour motherâs rheumatism flared up again, so we came to the hospital here. We saw a doctor this morning, and they said she needs to be hospitalized. Weâre waiting for a ward and staying in a small inn. How about you⦠Do you want to come out for a meal together?â
âNo,â Amelia replied, âEvan Smith is in Imperial Capital. If you need anything, find him.â
âAmelia!â Max shouted urgently, afraid she would hang up: âYour mother misses you very much. Sheâs been dreaming of you every night, crying out your name. You donât have to see me, but please, see your mother.â
Amelia gripped the carving knife tightly, as the wound on her thumb reopened.
In her mind, she saw images of her mother teaching her to carve, frame by frame.
They were still on the phone, but no one spoke for a long time.
Finally, Amelia replied: âWhere are you staying? Iâll come over.â
âYes, yes.â