“You’re such a sweet-talker. Thank you for your concern,” uttered the vegetable seller happily. “It has been a while since you bought anything from my stall. Here, you can have this for free.” “Thank you!” After making her purchase, Amelia insisted on paying her. “You’re running a small business. I insist on paying for my purchases!” In the end, the vegetable seller accepted her payment. As Molly and Amelia made their way through the farmer’s market, the sellers welcomed them warmly. Amelia was also sweet enough, so the sellers gave her lots of free gifts generously.
They even got two extra eggs for free from the egg seller. Soon, Molly and Amelia left the farmer’s market loaded with their shopping. Molly tried to take the shopping bags from Amelia, but the latter stepped out of her reach. “Molly, this isn’t heavy at all. I can manage,” Amelia stated with a grin. Molly told her, “Mrs. Clinton, give me the eggs. You can carry the vegetables.” Amused, Amelia answered, “Molly, you’re being too cautious. It’s just a dozen eggs. I can manage that easily.” Molly didn’t insist. “Mrs. Clinton, if you find it heavy, hand the bag to me. You’re pregnant, so you need to be extra careful.” Amelia chuckled. “Molly, don’t worry. I can handle that, no problem.”
Slowly, Amelia and Molly strolled back to their neighborhood. At the gate of their neighborhood, they ran into someone who Amelia thought she would never see again—Jennifer Larson. She remembered how Jennifer used to regard her as a rival. Upon spotting Amelia, Jennifer removed her sunglasses and came to her. Amelia gave Jennifer the once-over and realized the latter had lost a lot of weight. Jennifer was still clad in a fashionable outfit as usual and was exuding a confident aura, but her gaze wasn’t as dynamic as before. Overall, she seemed exhausted. “Amelia, are you free? I need to talk to you.” Jennifer stated her intentions outright. Sensing Jennifer’s hostility, Molly pulled Amelia to stand behind her.
“Who are you?” she inquired. “Why do you need to talk to Mrs. Clinton?” Jennifer ignored her and stared straight at Amelia. “I need to talk to you about something important, Amelia. Half an hour will do.” Stepping out from behind Molly, Amelia asked, “Ms. Larson, what is it about?” “Can we talk in a cafe elsewhere?” Jennifer tamped down her irritation and urged. After a brief hesitation, Amelia told Molly, “Molly, head home with our shopping. I need to talk to her.” Molly took the shopping bag from her worriedly. “Mrs. Clinton, shall I come with you?”
Amelia was amused. “Molly, she is my ex-colleague and superior. I know who she is.” Molly gave the unfriendly Jennifer, who was clad in a fashionable outfit, a disapproving look. Evidently, this woman was here to stir up trouble. “Mrs. Clinton, I’ll leave the bags at home and join you. You’re seven months along.” Molly was still concerned. “You’re going to give birth soon. I can’t let anything happen to you.” She nearly blurted out that Jennifer seemed like trouble, but her manners stopped her from saying so. Jennifer’s face darkened in displeasure. She put on her sunglasses and uttered in exasperation, “Amelia, why is your maid so talkative?
She’s annoying and rude.” Jennifer had left a terrible impression on Molly. “Ms. Larson? To be honest, you left a bad impression on me. You might be pretty, but I’ve seen many gorgeous ladies in my life. Compared to Mrs. Clinton, your manners are far worse,” Molly scoffed. Jennifer glanced at Amelia in frustration. “Amelia, will you come or not? Do you seriously think I’ll do something to hurt you? I’m not that despicable. I’m a law-abiding citizen.” After reassuring Molly, Amelia turned to her. “Ms. Larson, I’m sorry. My maid is worried for me. She doesn’t mean anything else. Let’s go.”
Molly stood there with the shopping bags in her hands. “Mrs. Clinton.” “Molly,” said Amelia in a comforting tone. “Go home without me. I’ll be back soon.” With that, she left with Jennifer. They arrived at a nearby cafe and ordered a cup of coffee each. Amelia stirred her coffee and said, “Ms. Larson, it has been a while since we last met. Do you need anything from me?” Jennifer stared at her bump, obviously in a daze. “Seven months?” After a momentary silence, Amelia responded politely, “Yes, I’m seven months along.” “That’s fast,” came Jennifer’s strange reply.
As Jennifer wasn’t being hostile to her, Amelia found it weird. She sipped on her coffee awkwardly. “Ms. Larson—” “Jennifer will do,” Jennifer cut in. Taken aback, Amelia glanced at her curiously. Jennifer blurted out, “What’s wrong? Are you surprised at my sudden change in attitude?” Amelia nodded in response. Jennifer removed her sunnies and crossed her legs. “Amelia, I took you as a rival because I realized Carter is in love with you. I was too jealous of you. I’m sorry for that.” Amelia merely gave her an odd look. Jennifer continued, “My sudden appearance might’ve taken you by surprise, but I’m here to offer my apology.
Also, I would like to ask you to stop contacting Carter. You’re too important to him. As long as you’re by his side, he won’t be able to fall in love with another woman or get married. You don’t want to hold him up, do you?” Amelia was lost in thought as her lips curved up in amusement. Why do women like to tell me that my existence is nothing but an obstacle to the men who love me? The women claim I won’t be of help to the men’s careers and families. It’s like I’m a jinx who will bring bad luck to every man by my side. Amelia was neither a hypocrite nor someone who’d suffer in order to make others happy. “Ms. Larson, I believe you’ve gotten it wrong,” she stated firmly. “Carter and I are just friends.
It’s not wrong for friends to stay in touch, right? Besides, we’ve been friends for ages. I won’t agree with your request. What right do you have to ask me to stop contacting him?” Amelia’s reply was harsh. She was insinuating that Jennifer and Carter were also friends, so the former had no right to ask her to stop contacting Carter. Jennifer’s expression clouded over as her grip on the cup tightened. “Amelia, you’re still as sharp-tongued as ever, huh?” Jennifer mocked. Amelia took a sip of her coffee and grinned. “Ms. Larson, you’ve changed a lot, too. I remembered you used to be overly aggressive.
I can’t believe you’re apologizing to me now.” Caressing her cup, Jennifer replied, “I’m not apologizing to you. This is a discussion. Carter is the only connection between us. I believe you know what I’m going to say.” Amelia shook her head politely. “Ms. Larson, sorry, but I don’t know why you insist on talking to me.” Jennifer sipped on her coffee before answering, “You’re really good at putting up an innocent act and seducing other men, huh? You stole Carter’s heart and left without looking back. Do you know what happened to Carter after you left?”
Amelia was stunned into silence. After her resignation, she had never contacted Carter on purpose. It was for the best—to her, at least. Hence, she had no idea how Carter was doing now. Jennifer immediately saw through her and sneered, “What a waste of Carter’s feelings.” Amelia glanced at her curiously. “I didn’t contact him. Isn’t that what you want?” Jennifer folded her arms arrogantly. “Yes, I hate it when you contact him, but that was your decision. You don’t even know he entered the hospital after suffering from gastric perforation. I pity him.”
Amelia’s heart clenched uncomfortably. “Gastric perforation? How could that be? Was it serious? How is he doing now?” she demanded anxiously. The mocking smile on Jennifer’s lips widened. “Don’t you think you’re being a hypocrite?” she sneered in disdain. Amelia schooled her expression carefully and replied in an indifferent manner. “Ms. Larson, my relationship with Carter has nothing to do with you. Even if you’re his girlfriend, you can’t stop him from making friends. Plus, you’re not even his girlfriend.” The scowl on Jennifer’s face deepened.
