Chapter 215 Conflict Between Mother And Daughter
“I’ll ask Tiffany to bring Tony over to you. There are still plenty of guests milling around, so I need to socialize with them,” Oscar said, before kissing her lips softly.
Amelia blinked innocently.
“Be good.” Oscar patted her hair affectionately and stood up.
After Oscar closed the door behind him, the smile on Amelia’s face disappeared. She seemed conflicted.
Staring at the ceiling, she mumbled in disappointment, “Oscar, you had proclaimed your love for me, but why can’t you be honest with me?”
Right then, Tiffany arrived with Tony, interrupting her train of thought.
Carefully, Amelia got up and looked at Tony, who was in Tiffany’s arms.
Tiffany placed the sleeping baby on the bed slowly. As Amelia reached out to touch him, her gaze turned tender.
“When did he fall asleep?” she queried.
“Just a while ago. Babies like to sleep,” Tiffany revealed. “I think you should only invite your close friends and relatives to the welcome baby party. It’s a party downstairs.”
Actually, Amelia didn’t like crowded parties at all. The party was held in Tony’s name, but it was in fact a place for the business people to talk business. To ordinary people, it was a place where they could get to know the upper-class society. Many people would die to get an invitation to this party.
“Tiff, many people would die to get invited to the Clintons’ party. Only the rich and powerful would receive an invitation. As a freelancer, you didn’t grab the chance to establish connections but came to complain to me about how noisy the party is instead,” Amelia teased, pretending nothing had happened earlier.
Tiffany shrugged. “Babe, you know I don’t care about money and fame. I enjoy earning money myself, but that doesn’t mean I want to climb up the ranks using someone else’s connections. It might seem easier to make money that way, but I don’t get the sense of accomplishment from that.”
Shaking her head, Amelia chuckled. “You’re wasting the chance.”
“Babe, you mean you want me to have connections with the Clintons?”
After a brief hesitation, Amelia chose to be honest with her. “To be honest, I don’t want you to have anything to do with the Clintons. If you get involved, many people will target you. Your life won’t be peaceful anymore. When you get more famous, you’ll be busy with book signings and fan meetings. There are bound to be people with ulterior motives who’ll try to get to know you through these means. If you want fame and fortune, I would’ve achieved your dreams ages ago.”
Tiffany snapped her fingers in satisfaction. “You know me well, friend,” she exclaimed. “I’m glad to have you as a friend!”
Amelia gave her a playful push.
They exchanged banter for a while before Tiffany went back to topic. “Amelia, be honest with me. Remember the commotion caused by the Yards and Stephanie? Did that irritate you?”
Amelia could only smile wryly.
“I’d be lying if I say I’m not bothered. Cassie kept challenging my patience. I was tamping down the urge to tear her mouth apart, as I knew I couldn’t do that. Oscar professed his love for me, but he never revealed how he felt about Cassie. She’s his first love after all. There’s no way he would forget about her that easily.”
Propping her arms up on the bed, Tiffany’s reply was nonchalant. “So what? Amelia, you’re worrying for nothing. It doesn’t matter whether Oscar loves Cassie. What matters now is that you’re the one by his side. You, Tony, and Oscar are a happy family. He works to support your family, and you’ll be a housewife. Tony’s nanny will take care of him, so you only have to play with him. You’ve got everything you ever wanted. Why would you be afraid?”
Tiff’s right. Still, everything seems unreal to me. Something is off. I hope it’s my mind playing tricks on me.
She couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling.
Sensing her anxiety, Tiffany reached out to pat her hand. “Amelia, what are you scared of?”
Amelia came to her senses and poured her worry out. “Tiff, I’m worried Oscar treats me well out of guilt after I nearly died in the accident. We’ve confessed our love to each other. I love him, so I no longer think of him as my client. If he chooses Cassie in the end, it will be a destructive blow to me. I won’t be able to stay married to him by then. Being betrayed is worse than faking one’s affections.”
Is every woman in love this neurotic? Tiffany wondered, feeling bad for Amelia. Amelia was once cheerful, positive, and lively. After marrying into the Clinton family and falling in love with Oscar, she learned how to conceal her actual emotions. I’ve never seen her laugh heartily after that. Look at how elegant and proper she is now. Is this a good change, or not?
“Silly girl, you’re overthinking again. This isn’t the Amelia I know. The Amelia I know will never give up. She’s a swan among ducklings; a diamond among stones. She will shine everywhere she goes!”
Amused, Amelia giggled at her friend’s antics. Her foul mood finally dissipated.
“Feeling better?” Tiffany asked.
Amelia nodded in response.
Pulling Amelia into her arms, Tiffany comforted her. “Babe, you were in an accident and nearly lost your life. There’s nothing else to be afraid of. The worst that can happen to you both is that he becomes tired of you, or you annoy each other and get a divorce. One of you will get custody of Tony. You’ll end up being friends,” Tiffany declared. “There, that’s the worst that can happen. Don’t you worry. We managed to save your life. There’s nothing else we can’t do!”
Amelia nodded. I must be overthinking.
On the other hand, Oscar left their bedroom and went to Olivia’s bedroom.
Stephanie was arguing with her mother when Oscar stepped in. She immediately cowered back in fear at the sight of her brother.
“Oscar,” she greeted him in a tiny voice.
Oscar merely glanced at her icily.
Stephanie would always tremble in fear when Oscar remained silent. Compared to her father, she was actually more scared of her brother.
“Oscar, y-you…”
As the tension in the air grew, Olivia hurriedly spoke up. “Oscar, I’ve reprimanded Stephanie. What’s with the grim expression? Don’t scare her.”
Oscar stared straight at Stephanie and demanded, “Why did you come back?”
Stephanie gave him a hurtful look. “Oscar, this is my home. Where else am I supposed to go?”
“Leave right after the party ends,” Oscar announced solemnly.
Stephanie’s pretty face contorted angrily as she demanded, “Why? I’m one of the Clintons, too. Half of the inheritance is mine. What right do you have to kick me out?”
“I’m the only heir of the Clinton family. Everything belongs to me,” came Oscar’s curt reply.
Stephanie went silent upon hearing this.
At the sight, Olivia felt her head throbbing. She had never imagined that her children would turn against each other one day.
“Oscar, stop it. Stephanie had suffered a lot out there. Let her sleep here for tonight. Tomorrow morning, I shall ask the driver to send her back to her accommodation,” she tried to persuade Oscar.
“Mom, I won’t allow someone who has disrespected my wife to stay here.” Oscar refused to give in.
Olivia lowered her head to ponder briefly. “Stephanie, I’ll ask the chauffeur to give you a ride back now. You can only return when you stop being biased against Amelia.”
Stephanie’s eyes widened in bewilderment. “Mom, she’s fine now. The Clintons gave her what she wanted. Why do I still have to stay out there and eat horrible food?”
Furrowing her brows, Olivia chided, “Stephanie, mind your words. If you keep being this rude, I’ll cut off your allowance.”
“Mom, I’m penniless!” Stephanie wailed, on the verge of losing control.
Olivia was stunned. “Didn’t I transfer fifty thousand to you before you leave?”
“Mom, fifty thousand won’t even last me one day. How do you expect me to hold on for half a month?” Stephanie retorted furiously.
Olivia cast a disappointed look at her daughter. I should’ve known it’s hard for her to realize her mistake in half a month.
Stephanie came to her mother and whined, “Mom, let me come home. I promise I’ll be an obedient child!”
“The chauffeur will give you a ride. I told your dad to arrange a secretary job for you. Go to work and stop being so impetuous.” Olivia made up her mind. “Also, stay away from the Yards.”
Stephanie’s face paled as she dug her nails into her palms.
Taking a deep breath, she barked, “Mom, you forsake your own daughter for Amelia, and took her good friend to be your goddaughter. Are you my biological mother? No wonder Mrs. Yard said you never loved me. I didn’t believe her but turns out she’s right. You don’t love me at all!”
At once, Olivia started heaving in fury.
Oscar pulled Stephanie over and gave her a tight slap.
The slap was so strong and sudden that Stephanie’s face swiveled sideways.
She covered her stinging cheek and glared at Oscar defiantly.
“Oscar, how dare you slap me? I won’t forget this. One day, I shall make you understand Amelia isn’t the right one for you,” she declared.
Scowling, Oscar barked, “Scram!”
As a blaze of pain spread across her cheek, Stephanie’s eyes flared with anger and hatred. Gritting her teeth, she declared, “Oscar, I won’t leave. I’m waiting for Amelia to leave our family!”
Oscar’s fists balled up in fury.
“Won’t you stop? There are plenty of guests out there. Do you want to humiliate our family?” Olivia pressed a hand on her chest and hissed.
Oscar turned to her, while Stephanie wiped her tears off stubbornly.
Olivia felt her heart breaking at the sight of the red imprint on Stephanie’s cheek. “Stephanie, after the party ends, I’ll ask the chauffeur to send you back. When you become a mature lady, Dad and I will come to pick you up.”
“Mom, you’re kicking your own daughter out for that woman?”
“Stephanie, I’m doing this for your sake.”
“Mom, I love you so much. How could you kick me out for an outsider? I hate you!” Stephanie’s wails grew louder. “You want me to leave? Fine! I’ll starve to death!”
Pain ripped through Olivia’s chest at how adamant her daughter was.
“Mom, if you do love me, please let me stay,” Stephanie pleaded as her last resort.
Olivia fell onto her bed and panted heavily.
Concerned, Oscar patted her back soothingly and asked, “Mom, are you all right?”
Olivia waved to show that she was fine. “After the party, give your sister a ride back to her accommodation. At this hour, it’s dangerous for her to head back alone.”
There was a brief hesitation on Oscar’s part, but he eventually nodded and went along.
“Got it, Mom. Don’t worry,” he replied.
Olivia took deep breaths, and the pain in her heart gradually subsided.
