Chapter 242 As If His Heart Has Stopped Beating
The Clinton family and the Walker family sat around the dining table. The maids served the food quickly, and in a matter of minutes, the large dining table was laden with a myriad of dishes. There were all kinds of delicacies one could wish for, and everything looked simply mouth-watering.
Olivia smiled as she said, “I was a little short of time, so I didn’t prepare anything too fancy. I also wasn’t sure if you’d be used to the local cuisine since you’ve just returned from Anglandur, so I had them prepare a variety of different cuisines. Try it and see whether they are to your liking.”
Carol looked at the sumptuous spread with a delighted smile. “Olivia, you’re so thoughtful. There’s so much food here that it’s almost like a royal feast!”
“We’re okay with anything, Mrs. Clinton. Mom usually asks our maids to prepare local cuisine since we much prefer it over other cuisines,” Isabella added sweetly.
Olivia’s smile widened when she heard that. “That’s good then. I was afraid that you wouldn’t be used to it.”
The atmosphere around the dining table was quite pleasant. Isabella and Rachel were both stylish, gorgeous, and confident women. They also knew how to liven up the mood on the table. Although it was clear that Isabella had taken an interest in Oscar, she probably considered Amelia’s feelings as his wife and did not ask any inappropriate questions.
“Mrs. Clinton, I heard that Clinton Corporations is now fully under Oscar’s management. Is that true?” Isabella asked in a seemingly casual tone as she drank her soup.
As soon as Isabella asked that, Amelia glanced at her subconsciously, but she remained silent.
As for Oscar, he did not take a single look at Isabella. Instead, he doted on Amelia by placing more food on Amelia’s plate like a good husband. “Do you want some salmon? Shall I take some for you?” he asked lovingly, acting as if they were the only ones in the room.
Amelia shot him a glance and replied softly, “Oscar, we have company.” It was a hint to him that now was not the time to display affection. After all, the Walker family was Olivia’s guest, so it would be rather inappropriate to show their affection publicly.
Oscar merely placed some salmon on Amelia’s plate and continued eating calmly, oblivious that everyone was staring at him.
Olivia was also staring at them and seemed to have forgotten to answer Isabella’s question.
When she returned to her senses, she said apologetically, “That’s how the both of them usually are. Amelia was in a car accident a while ago, and she and my grandson went through a lot before their conditions stabilized. Even so, she still hasn’t fully recovered yet. That incident gave Oscar a dreadful fright, which is why he’s so attentive. Owen and I have had to put up with their lovey-dovey behavior, but at the same time, it makes us feel at ease to see them getting along so well.”
Carol merely smiled.
Meanwhile, a strange look flickered in Isabella’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared. “Mrs. Clinton is truly blessed. Oscar is clearly a grounded and mature man, while Amelia is a beauty. They look like the perfect couple, and they’re so loving. It makes me want to date someone seriously too,” she said with a sweet smile.
Olivia replied in an adoring tone, “Doesn’t someone as gorgeous as you have a boyfriend?”
The meal was supposed to be an opportunity for Stephanie and Noah to get to know each other better. However, Isabella had now taken center stage with Stephanie relegated to the wings.
Nonetheless, Stephanie merely looked at Isabella indifferently. Usually, she would have despised the person who robbed her of the limelight. But since she was in pain all over, she did not have much of a reaction. What mattered to her most at the moment was her health.
Carol piped up, “She’s a picky one. She doesn’t care about finding a good match in terms of social status or background, but she insists on finding a soulmate. She thinks that that way, they’ll be on the same wavelength and see eye to eye on a lot of things. What do you have to say about that? Do you think it makes sense?”
Olivia smiled. “I agree with her, but it isn’t easy to find a soulmate, and blindly pursuing that ideal would be quite unrealistic.”
Isabella merely smiled.
After taking another mouthful of soup, she directed the conversation back to Oscar and Amelia. “From their close relationship, I can tell that they must be head over heels in love with each other. Moreover, they’re also a good match in terms of looks. Just looking at them together makes one envious.”
Oscar finally raised his head to look at her, sizing her up.
He was a good judge of character, and he did not like the overly friendly lady he saw. He admired those who were independent, mesmerizing, sexy, and knew how to use their feminine charm without going overboard. Meanwhile, he did not care for those who were too bold and came on too strongly.
Sensing that Oscar disliked her, Isabella cleverly steered the conversation in a different direction. “Noah, you kept mentioning Stephanie’s name on the way here, but why aren’t you saying anything to her now that she’s right here?”
Noah smiled politely and replied, “The last time I saw Stephanie was twenty years ago. She has grown up to be such a pretty young lady. I could barely recognize her, so I dare not speak presumptuously.”
Pleased with his eloquence and politeness, Olivia’s admiration of him increased, and she became even more willing to set him up with Stephanie.
“Stephanie, don’t just keep eating. Why don’t you chat with Noah? You used to play together when you were little. Back then, you even chased after him and shouted that you wanted to be his wife,” Olivia said, deliberately bringing up the past.
However, it only frustrated Stephanie since she did not have any feelings for Noah. She preferred men who exuded an aura of masculinity and aggression like Oscar, and one look at Noah told her that he was too much of a gentleman. There was no way that he could be a match for her.
Nonetheless, with their parents around, she could only say politely, “Mom, I’ve almost forgotten everything that happened when I was little. Noah and I haven’t met in twenty years, so I can barely remember that I once played with someone as outstanding as him.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve forgotten as long as you remember it now. Noah just returned to the country, so everything probably seems quite unfamiliar. Why don’t you show him around tomorrow? Since you’re close in age, you should have plenty to talk about,” Olivia suggested.
Anger flashed in Stephanie’s eyes, but when she saw Oscar looking in her direction, she instinctively put a smile on her face. The blunt refusal died on her lips, only to be replaced with, “Sure, I’d love to. I’m just not sure whether Noah would allow me that honor.”
Noah replied softly, “I’d be more than willing to accept that offer.”
Carol smiled. “That’s settled then. You young people should go out and have fun. Noah, don’t bully Stephanie just because she’s younger than you. Remember that you should be chivalrous, and don’t frighten her away.”
Noah nodded.
All in all, it was a rather enjoyable meal.
Stephanie got up from the table as soon as they finished eating. “I caught a cold last night. My head is aching slightly, so I think I’ll go upstairs and rest,” she said, coming up with an excuse.
Noticing her pale face, Olivia recalled that she had not eaten much earlier and started to worry. “Are you feeling okay? Do you want me to get Mr. Lancaster to come and check on you?”
If Mr. Lancester comes, everyone will find out, and Oscar will probably think of a way to punish me.
To her, Oscar was just like a savage tiger who devoured people, and she was like a rabbit that could not escape its clutches. She could only obey obediently, and there was no way for her to fight back.
Stephanie refused immediately. “That’s all right. It’s only a headache. I’ll get the maid to get some painkillers for me.”
“Okay. Go and rest then,” said Olivia.
Stephanie nodded, then went upstairs without a backward glance.
Olivia turned to the others and explained, “It really does seem like she’s not feeling well since she’s usually much more active. Noah, don’t blame her for not showing much enthusiasm. She just isn’t herself today.”
Noah shook his head. “That’s quite all right. I did notice that she didn’t look too well. Why don’t I boil a herbal drink for her tomorrow? It works wonders for headaches.”
Olivia was very happy to hear that. “That would be great. I’m sorry to have to trouble you.”
Carol quickly said, “Don’t be deceived by his looks. He’s the best cook in our family. If we hadn’t asked him to manage the company, he would’ve become a top chef. Although being a chef doesn’t befit someone of his status, I can’t deny that his cooking is really delicious, and I’m not bragging about it out of motherly love.”
Olivia’s eyes lit up. “Really, there are not many men who know how to cook nowadays. It’d be a challenge to find one out of ten people. Someone like him who’s handsome, wealthy, graduated from a prestigious school, and is good at cooking are few and far between. I can count on one hand the number of times Oscar has cooked in his life. His chauvinism runs deep.”
Both sets of parents continued to praise their children for a long time, and it was eleven o’clock at night when the Walker family left.
After Oscar and Amelia returned to their room, Oscar noticed the odd look on her face and asked anxiously, “What’s the matter? Are you feeling ill?”
Amelia shook her head. “I’m fine. I’m probably just a little tired.”
Oscar massaged her shoulders and said, “Why don’t you go and take a hot shower? If you still don’t feel well, I’ll get Dr. Kane to drop by.”
Amelia shook her head. “It’s late, so we shouldn’t trouble Dr. Kane to travel all the way here. Besides, I’m perfectly fine. I’m going to take a hot shower now.”
She broke free from Oscar’s grasp and went to get a change of clothes. Then, she went straight into the bathroom. Oscar looked down at his hands, momentarily dazed. He could sense that Amelia was drifting away from him.
Why is that? Didn’t we clear up all our misunderstandings this afternoon?
Before he could think of a reason, he heard a loud thud from the bathroom. Panic rose in his throat as he dashed toward the bathroom.
When he saw Amelia lying on the floor, he felt his heart stop beating for a split second.
