Chapter 458 Hit A Child
The front door slammed open. Before Amelia could see who came in, Tiffany’s barrage of questions reached her ears first. “Amelia, what’s wrong? You said you were threatened on the phone earlier. Are you okay? Who is the culprit? Have you called the police?”
Amelia shook her head and walked toward Tiffany, taking a seat on the sofa.
“Babe, tell me from the top what exactly happened. You weren’t clear on the phone earlier. I almost ran a red light, worried something bad had happened to you.” Tiffany was worried sick. She figured someone had cursed Amelia with bad luck. The latter hadn’t had even a single day of peace ever since she came to Tayhaven. Everyone wanted to mess with her.
Tiffany’s gaze scanned the entire room, but she didn’t see Oscar anywhere. She frowned as she asked, “Where’s Oscar? How can he not be here when something so serious has happened to you? What kind of husband is he?”
Amelia reached for Tiffany’s hand and lightly slapped it on the back. “Tiff, calm down. I’m fine. Oscar was with me earlier, but he left to pick Tony up when he heard you were almost here.”
“I guess he’s not that bad then.” The creases on Tiffany’s forehead smoothened. She continued, “Babe, tell me about the threat.”
Amelia gave Tiffany a run down of the entire incident.
“What? Who could have done such a thing? Have you called the police? The culprit is so immature and evil. Why did they involve a young child if they just wanted to scare you?” Tiffany’s voice rose an octave as rage filled her.
Amelia merely sat on the sofa silently with a grim look.
Upon noticing the gloominess on Amelia’s face, Tiffany calmed herself down once again and comforted her, “Babe, don’t worry. If that evil and immature culprit wants to hurt Tony, they’ll have to go through us. Do they think they can do anything they want? Let them come. Once I have my hands on them, I’ll teach them a lesson they’ll never forget. They’ll regret having been born into this world once I’m through with them.”
Amelia couldn’t help her laughter at Tiffany’s threat. Her sadness and worries always disappeared with Tiffany around.
“Tiff, you look just like one of those creepy witches in children’s bedtime stories right now. The person who wants to hurt Tony will be terrified if they catch a glimpse of you,” Amelia teased.
Tiffany cast Amelia a side glance to express her dissatisfaction at being compared to an ugly witch, but she wasn’t angry at the latter’s teasing.
“Babe, do you have anyone you’re suspicious of?” asked Tiffany as she took a seat beside Amelia.
“The only people who hate me so much in Tayhaven are Cassie and Isabella. However, I don’t think Isabella will threaten me irrationally like that. It doesn’t fit her character. My bets are on Cassie.”
“Babe, I think you forgot someone.”
Amelia gave her a puzzled look.
“There’s also Stephanie,” Tiffany reminded her.
Realization flashed across her eyes. With a bitter smile, she said, “I did consider her. But in the end, she’s Oscar’s sister. I can’t think the worst of her.”
Tiffany snickered before she spoke, “You treat her like she’s family, but I can’t say the same for her.”
Amelia had no response to Tiffany’s barb.
“Babe, what are you going to do if Stephanie turns out to be the culprit?” Tiffany probed.
Before Amelia could answer, Oscar had come back with Tony.
“Mommy!” Tony called as soon as he stepped through the front door. He ran into Amelia’s open arms like a mini-tornado.
Amelia got up from the sofa to catch him. The heavy feeling in her arms relieved some of her worry.
My son is adorable. I can’t figure out who can be so cruel as to target him.
Tony pecked Amelia’s cheeks and looked into her eyes. “Mommy, I miss you. You didn’t pick me up yesterday, so I stayed at Grandma’s for the entire night. I didn’t like how Aunt Stephanie kept pinching my cheeks. It hurts, and I’m not a kid anymore.”
Amelia’s heart clenched at his words. If Tiffany hadn’t reminded her earlier, she wouldn’t be wary of Stephanie. Yet now, she had no choice but to put her guard up against everyone.
“How does your Aunt Stephanie treat you? Does she treat you well?” Amelia asked hesitantly.
Tony scrunched his nose and replied, “I don’t like her. She always looks at me strangely and would even say something weird like a crazy person.”
Amelia’s body stiffened. She looked at Oscar and saw his expression turn grave.
“What has she told you?” Amelia continued.
Tony tilted his head to the side, mulling briefly. Then he began imitating Stephanie. “Tony, why did you and your mom come back when you both were doing fine in Beshya? Your mom is a jinx, and so are you. The peace in the Clinton residence was disrupted after you two came back.”
Amelia’s expression darkened.
“Tony, children shouldn’t lie. Otherwise, I’ll be angry,” Amelia said somberly with a stern expression.
Tony gave Amelia a pitiful look. “I didn’t lie. Aunt Stephanie said something else too.” He began to imitate Stephanie again. “Tony, you’re so adorable. I like you, but you have a terrible mother. Oscar will still have other children even if you’re gone. I wonder, will your mom break down if you went missing?” Tony even tilted his head back and let out a shrill laugh, engrossed in his act.
The looks on the three adults’ faces turned cold.
Amelia patiently confirmed, “Tony, you’re sure your Aunt Stephanie said all these?”
Tony pouted. “Mommy, I won’t lie. I merely mimicked Aunt Stephanie. She would also tell me a lot of other stuff and sometimes even want me to accompany her to buy candies. I never go with her, though. I’m not dumb. Mommy told me not to follow strangers and people I don’t like.”
“Amelia, I’m heading out for a while. Take care of Tony,” Oscar suddenly said.
Amelia swept Tony into her arms and asked frantically, “Oscar, where are you going?”
“There’s something I have to do. I’ll be right back.”
“Oscar, don’t—”
Before she could finish, Oscar shot her a gentle smile, cutting her off. “Everything will be fine. Don’t worry.” He then whirled around and left through the front door.
Looking at Oscar leaving, Tony turned to Amelia with a puzzled look. “Mommy, have I said something wrong? Why did Big Meanie leave?”
Amelia bounced Tony in her arms. “It’s not you. He has something urgent to do, so he needs to leave immediately. He’ll be back soon.”
Tony nodded obediently.
“Mommy, I don’t hate Big Meanie, but I like Daddy more. If you like Big Meanie, I will try to like him too. But if he hurts you, I won’t ever like him,” Tony promised.
Amelia’s heart warmed at his promise. Having such an obedient and adorable son, she couldn’t have asked for anything more.
She handed Tony to Tiffany and left for the kitchen to prepare some food.
Tiffany held Tony in the living room and asked, “Tony, were you not happy when you were at your grandma’s?”
“It was okay. I wasn’t happy without Mommy and Tiffy there. Those maids were so careful with me the whole time, and no one played with me. Grandpa and Grandma only watched me from afar. They asked Aunt Stephanie to play with me once she came back, but I could tell she didn’t want to. She even beat me with a stick when no one was watching. She’s a bad person,” Tony complained. Tony didn’t have a good memory of the Clinton residence.
“She hit you with a stick?” Tiffany asked angrily.
I thought Stephanie was merely stubborn. I didn’t expect her to be so immature as to hurt a small child! Tony is her nephew at that!
Tony pulled up his shirt and turned around, showing her the red, long marks on his back. It was clear those marks were from a stick. Rage surged through Tiffany. She could have choked Stephanie if the latter was standing right in front of her now.
“Tony, don’t tell your mommy about this because she’ll be upset about it. These marks will be gone soon. Things aren’t easy for your mommy at the moment, so you have to be a good boy, okay?” Tiffany said gently.
Tony nodded his head obediently. “Tiffy, I didn’t tell Mommy about it since I was worried about upsetting her. I don’t want her to cry.”
Tiffany felt a pinch in her heart. Tony was only two years old, yet he was as mature and understanding as an adult.
“Tony, you’re the best. How mature of you. I don’t understand why there are people in this world who would harm you. They’re utterly heartless!”
“Tiffy, Aunt Stephanie hit me, but I bit her back. When she wanted to hit me again, Grandma returned. Her expression then was so funny.”
Tiffany’s sadness a moment ago went up in smoke. She knew Tony would not just let things be with his intelligence. Why didn’t she think of that in the first place?
