Chapter 4

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Carsten's brows furrowed as he stood and approached me, staring intently.

"Amelia, where were you last night?" His tone was low and serious.

Eleanor crossed her arms and sneered, "What else could she be doing?"

Carsten's face darkened further. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and glanced at Eleanor coolly. "I have nothing to hide. Dirty minds see everything as dirty."

Her eyes widened with fury. "Amelia, who do you think you are?"

She shouted, stepping forward to hit me.

I shifted the conversation. "I have information on Edmund Rowe."

My words made Gordon slam his cane on the floor. "Enough, Eleanor. This isn't a street market for you to make a scene."

I pulled a file from my bag and handed it to Carsten. "Last night, I stayed up gathering intel on him and got a few mosquito bites. I didn't expect Miss Morley to jump to conclusions." My eyes reddened as I spoke.

Carsten flipped through the file, his eyes lighting up before he turned coldly to Eleanor. "Enough, Eleanor. Apologize to Amelia now."

Eleanor's eyes widened in disbelief. Gordon's stern gaze fixed on her.

After a long pause, she gritted her teeth, her face pale, and muttered, "Sorry."

After dinner, I strolled in the garden. A few steps in, I heard footsteps behind me.

My heart stirred.

"Amelia, you're pathetic." Eleanor's voice rang out.

I turned, my gaze cold and piercing.

She flinched, unaccustomed to this side of me.

A moment later, she glared venomously. "Did you think Carsten wanted to marry you out of love?"

She sneered, "He just pitied you and tossed you some crumbs."

Her smile turned sinister.

She whispered threateningly, "If you don't want to relive high school, disappear from my sight."

I looked at her and, after a pause, gave a faint smile.

Her anger flared. "What's so funny? Who do you think you are, laughing at me?"

She raised her hand to slap me, but I blocked it instantly.

Then I swung back, striking her face hard. Her head snapped to the side.

She stood there, dazed, before glaring at me with rage. "How dare you hit me?"

She lunged forward to attack.

I pulled out my phone, facing her, and smiled softly. "Save the rest for the police."

On the screen was a video of Eleanor's bullying, scheduled to upload two minutes earlier.