Chapter 496 Just Get Married
After lunch, the atmosphere remained tense. Hence, Derrick and the others made an excuse and took their leave, leaving only the Clintons behind.
Stephanie declared in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, “Given how brash the Winters are, we are lucky to only have one here today. If all of them showed up, the Clintons would be disgraced by this bunch of poor and uneducated relatives. It’s indeed a blessing for us that they never showed up before.”
Amelia was rattled by Stephanie’s words.
When Oscar shot Stephanie a glare to warn her, she pursed her lips and replied, “Oscar, what I say is true. Look at how Eva was eating just now. She looked as if she hasn’t eaten for ages when she wolfed down her food. It was so unbecoming that Mom and Dad lost their appetite. I think Amelia must have invited her over to pretend to be her cousin so that she can disgust Mom and Dad.”
Taking a deep breath, Amelia desperately reminded herself not to hold it against Stephanie.
“Stephanie,” Oscar called out to warn her.
Cognizant of where his threshold was, Stephanie stopped her insults.
Olivia glanced at Amelia and commented, “Amelia, it’s not my place to judge your family and friends, for we are no longer related. Nevertheless, Tony is my grandson, and I don’t want him to be in the company of such uncultured characters. Considering how she dyed her hair and her inappropriate outfit, I’m sure Eva isn’t someone proper. Thus, I don’t like her and neither do I want my grandson to be close to her. I hope you know what to do.”
After the three Clintons left, Amelia fell silent.
Tony was then brought out of the kitchen by Molly.
Letting go of Molly’s hand, Tony ran up to Amelia and raised his head. “Mommy, what’s wrong? Are you upset?”
Amelia scooped her son into her arms and answered, “I’m fine. Did you let Molly wash your hands and face?”
Spreading his hands, Tony replied in glee, “Look, Mommy, aren’t they clean?”
Amelia gave him a peck on his cheeks. “They’re really clean. You’re indeed the cutest kid there is.”
Tony burst into laughter.
“I’ll get Molly to take you upstairs for your nap, all right?” Amelia asked in a consultative tone.
After pondering a moment, Tony opened his arms for Molly to carry him.
Picking Tony up, Molly remarked, “Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, I’ll be taking Tony upstairs for his nap then.”
When Molly and Tony were gone, Oscar hugged Amelia by her shoulders and murmured, “I’m sorry.”
Well aware of his intention, she lifted her head with a smile. “I’m fine.”
“Eva is an easy-going person. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad can only accept someone that’s proper in their eyes, who must sit with poise and not speak while eating. That’s why they’re unsettled by her. I hope you don’t take it personally,” Oscar comforted Amelia.
She replied with a smile. “I don’t blame Mom, really. That being said, even though I know this is a trivial matter, I still can’t help but feel agitated by it.”
“Don’t overthink it. Mom is the kind that when she likes someone, her feelings won’t change even if you insult her. On the contrary, if she resents you, she will still nitpick on your weaknesses, even if you have done everything perfectly.”
Amelia couldn’t help but smile. “Since when does a son talk about their mother that way?”
“Are you happy now?”
“I’ve always been happy.”
“That’s good then.”
While Amelia had demonstrated her magnanimity, Stephanie, who had just left with her parents, couldn’t help but rant, “Mom, just look at Eva. She’s neither pretty nor comes from an illustrious background. Moreover, she’s dressed in such an outlandish manner. Her hair and makeup can even frighten someone into having a heart attack. If Tony continues to spend time with her, I’m afraid that he will end up becoming as boorish as her. When he grows up, how is he going to take over Clinton Corporations?”
Olivia expression darkened in response.
All this while, she placed great importance on everything that was related to Tony. She could tolerate anything except putting Tony’s education at risk. Since he was only two, he lacked the ability to tell right from wrong. Whatever the adults did, he would likely follow. Consequently, she was worried that Tony would be influenced by someone like Eva.
At that moment, an insidious glint flashed in Olivia’s eyes.
“Owen, I think we should bring Tony over to our side. After going to Beshya, Amelia seems to have interacted with all sorts of characters. I’m concerned that Tony would pick up bad habits while staying with her,” Olivia remarked with a frown.
Owen held her hand and reassured her, “Amelia seemed to be doing a good job raising him. Previously, he wasn’t keen on approaching us. But after a few days, he gradually warmed up to us. It’s obvious that even though he still feels reluctant, he tries his best to bring us joy. I think Amelia must have been working behind the scenes to improve our relationship with Tony. Besides, other than leaving with Tony back then in a huff, she has been trying hard to fit into our family. As a result, you should stop worrying unnecessarily. Didn’t you promise me that you won’t interfere with their lives? Are you planning to go back on your word?”
Stunned, Olivia had nothing to rebut Owen with.
“But Dad, what about Eva? Can you bring yourself to allow Tony to interact with someone like Eva?” Stephanie exclaimed.
“Stephanie, you should know your place and watch that mouth of yours. Your mom and I will monitor Tony’s upbringing. As for you, you had better focus your attention on Noah instead of sticking your nose in this matter. If you’re unsatisfied with him, you should tell him earlier. With regards to what happened to Tony, your mom and I have our suspicions about Noah. If you no longer want to be with him, you should just break up,” Owen admonished his daughter with a grim expression.
“Tony this, Tony that, it’s always about Tony,” Stephanie thundered. “It’s true that he’s your grandson, but I’m your daughter too. What gives him the right to interfere in my relationship? Dad, don’t you think that you and Mom are being unfair to me? Ever since Amelia and Tony appeared, I have been treated as an outsider. When will you ever stop playing favorites?”
Owen and Olivia stared at her at the same time.
“Stephanie, you’re being too emotional,” Olivia asserted.
Panting heavily, Stephanie sneered, “You’re the ones who did this to me. All you care about is Tony. Have you ever spared a thought for me instead? How long have you not asked about Noah and me? Why is Noah blamed for Tony’s poisoning and forced to break up with me? Don’t you think that’s too selfish of you? From the beginning, you have never taken my feelings into account.”
Silence descended upon Olivia and Owen.
After a long while, Olivia asked, “Stephanie, is this really how you see me?”
Stephanie continued to scowl at her mother.
With a sullen expression, Olivia retorted, “Stephanie, after doing so much for you, all I get in return is your distrust. It feels as if I have brought up an ungrateful child. If you weren’t my daughter, I would have strangled you instead of allowing you to rattle at us like that.”
Stephanie was stumped.
Rubbing her temple, Olivia added, “I know I have been too focused on Tony and neglected your feelings lately. However, you’re a grown woman now with your own future ahead of you. Soon, you will be married and have your own family. Thus, you have to take on the responsibility of a wife and mother instead of competing with a child for attention. Or else, you’ll only end up as a laughing stock.”
Briefly stunned, Stephanie could feel the humiliation well up within her. To her, Olivia seemed to be warning her that once she was married to Noah, she wouldn’t be considered a Clinton anymore. Going forward, her responsibilities would lie with her husband, and she was as good as being kicked out of the family.
Rattled by Olivia’s words, Stephanie began to sulk.
With that, Olivia didn’t say anything further.
At that moment, Stephanie got the driver to drop her off at a junction. “Dad, Mom, I’m going off to see a movie with Noah. Bye.”
Olivia nodded in acknowledgment.
After alighting from the car, Stephanie gave Noah a call. Once she got through, she asked, “Where are you? I’ll meet you at the cafe on the third floor of Century Tower. Can you be there in an hour?”
After hearing Noah’s reply, Stephanie’s tone turned cold. “Fine, I’ll wait there for you, but don’t let me wait for more than an hour.” She ended the call once she was finished.
Meanwhile, Noah had an equally gloomy look on his face.
The next instant, a woman with a stunning figure hugged him from behind. She remarked with a coquettish voice, “Noah, didn’t you promise to spend the day with me?”
The woman was Noah’s true love. However, between love and ambition, Noah chose the latter. No matter how much he loved her, she was still second in his life. As a result, she ended up as his mistress who was hidden away from the public eye.
“Be good, and I’ll come back to stay the night with you.” After he turned around to hug her, he pushed her away heartlessly before getting his jacket and leaving.
With regards to the woman left in the room, her eyes sparkled with rage. As a devious look descended upon her face, she watched as Noah closed the door behind him.
After arriving at the agreed cafe fifty-nine minutes later, Noah straightened his jacket and entered calmly. Unlike other men, he would never brag to Stephanie about how he desperately made it in time to see her. In front of her, he would always be someone gentle and composed.
After baiting and reeling her in, he had caused her to let down her guard. Right when she was at her most vulnerable, he managed to get her to fall head over heels for him.
It was a tactic that he had honed over the years. Or else, he wouldn’t have been able to get Stephanie, who hated him at the beginning, to be his girlfriend after two years of courtship.
When it came to executing his plans, he had always been patient, just like a fisherman waiting for the fish to willingly take the bait.
“Stephanie,” Noah called out as he adjusted his glasses.
When the exasperated Stephanie saw him, she scowled. “What took you so long?”
As if he was a magician, Noah pulled three roses from the air. He replied attentively, “To my beautiful goddess, these three roses represent my love for you.”
After she received the roses, the frustration on her face began to ease.
Taking a seat, Noah asked with a smile, “My princess, who made you angry this time?”
“Other than Amelia and Tony, who else can it be?” Stephanie fumed as she pursed her lips.
Breaking out into a gentle smile, Noah remarked apologetically, “Did Mrs. Clinton admonish you over the yogurt incident?”
Stephanie fell silent, indicating a tacit confirmation.
“Don’t be angry, as it’s also my fault. I shouldn’t have bought the yogurt in the first place. If it makes you feel any better, you can vent your frustrations on me. I’m tough enough to weather any beating you give me,” Noah suggested jokingly.
Rolling her eyes at him, Stephanie snapped, “Noah, can you stop being so gentle and be more masculine instead?”
Unfazed, he broke out into a devilish smile. “Haven’t I already shown you how manly I can be?”
The moment she heard his response, Stephanie blushed and didn’t rebut him further.
Her feelings toward Noah have always been complicated. Even though he had always behaved like a chivalric gentleman, he was exceptionally domineering in bed. If he hadn’t pressed her against the wall to kiss her and forced her to sleep with him, she would never have agreed to be his girlfriend.
Evidently, she had masochistic tendencies. She didn’t like it when men were too nice to her. However, when a totally submissive man turned into a beast in bed, she would be mesmerized by his masculinity.
“Noah, do you truly love me?” Stephanie suddenly asked.
Noah looked at her affectionately. “Stephanie, don’t you already know that I forcibly kissed you two years ago because I couldn’t contain my feelings for you?”
“Fine. Let’s get married then.” When Stephanie uttered those words, she was filled with defiance. The more Olivia wanted to interfere with her marriage, the more Stephanie wanted to foil her mother’s plans.
Noah was stunned for a fleeting moment before being filled with ecstasy. Nevertheless, he kept his composure. “Stephanie, did Mrs. Clinton say something to trigger you?”
“Do you want to get married or not? If not, let’s just break up,” Stephanie threatened.
Noah continued to look at her with a doting gaze.
“Be a good girl and stop throwing a tantrum. Didn’t Mrs. Clinton tell us to take a break for a while? She says that it’s for our own good,” Noah added.
“Do you want to break up with me then?” Stephanie glared at him.
“Stephanie, why would I do that?” Noah continued in a gentle tone. “I just think that getting married now would only anger your mother further.”
“Are you afraid of my mom?”
“No, I just respect her. Every woman, regardless of their age, deserves to be respected. That’s how a gentleman should behave.”
Despite frowning in exasperation, Stephanie didn’t press the matter further.
