Chapter 510 Please Do Not Sue Her
Upon receiving the news about Amelia Winters’ injury, Eleanor almost collapsed and hastened to hail a taxi to the couple’s place. Her hands were trembling all the way. The moment she saw the wound on her daughter’s forehead, disbelief was written all over her face.
“Lia, h-how did you get yourself hurt to this state? Weren’t you doing fine yesterday?” Eleanor asked, her eyes reddening. She was genuinely distressed.
It took me so much effort to meet my daughter, and all I want is to shower her with love and affection. Who could be so cruel as to injure her?
Nonplussed, Amelia Winters comforted, “Mrs. Hutton, my injury may look serious with the bandage around my forehead, but it’s not. It only hurt the moment I was struck. Other than that, I feel pretty all right. I’m telling the truth. Please don’t worry about me, or I’ll feel guilty.”
Eleanor remained unconvinced. Her own forehead was throbbing even just by looking at the wound. In her opinion, there was no way that Amelia Winters was all right as she had claimed.
“How could you say you are not in pain with that wound? Don’t you know how distressed I am?” Eleanor said, feeling anxious and angry at the same time.
Amelia Winters forced a smile on her face.
In truth, she was not used to an elder making a fuss over her.
Carrying a plate of fruits from the kitchen, Kurt shot her a glance before walking briskly to put it on the coffee table. In a monotonous tone, he said, “Mrs. Hutton, please take a seat first. Amelia has to exert herself to explain to you if you remain standing. The doctor said she hurt her head, so she can’t stand for too long.”
That jolted Eleanor out of her worry, and she quickly held her daughter’s arm to lead her to take a seat. “Lia, I am just worried about you. Please don’t take it to heart. Come and have a seat. You’re a patient now, so you can’t be exhausted,” she said apologetically.
In a resigned manner, Amelia Winters sat down. She only sustained a minor injury on her forehead, yet everyone else was treating her as though she had got a terminal illness.
“Lia, how do you feel now? Do you feel any dizziness or nausea?” Eleanor asked concernedly.
Amelia Winters smiled as she replied, “Mrs. Hutton, don’t worry. I’m really fine. The doctor bandaged my forehead because Oscar was too worried that he requested him to do so. I’m actually fine.”
Eleanor nodded approvingly as though she agreed with Oscar’s decision. “Oscar made the right call. It may seem like a minor injury to you, but it can get severe. It’s not a joking matter if you get tetanus. So, it’s better to take it seriously.”
Having heard that, Amelia Winters had no choice but to oblige.
“Oh right! Where’s Oscar? I haven’t seen him ever since I arrived. You’re badly injured now. What is he doing instead of accompanying you?” Eleanor asked in a displeased tone.
Perhaps out of her guilt toward Amelia Winters, Eleanor treated the former like a porcelain doll. Anything that happened to her daughter would cause her to be on alert, like a frightened cat with fur standing on end.
Stunned, Amelia Winters glanced at the older woman with an unfathomable look in her eyes.
Amelia Hutton secretly tugged the hem of her mother’s shirt, signaling her to be aware of her identity and not cross the line. After all, Eleanor was only an unrelated elderly to Amelia Winters and thus had no right to be critical about the latter’s marriage.
Eleanor came to her senses and felt a little awkward. After contemplating for a moment, she continued, “Lia, I didn’t mean to say that. I am just too worried about you. I see you as my daughter from the bottom of my heart. You might not know this, but I actually have an elder daughter. However, she went missing when she was only a few years old. That’s why I can’t help but treat you as my daughter. Please don’t mind my nosiness.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Hutton. It’s just that I haven’t received such concern from an elderly for a long time. My relationship with my parents was rather distant since I was young. Although they’ve never mistreated me, they weren’t close to me. Therefore, I feel peculiar when you care about me like a mother.” Amelia Winters smiled as she concealed the complicated emotions in her eyes.
She would not question Eleanor why the latter dared not reunite with her despite caring about her so much to the extent that it crossed the boundaries of how one would typically treat a stranger.
Nonetheless, Amelia Winters knew it would only embarrass Eleanor by questioning her. Since the latter did not intend to acknowledge her as her daughter, she decided to go along with it. That way, they would not feel awkward with each other.
Eleanor’s heart swelled with sorrow after she heard Amelia Winters’ words. She wanted to let go of all reservations and reunite with her daughter, but all her courage fled her at the thought of her husband’s stance on the matter. It was not because she was afraid of him. Instead, she feared that the man would do everything in his power to harm Amelia Winters.
She had lost her daughter once, so she dared not risk it for fear of losing the latter a second time. There was no way she could stand the devastation and despair of losing Amelia Winters again.
“Mrs. Hutton, Oscar went to the police station. He brought a lawyer to sue the person who hurt me. He should be back in a short while,” Amelia Winters explained politely.
A hint of anger crossed Eleanor’s eyes, and she snarled, “Who is the perpetrator? We can’t let scum like them off the hook. No! I have to go to the police station too. Let me rip their mouth apart! I’ll fight with whoever that dares to hurt you!”
Amelia Hutton quickly pulled Eleanor, who intended to do as she said. Casting her eyes downward to conceal the complicated feeling that flashed across them, she tried to appease her mother. “Mom, please calm down. I believe Oscar can solve this matter perfectly. Like you, I don’t wish for anything untoward to befall Amy, but this isn’t Saspiuburg. We, the Huttons, are nobodies here, even though we are well known in Saspiuburg. There’s nothing we can do for now. Why don’t we stay here and wait for the news?”
Only then did Eleanor return to her seat on the couch.
“Lia, I’m sorry that I can’t do anything for you,” she said apologetically while regarding Amelia Winters with a distressed gaze.
The latter was at a loss for words.
In the end, she replied, “Mrs. Hutton, please don’t feel that way. With Oscar around, rest assured that the perpetrator would get the punishment she deserves.”
“But, I still want to do something for you as I couldn’t do anything in the past— No, that’s not what I meant. I just want to protect you; I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Distraught, Eleanor began to speak incoherently.
Anger flashed across Amelia Hutton’s face, and she took a deep breath to regain her composure. Then, she said softly, “Mom, I know you’re worried about Amy, but please don’t frighten her.”
Eleanor glanced at her. Fortunately, she did not say anything that might lead to any misunderstandings.
At that moment, the atmosphere in the living room became heavy and silent.
After a long while, Eleanor piped up, “Lia, why don’t you give Oscar a call? It’s already seven o’clock. He has to come back for dinner.”
Amelia Winters nodded in response. Then, she took her phone out and dialed Oscar’s number.
When the call got through, she asked, “Oscar, how’s the matter going? When can you come back?”
“I still have to attend to some matter and might only be home at around nine o’clock. You can have dinner first. Don’t wait up for me,” Oscar replied gently. “Call the Clintons’ family doctor if you have a headache. Don’t be stubborn.”
“Okay. I got it. Come home as soon as you can.”
“Sure. I’ll hang up first.” He gave her a kiss from the end of the line before ending the call.
“What did he say?” Eleanor asked.
“He still has some unfinished matters and will only be home around nine. Let’s have dinner by ourselves first,” Amelia Winters replied.
With that, they stood up and walked toward the dining table.
Meanwhile, Oscar was stopped by Jennifer, who click-clacked toward him in her high heels as soon as he exited the police station.
“Mr. Clinton, my mom behaved irrationally out of anger. I’m terribly sorry that she hurt Ms. Winters, but I hope we can settle this matter privately. I can apologize to Ms. Winters in person. Please don’t sue my mom. She’s old, and she won’t be able to stand the life in prison. Please forgive her,” the usually haughty woman said, humbling herself to beg for mercy on Laura’s behalf.
Oscar gazed at her coldly and replied in a frigid tone, “Ms. Larson, if you have the time to beg for mercy here, why don’t you get your mom the best lawyer?”
He left right away after uttering those words.
Jennifer stood rooted in the same spot. Her face turned pale in an instant as she was fully aware of Oscar’s capability. Once the man deployed the group of elite lawyers who worked in Clinton Corporations, the chances of her saving her mother would be slim.
At that thought, her hands turned cold. Just then, Vincent walked out of the police station. After he checked out his surroundings and could not find the person he was looking for, he asked, “Jennifer, where’s Oscar?”
“He left.” Jennifer turned around. Helplessness filled her eyes as she inquired, “Dad, what should we do now? If Oscar insists on suing Mom, there’s no way we can fight against the Clintons, given our capability at the moment. Why did Mom go and give Amelia Winters trouble? Amelia was never the cause of the problems in my relationship with Carter. Why did Mom do that? Do you know how guilty I feel when she’s being locked up inside?”
Vincent patted her shoulder as he comforted, “Don’t worry, Jennifer. I’m here, and I won’t let anything happen to your mom. If nothing works, you can seek Carter’s help. He’s a close friend of Amelia Winters. I think he would be able to persuade her.”
Jennifer subsided instantly.
She was unwilling to let Carter have any more interaction with Amelia Winters. Hence, seeking his help would be the last resort.
“Think about it. I won’t force you. But your mom has had a comfortable lifestyle since she was young. She won’t get used to the life inside the police station,” Vincent added.
If it were not for Oscar, he could have bailed his wife out of the police station and would not have to force his daughter in that way.
“I understand, Dad,” Jennifer replied after a short pause. “I won’t let anything happen to Mom.”
“I’m relieved to hear that,” Vincent said. “Let’s go home then. We have another battle to fight tomorrow.”
Jennifer nodded in response.
Then, the father and daughter duo got into the car and headed home. No one spoke throughout the journey. Once the car drove into the mansion, she piped up, “I’m sorry, Dad.”
“Don’t overthink things, Jennifer. It’s not your fault. Your mom acted on impulse because she couldn’t think straight,” Vincent replied. “Let’s get out of the car.”
With that, Jennifer alighted from the car with her father. Judging from her grim expression, one could tell she was not in a good mood.
