Chapter 573 Ulterior Motive
“Mrs. Hutton, of course, I’m worried about you. Otherwise, why would I take the flight and come all the way here with Oscar to visit you when I heard you were in trouble? I’d be at ease as long as you’re fine,” Amelia said.
Finally, a bright smile appeared on Eleanor’s face before she embraced Amelia. She choked up and said, “Lia, I’m so happy to hear you say that. I’m planning on getting a divorce. After that, I’ll stay with you and help you raise your child.”
Amelia froze and wiggled out of Eleanor’s embrace while concealing her emotions. “Mrs. Hutton, do you mind telling me what happened just now?”
Eleanor smoothed her hair and answered, “Oh, that was nothing. I thought that little girl was sent by my husband when she came in. That’s why I was a bit startled. Please apologize to her on my behalf, okay? I didn’t purposely vent my anger at her.”
“It’s okay, Mrs. Hutton. I’m sure she’ll understand.” Amelia flashed a gentle smile.
Eleanor nodded and said nothing more.
After keeping Eleanor company for a couple of days, Amelia got a few doctors to check on Eleanor. The doctors told her Eleanor was fine. As for her mental health, she would need to see a psychiatrist.
Amelia nodded. “Thank you, doctors.”
The doctors exchanged pleasantries before leaving the premise with their medical kits.
“Mrs. Hutton, I’m told that you’re fine. I think you ought to return to the Hutton residence, don’t you think so? Since you haven’t divorced Mr. Hutton, I think you’d have to head home,” Amelia said.
Suddenly, both Eleanor’s body and expression stiffened when she heard that.
Amelia asked worriedly, “What’s wrong, Mrs. Hutton?”
Eleanor forced a smile and answered, “Lia, I don’t want to go back to the Hutton residence. I don’t think I have anything to say to him because I don’t see us as a married couple anymore. I’ll get my lawyer to deal with him regarding the divorce. Since you’re my eldest daughter, I’ll follow you around for the rest of my life.”
It was then Amelia’s turn to have her expression stiffened. “Mrs. Hutton, please stop being angry. Mr. Hutton and you have been married for so many years. You can’t possibly divorce him just because you’re angry at him, right?” Amelia tried her best to persuade Eleanor.
Eleanor’s face slightly darkened. She then looked at Amelia plaintively and asked, “Lia, don’t you want to acknowledge me as your mom?”
Amelia instinctively stumbled a few steps backward before saying calmly, “Mrs. Hutton, please calm down. I’m just an outsider, and you’ve mistaken me for someone else. The Hutton residence is your home, Mrs. Hutton. I’m sorry, but I can’t take up the responsibility of taking care of you for life.”
Tears started to stream down Eleanor’s face as she stared at Amelia aggrievedly.
At that moment, Amelia was at a loss about what to do.
Fortunately for her, Oscar came in just in time to defuse the awkward moment.
“What’s wrong, Amelia?” he asked.
Amelia breathed a sigh of relief and turned toward Oscar. “Mrs. Hutton is refusing to go back to the Hutton residence. Since you have so much work piling up, perhaps you should head back to Tayhaven first, Oscar.”
Oscar held her waist and uttered, “Amelia, do you mind heading out first? Let me have a conversation with Mrs. Hutton alone. Don’t worry. Everything will be all right.”
Amelia was not convinced. “Are you sure?”
Oscar gave her a smooch on her lips. “Trust me, okay?”
Amelia nodded and glanced at Eleanor. “Mrs. Hutton, Oscar is going to talk to you, okay? I’ll be right outside. Call for me if you need me.”
Eleanor twitched her lips at first, but she gave in and nodded in the end.
After Amelia left the room, Oscar’s expression became indifferent. He pointed at a couch by the window and gestured for Eleanor to have a seat. “Mrs. Hutton, you don’t mind having a conversation with me, right?”
Uneasiness and fear flashed through Eleanor’s eyes when she took a look at Oscar. After pondering for a moment, she uttered, “Okay. Let’s talk.”
The two of them sat on separate couches. Eleanor had her arms crossed and acted defensively. “Oscar, what do you want to talk to me about?”
“Mrs. Hutton, you’re actually fine, am I right? Why are you pretending like you’re afraid of people in front of Amelia?” Oscar asked directly.
Eleanor froze instantly when she heard that. She then looked at Oscar with a complicated expression and whined, “Oscar, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“No. You know exactly what I’m talking about. You’re just good at putting on an act. Before I came, I’d already gotten people to look into the Hutton family, so I know quite a bit about you. Indeed, Mr. Hutton brought you to a private psychiatric clinic. However, he couldn’t bear to do anything to you because you guys have been married for so many years. Hence, I can’t help but think you have an ulterior motive when you act paranoid whenever Amelia is around.” With his cold gaze, Oscar sat cross-legged, and he looked extremely confident.
Instantly, Eleanor’s expression stiffened, and her fingers, which were placed on her thighs, trembled. She smiled bitterly and said, “Oscar, you’re quite a smart guy. You could tell at a glance that I was pretending. However, Lia is my daughter. Why would I hurt her? I just want to stay by her side, that’s all. I want to make up for the twenty-odd years of absence in her life. Other than that, I don’t have other intentions toward her.”
Oscar grinned and looked at her with mockery. “Mrs. Hutton, your appearance in Amelia’s life is too sudden. In fact, why did you show up at this precise moment? I really can’t help but think you have hidden intentions. I wonder if you were motivated by the Clintons’ status and background. After all, the Clintons are rich and powerful. Hence, I can’t help but doubt your intention.”
Eleanor slowly clenched her fists before loosening them.
“I just want to be by Lia’s side. That’s all. If you don’t believe Lia is my daughter, I can take a DNA test,” Eleanor said anxiously.
“That’s not necessary. I’ve already taken a hair sample from you when you visited Amelia earlier. I’ve already done the DNA test, and you’re indeed her mother. So what? You’ve already been absent from her life for so long. What makes you think she must accept you into her life just because you showed up now?” Oscar questioned.
Hearing that, Eleanor turned pale.
“Mrs. Hutton, please forgive my bluntness, but my stance remains the same as when I was at Tayhaven. If Amelia acknowledges you, I won’t stop her. However, I hope you don’t force it upon her if she wishes otherwise. I don’t want her to feel troubled,” Oscar added.
By then, Eleanor’s hands were trembling as she was listening to what Oscar had to say.
“If you want a divorce, that’s your business. Don’t drag Amelia into it. In fact, she has nothing to do with whatever drama that’s happening within the Hutton family. You know what I’m trying to say, right?” Oscar asked calmly.
Eleanor remained silent for a while.
After that, she lowered her head and gave in. “Yes, I do.”
“See, I know you’re a smart person all this while, Mrs. Hutton. That’s all. I shall let you rest.”
Oscar then stood up and walked toward the door. Right then, Eleanor stopped him and said, “Oscar, I don’t care if you believe me or not, but I really love Lia. She’s my daughter, after all. As a mother, I’d never do anything to harm my own daughter.”
The hand Oscar had on the doorknob froze when he heard that.
After a slight hesitation, he opened the door and walked out.
Oscar then went back to his bedroom and saw Amelia standing by the window while gazing at the scenery outside. She turned around and went up to him when she saw him. After adjusting his shirt for him, she said, “Oscar, you didn’t say anything harsh to her, right?”
Oscar put his arm around her waist and pulled her in. As they were leaning close to one another, he lowered his head and kissed her on her lips. In a deep tone, he asked, “Are you so afraid that I might be hard on her?”
“Well, she’s our elder, after all. We shouldn’t be hard on her, no matter what.”
Oscar flicked her nose and smiled. “You should go see her. Perhaps she’d be willing to go back to the Hutton residence by now.”
Amelia raised her gaze toward him and looked at him suspiciously.
“Go on. Whatever it is, I’m here for you. Why would I ever make life difficult for you?” Oscar smiled playfully.
Amelia then stood on her toes and kissed Oscar on his lips. “You’re awesome, Oscar.”
Hearing that, Oscar could not help but laugh.
Amelia wiggled her way out of Oscar’s embrace like a bunny hopping off and said, “I’ll go over and have a look, then.”
With that, she hopped out of the room joyfully. Oscar shook his head and laughed when he saw that. She’s always so adorable!
When Amelia walked into the room next door, she saw Eleanor standing alone by the window. One could sense her loneliness just by looking at her from the back.
“Mrs. Hutton?” Amelia uttered softly.
Eleanor was spooked, and she hurriedly raised her hands and rubbed her face. She then turned around and said, “Hey Lia, you’re here.”
