Chapter 574 In Her Face
Amelia walked toward her and saw Eleanor’s teary eyes. Oscar must’ve said something to her! She could not help but furrow her brows when she asked, “Are you okay, Mrs. Hutton?”
Eleanor shook her head and answered, “I’m fine. I’m getting a bit homesick, that’s all. Lia, I shouldn’t be bothering you any longer. I’ll go back to the Hutton residence tomorrow.”
Amelia looked at her in shock.
Seeing that, Eleanor flashed a faint smile and said, “Are you surprised to see me changing my mind all of a sudden? Oscar is right, though. Whatever I have going on with the Hutton family is none of your concern, so I shouldn’t drag you into it. Once I’ve settled the matters at home, I’ll go over to Tayhaven to find you.”
When Amelia heard that, various emotions washed across her heart. “Mrs. Hutton, have you thought it through?”
Eleanor nodded in response.
“In that case, I’m not going to say anything further. However, marriage shouldn’t be taken lightly. If there’s a slight chance of maintaining it, divorce shouldn’t be an option. On the other hand, if things are beyond repair, I’ll support your decision,” Amelia uttered sincerely.
Eleanor nodded, yet she could not help but look at Amelia dazedly.
Eleanor missed her daughter dearly for over twenty years since they had separated from each other. The moment she finally saw her again, she did not hesitate to tear her own family apart just because of her.
She then could not control herself and held Amelia’s face. Like a loving mother, she said, “Lia, you look just like me. When I look at you now, it’s as if I’m looking at my younger self. Wait for me, okay? Once I’ve settled the matters with the Hutton family, I’ll go over. I’ll take care of you and your child. Besides, I’ll also cook delicious meals for you.”
Somehow, Amelia was touched upon hearing that. “Mrs. Hutton, I—”
Eleanor interrupted her and pleaded, “Please don’t push me away right away, Lia. It’d break my heart. There were various reasons I didn’t dare to acknowledge you prior to this. Ever since your disappearance, I’ve been missing you dearly. When I did, my heart would ache. Hence, please give me a chance to make it up to you. I’ll try my best at being a responsible mother again.”
Again, Amelia was deeply moved by her words.
Perhaps it was because Amelia was a mother herself. She knew how important a child was to a mother. At times, out of motherly love, one would not hesitate to risk her own life for her child.
Amelia then reached out her arms and hugged Eleanor affectionately. “Mrs. Hutton, please forgive me for not being able to address you as my mom. It has been way too long. Even if you’re my mom, I can’t bring myself to address you accordingly out of the blue. However, I’ve never held anything against you. Instead, I’m rather grateful. Really. In you, I could truly feel the unconditional love of an elder.”
As soon as Eleanor heard that, tears streamed down her cheeks.
She hugged Amelia tightly and sobbed. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for leaving you alone for the past twenty-odd years. I’ve always felt guilt in my heart. When I saw you that time, I didn’t have the courage to acknowledge you. I know you must hate me for that.”
Amelia patted her back gently in response.
After crying for a few minutes, Eleanor gradually calmed herself down and only wept.
Amelia Winters wiped the tears off of her face and uttered softly, “Mrs. Hutton, I’ll call Amelia Hutton and get her to come to fetch you.”
Eleanor did not oppose it. “Okay.”
After settling Eleanor down, Amelia Winters gave Amelia Hutton a call.
Amelia Hutton arrived in a rush about an hour later. When she arrived, she pounced on Amelia Winters and asked, “Amy, where’s my mom?”
Amelia Winters led her into the house. Amelia Hutton then breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Eleanor was unharmed.
“Luckily you’re all right, Mom. I’ve been worried sick over the past few days.” Amelia Hutton cried and laughed at the same time.
Eleanor raised her hand and ran it through Amelia Hutton’s hair. When she was doing that, a hint of distrait appeared in her gentle gaze.
“I’m okay. Don’t worry,” Eleanor replied.
Amelia Hutton sat beside Eleanor and pondered for a while before saying, “Mom, I didn’t purposely hold back from stopping Dad that day. I just…”
“I’m not blaming you. That’s between your dad and me,” Eleanor muttered calmly.
Amelia Hutton held Eleanor’s arm and said anxiously, “Mom, ever since you went away, Dad has been very worried. He’s admitted his mistakes. Don’t be angry at him anymore, okay? As long as you can come home, we can still be the happiest family in the world.”
Eleanor gently withdrew her arm and said, “Be good, Amelia. There’s no way I can be with your dad anymore. I’ll still love you and your brother the same, even after the divorce.”
Amelia Hutton anxiously waved both her hands in the air and asked in puzzlement, “Mom, hasn’t everything been okay for the past twenty over years? Hasn’t Dad been treating you well all this while? Don’t get a divorce, okay?”
Eleanor’s expression turned cold. “Amelia, please don’t meddle in my affair with your dad.”
“Mom, how can I not if you guys are getting a divorce? Without you at home, I’ll feel cold and lonely. I also don’t want an unfamiliar woman to come into the Hutton family and be the new lady of the house. I’d be so disgusted by the ingenuity,” Amelia Hutton said in frustration.
After a short pause, she continued, “Mom, I beg of you. For me and Sean, don’t get a divorce, okay?”
Eleanor’s patience was wearing thin at that time. “Please stop fooling around, Amelia.”
“Mom, I’m not fooling around. Just like me, Dad and Sean love you a lot. The Hutton family can’t be without you. Please don’t get a divorce, okay? Haven’t we been together for the past twenty-odd years?” Amelia Hutton asked in bewilderment.
Right then, a hint of impatience surfaced on Eleanor’s face.
Amelia Hutton was kneeling on one knee when she begged, “Please, Mom. I beg of you. The family will fall apart if you get a divorce.” Also, I wouldn’t have my pocket money anymore.
She kept the last sentence in her mind. That was Benjamin’s ultimatum for her.
Although Benjamin loved his daughter, he was willing to go to the extent of threatening her on Eleanor’s matter.
Mom, I’m so sorry. Although you’re important to me, my financial capability is just as important. Without those credit cards, I won’t be able to afford those exquisite dresses and handbags.
Amelia Hutton was willing to sacrifice her mother’s happiness in exchange for her lavish lifestyle.
With sadness in her eyes, Eleanor asked Amelia Hutton, “Amelia, would you still want me to go back to the Hutton family even if I have to give up my happiness?”
Amelia Hutton moved her lips but kept mum.
Eleanor held her face and said in sadness, “Amelia, my relationship with your dad is over. I’ll still be your mother after the divorce.”
A wave of mixed emotions surged from within Amelia Hutton, and she buried herself in Eleanor’s arms. As she was crying, she said, “Mom, please don’t get a divorce. I need you. Sean needs you. Are you really willing to see our family fall apart?”
Eleanor fell silent.
A hint of hesitation flashed across Eleanor’s softened gaze.
Ultimately, she sort of gave in and said, “Let’s talk about it when we get home.”
Instantly, Amelia Hutton was overjoyed. “Okay! Let’s go home now. I’ll help you pack up. Dad and Sean are waiting for you at home. They were afraid that you might throw a tantrum and refuse to come home if too many of us showed up to fetch you. That’s why I came here alone to bring you home.”
A faint smile appeared on Eleanor’s face upon hearing that, albeit a bitter one.
Amelia Hutton saw Oscar and Amelia Winters when she helped Eleanor out of the room. She merely gave Amelia Winters a nod before saying to Oscar passionately, “Oscar, thank you so much for coming such a long way to help my mom. One day, as the host, I’ll treat you to a meal personally.”
Throughout her statement, not once did she mention Amelia Winters’ involvement.
With a straight face, Oscar said, “You can thank Amelia Winters. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have meddled in the Hutton family’s affairs. To me, the Hutton family is nothing but a bunch of outsiders who have nothing to do with me.”
Amelia Hutton’s smile instantly froze. Oscar had completely disregarded her enthusiasm and friendliness, and his indifferent remarks felt like a slap in her face.
