Chapter 581 Selfish
Since Amelia was at Saspiuburg for the past few days, much work had piled up. She greeted her colleagues from the same department and buried herself in work as soon as she arrived.
It was almost noon when her phone rang. Amelia picked it up to have a look and frowned when she saw the words displayed on her phone screen.
Despite being a little unhappy with it, Amelia eventually answered the call. “Hello.”
“Amelia, it’s Dad. I’m outside of your office. Can you come down to meet Mom and me?” Dominic’s cautious voice rang out from the phone.
Amelia heaved a sigh. Even though her parents had done many wrong things, Amelia could not bear to cut off ties with them.
It was acceptable for parents to make mistakes, but not for a child. Otherwise, one would be considered unfilial.
Amelia answered, “Dad, you and Mom wait for me. I’m coming down now.”
It was almost lunchtime too. Amelia tidied up the documents on her table and turned off her computer. She was about to head downstairs when Jolin followed closely behind.
“Jolin, go and have lunch with the other colleagues. I’m going down to do something,” said Amelia.
Jolin adamantly said, “I’m sorry, Ms. Amelia. I have to stay by your side to protect you. What if the same incident happens? That someone knocks you down with a car. I’ll be the one at fault if anything happens to you.”
After hearing what Jolin said, Amelia was deeply frustrated.
“Jolin, this is my order. I don’t think Oscar sent you to restrict my freedom,” Amelia persisted. It was rare for her to put up an uncompromising attitude.
Jolin frowned and looked at Amelia with slight disapproval.
“Please listen to me, Jolin. I’ll go downstairs and come up in a moment.”
At last, Jolin could only compromise, and Amelia hurriedly went downstairs.
“Dad, Mom.” When she walked out of the building, she saw the old couple leaning against each other. Amelia did not know why, but sadness crept into her heart.
After almost ten years of not seeing each other, the couple who used to treat her indifferently had grown old. There was a wary look in their eyes when they saw Amelia again.
Despite the absence of the coldness, the caution that surfaced gave a sense of unfamiliarity to the trio.
They used to be a family, but Amelia felt that they were now mere strangers.
“Amelia, you’re here. We’re not disturbing you at work, are we?” Dominic asked with concern while Melanie glanced at Amelia without talking. She was not like normal mothers who would care for their children.
Amelia responded out of courtesy, “It’s almost noon. All my colleagues are out for lunch. I guess both of you have not eaten yet, right? Let me buy you guys lunch, and if there’s anything you need to tell me, we can talk while eating. Is that okay?”
Dominic nodded in agreement.
Amelia brought Dominic and Melanie to an upscale restaurant and asked for a private room. Amelia ordered the food. When she passed the menu back to the waiter, she said, “Please serve the dishes as soon as possible. My elders are hungry.”
“All right. We’ll serve as fast as we can.” With that, the waiter left the private with the menu in his hands.
Dominic looked around at the room’s interior and commented, “Amelia, is it expensive to dine here?”
“Don’t worry, Dad. The food here is delicious and authentic. The price is reasonable too,” Amelia said with a smile.
Dominic gulped and continued, “We’re at ease knowing that you have a job and married a good man. Your mom and I are here today not to ask anything from you. We’re not that shameless. We just want you to stop going to the Hutton residence. As long as you agree to our request, your mom and I will go back immediately. We won’t stay here any longer to embarrass you.”
The twinkle in Amelia’s eyes dimmed, and the tinge of sadness crept into her heart again.
She tried her best to suppress the heartache. Amelia then opened her bag, took out a bank card, and passed it to Dominic. “Dad, this is the money I have saved for both of you over the past few years. I wanted to transfer it to your accounts, but all the accounts that I know have been canceled. I didn’t dare to call any of you, so I’ve saved the money here. Consider it my repayment for your kindness in raising me over the years. It’s not a huge amount, only a few hundred thousand. Just let me know if it’s not enough. I’m your daughter, and this is a fact that’ll never change.”
Dominic looked at the card with an inscrutable countenance. He hesitated for a while and eventually pushed the card back to Amelia.
“Amelia, keep this. Your mom and I don’t need your money. We only have one condition. That is to stop troubling the Hutton family. Please take it as doing me a favor,” Dominic said hoarsely with his head hanging low.
Amelia looked at the card that was returned to her and smiled wryly. “Dad, are you refusing to give me a chance to fulfill my duty as a daughter?”
“Don’t take it the wrong way, Amelia. I haven’t done my part as a father over the years. It was also hard on you while you were with us. That’s why we can’t accept your money. We’ll feel bad too.” Dominic shook his head.
I think you guys are trying to cut all ties with me.
Amelia let out a sigh in her heart.
The Winters family was still as indifferent to her as they were before. Even when they seemed to be different on the outside, the hostility did not change at all.
Amelia did not utter another word and kept the bank card. She, too, appeared distant.
“Dad, feel free to tell me if there’s anything that you need my help with. We’re still a family after all,” Amelia murmured.
“We just need one favor, Amelia. Can you please stop disturbing the Hutton family?”
Amelia’s expression was complicated as she looked at Dominic. She lowered her head and fell silent.
Dominic pushed the chair, bent his legs, and knelt on the ground.
He straightened his back, and with a husky voice, Dominic said, “Amelia, please, take into account all the money I spent while bringing you up, and don’t go near the Hutton family. It has been years since our family lived in peace. Moreover, your brother is suffering from liver cirrhosis. All it takes is one small move from Mr. Hutton to end your brother’s life. His children are still young. Please, don’t be a heartless person.”
Amelia rose to her feet as well. She wanted to bend down and help Dominic up. However, as soon as she heard what he said, Amelia’s hands froze in mid-air, and her eyes gleamed with indescribable despair.
“We haven’t seen each other in so long, Dad. Don’t you want me to feel better?” Amelia asked nonchalantly.
Dominic’s back stiffened slightly. “Amelia, I’m sorry.”
“I was young back then and could not go against you for how inhospitable you guys were to me. Now that I’m married with a child, are you still thinking of controlling my life? Do you not feel guilty for your selfishness?”
“I’m sorry.”
Amelia took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. “Is Spencer really sick?”
Dominic nodded in response.
“Get Evelyn to bring him here. I’ll ask Oscar to arrange the best hospital in Tayhaven for Spencer. With today’s advanced medical technology, as long as one actively goes along with the treatment, there is nothing that can’t be cured. When Spencer is cured, don’t get involved with the Hutton family’s matters. You can’t afford to offend them,” Amelia said indifferently. A calm look reappeared in her eyes.
Dominic shook his head aggressively. Suddenly, he lunged forward and grabbed Amelia’s legs. “Please, let our family go. Although we didn’t treat you well, we’ve tried our best to bring you up. Don’t be a cruel person.”
After he spoke, Amelia let out a hollow laugh.
The little affection that she had for them dissipated with Dominic’s selfishness. The guilt that Amelia sensed on the phone was indeed just a misconception.
Just then, Oscar pushed open the door to enter the private room and saw Dominic holding onto Amelia’s legs.
Oscar’s gaze darkened while he strode forward quickly and bent down to help Dominic up to his feet. The action seemed gentle, but his grip was firm.
“Dad, are you putting on some show? Even if that’s the case, how can a father kneel before his daughter? A few years will be shaved off Amelia’s life if you do this.” Oscar grinned. However, there was no trace of a smile in his eyes.
An awkward expression flashed across Dominic’s face when he saw Oscar appear out of nowhere.
Amelia looked at the latter and said weakly, “Oscar, why are you here?”
“Why didn’t you call and tell me that Mom and Dad are here? I could have asked someone to prepare a feast for them. What if they think I’ve failed as a son-in-law? Isn’t that right, Dad, Mom?” Oscar responded as he raised his hand and gently stroked Amelia’s face. With what he said, it was evident that Oscar’s last sentence was addressed to Dominic and Melanie.
Dominic looked awkward. From his face, it could be seen that he disapproved of what Oscar said.
Melanie stuttered, “A-Amelia, we’re done eating, so we won’t disturb you both any longer. You and Oscar should eat more. Visit us when you’re free. That’d be more than enough. We shall excuse ourselves now.”
However, Oscar took a big step forward and blocked the Winters from exiting the room.
