Chapter 603 Troubling Disposition
Amelia and Benjamin came to a cafe near the hospital and ordered two cups of coffee. When their beverages were served, Amelia asked for some sugar.
“Ma’am, here are some sugar as requested.”
“Thank you.”
She scooped a small teaspoon of sugar and added it to her cup. While stirring, she asked, “Mr. Hutton, I wonder about your purpose for traveling such a long way by air to see me. May I know what you would like to discuss with me?”
He scrutinized her and admittedly thought that she looked almost identical to his wife. In fact, they would pass as a pair of twins. Unfortunately, he loathed seeing that face. It kept bugging him as though some unforgettable humiliation would soon be brought to light.
“You look a lot like my wife,” he stated.
“It’s an unexpected honor to be Mrs. Hutton’s look-alike,” Amelia paused her action for a split second and responded magnanimously.
“Ms. Winters, I flew all the way here from Saspiuburg, so I ain’t going to beat around the bush. I believe you have probably discovered the fact that you’re my daughter. To tell you the truth, I have only a son and a daughter. I don’t intend to add any new family member,” Benjamin cut to the chase.
A gracious smile remained plastered on Amelia’s face, and there was no trace of sorrow or anger on her expression. She looked like she was listening attentively to an elderly telling her a story.
“I admire your honesty, Mr. Hutton. Yet, I don’t appreciate your hostility toward me.” She added, “As what you’ve seen, I’m doing very well even without your support or the backing of the Winters family. I have a husband and a son who love me very much. So, I’m not bothered about reuniting with a blood kin. Instead of viewing you and Mrs. Hutton as my long-lost parents, you lot are more like strangers to me. We don’t share a bond. Hence, I’m not keen on claiming my birth parents. Mr. Hutton, please rest assured that my identity as Mrs. Clinton doesn’t stir up a need in me to covet the little wealth that the Huttons possess.”
Pursing his lips, Benjamin gazed at her intently.
He had rehearsed this meet-up for at least a million times on his way here, but he did not expect her to reject him without an ounce of respect or tact.
“I’m delighted to hear this from you, Ms. Winters. I do hope that you’d make your stance clear to my wife and stay consistent in your decision. I don’t wish for you to give her any false hope. Yes, she wants to reconcile with you very badly, but she already has two children. There’s really no need to gild the lily. Thus, your cold and heartless rejection would be the best answer to her.”
At that, Amelia’s lips curled into a smile. A contemptuous look flashed across her eyes.
“Mr. Hutton, I doubt you’ve ever really made an effort to pay the slightest attention to what your wife really wants,” said Amelia.
Benjamin’s expression changed as he was taken aback by her frankness.
“If I were you, Mr. Hutton, I wouldn’t set this relationship of ours in stone. After all, truth be told, I’m indeed your daughter. Additionally, I’m married to the heir of the Clinton family, who is way richer than the Huttons. As a businessman, aren’t you an expert in weighing the pros and cons? Don’t you want to recognize me as your legal offspring? Conversely, you acted otherwise. I’m not sure if you’re playing hard to get or am I really that unlovable?” As she stirred her cup of coffee, she got what she wanted to say off her chest in a mocking voice. Smiling, her words were nothing but the truth despite how harsh they might have sounded to Benjamin.
The latter was so enraged by her comments that he smirked in response. His hawk-eye glared at Amelia, who in turn returned him with a casual gaze. She was not fearful of the way he judged her.
Suddenly, Benjamin applauded and burst out laughing. “Ms. Winters, you’re much cleverer than I thought. Yes, I’m a businessman who prioritizes profit. Given the chance, I’d choose to make a new friend instead of an enemy. If it was someone else, I’d be dying to butter the person up. However, I won’t act like that in front of you because I don’t like you. Or else, I wouldn’t have tried so hard to send you away.”
Amelia’s smile grew even brighter than before.
“Great, this is perfect! You’re indeed a visionary with a wicked soul, Mr. Hutton. Even a vicious tiger would not eat its cubs, but my own father would hurt his daughter at all costs,” she derided.
Benjamin took out a check and placed it in front of Amelia. “This is ten million. Being Oscar’s wife, I know that you aren’t short of money. Anyhow, I hope to compensate you for what you had to go through all these years. It’s also a way for me to overcome my guilt. Take this, and we shall officially cut off ties with each other.”
Amelia’s grin became more pronounced when she saw the multiple zeros written on the check.
She took it up and fidgeted with it. “How generous, Mr. Hutton! Ten million is an amount that a regular family could only dream of. They might not even earn anything close to it even if they were to work for three generations. I thank you for this, but I’m disgusted by it at the same time. Initially, I don’t plan to have any connections with the Huttons. You really shouldn’t have involved the Winters, and neither should you humiliate me by flashing your money. I’m a rebellious child, you know. The more someone wants me to refrain from doing something, the more I want to go against his will. Who knows? I’ll get close and intimate with Mrs. Hutton when I see her one day. No, there are no specific reasons for me to do that, but I just want to annoy the h*ll out of you.”
Malice burned in Benjamin’s narrowed eyes.
Subsequently, Amelia tore the piece of check apart. She rose to her feet and grinned. “I have other matters to attend to. Please excuse me, Mr. Hutton.” She turned around and left, but stopped in her tracks and turned back after taking a few steps forward. “By the way, Mr. Hutton, I forgot to inform you something. I’m not as close to the Winters family as you think. So, there’s no need for you to waste your precious time on them. Judging from how cold I am toward my birth parents, one can only imagine how I would treat my foster parents who aren’t my blood relations.”
Benjamin’s gaze was fixated on her as she stormed off and disappeared from his sight after turning the corner.
“Amelia, since you’re not heeding my advice, I shall not keep you alive. Your existence is my utmost humiliation. You’ll never understand this dreadful sense of mortification,” Benjamin spat out those words through his gritted teeth.
He then whipped out his phone and dialed a number.
“Caleb, keep an eye on Amelia. When the time is right, abduct her. I trust that you know what to do thereafter.”
“No worries, Mr. Hutton. I know exactly what to do. One thing though, we noticed that there are several bodyguards protecting her everywhere she goes. They don’t look too easy to handle. I’m afraid it’s quite a challenge to kidnap her,” a hoarse voice uttered over the phone.
“That’s your problem. As an assassinator, I don’t think you need to take advice from me on how to kill a person.” Having said that, Benjamin hung up.
Unbeknownst to Amelia, a murderous intent brewed within her father. As soon as she left the cafe, she called Tiffany because she knew that Tiffany was playing at a nearby park with Tony.
She went over to meet them, only to see that Tony was happily leading a group of children in games.
“Tiff,” Amelia called out.
Tiffany turned and asked, “Finished chatting?”
Amelia nodded.
She strode across, smiling. Her eyes were focused on Tony, who was over the moon. “It seems that Tony is getting on quite well with other children.”
“He’s very open-minded and cheerful. Coupled with his level of maturity, he fits the description of a leader among other kids.” Tiffany had nothing but praises for the boy.
The two ladies sat on the long bench. “How was the discussion with him?” Tiffany asked.
“How else could it be? He kept telling me not to drag Mrs. Hutton into this. Additionally, he also revealed that the reason for sending me away back then was because he hated me to the core. Seemingly, I’m not popular among the elders. My biological father doesn’t like me, and neither does my foster parents. I wonder if I’m destined to be the unwanted child,” Amelia said casually while playing with her hair.
“Are you sad?”
“In the past, I might be sad. But now, I can’t think of a reason to dwell in sorrows.”
“Good! That’s the Amelia that I know.”
Amelia shrugged her shoulders.
Right then, her phone rang. She took a peek at the screen and saw that the caller was Jolin.
She picked it up. “Hi, Jolin.”
“Mrs. Clinton, I have been informed by Charlie via a call that someone is tailing you. He and the others are settling it at the moment. I’m going to you right now. Please bring Mr. Anthony somewhere crowded. I’m worried that Charlie would be outnumbered by the people who are following you around,” Jolin reported accordingly.
Instinctively, Amelia scanned her surrounding, but she did not see anyone suspicious. “I’ll wait for you at the hospital.” It’s better to be safe than sorry.
“Sure, I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Upon hanging up, Tiffany asked, “What’s going on? Did something happened?”
“Jolin claimed that someone is following me, but the bodyguards are looking into this. She’s on her way here, and she wants me to bring Tony to somewhere crowded. Let’s not wander around anymore.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Instantly, Tiffany leaped from the couch and took Tony away from his playmates. “Come on, darling, we’ve got to go.”
The trio quickly shifted to a place where there were more people. Tiffany even asked the security guards at the hospital for support by claiming that someone was stalking them. The bodyguards were well aware of Amelia’s relationship with the Director. Hence, in a split second, five to six security guards showed up in their midst.
Amelia was dumbfounded. “Tiff, it’s not necessary to raise a ruckus. Those who don’t know might think that something untoward has happened.”
Tiffany hugged Tony tighter and said, “I’m just being prepared. Don’t you know that you have a troubling disposition? When you’re not getting hit by a car, you’re being stalked. You should have more bodyguards protecting you at all times. I’m thinking five to six may not be enough.”
Amelia was rendered speechless. Then again, she did have a better sense of security to having an increased number of bodyguards around her, especially when she was traveling with a child.
“Sit down, Amelia. Don’t overthink things. You have me to take care of both you and Tony.”
Amelia chuckled.
“Tiff, don’t be so anxious as if you have ants in your pants. See, you scared Tony.” Amelia stretched out her arms and carried the little boy. “Tell me, Tony, how did you feel when you were playing with the other children today? Happy?”
“I was happy! They’re quite obedient. I loved being their big brother, and I thoroughly enjoyed being a leader!”
“Whoa, that’s my boy! I’m impressed at how you demonstrated your leadership skills at such a young age. Come over here, and let me kiss you as a reward.”
Amelia gave him a peck on the cheek whereas Tony returned her with two sweet kisses.
The mother-and-son duo found much delight in fooling around with each other. The fear they had earlier on gradually disappeared.
