Chapter 4 Offering Herself Up to Be Humiliated
Amelia took the slap, her head tilted slightly. There wasn’t a trace of light left in her eyes.
Milly quickly walked to Celia’s side, gently soothing her. “Mom, I’m really fine. There’s only 200,000 dollars on this card. I was afraid Amelia might splurge like before, so I didn’t prepare much.”
Amelia’s throat burned with pain. She abruptly opened the door of the cab parked nearby. “Please take me to…”
However, no place came to mind. She could only watch through the glass window as the family of four slowly walked inside.
The cab driver remarked, “Are they your family or your enemies? You didn’t say anything earlier and you got slapped. Forget the 20 dollar fare. Please leave.”
The tears Amelia had been holding back fell instantly. She too wanted to ask whether they were her family or her enemies.
In the distance, Milly held onto Nolan’s hand, a trace of triumph flashed in her eyes. “Mom, Nolan, could Amelia really have lost her memory? Should we ask her to come inside?”
Celia’s face darkened, her voice filled with disdain as she spoke of her daughter. “If she’d really lost her memory, she wouldn’t have found her way here. Nolan, you should end the engagement with Amelia sooner rather than later.
“Don’t let Milly suffer any more for Amelia’s sake. Milly had endured so much hardship out there. How could I bear to let her suffer again?”
“Don’t worry, Celia. I’ll take care of Milly for the rest of my life.” As for Amelia, while they were childhood friends, he had grown tired of her over the years.
Especially since the time when both Amelia and Milly had gone out together, but it was Milly who was kidnapped.
Five years ago, after Milly was found, everyone learned the truth. Back then, Milly had protected Amelia, telling her to run ahead to call for help. Amelia ran, but she did nothing. She let Milly be abducted.
This kind of person had been bad from the start. Even after Milly returned, Amelia often bullied her, believing her affection and favor had been stolen.
Whenever Nolan showed any hint of defending Milly, Amelia would make a scene. Everything she suffered now was her own doing.
…
Amelia looked frail and weak as she sat alone by the roadside, still wearing her hospital gown.
A car pulled up beside her.
“Amelia?” A young woman’s voice called out. Amelia looked up, finding the face somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t recall who it was.
“Did you argue with Nolan again? You didn’t even bother changing clothes before storming out?”
“And you are?” Amelia asked.
Lily Sanders rubbed her forehead and opened the passenger door. “Get in first. Sometimes you can’t blame people for being annoyed with you. Using the same trick too many times really gets on people’s nerves. I don’t even know why you treat Nolan so well.”
Amelia got into the car and sat silently in the passenger seat.
Lily drove to where she lived and said, “Stay at my place tonight. You’ll probably be rushing back to him first thing tomorrow morning anyway.”
Amelia followed her inside, politely changing her shoes at the entrance. She found the room’s layout very familiar, suggesting that this person was likely a close friend.
Sitting on the couch, she accepted a glass of warm water from Lily. Holding the cup in her hands, Amelia finally felt her body warming up a bit.
Lily seemed exhausted, yawning as she spoke, “I’m going to take a shower. You can sleep in the same room as before. When you leave tomorrow, don’t forget to take the clothes you left behind.
“Sometimes, I really wish you’d grow a backbone. Don’t surrender to Nolan so easily. Everytime you run away from home, it never lasts more than three days. The moment he beckons, you come running back to be mistreated.
“No wonder neither he nor his friends respect you. Wake up, Amelia. If you ever truly lose your memory, I’ll set off fireworks to celebrate.”
