“Dad, I’m at my cousin’s place.” Amelia Johnson wasn’t surprised at all to get a call from Richard Johnson.
“Did you go to some party or something?”
“Yeah.”
Richard’s voice instantly rose, “How many times have I told you?
Stay away from those events!
Are you really that eager to embarrass yourself?”
“Relax, Dad.
I didn’t embarrass anyone.
I even did the opening dance.” Amelia tried to sound light, but her heart sank a little.
“You?” Richard snorted.
He knew exactly what his country-bred daughter was capable of.
“Yup. If you don’t believe me, ask Sabrina or Ethan.”
Richard paused, clearly caught off guard.
“You were at the same party as them?”
“Mm-hmm.” So Sabrina hadn’t made it home yet.
“Get back home. Now!” Richard barked before hanging up and angrily tossing his phone onto the couch.
Grace Williams gently rubbed his chest.
“Honey, don’t get so worked up.
Amelia’s always been like this, hard to keep in line.”
“She’s not just embarrassing me—now she’s lying too!
Says she did the opening dance.
What a joke.”
“She grew up in the countryside, she doesn’t know much.
Of course she’d feel insecure next to our Sabrina. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Maybe she just wanted to make you happy.
Don’t be mad.” Grace sounded like she was defending Amelia, but every word subtly tore her down.
Richard’s face twisted in anger.
“How the hell did I end up with such a useless daughter?
If I’d known it would be like this, I’d never have brought her back five years ago!
She’s a disgrace to the Johnson family.”
“Honey, don’t say things like that in front of her.
Blood is thicker than water, after all.” The more Richard disliked Amelia, the happier Grace was.
The sooner they sent that girl back to the countryside and cut ties, the better.
One less person fighting Sabrina for the inheritance.
After the call, Amelia turned to Emily Carter.
“Well, guess Damien’s gonna have to take me home tonight.”
“I wasn’t planning on driving you anyway. Didn’t we already settle that?” Emily shrugged.
She really didn’t want to deal with Damien Taylor’s bad side.
Just as Amelia stepped outside, she spotted Damien’s car pulling up at the gate.
He got out and walked over.
“Heading home now?”
She nodded.
“Yeah. Sorry to trouble you.”
He didn’t answer, just walked over and scooped her up before she got another word in.
“You really don’t have to carry me…” Amelia muttered, feeling slightly awkward.
“I told you I’d take responsibility.”
“…” Amelia was speechless.
The way he said that—it totally sounded like they were…something.
While waiting at a red light, Damien got a text.
“Amelia, we found the person who put your picture on the screen tonight.
Want me to deal with her?”
“Who’d be that bored?” Amelia blinked, genuinely surprised Damien had looked into it.
“A waitress.
Said she was in the restroom and a woman slipped her the job through the stall door.
Paid her, too.
She doesn’t know who it was.
No cameras over there, either.”
“No need.
Just thank her for me.” Honestly, without that waitress, tonight’s win wouldn’t have happened.
Well, technically, she had Sabrina to thank for that photo.
Back at the Johnson house, Grace pointed outside.
“Honey, look—there’s a car.
Not Ethan’s.
I think Amelia’s back.”
“Whose car is that?” Richard frowned.
“That’s not her cousin’s car. Maybe someone she met at the party? Thank goodness Ethan isn’t home right now. If he saw this, the whole engagement thing would be a mess…” Grace sighed.
“She really has no sense.”
“I need to see what kind of guy that brat dragged home!” Furious, Richard stormed out.