Chapter 4

Amelia felt a knot forming in her stomach. She clenched her teeth and accepted the message request.

A notification popped up almost immediately: [Hey.]

Amelia didn't respond. The sender didn't seem to need her to, as another message quickly followed—a photo of a man cooking in the kitchen.

That face was all too familiar. Amelia's eyes widened in shock.

It was Matthew.

"Surprised? The president of The Moore Group is in the kitchen making porridge for me, just because I asked," the messages continued, oozing smugness. "I wonder if Mrs. Moore has ever enjoyed such a privilege. But I guess not, since Matthew told me he's only ever cooked for me."

Amelia stared at the screen, her eyes dry. She pressed her lips together and slowly typed back: [Well, enjoy the meal he made for you. I'll continue to enjoy my position as Mrs. Moore.]

After sending the message, the typing indicator appeared at the top of the chat box for what felt like forever before a new message came through, filled with barely concealed rage.

"Matthew doesn't love you. Clinging to the title of his wife only makes him despise you more!"

Amelia put her phone away. It seemed Matthew's mistress was running out of patience.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so eager to flaunt her so-called victory.

Under the table, Luna suddenly kicked her hard, snapping Amelia back to reality. She heard Luna's impatient voice: "What are you thinking about? Grandpa's been talking to you, and you're just ignoring him?"

Nolan looked at her with concern. "Is something wrong, Amelia?"

"No," Amelia quickly put her phone away and smiled. "Is something the matter, Grandpa?"

Nolan chuckled. "Nothing much. It's just been a while since we played chess. Wanna join me for a few rounds?"

"Sure." Amelia agreed, and Nolan stood up with the help of his cane. "I'll be waiting for you in the study."

He slowly made his way upstairs. Amelia finished her soup and was about to follow when she saw Nolan's cane slip and his foot miss a step.

"Grandpa!" Amelia screamed, but it was too late. Nolan tumbled down the stairs!

Luna was equally terrified, fumbling to call an ambulance. Despite Nolan's typically robust health, his age made the fall particularly dangerous. He lost consciousness immediately.

Amelia's eyes were red with worry. When the ambulance finally arrived and took Nolan to the hospital, she sat outside the emergency room, only then realizing she had rushed out in her indoor slippers.

From the end of the hallway came the sound of hurried footsteps. Amelia looked up and met Matthew's icy, angry gaze.

In the next moment, Matthew grabbed her wrist and yanked her into the stairwell, slamming her against the wall.

Amelia's back hit the wall hard, pain radiating through her body. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, hearing Matthew's voice full of venom.

"Just because you won't agree to a divorce, you did this to Grandpa?!"

He pinned her shoulders against the wall, his words dripping with cold fury. "Amelia, I never knew you could be so vicious."

"It's not true!"  Amelia's eyes were red, her shoulders aching under his grip. She stared at Matthew in disbelief. "Grandpa's fall was an accident. He treats me like his own granddaughter. How could I do such a thing to him?!"

Matthew laughed coldly. "You know Grandpa treats you like a granddaughter?"

Matthew snarled, "You were the closest to him when he fell. I asked the butler—there were no servants in the living room, and Luna was on the sofa with her back to you. When she heard the noise, Grandpa had already fallen. You can say whatever you want, but it doesn't change the facts."

"You were just afraid that if Grandpa found out about your affair, it would be bad for you. So you did this. Amelia, you're more ruthless than I ever imagined."

Amelia's heart trembled. "You don't believe me."

Her voice was tinged with pain as she slowly asked Matthew, "No matter what I say now, you won't believe me, will you?"

Matthew looked at her coldly, his gaze devoid of any warmth. "Do you think you're still worth believing?"

Without another word, he turned and walked away, not sparing her a second glance. "From now on, don't let me see you near Grandpa again. The consequences won't be something you can bear."

Amelia felt dizzy, barely able to stand. She slid down the wall, watching Matthew's retreating figure, his last look replaying in her mind.

It was a look of utter disdain.

Amelia covered her face with her arm, her lips curling into a bitter smile.

Three years of marriage, and he didn't trust her at all. To Matthew, she was probably just a promiscuous, malicious woman.

So what had all her perseverance been for?

"Well, if it isn't Mrs. Moore?" A soft, mocking voice interrupted her thoughts. Amelia looked up to see a woman dressed in the latest designer clothes, her makeup flawless, exuding a delicate charm.

The woman looked down at Amelia with a smirk. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself. Mrs. Moore, looking so pathetic."

"Turns out, no matter how lucky a lowly person gets, they always end up back where they belong," she sneered.

Amelia recognized her.

The woman who had added her on WhatsApp, sent her photos of Matthew in the kitchen, flaunting her affair—Matthew's mistress.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Mia."

Mia's voice was full of self-satisfaction. "But soon enough, you'll be calling me Mrs. Moore."

Amelia's voice was hoarse. "Are you so sure you'll marry Matthew?"

She pushed herself up, unable to hide her disdain. "Don't forget, if I don't agree to the divorce, no matter how much Matthew loves you, you'll always be just a mistress."

"You—" Mia's face twisted with anger, just as impatient as she had shown herself to be in her messages. "If it weren't for Nolan's insistence, I would have married Matthew long ago. You wouldn't even have had a chance!"

"Now, Matthew has decided to marry me!" Mia glared at Amelia, her voice full of spite. "If you know what's good for you, sign the divorce papers. At least then you can leave with some dignity. Otherwise, you'll be thrown out with nothing!"

Amelia's eyes narrowed as she met Mia's gaze. "We'll see about that," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "You might find that I'm not as easy to get rid of as you think."

Mia's smug expression faltered for a moment before she turned on her heel and walked away, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor. Amelia watched her go, feeling a renewed sense of determination. She wouldn't let Mia or Matthew break her so easily.