Chapter 35

Laura mistook Amelia's quietness for guilt, and a trace of satisfaction flickered across her face.

She shot Jaxton a warning look to stop him from saying anything, then said, "Amelia, to avoid any misunderstanding, would you mind telling me who accompanied you to the Pearl Bay Auction House?"

At the sound of Laura's question,Amelia-who had been studying the floor-lifted her gaze, startled.

She wasn't foolish. She understood the implication behind Laura's words immediately.

She pretended not to understand the meaning of Laura's words; instead, shepresented the video that Davin had sent her to Laura.

Everything that had happened at the auction appeared plainly on the screen, and Laura's expression shifted the moment she saw Dayna in the footage.

The moment Jaxton saw Laura like that, dread settled in his gut. He pointed a shaky finger at Amelia, asking, "What did you just show my mother?

You-"

"Shut up!" Laura cut him off, stormed forward, and slapped him before he could finish speaking.

Jaxton had put up with plenty of lectures from his mother over the years, but this was the first time she'd struck him while someone else was present.

Shocked, he pressed a hand to his cheek, eyes wide."Mom, how could you hit me because of Amelia?Have you lost your mind?"

Regret flickered in Laura's eyes after the slap, but Jaxton's outburst made her itch to strike him again.Still, she restrained herself since Amelia was here.

Fixing Jaxton with a hard glare, she said, "What did you promise me? How dare you drag Dayna to the Pearl Bay Auction House and stir up trouble? And you're even blaming Amelia for everything?"

Those words wiped the anger right off Jaxton's face,leaving him speechless.

Only then did Laura turn back to Amelia. "Yes, Jaxton made a mistake, but he probably acted out of frustration. You're his fiancée, after all. If you went out to work, our family's reputation would be affected.What you did-"

"To protect the Morrison family's reputation, you even contacted all those company heads behind my back so none of them would hire me,"Amelia said.

If Laura hadn't brought up work, Amelia might have kept pretending like nothing had happened.

But now, Amelia didn't want to put up with this any longer. "Sorry to disappoint you, Laura, but l've already found a job. I'll start working soon."

"Who do you think you are, talking to my mother like that? Clearly, you have no sense of respect!" Jaxton exclaimed. Mockery flickered in Amelia's eyes as she met Jaxton's glare. "Of all people, Jaxton, you should be the last to talk to me about respect."

"You-"

"Enough! I don't want to hear another word from either of you!"

Laura's stern command sliced through the room.After collecting herself with a slow breath, she turned to Amelia.

"You don't seem to understand. I'm trying to protect you. Our family's reputation demands that you act with dignity. How could you go out to work like you are just an ordinary person?"she said.

After a pause, she continued, "So, which company hired you? I'll help you resign soon."

As she said this, Laura was filled with anger. She wanted to see which company would dare ignore her influence and hire Amelia.

She even suspected that Amelia might only be bluffing.

Amelia said, "Actually, Laura, I'll be joining the Stewart Group. I doubt you have enough influence to make the Stewart Group heed your wishes. When I begin working, I won't have as much time to drop by.You should know this. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now. Enjoy your meal."

She then picked up her bag and left the Morrison home without a backward glance.

The idea of mentioning the cancellation of her engagement toLaura had crossed Amelia's mind more times than she could count, but she had held back. Still, today, she had truly fallen out with the Morrison family.

Laura watched Amelia go, lost in thought. Jaxton said to her, "Mom, look at her. She doesn't show you the slightest bit of respect anymore."

"That's enough. Don't make things any worse.Amelia just wants a job; it's hardly a crime. If that's her wish, let her do it," Laura said. "Have you completely lost your senses, Mom?"Jaxton asked.