Chapter 88

Amelia stood rooted in place, her mind spinning in disbelief. Why did she not know about this?

Wyatt patiently recounted everything that had happened two years ago.

It turned out that after surviving his injuries, Wyatt had hired people to dig into Amelia's background, piecing together clues until he finally figured out that she was the very woman he'd been searching for all along. He had wasted no time and headed straight for the Flynn family,wanting to marry her.

Back then, Amelia's mother's illness had taken a serious turn. She had admired Wyatt's character but still turned him down.

Katrina felt that the Stewart family was too complicated for Amelia and preferred her to marry Jaxton.

Wyatt had been frustrated when he found out that Amelia had already been engaged to Jaxton, but there had been nothing he could do to change that.

According to the original agreement, Amelia was supposed to marry Jaxton after her birthday this year. Therefore, Wyatt had made his promise to her valid for two years.

"My mom never breathed a word of this to me,"Amelia muttered, shaking her head.

Suddenly,a memory surfaced-a question Katrina had once asked her. What if a better man came along;would Amelia still choose Jaxton?

At the time, Amelia had replied with certainty, saying whatever was truly hers would eventually find its way to her.

Now, as she recalled her answer, she let out a quiet laugh, marveling at her fate.

Wyatt caught the sound of her laughter and let a small smile tug at his lips.

Michelle's stable condition gave Amelia some much-needed relief, and she walked beside Wyatt,happy again as they left the hospital. But her mood soon soured when she saw Jaxton at the hospital entrance.

Jaxton, clutching his aching ribs that had not yet healed,struggled to stand upright. The pain gnawed at him, worsened by the ordeal of the press conference. He'd rushed to the hospital straight after,unable to bear it any longer.

Catching sight of Amelia and Wyatt sharing a laugh, Jaxton felt a surge of bitterness twist inside him.

He might have been powerless against the Stewart family, but seeing Amelia with another man was more than he could stand.

A sly glint flashed across Jaxton's eyes as he suddenly came up with an idea.

Without so much as a glance at Amelia, he strode right up to Wyatt. "Mr. Stewart, I'd like a private word with you. Do you have a moment?"

"No," Wyatt replied coldly.

Jaxton's face tightened, frustration simmering under the surface. He swallowed it down and said, "You might want to reconsider. What I want to say concerns Amelia."

At the sound of her name, Amelia felt her guard shoot up. She tugged Wyatt's sleeve, ready to leave without a backward glance.

But Jaxton stepped in front of them, blocking their path. "What's got you running off, Amelia? Worried I'll spill your secret in front of him?"

Amelia hadn't planned to entertain his drama, but with Wyatt beside her, she refused to let doubts fester.Her tone sharpened, eyes cold and clear. "Why don't you go ahead and enlighten me about the so-called secret? I'd love to know what it is."

A smirk twisted Jaxton's lips. "If you insist."

His voice dripped with sarcasm as he turned toward Wyatt. "Mr. Stewart, are you aware that Amelia has been involved with an old man. That man not only helped her get Marc to treat her grandmother but also brought her along to the VIP floor at Pearl Bay Auction House..."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than both Amelia and Wyatt showed odd expressions.

Wyatt, especially, shot Jaxton a glare that could have frozen him in place.

Jaxton stood there, confusion etched on his face.He thought he'd just delivered the final blow-surely,after he had exposed Amelia, Wyatt would want nothing to do with her.

Feeling triumphant, Jaxton waited for Wyatt to turn on Amelia, convinced he'd ruined their relationship.

Just then, a blaring horn shattered the moment.Jaxton,about to lash out at the interruption, caught sight of the approaching car. His demeanor changed instantly, excitement sparking in his eyes. He quickly turned to Wyatt, saying, "Mr. Stewart, that's the old man's car! He's-" As Davin emerged from the car, Jaxton froze, struck silent as if someone had squeezed the air from his lungs.

With a practiced sweep, Davin opened the door for Wyatt and Amelia, then threw a pointed glance at Jaxton. "Mr. Morrison, you planning to take root there?"

Lost in a fog, Jaxton didn't even register the jab. His eyes stayed glued to the car as Wyatt and Amelia slid inside.

The truth hit him with a jolt. All this time, Wyatt was the very "old man" he had been investigating. No wonder Wyatt had glared at him earlier.

A moment later, Davin pulled away from the curb,leaving Jaxton in the haze of the car's exhaust.

Catching a glimpse of Jaxton's slack<-jawed stare in the mirror, Davin couldn't help but remark, "Mr.Stewart, the guy looks like he's lost his mind."

Wyatt paid him no mind. He turned to Amelia, a hint of hurt in his gaze. "Tell me, do I look like an old man to you?"

Amelia blinked at him, taking in his handsome features.She let out a quiet laugh. "No. If you ask me, Jaxton's not only out of his mind; there's something wrong with his eyes, too."