Template placeholder with Chapter 26
Chapter 26:
Inside the Flynn family estate.
As soon as Ricky ended his call, Janessa offered him the cup she had been holding. After he accepted it, she slipped around the sofa and began massaging his shoulders with practiced hands. Once she felt him relax, Janessa spoke up, her words soft and deliberate.
“You really ought to have a serious word with Amelia. She’s on the verge of marrying the son of the Morrison family now. Her behavior reflects on all of us—not just the Flynn family, but the Morrison family, too. If she keeps mixing with unsavory company, what will they think of us? The Morrisons might believe we’ve failed to raise her properly. If they start to doubt us and decide against future business, it will affect our company p>
Janessa had been with Ricky for over twenty years and knew him better than anyone. His reputation mattered more to him than anything, even if it meant putting up a false front.
Hearing Janessa’s words, Ricky remained silent, simply slamming the cup down in anger, causing coffee to spill onto the table. Seeing this, Janessa didn’t say another word and instead gave Dayna, who was sitting on the sofa, a meaningful look.
Picking up on the silent cue, Dayna moved quickly to take Ricky’s arm. “Dad, maybe everyone’s got it wrong. I’m sure my sister isn’t the type to do such things. Just because she was seen getting out of some man’s car doesn’t mean she has been messing around p>
But her attempt at soothing only made Ricky’s anger boil over. He shot to his feet. “There’s no need to defend her. That woman has shamed us all p>
𝗠оs𝘁 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 t𝗁is 𝗐ее𝗄 o𝗇 ѕ.𝗰𝗈𝘮
He then went upstairs, leaving the living room in silence. Dayna and Janessa shared a look of satisfaction. The idea of finally turning the tables on Amelia brought Dayna a thrill she didn’t try to hide.
It wasn’t until ten o’clock at night that Amelia leisurely walked into the Flynn family home.
The instant Amelia crossed the threshold, she found the entire Flynn family in the living room, sitting on the sofa. Ricky had been waiting for her all day, his anger nearly at a boiling point.
Not missing a beat, he greeted her arrival with a sarcastic remark: “Why not just wait until the clock strikes midnight before coming home p>
Unbothered, Amelia met his gaze. “Midnight belongs to tomorrow. I gave my word I’d come today, so I kept it p>
Her tone matched the chill in her expression. She looked as if she were addressing a stranger rather than her own father. Such defiance was enough to send Ricky’s anger over the edge.
Fury twisted his features as he said, “Amelia, is it so hard to act like Jaxton’s fiancée and stop dragging our family’s name through the mud? Must you cause a scandal? You’re as unmanageable as your mother p>
That comparison made Amelia angry, her voice echoing through the room. “Enough p>
Startled by her outburst, the other Flynns stared at her. Emotion clouded her eyes, turning them red.
“You have no right to speak about my mother like that—not after everything she sacrificed for this family. Every penny the Flynn family has was earned by her! You seem to forget who actually built the Flynn Group. Without her, you’d be nothing p>
Ricky bristled, unable to control his emotions. “Are you trying to drive me mad p>
Each word from Amelia struck deep, reopening old wounds. Long ago, Katrina’s achievements had eclipsed Ricky’s own. At banquets and gatherings, every toast would go to her first. Being her husband meant living in her shadow, and for Ricky, the memory was a constant, bitter reminder. But Katrina’s death had changed everything. People finally stopped whispering about his dependence on his wife’s success. Yet Amelia’s words dredged up the sting of every past humiliation.
At first, disbelief froze Ricky in place. Seconds later, fury sent him lunging across the room, swinging his hand toward Amelia’s cheek. Dayna’s excitement reached a fever pitch when she saw that. She sprang to her feet, hoping Ricky would beat Amelia to death.
Amelia, anticipating the blow, met Ricky with cold readiness. She quickly shoved his arm aside, her movement sharp and decisive.
Just then, the sound of bones dislocating echoed in everyone’s ears. Pain doubled Ricky over as he grabbed his lower back, his wail ringing through the room.
The turn of events caught everyone off guard. Even Dayna, who had been hoping for disaster, was shocked.
Janessa acted quickly, dashing forward to steady Ricky. “Are you all right, darling p>
Pain twisted Ricky’s face so completely that not a sound escaped his lips. Only a look of pure malice burned in his eyes as he fixed them on Amelia. His expression was not that of a father looking at his daughter, but of someone staring at an enemy.
Years ago, that same look would have left Amelia trembling and in tears. But now, she felt nothing.
Without flinching, she met his stare, a mocking smile tugging at her lips. “I wondered why you were so eager to make me come back. It turns out you just wanted to scold me. Too bad you accused the wrong person. The one bringing shame to the Flynn family isn’t me, but the daughter you treasure—Dayna p>
Scrambling to defend herself, Dayna blurted out, “How could you say something like that, Amelia? You’re the one seen climbing out of another man’s car, not me p>
“Being seen in a man’s car is better than being caught in an engaged man’s bed. Wouldn’t you agree?” Amelia said calmly.