Chapter 554
Chapter 554:
Amelia’s endless stream of curiosity poured out in a rapid cascade, and Shepard, overwhelmed by the sheer number of questions tumbling from her lips, broke into warm laughter. “With so many questions, which one shall I answer p>
Amelia grinned mischievously. “Every single one, in order p>
Soon everyone settled by the window, enjoying the cozy ambiance. After a while their table overflowed with an array of dishes, many of which were Amelia’s favorites.
Urged by Amelia, Shepard opened up about recent events involving him and Kelsey. Initially, marriage hadn’t been on their radar so soon, given their brief time together. However, once word of Amelia and Wyatt’s engagement got out, Kelsey’s family started pressuring her about marriage relentlessly. In the past her family had only offered subtle nudges, but now they were even setting her up on blind dates.
When Kelsey told Shepard this, he had impulsively proposed to her over a phone call. Only after blurting out the proposal did nerves hit him. He realized a phone call lacked the formality or romance of a proper proposal. To his surprise, Kelsey said yes on the phone. That very night, Shepard hopped on a flight to Kretol.
“So your main reason for coming here is to plan your wedding with Kelsey, and catching up with us is just a bonus?” Amelia said, her eyes sparkling with delight despite her mock indignation.
Shepard squirmed under her playful scrutiny, avoiding the question by taking a slow sip of water to mask his unease. Setting his glass down, he turned to Wyatt and said in a firm tone, “I’m heading to meet Kelsey’s family today to discuss wedding plans. You’re coming along p>
Wyatt, who’d been tending to Amelia, paused and set down his fork. “Why do I need to tag along? Are you afraid of the Finch family?” Wyatt’s eyes glinted with playful mockery.
Shepard’s cheeks flushed with rare embarrassment at Wyatt’s teasing. “Just come, all right? I am your brother-in-law p>
Wyatt relented with a soft laugh. “Fine — since you’re pulling the family card, I’ll go with you p>
“My lovely soon-to-be sister-in-law, can I join, too?” Amelia said, turning to Kelsey with a cheeky smile.
𝗦аvе уоu𝗋 𝗳𝖺vo𝗋i𝘁𝖾 𝗻𝗈𝘷𝖾𝘭𝗌 on
Kelsey’s face went pink. She shot Amelia a mock glare. “Stop teasing me p>
The buzz around Shepard and Kelsey’s upcoming wedding made Amelia beam, filling the restaurant with a lively, joyful vibe. In stark contrast, Brielle’s mood was grim.
After Leandro’s bodyguard had whisked her into a car, Brielle assumed she would be dragged back to his house for some cruel punishment. She had underestimated his ruthlessness. The car sped toward the city’s outskirts, and Brielle dared not make a sound during the drive.
When the car finally stopped and the door opened, she peered out. Spotting a hospital, she clung to a faint hope that they were there to treat her injured wrist—until she saw the large sign above the entrance: “Kretol Psychiatric Hospital p>
Her face drained of color instantly. As she was pulled from the car, the hospital doors swung open and several men in white coats approached with stern expressions, devoid of the warmth typical of doctors. Without a word, they escorted Brielle inside.
In the large courtyard, patients of all ages roamed aimlessly—some sobbing, others laughing hysterically. The cacophony of voices was chilling. Brielle’s heart sank as the reality of her situation hit her.
At the entrance she gripped the iron bars desperately and screamed, “I’m not crazy! I shouldn’t be here p>
Her cries drew the vacant stares of the patients in the yard, and the sight made her blood run cold.
She thrashed and shouted, but the men in white coats ignored her, prying her fingers off the bars one by one. After they took her inside, Leandro’s car pulled away, leaving Brielle in despair. She watched it fade into the distance and cried, “I’m not crazy; let me go p>
The only response was the clang of the iron gate shutting. One of the attendants gave her a cold look. “Everyone who arrives here says they’re not crazy. We’ll decide if that’s true p>
Amelia was oblivious to Brielle’s ordeal. Right after lunch, Rocco called, urging her to return to the office quickly. When Amelia arrived, Rocco was waiting, brimming with excitement. “Mrs. Stewart, the partners who ditched us before are now eager to collaborate again. Should we sign with them p>
Before he could finish, a knock interrupted. “Mrs. Stewart, Mr. Butcher and the others are eager to see you. I couldn’t hold them back!” the receptionist said, visibly flustered, sweat dotting her forehead.
“Lead them to the conference room; I’ll be there shortly,” Amelia said.
“Understood,” the receptionist replied, hurrying off.
Amelia turned to Rocco. “Get the contracts ready p>