Chapter 77:
Spotting Wyatt, Amelia quickly stood and made her way over. “What brings you here?” she asked.
“You’d been gone a while, so I was worried you might have gotten lost,” Wyatt answered.
While Moonlit Restaurant was spacious, Amelia doubted anyone could truly get lost there. Still, she replied with a warm smile, “Let’s hurry back before Holley and Jeffery start to worry about us.”
A quick look at Elena standing off to the side gave Amelia pause. After a beat, she gently slipped her arm through Wyatt’s.
But Wyatt dodged her.
She was momentarily stunned, and Elena, whose expression had been dark, couldn’t hide the trace of joy that flashed in her eyes. Then she saw Wyatt’s hand move to hold Amelia’s. The delicate warmth of Amelia’s fingers brought a rush of happiness to him, stirring something in his heart. He had wanted to do this for a long time.
Wyatt’s spirits lifted as he held Amelia’s hand. Yet, when his gaze found Elena, his expression turned to ice once more. In Jordy’s presence, he said to Elena in a voice like steel, “I’ll let this slide for the Green family’s sake tonight. Next time, you won’t be so lucky.”
The warning shocked Elena. Fear widened her eyes as she turned to Jordy for help.
Turning to Jordy, Wyatt continued, “Let Holley and Jeffery know that Amelia and I are heading back.”
Jordy nodded, then turned to Amelia, his voice softer. “I’ll treat you and Wyatt to a meal soon.”
Amelia’s lips curved into a friendly smile as she accepted, and together, she and Wyatt left Moonlit Restaurant.
𝗥е𝗮𝗱 t𝗁𝖾 l𝖺𝗍𝘦𝘀t t𝗿е𝘯𝗱𝘴 𝗈n g𝖺l𝗻𝗈𝗏e𝗅ѕ.𝗰о𝘮
Once they were gone, Jordy’s frustration boiled over. He turned to Elena and snapped, “Have you lost your mind? Did you even realize what you were doing just now?”
Although nerves made Elena waver at first, hearing Jordy—who rarely raised his voice at her—speak so sternly only fueled her anger. “I’m your cousin! How could you take their side and not mine?”
The question nearly made Jordy explode. He shook his head, unwilling to argue, and strode back toward the private room.
Inside, Holley and Jeffery were waiting, both glancing up as Jordy entered with a dark expression. Holley frowned and asked, “Where are Wyatt and Amelia? What happened?”
Jordy’s irritation surged again. “Mom, you knew Wyatt was bringing Amelia to the meal. So why did you let Elena come?”
Seeing the accusation in her son’s eyes, Holley grew angry as well. “Don’t raise your voice at me! If you’re looking for someone to blame, ask your father what he did!”
The truth was, Holley had reserved the private room while only Jeffery was present. If Jeffery hadn’t told Elena about it, she wouldn’t have come.
Put on the spot by both his wife and his son, Jeffery looked uneasy as he said, “I really didn’t do anything—”
“Do you honestly believe your tricks are hidden from me?” Holley snapped. Years in business had made it easy for her to read Jeffery’s motives.
Even though Jeffery’s care for Elena was sincere, his wish to see her with Wyatt was mostly for the Green family’s interest. Before meeting Amelia, he had believed she wouldn’t be more suitable for Wyatt than Elena. Even after meeting her, he was still somewhat unwilling to accept that Wyatt had chosen Amelia instead of Elena. No one could refuse the opportunity to establish a relationship with the Stewart Group, and Jeffery was no exception.
Inside the car, Wyatt lowered his voice in apology, assuring Amelia that Elena meant nothing to him. Something about his earnestness made Amelia’s lips curve in a gentle smile. “I could already see that.”
From the way he treated Elena, it was plain for anyone to see that Wyatt felt nothing for her.
As the car rolled through the city streets, Amelia found herself captivated by the dazzling lights outside the window. Prevda, famous for its old-world allure, boasted centuries-old avenues that still buzzed with energy long after dark.
Noticing her fascination, Wyatt followed her line of sight and instructed the driver to pull over. Before Amelia could ask why, he had already opened the door and extended his hand toward her. Ever since he first held her hand, he had become enamored with the feel of their fingers intertwined.
Amelia didn’t overthink it; in high heels, she took his gesture as simple courtesy. Only once she’d steadied herself on the pavement did she realize he hadn’t let go. She looked at him in confusion.
“The road ahead is rough. It’s safer if I hold your hand,” Wyatt said.
Indeed, the cobblestones made every step a challenge in heels. At first, the closeness felt unfamiliar, but soon her attention drifted to the bustling street vendors and their cheerful calls, and she forgot all about their intertwined hands.
A sparkle of happiness lit her eyes. She hadn’t felt this light since her college days with Carlee. Since getting engaged to Jaxton, she had rarely visited places like this. She loved lively streets like these.
Wyatt had never really mingled in crowds like this. The rush of bodies and the constant noise unsettled him, but Amelia’s bright smile made the experience worthwhile.
She hadn’t eaten much at Moonlit Restaurant, and the tempting aromas now made her stomach rumble. Considering Wyatt’s status, she kept quiet, assuming he wouldn’t care for street snacks. She resigned herself to moving on, but Wyatt’s hand stopped her in her tracks.
With curiosity in his eyes, he asked, “Why not try some food here?”