Amelia gazed at him apologetically. “I’m sorry, but I choose family over work. I can’t stay here anymore.”
“I won’t allow that.”
“I’m really sorry, Carter, but I can’t keep working here. I’m really happy that I got to work with you for a while, and I do hope that we can work together again someday. But for now, none of this is possible. I suppose I won’t need to write you a resignation letter. I’m sorry.” After apologizing sincerely, Amelia headed toward the door.
Yet, Carter grabbed her by the hand. “Please don’t go, Amelia,” he pleaded.
Amelia’s gaze remained apologetic. “I’m really sorry I let you down, Carter. We can work together again next time.”
“I don’t know what will happen next time. All I know is that once you leave, I won’t even have a chance to be close to you anymore. So please don’t go. I’ll fire Jennifer if you stay.”
“Don’t you understand, Carter? Even if Jennifer leaves, there’d be other women who would do what she did. I don’t want anyone else sabotaging my marriage, so I can’t keep working here anymore.”
Carter stared at her in agony.
“Amelia, you left me without a word all those years ago, and now you’re leaving me again because of another man. When will you ever love me instead?”
“Don’t say that, Carter. We’re just friends,” Amelia replied in slight frustration. “I’ll be off now. I don’t want to interfere with your work.”
Carter’s tight grip remained on her hand. “Do you have to be this cruel, Amelia?” he asked drearily.
“I’m sorry, Carter.” With that, Amelia shook his hand off, opened the door to his office, and left without turning back.
Carter stood inside his office in a daze, not even noticing that the secretary had walked in. “Are you okay, Mr. Scott?” the woman asked nervously.
Carter merely glanced at her and pointed to the door. “Leave.”
“M-Mr. Scott, the president of Lumine Group is here. Do you want to—”
“Tell Mr. Freeman that I’m not feeling well and get the technical department manager to handle the project discussions,” Carter instructed after taking a deep breath.
“Yes, Mr. Scott.” With that, the secretary quickly left the office, afraid that the man would unleash his wrath on her.
Just as Carter remained in a horrible mood, a knock came on the door, followed by Jennifer’s voice. “May I come in, Mr. Scott? I have some work matters to report to you about.”
Carter’s eyes flashed with rage and hatred as he clenched his fists tightly. “Come in.”
Jennifer opened the door and walked in, brimming with confidence. She was dressed in a red suit that perfectly accentuated her figure.
“Hello, Mr. Scott.”
Carter glanced at Jennifer coldly before standing up, making his way around his desk, and walking up to her. Then, he slapped the woman across the face without a word.
Jennifer was stunned into silence before clutching her cheek and staring at him in disbelief.
“Are you insane, Carter? Why did you hit me?”
“Amelia just quit her job. Are you happy now?” the man retorted with gritted teeth.
“She quit? Are you for real?” Jennifer clenched her teeth too. “And what does that have to do with me? Why are you taking your anger out on me? Are you not capable of behaving a little more like a gentleman, Carter?”
Carter’s expression remained grim. “My company’s too small for someone like you. You should leave.”
“Are you firing me?” Jennifer asked in astonishment.
“Get your pay calculated at the finance department and leave. You’re beautiful and highly capable, so I’m sure there are lots of huge companies that would hire you.”
Jennifer glared at him in a fury. “I demand a reason. I won’t accept it if you’re firing me just because Amelia’s leaving. I’m going to tell Mrs. Scott about this, and I know she’ll back me up. You’d better not fire me unless you want the Scotts and Larsons to split up.”
“I’m the owner of this company. I don’t see why I can’t fire someone because I don’t like them. If you have the slightest bit of shame in you, you’d leave right after getting your pay settled.”
Instead, Jennifer sat down and crossed her arms.
“Give me a reason, or I won’t leave.”
“There isn’t a reason. I just don’t want to see you,” Carter responded without mincing his words.
“Do you hate me that much, Carter?”
“Yes.”
The hands Jennifer had placed on top of her thighs moved slightly as her eyes turned red. The woman had never come across a man who could shut her like that without a care in the world. She loved Carter so much that she had cast aside every other man who pursued her. Yet, not only did Carter not love her back, but he even treated her horribly.
“That woman chose to leave because she’s too ashamed to stay, but you’re blaming it on me. Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?” Jennifer demanded as emotions began to sweep through her. Despite her being a woman who had voluntarily chosen to pursue a man, Carter paid no heed to her, nor did he even consider her feelings at all.
At that very moment, Jennifer began to despise Carter, but not as much as she did Amelia.
Carter lowered his head. “You should leave, Jennifer. I don’t want our relationship to worsen to the point where we hate each other.”
“No. You’re the first man I’ve fallen for, and you can only be mine. As long as I’m around, you and Amelia will never be.”
Carter cast Jennifer a profound glance. “Don’t you realize how ridiculous you look, Jennifer? It’s not worth doing all this for a man like me. You may as well give up on me. I’m sure you’ll find your other half who can truly belong to you.”
“My other half has always been you. Even Mrs. Scott has acknowledged me as the Scotts’ daughter-in-law. Marrying me means marrying the entire Larson family, and when that happens, you’ll be able to expand your business anywhere in the world. I’m much better than Amelia in every way.”
Carter’s gaze remained especially calm.
“You’re a brilliant woman, Jennifer, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. A guy who wants to spend twenty years less sloughing away might choose you, but I want to pave my career with my own hands. If that doesn’t work out, I can always return to Scott Group. I don’t think we Scotts are that far off from the Larsons, anyway.”
Jennifer glared at him in fury. “So you’re ending our relationship no matter what, Carter?”
“We’ve never even had a relationship, to begin with,” Carter remarked, adding salt to Jennifer’s wound.
“You’re the worst man I’ve ever met, Carter Scott. Fine, I’ll leave. But I’ll be back for sure,” Jennifer declared haughtily.
“Thanks for the compliment,” Carter replied while holding a pen.
With her eyes flashing with rage, the woman turned and left without looking back.
Carter gazed at the documents on his desk. About five minutes later, he took out his phone and dialed a number, only to receive no answer from the person over the line. Then, he began to compose a text message.
I’ll leave your position vacant for you, Amelia. Come back whenever you want. My love for you will never change, and I’ll always be there for you whenever you need me.
The man sent the message without any hesitation. Unfortunately, he never received a reply despite waiting a long while.
He sighed with a gloomy look in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Amelia sighed as she read Carter’s message. Had they still been in university, she would have accepted his love without a doubt. After all, Carter was such an outstanding man who radiated charm wherever he went. He was like a Prince Charming to many women.
Unfortunately, all sorts of things had come between them, and Amelia could no longer return to her days of pure love. That was why she could only apologize to Carter now.
The two were destined to be friends, but never lovers.
Amelia deleted the text message before leaning into her seat at the back.
“Are you okay, Miss?” asked the driver. “You don’t look too well.”
Amelia opened her eyes. “I’m fine, Sir. I’m just a little tired,” she replied cheerlessly.
“It’s normal for pregnant women to feel tired easily. Judging from the size of your tummy, I’m guessing you’re on your fifth or sixth month. Be careful not to bump into anything. What is your husband doing anyway, letting you take a cab on your own like this?” the cab driver remarked in disapproval.
“He’s busy with work. Well, it’s not like he can keep me company all day. If he did, I’d start worrying about how the child and I will get by.”
“You have a point there,” the driver responded with a hearty laugh. “But judging from your clothes and behavior, you must have married a wealthy man.”
Amelia merely smiled. “Well, he earns enough to fill our tummies.”
“That can’t be. I’ve had many passengers, but not many of them are as stunning and classy as you are. Only someone who comes from a prominent background would look the way you do.”
Amelia could only beam in response.
Still, the driver didn’t mind her silence. He continued to chatter away as he pleased, and Amelia began to lighten up.
“We’re here, Miss,” said the driver as they arrived at the Clinton residence.
Amelia took out a hundred and gave it to the driver. “Keep the change, Sir.”
The man took the money and responded, “No matter what happens, Miss, I hope you live every single day in happiness.”
Amelia flashed him an earnest smile. “Thank you, Sir. I hope you stay safe and happy too.”
After alighting the vehicle, Amelia walked straight into the Clinton residence, and Olivia immediately stood up in astonishment upon seeing her. “Why aren’t you at the hospital anymore, Amelia? I was thinking of cooking you a meal and dropping by! Seriously… You just can’t stop making me worry about you. You should’ve talked to me before getting yourself discharged.”
Amelia held onto Olivia’s hands. “Don’t worry, Mom. The doctor allowed me to leave only after making sure I was fine.”
Olivia gave her daughter-in-law’s hand a light pat before telling the kitchen to prepare some food. Then, she led Amelia to the couch.
“You don’t look too good, Amelia. Do you still feel sick?” she asked with concern.
“I’m fine, Mom,” Amelia replied with a smile. “Maybe it’s because I felt a little carsick on the way here.”
