James stared at Sumasa's face in the video and whispered to himself:
Please rest assured. I will make sure that Amelia lives a safe and healthy life for the rest of her days.
Your daughter, your Elvira, will be happy, very happy indeed.
Paul, who was watching the video with them, noticed that James held Amelia's hands tightly.
It seemed that Paul had slowly come to understand why James was so determined to be with Amelia, even though he knew she was from the Clark family.
Apart from the love, hate, and life-and-death struggles that the two had gone through for over a decade, there was also Amelia's innocent and tragic mother...
Paul grew up in a loving family, with harmonious parents and respectful siblings. He rarely empathized with others, but this time he felt great pity for Amelia's mother.
The Clark family was really heartless, treating their own child so cruelly. They were nothing but a group of beasts in human clothing.
As Paul clenched her fists in anger, the next video appeared, still featuring Sumasa, but this time on the streets of England.
Compared to the previous video, she looked much older, with a sallow complexion, pale lips, and no flesh on her body. It seemed like a gust of wind could blow her away.
She looked a bit weak, leaning against a dirty wall, with Skender sleeping next to her and Elvira wrapped in a swaddle.
Her bulging eyes stared tightly at the camera, trying to move her lips several times before slowly making a hoarse sound.
"I'm sorry, Mommy is useless and was kicked out by your grandparents..."
"They blame me for marrying a foreigner with inheritance, so they don't want to lend me money. I really have no choice but to beg with you."
"But Mommy's body doesn't seem to be doing well, and I can't hold on much longer..."
At this point, Sumasa choked up, tears streaming down her face.
She didn't know how many times she had cried, but her tears were dry.
"Mommy doesn't want to die. I'm afraid that if I die, you will also freeze and starve to death on the street. You're still so young..."
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have given birth to you and let you suffer in this world."
"But because of you, I know that my existence in this world is meaningful."
"Your soft bodies and sweet smiles are the cure for all of Mommy's troubles."
"I don't regret giving birth to you, but I feel sorry for not giving you a better life..."
"I'm sorry, my children..."
The video ended with repeated apologies.
Sumasa's tragic life ended without resentment or hatred, only feeling sorry for her own child.
James felt a cool sensation on the back of their hand and looked down to see crystal clear tears...
Amelia had no memories of their own mother, and cried for Sumasa's helplessness.
As a woman, she empathized with Sumasa's apologies and felt helpless.
Warm fingers wiped away the tears from her eyes, and James's flawless face slowly appeared in her blurred vision.
"Don't cry."
He wasn't good at comforting words, but his eyes were full of tenderness.
She nodded slightly, seeming to understand her own identity and all the circumstances, but her mood wasn't as heavy.
She didn't care whether the Clark family or the Evans family had deep-seated grudges, because the Clark family didn't treat her mother as family, so she didn't have to bear their hatred.
She only needed to know that she had a loving and caring husband, and as for whether the Evans family would eventually find out her identity, she would face it when the time came.
"Amelia, I will keep your identity a secret, and I will encrypt this video again. You and James should be happy together."
Although Paul hated the Clark family, but Amelia's mother was innocent. As women, they were just unfortunate to have been born into the wrong family, and had nothing to do with them.
"Thank you, little brother."
Paul was completely stunned.
"I've never been called that before, it feels weird but also kind of nice. What's going on?"
Paul leaned over James and approached Amelia.
"Amelia, say it again so I can hear... Ah-"
James picked up the pen on the table and hit him hard on the head, causing him to hold his head in pain and grimace.
"Yes, little brother is so smart, don't smash his head."
Amelia, who had already recovered her composure, gave James a sidelong glance.
James furrowed her beautiful eyebrows and looked at her in confusion.
"How is he smart?"
"He can solve the code that you can't, which proves that he is very smart."
After speaking, she muttered unexpectedly, "Smarter than you."
James: ...
Raising his slender hand, she pointed in the direction of the door:
"Get out."
Paul, who knew James was telling him to leave, was proud and shook his head, "I still have to stay and encrypt the video, right, Amelia?"
Amelia nodded: "That's right, Paul still has work to do. Why don't you go out first..."
James, who was bullied by his wife and younger brother, turned pale with anger and said, "Amelia Garcia."
He called out her full name, indicating that he was really angry.
She quickly raised her hand and poked his arm, "You bullied me before, and now you won't let me bully you back?"
He took the opportunity to grab her hand and held it tightly in his palm, "You can bully me, but you can't team up with outsider to bully me."
Outsider Paul: ...
Just as he was about to retort, the phone in the drawer suddenly vibrated.
Paul happened to be sitting in the drawer position and casually opened it, taking out the vibrating phone from a pile of phones.
When he saw the incoming call on the phone, labeled 'Z', his eyes showed a hint of suspicion.
"James, someone named Z is calling you. Who is this? Why do they have a code name?"
James expressionlessly reached out to take the call, then let go of Amelia's hand and walked out of the study.
Seeing him take the call and avoid them, Paul felt suspicious and quickly poked Amelia's clothes with a pen.
"Aren't you curious about who this Z is?"
Amelia, who knew it was Zack calling, shook her head.
"You're too trusting..."
Paul, who didn't know James's other identity, pointed to the man standing outside the study, frowning as he answered the phone.
"Look at him, he's good-looking and has a great figure. He's bound to attract attention when he goes out."
"That Z looks like a seductive and charming young girl. You need to be careful!"
The seductive and charming young girl, with his head tied up in a bandage, was having a video call with James.
"Sir..."
When James saw Zack in the video, his dark and deep pupils slightly dilated...
"What's wrong with you?"
"Don't even mention it."
Zack touched his swollen face and cried out:
"I didn't change my identity just to get close to Jonny's sister. I only applied to be her bodyguard."
"Who knew she was stronger than the bodyguards and insisted on exercising with me every morning."
"She hit my face and head..."
"I suspect she knows that I approached her for a purpose..."
"Waaah... and also..."
"Get to the point."
James interrupted Zack's long complaint with three cold words.
Seeing that James wasn't in the mood to listen to his troubles, Zack had to stop.
"Sir, do you remember Mr. Ben?"
"Hmm."
Mr. Ben was one of his subordinates, so he of course remembered him.
"I recently tried to contact him to investigate Jonny, but couldn't reach him."
"Other members said that he disappeared after dealing with Emily."
"Everyone thought he received a mission from headquarters and went on a solo mission, so he didn't report to me."
Their tasks in S were sometimes done in teams, and sometimes individually. This was a common occurrence, but the key was...
"I couldn't get in touch with him, so I sent someone to inquire. The news I received was that Mr. Ben had betrayed S and joined Erebus."
James's expression darkened. Members of S have always been loyal and wouldn't join Erebus for no reason.
"Did you say that Mr. Ben disappeared after dealing with Emily?"
"Yes."
"Didn't I ask you to handle Emily personally? Why did you give it to Mr. Ben?"
Zack felt guilty when he heard this.
"I'm sorry, sir. You asked me to investigate the truth about the your big brother's death, and I was in a hurry to investigate, so I gave it to Mr. Ben."
"Did Mr. Ben really handle Emily at that time?"
"He sent me a message saying he did, but I didn't see it with my own eyes..."
In other words, it's unknown whether Emily was dealt with properly.
Recently, Zack said that Brandon Moore was also rescued by Erebus.
Could it be that Emily didn't die and was taken to a secret place by Mr. Ben, so that Erebus' people came to rescue Brandon?
But...
Emily knew his true identity, so she would definitely bring Erebus' people to retaliate against him, but she didn't.
Moreover, Erebus' people have not yet announced that James is the leader behind S.
Also... why didn't Mr. Ben handle Emily? Did they make some kind of deal?
Assuming Emily is not dead, there are still many things that don't make sense.
Assuming Emily is dead, it still doesn't make sense why Erebus' people would save Brandon.
When his thoughts were in disarray, Zack spoke up again:
"Sir, the person who was guarding Emily before was Ben. They spent some time together. Could it be that Ben developed feelings for her?"
Zack meant that the reason why Ben not dealt with Emily and even betrayed S to join Erebus was because Ben had feelings for her.
However, even James was informed by Master Davies and had to witness it with his own eyes to know about Erebus' existence.
How did Ben know about the secret operation?
James couldn't figure it out. Now, the only thing he was worried about was that Ben and Emily knew his identity, and their existence was the biggest threat to him.
"Zack, have Joe quickly investigate whether Emily is really dead, and make sure to capture Ben and bring him to me!"
He wanted to ask Ben why he betrayed S?!
"Okay, I'll do it right away."
"Also, find out if Joe has figured out why Jonny was looking for Skender."
"Sir, I have only seen Gigi brrok from the Brook family so far. Jonny hasn't even shown his face. I'll try to find a way to sneak into the hospital and ask the old lady."
The young man's mouth was too tight. Zack tried to inquire several times, but was beaten up by Jonny's sister Gigi.
James hung up the video call after saying "quickly."
When he turned to look at Amelia again, his chaotic thoughts slowly became clear.
Although there were still many doubts, one thing was certain...
Emily, Brandon, Jonny, Herb, Sumasa, Ashley, Master Davies, including Erebus, are all key figures surrounding Amelia's identity...
Amelia in the study is rolling her eyes at Paul.
"What are you talking about? James would never cheat."
"Then tell me, who is this person named Z?"
"He's just a friend of his."
"Is Z a guy or a girl?"
"Of course he's a guy!"
"Uh oh, James' Sexual orientation has changed."
She rolls her eyes at Paul again, but accidentally catches a glimpse of the man standing outside the study.
Seeing him finish his call and still standing by the French window, looking at her thoughtfully through the glass, she furrows her brows slightly.
She stands up, walks out of the study, and comes to James.
"Honey, what's wrong? Did something happen for Z to call you at this time?"
After shaking his head lightly, he reaches out and hugs her. "Dear, I will arrange many bodyguards to protect you and Grace next. Don't find it annoying."
Hearing that he was going to arrange bodyguards to protect her again, A guessed that something had happened to S. She nodded considerately, "Okay, I'll listen to you. After all, you are my husband."
He is her husband, the one who will be with her for the rest of her life, protecting her and loving her. This is what she wants to do for her mother, to live a good life for the two of them.
He raised his slender hand and touched her hair. He didn't know what kind of danger they would face next, but he only hoped to live well. Only by living well can he protect and love her.
When the two of them embrace tightly, P's loud voice came from inside, "Amelia, your phone is ringing. Oh, it's an international call. Come and answer it quickly..."
International call?
Amelia and James exchanged a glance. His expression turned cold as he took her hand and led her to the study to answer the phone.
"Hello, this is the organizing committee of the 17th International Architecture Competition."
Amelia thought Jocelyn was calling about taking the child again, but was relieved to hear it was the international competition.
"Hello, may I ask why you are calling me?"
"Your work, 'Evans Headquarters,' has won the championship in the final round of the competition. The organizing committee has unanimously decided to award you the championship honor at the International Architecture Exhibition Hall in the capital tomorrow afternoon. You are also invited to give an acceptance speech."
I... won an award?
She looked at James in disbelief.
He rebuilt the Evans Headquarters to win her back and to help her reach the pinnacle of architecture in her own name.
She thought she was just a newcomer and wouldn't make it to the final round, but not only did she win an award, but also won the championship.
The sudden surprise made her so excited that she hugged him.
"Honey, I won an award, and it's the championship!"
James's tense expression gradually relaxed, and a faint smile. appeared on his face.
"Are you happy?"
"Yes, I'm very happy!"
"Then design a few more branches for me."
As soon as these words were spoken, the smile on Amelia's face froze.
She pushed him away and frowned as she looked him up and down.
"The title of champion must have been awarded to me by you, right?"
Paul, who was standing next to them, enjoying the show, pointed at James with his long fingers.
"It's him, it's him, it's definitely him..."
Her joyful mood suddenly hit rock bottom.
"I thought it was based on the work, but it turns out it's based on my husband. How can I accept this championship?"
She picked up her phone and was about to call the organizing committee to ask them to re-evaluate the entries and not take away the opportunity from other designers.
Before she could make the call, James' slender hand pressed down on her screen.
"I didn't interfere with the competition, I just helped you submit your work."
Just as James finished explaining, Paul added fuel to the fire, "Your work is called 'Evans Headquarters', and the organizing committee knows it's from the Evans family. How could they not give you the award..."
Amelia, who thought Paul made a good point, quickly nodded. "That's right, I can't accept this award. I'll decline it..."
James snatched Amelia's phone and turned his cold gaze towards Paul. "When Eva gets married, I'll definitely give her a set of houses in the park."
Paul's expression suddenly stiffened as he watched the scene. "Why pointing out to my problem directly, it's really annoying...."
James's voice was as cold as iron. "Just shut up if you're annoyed!"
Why be so fierce just because he asked to be quiet?
Paul secretly glanced at James, sat up straight, and continued to code the encrypted video obediently.
James then slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Amelia.
"Honey, the international committee members are all design masters in the architecture industry. They only look at the works, not the background. You have to believe that you have the ability."
She was a little skeptical, but Aaron had said the same thing.
Most architects are just like the straight lines on the architectural drawings.
They are straightforward. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't. No matter how big the background is, it's useless.
Perhaps her work was recognized by the masters, but it just happened to be supported by her background.
Thinking this way, she nodded. "Okay, then I'll go prepare my acceptance speech."
She took a step to leave, but James pulled her back and hugged her tightly, pressing his hand on her waist.
"How will you thank me?" he asked.
His fingers on her waist moved up and slightly lifted her clothes, touching her skin with a burning sensation.
Amelia pretended not to understand and said, "How about this? After I receive the award, I'll treat you to drinks in the capital."
After being embarra*sed once for being too horny, someone wisely chose not to ask and said, "The kind of thanks I want is more your body."
Amelia clenched her small fist and hit his strong chest, "Stella said that excessive indulgence can harm the body."
He caught her fist and looked at her with affectionate eyes, "Stella said that I am very strong, so you need not worry."
Paul, who was still typing on the computer, glanced at the two of them and became so angry that he gritted his teeth and typed furiously.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Amelia heard the noise and remembered that there was someone else in the study. She quickly pushed James away and said, "Don't say such things in front of the child."
Child Paul: ...
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Amelia approached paul and said softly, "Can you take a screenshot of the video my mother left behind for me? I want to keep it as a memory."
Paul glanced at her and said, "Sure, if you want the moon in the sky, I'll pick it for you..."
After his sarcastic remark, he quickly converted the video into a photo, copied it, and sent it to her.
Amelia, who received the photo, thanked him and said, "How about we go to the capital tomorrow and I'll treat you to some seafood?"
Why did she invite him for drinks but treat Paul to seafood? Did the drink is something more precious and delicious than seafood?
Touching on James's blind spot, he chose to remain silent, but Paul waved his hand and said, "It's my pleasure to help you. Let's skip the seafood."
After speaking, he took out the chip and handed it to her. "The video is encrypted now. Keep this chip safe. I'm going to bed."
Amelia took the chip and thanked him again. Paul then picked up his coat and left.
As he walked out of the study, past the living room, and towards the exit, he met Eva and Stella, who were carrying medicine, coming in from outside the castle.
He glanced at Stella with a dim and unclear gaze, then landed his eyes on Eva's face.
Seeing the other person's face visibly stiffen and their expression freeze upon seeing him.
He then picked up his suit jacket and threw it over his shoulder.
He walked up to her in a carefree manner and gave her a glance.
"I knew we couldn't avoid running into each other..."
She lowered her eyes, avoiding eye contact with him.
Since she didn't respond to him, he naturally didn't want to make things awkward and just walked away.
What's so great about Eva? When he no longer likes her, she'll just be a nobody in his life.
Paul thought this to himself, but his feet didn't listen to him and he stopped, then turned around and asked foolishly:
"When are you going to meet Jayden's parents?"
Eva, who had already walked far away, heard this echoing question and slowly stopped in her tracks.
She turned around and looked at him.
"His parents are still overseas, the time hasn't been set yet."
"Oh..."
He stupidly responded with a sound, not knowing what else to say. By the time he thought of something, Eva had already walked away with Stella.
Stella glanced at Eva, who showed no difference in her expression. Since Eva had never mentioned Paul after they separated, Stella didn't ask any further questions.
Amelia was sitting in the study, writing his acceptance speech. When he heard that Eva and Stella had arrived, she quickly put down her pen and stood up.
"Amelia, the prescription has been adjusted and the medicine is ready for you to try again."
Seeing Amelia come out, Stella handed the medicine box to the servant.
"Put it in the fridge. When Amelia drink it, take it out and heat it up. Remember, three doses a day, remind her to take the medicine on time."
The servant replied with a "yes," took the medicine box, and turned to the kitchen.
Amelia saw how considerate Stella was and a happy smile appeared on his face. He pulled the two of them to sit in the sofa area.
They hadn't had a chance to talk properly since they hadn't seen each other for over a month, but before they could, Eva went to send Jayden off.
Now that they were together, they had a lot to talk about. They talked about their honeymoon trip and Eva and Jayden's date process.
When Amelia heard that even Andrew had found a suitable girl, she was extremely surprised.
"Your cousin is so hurry. He got married after meeting her only once. Impressive, impressive."
Stella picked up her coffee, took a sip, and smiled. "The fifteenth of this month is an auspicious day for marriage. The date is set, and I estimate that the wedding invitation will be sent out soon."
As soon as their conversation ended, Andrew appeared, holding a bright red invitation. He and Doctor Anna walked in with joy.
"James, Amelia, I'm getting married. I came to give you the invitation..."
Amelia, looked at Stella, and Eva first and said, "I'll go and entertain them first..."
She got up from the sofa, walked through the corridor, and went to the living room.
"Andrew, are you getting married? Congratulations!"
Andrew saw she coming out and quickly walked over with a smile, handing her the invitation.
"It's on the 15th of next month at the Sea & Sky Hotel. Remember to come with James."
Amelia took the invitation and nodded with a smile.
"Okay, we will definitely come."
After finishing, she looked at Anna standing next to Andrew.
Doctor Anna saw the wife of the hospital's behind-the-scenes boss looking at her and took the initiative to say hello.
"Mrs. Evans, hello, I'm Anna, a surgeon."
Her elegant demeanor made Amelia think that Andrew had good taste, so she quickly responded with a smile, "Doctor Anna, hello."
After the two exchanged greetings, Andrew took out a sewn doll from her bag and handed it to Amelia.
"Mrs., it's Grace's doll. I had Anna sew it for me. Can you help me pass it on to her?"
Seeing the sewn doll, she was a little surprised and looked at Anna.
"Doctor Anna, how did you do it?"
Anna pointed to the spot where the doll had been torn and said, "I bought fabric in the same color scheme and sewed it back together bit by bit."
No wonder it was so flawlessly sewn: "Thank you, Dr. Anna, this must have taken you a lot of time, right?"
Amelia had originally planned to sew it herself, but Andrew said he knew a doctor who could help.
At first, she thought it was a doctor who repaired toys, but she didn't expect to find a surgeon.
Anna waved her hand and said, "Protecting a child's innocence is worth spending as much time as it takes."
This warmed Amelia's heart, and when she looked at Anna again, she felt as if she had been enveloped in a layer of golden light.
"Dr. Anna is a very kind person. Andrew, you should treat her well."
He was quite shy and scratched the back of his head. "Um, I'll be good to my wife like James..."
James was famous for being a romantic, and when Anna heard this, the panic brought on by their rushed marriage slowly subsided. She believed that she had not chosen the wrong person.
Andrew went to say goodbye to James before leaving with Anna.
After seeing them off, Amelia went to the living room on the first floor with the doll in her hand.
Grace pushed aside the covers and lay sprawled on the bed, snoring loudly.
Seeing her sleeping soundly with her little butt sticking up, Amelia smiled to herself.
She walked over and placed the doll on the bedside table, hoping that when Grace woke up and saw her doll restored to its original state, she would be happy.
After sitting for a while, Stella and Eva planned to leave. Amelia couldn't help but ask, "Eva, are you and Jayden really planning to get married?"
Eva paused for a moment, holding the coffee cup and placing it on the coaster. With a slight smile, she said, "Yes, we promised to meet each other's parents, so of course we're getting married."
Eva had already made up her mind, so Amelia could only express her blessings.
Eva stood up and patted Amelia's shoulder, "Don't prepare anything for me. For me, you and Jayden being happy together is the greatest gift."
Eva was still that warm and radiant person, constantly bringing warmth to Amelia.
"Then I won't give you anything. Don't blame me for being stingy later."
Eva smiled and said no, then she took Stella and left. "Let's go and get busy. We'll go to the capital tomorrow afternoon to witness your first award."
"In Eva's words, with Amelia's talent, she won this award and will win the next one, so this is witnessing her first award."
Just as the two left, Neil's phone rang, "Disciple, I just received insider information that you won the 17th International Architecture Award?!"
Amelia walked towards James's study and replied, "I just received notification from the organizing committee. You knew it so quickly. Isn't that too fast?"
After getting the accurate answer, Neil was so angry that he gritted his teeth, "I thought I would win the championship of this architectural competition, but I didn't expect you, a little girl, to get there first!"
Amelia raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Teacher, did you also participate in this competition?"
"Isn't that obvious? Which competition have I not participated in?"
Amelia asked, "Teacher, with your current qualifications, you don't need to prove yourself through competitions. Why do you still participate in this kind of competition?"
Aaron will always live in the he... Neil's gaze gradually dimmed, "Because I promised Aaron."
He promised his master that if he won a prize that exceeded his master's, his master would build him a golden house.
Even if he exceeded the goal now, no one would build him a golden house anymore.
But it didn't matter, as long as he persists, he could prove that his master is still with him.
If a person died and no one remembered them, they would be dead forever.
As long as Neil remembered Aaron, he would live forever in Neil's heart.
When Amelia heard the three letters "Aaron," she felt sad. "Teacher, is the award important to you?"
Neil shaked his head, "It's not that important. I just want to keep my promise and continue. But you are my disciple, and if you win an award, it's the same for me."
After speaking, he put away his emotions and loudly said, "I will also go to the award ceremony tomorrow. When you give your acceptance speech, remember to thank me, or I will beat you up!"
Amelia nodded repeatedly, "Yes, teacher, you have enlightened me and nurtured me. I will not only thank you, but also buy you a gift with the prize money."
He snorted, "That's more like it."
Then he hung up the phone, showing a bit of the style of a hero who comes and goes without a trace.
The next afternoon, Amelia appeared at the International Building Exhibition Hall in a silver trailing evening gown.
Accompanying her were the most important people in her life, all dressed up to witness her first ascent to the pinnacle of the architecture industry.
As the master architect on stage announced who the champion of the 17th competition was, the spotlight followed Amelia sitting in the front row.
The dazzling light scattered like stars, shining on her face.
She was like a rising star, emerging from the light and among many competitors.
Amelia was nervous, but when she saw her work displayed on the screen rolling on stage, she suddenly relaxed.
James, who was hiding backstage, gave her confidence, and her friends who applauded for her gave her sharpness, while her work gave her courage.
She stood up, lifted her skirt, and step by step walked to the stage under the flashing lights. When she turned around, there was a hint of calm confidence in her eyes.
There were reporters at this competition, but James didn't accompany her to receive the award to protect her. He just stood backstage and watched her give her acceptance speech.
She said that her design concept was inspired by her lover, so the new Evans headquarters campus, when viewed from above, is in the shape of a heart, representing love.
She hoped that the people who work at Evans Company can encounter loving individuals in a comfortable environment, and only then can they have a loving life through loving work.
After she finished speaking, a reporter asked, "Miss Garcia, who is your lover? Can you reveal it?"
Amelia stared at the camera and said affectionately, "My lover should be watching me right now.
James smiled brightly, and in her deep eyes, there was an intense and unbreakable love.
After receiving the trophy, Stella thanked everyone and specifically thanked her teacher, Neil.
The people present were surprised to hear that she was a student of Neil.
"No wonder she won an award in her first competition, it turns out that she is a student of a great teacher..."
"Neil's master is also very talented. The buildings designed by Aaron are exquisite and unparalleled."
"Indeed, Shen's boss, Skender, her designs are even more advanced than Aaron's."
"So it's only natural for Miss Garcia to win the award this time. After all, she has learned from a high-level master."
Upon hearing these comments, Amelia picked up the trophy and looked up at the blue sky through the glass roof of the award hall.
"Sister, brother-in-law, even though you have left, I will continue to carry your glory and make it shine in the field of architecture."
Andrew, who was accompanying James backstage, clenched her fists in anger when she saw Neil's figure on the screen.
"James, I request to leave for fifteen minutes."