Looking up at Amelia with innocent eyes, Landen said sweetly, “Amelia, you’re so pretty.”
Amelia took a deep breath and thought, ‘The child is innocent. I can’t let my preconceptions about adults affect how I treat Landen.
After composing herself, Amelia smiled and asked, “Landen, are you hungry? Let’s go inside and have something to eat.”
‘Then I can finally return the child to Aiden,‘ she thought.
“I’m not hungry. Ms. Meyers made me spaghetti,” Landen said.
“Why don’t you watch some cartoons for a bit?” Amelia suggested gently.
Amelia pulled up a cartoon on her phone, ready to watch it with Landen on the porch.
But Landen shook his head. “Uncle Aiden says too much TV isn’t good.”
Amelia didn’t know what to say. After all, she had no experience taking care of children.
“Amelia, this place is so beautiful. Could you show me around?” Landen asked eagerly
“Sure,” Amelia replied.
With permission granted, Landen eagerly took her hand and skipped excitedly by her side, his joy unmistakable.
‘His little hand is so soft! And that smile is just the sweetest,‘ Amelia thought.
Before she knew it, she found herself smiling along with him.
After strolling around Young Villa’s garden, Amelia and Landen grew closer. They found a spot to sit and have some juice.
Amelia gazed into those eyes, much like Landon’s, and couldn’t help asking, “You’re such a handsome boy, Landen. I bet your mom and dad are good- looking too.”
“Of course! My mommy is the prettiest in the world,” Landen declared proudly.
“Then, do you have a photo of your mom?” Amelia asked gently.
Landen shook his head regretfully. “No,” he said. “My mommy doesn’t like having her picture taken.”
“Oh…” Landon replied, looking quite down.
Amelia thought, ‘Back then, all the moms loved showing off their kids online and taking selfies with them. But Paloma doesn’t even take photos with her son? That doesn’t make sense.‘
“What about your dad?” Amelia asked gently.
“I’ve never met my dad,” Landen said.
A fleeting shadow of sadness crossed Landen’s cute face, but it vanished as quickly as it came.
“But that’s okay,” he added brightly. “I’m satisfied enough to have my mommy and Uncle Aiden.”
Amelia’s heart ached for him.
‘Merry Group is a top–tier company, and being the Kyle family’s son–in–law is an honor. So, why isn’t Paloma living with her husband?‘ Amelia wondered.
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Chapter 178
“Amelia, do you have any kids?” Landen asked curiously.
Amelia composed herself and smiled. “Not yet,” she replied.
Landen looked disappointed. “Oh, that’s a shame. If you do, I’d love to be their friend”
“Maybe we’ll have that chance someday.” Amelia smiled, glanced around to confirm they were alone, then gently probed, “Your blonde hair is so lovely Is your mommy’s hair blonde too?”
“Nope. My mommy’s hair is black, and so are her eyes,” Landen said.
Amelia thought, ‘Wait, Paloma is full–blooded Nusminish? But Aiden is mixed–race. Shouldn’t she at least have some foreign features?”
Her heart skipped a beat. The overwhelming urge to see Paloma in person left her breathless.
‘Wait! I can ask Edith,‘ Amelia thought, ‘Edith is friends with Paloma. She must have seen Paloma. Girls can blossom as they grow up. Even though no one knows what Kayla will look like as an adult, there must still be some recognizable traces.
Thinking of this, Amelia quickly texted Edith. [Send me a photo of Paloma.]
Edith replied: [Sorry, but Paloma hates having her picture taken. Plus, she’s got a severe hereditary allergy. Her mask never leaves her face.]
Edith’s reply hit Amelia like bricks, leaving her reeling.
‘A severe hereditary allergy…! Amelia thought. ‘But Gloria and Landon… None of the Kingsley family members had any history of allergies. Could I have been wrong?‘
“Hey, Mrs. Kingsley.” Just then, Aiden reappeared.
He’d had a few drinks, a rosy flush coloring his cheeks, his charming eyes sparkling with tipsy mischief.
“Uncle Aiden!” Landen hopped down from the stool and dashed over.
Aiden scooped him up with a warm smile and asked, “Were you good? Did you behave?”
Wrapping his arms around Aiden’s neck, Landen pleaded, “I’ve been good, Uncle Aiden. Amelia wants to see a nice photo of Mommy. Do you have one?”
“Nope, I don’t have one either,” Aiden gave Amelia a meaningful look.
Though it was the innocent words of a child, Amelia felt utterly mortified.
“Landen is such a handsome boy. His mother must be beautiful too,” Amelia said awkwardly, scrambling for an
Aiden smirked and said, “Of course. Just look at this handsome face, and you’ll get the idea.”
“You? Nothing special,” Amelia snorted. “Here, take your kid. I’m off to find my husband.”
Aiden’s smile deepened. He called after her, “Mrs. Kingsley, if you ever get the chance to visit Dreicean, I’ll introduce you to my sister.
“Not likely. I’m not interested in Dreicean,” Amelia said, waving dismissively without turning back.
Her heart raced, a wave of guilt washing over her, as if others had seen right through her.
‘Damn that Aiden! What the hell is he up to?‘ Amelia wondered.
“Honey, come here.” Landon spotted her and waved her over to sit beside him.
Noticing she seemed unsettled, Landon leaned in and asked softly, “Honey, what’s wrong?”
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Chapter 178
“Are you done here?” Amelia asked.
“Almost,” Landon replied.
“Come on, let’s go out for a walk.” Amelia gritted her teeth and decided to let Landon meet Landen in person.
‘I might as well let Landon see those eyes for himself,‘ she thought.
But Aiden had already taken Landen and left when they made it outside.
Amelia clenched her teeth in frustration and suspected that Aiden did it deliberately, but she had no evidence.
She thought, ‘After twenty years, almost no one remembers that the Kingsley family once had a missing eldest daughter.
‘As for Aiden, being a Dreiceanian, he is even less likely to know about it.
‘If Paloma isn’t Kayla, then I’m just making a fool of myself, acting like some paranoid lunatic!‘
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Landon’s gaze darkened as he sensed something was wrong.
Amelia sighed. “These parties are so boring.”
Landon chuckled softly and said, “You’re Mrs. Kingsley now. You’ll have to get used to it.”
Amelia let out a weary sigh.
Landon glanced at her and teased, “Honey, I remember you used to be completely in your element at events like this.”
“That was before…” Amelia replied.
At the same time, she thought, ‘Without Aiden around, I’d be completely in my element. But with him here, I can’t relax. It’s like being prey under a hunter’s watchful gaze.’
“Don’t worry, I’ll spare you from it unless necessary,” Landon said, wrapping his arm around Amelia’s waist with a playful, mysterious smile. “Cheer up. I’ve got some good news for you.”
Amelia, usually curious about everything, asked half–heartedly, “Oh? What is it?”
Landon said, “The police of Pinecrest just called. They’ve got a breakthrough in your mother’s case.”
In prison, Walter worked cheerfully, grateful for the well–organized system. ‘At least the Zuckerberg family can’t reach their hands here,‘ he thought.
Yet he never in his wildest dreams expected that the next time he saw Amelia would be when he was staring death in the face.
“You’re the one who poisoned my mother. I’ve got the evidence now.” Amelia glared furiously at the gray–haired man behind the
roof glass.
Walter’s eyes darted nervously as he stammered, “No… It wasn’t me…”
Amelia slammed the police investigation report onto the table, her eyes blazing with fury. “Paraquat. You bought it. You put it in my mother’s milk. Walter, you committed premeditated murder.”
“How could this be?” Walter’s face turned ashen. “It’s been so many years… How could they still uncover the truth?”
