Since She Met Lucian

Amelia gently patted Courtney's hand. Smiling, she said, "It's hard to say."
Courtney looked at Amelia and with all seriousness said, "I'll take you to the hospital tomorrow for your blood test. We'll have a
doctor confirm the result. We also need to know about the precautions you have to take. Oh, look at you. You're so thin! If you
don't take care of your health, I worry you might miscarry."
Amelia appreciated Courtney's thoughtfulness and nodded in agreement. But just then, she remembered the message Jonny
sent her. With a frown on her face, Amelia said, "I have to go to the An's tonight. Johnny's parents want to see me. I don't know
what to expect."
Hearing Jonny's name, a thought occurred to Courtney. "Are you planning on telling Jonny about it?"
"If I'm to keep a relationship with him, he's bound to notice." Things were beginning to look even more complicated for Amelia.
"I can't say I know Jonny well, but he's been helping you all this time. It would be nice if he could act as the father of your baby."
Courtney looked hopeful. Smiling, she held a hand to touch Amelia's cheek. "If Jonny doesn't mind that Lucian is the father, you
can be a happy family. Your lives will be secured."
"Courtney, Jonny will definitely want to raise his own son. And he's been so good to me, I don't want to cheat him on anything."
Amelia didn't want to take things lightly, especially considering that there were reputations on the line. She also didn't wish to get
too involved with the An family as Lucian was going to be their son-in-law soon enough. They didn't meet often, but there would
be no avoiding of them on special days. She would have to attend as Jonny's girlfriend.
"How could that be cheating? Look. I think Jonny likes you. Surely, there can't be a truly platonic relationship between men and
women. You're the only who thinks that he's being kind out of mere friendship," Courtney pointed out.
Amelia had never told Courtney about what happened when she and Jonny were in middle school. Courtney had no idea that
Amelia had known him for years. Amelia couldn't blame Courtney for thinking that Jonny had an ulterior motive.
Jonny made Amelia promise not to tell anyone about their past, so she kept her silence on the matter.
It was dusk when Amelia received a call from Jonny. He was driving to pick her up so she told him her address.
"Jonny, I'm Amelia's best friend and I'm warning you. If you or any of your family hurts her, I will look for you and beat you up!"
Courtney said as she saw Amelia to the car. She glared at Jonny and shook her fist in jest.

Amelia's face went red with embarrassment. She quickly turned to Courtney and said, "You left the door open. Go ahead and
clean up so you can go home."
Courtney waved goodbye as their car drove off. Amelia felt warmed by Courtney's protective gesture and smiled to herself. She
turned to look at Jonny and apologized, "Please ignore Courtney. She's always joking around."
"It's nothing. It's great to have such a good friend who looks after you," Jonny replied with a soft smile. "My father is away for the
night so it's just going to be us and my mother at dinner. She said she invited you because she wanted to cook for you."
Amelia looked at Jonny blankly. She was spacing out because her thoughts kept returning to Lucian. Amelia always felt nervous
visiting the Zhan family, but Lucian would always calm and reassure her like Jonny did. But... As much as she wanted to feel at
ease, Jonny's words didn't have an effect on her. She only felt guilty for missing Lucian more.
Amelia placed her hands on her abdomen. Thinking of giving birth to Lucian's child offered her some comfort.
Amelia was so absorbed in her thoughts that she missed the expression in Jonny's eyes as he looked at her.
It was Amelia's first time to see the An mansion. Although she was not expecting a humble abode, she found that she wasn't
prepared for its grandeur. The estate looked like a palace. A huge fountain gushing in the middle of the garden caught her
attention as they pulled up the driveway. Walking up to the house, they passed a sprawling lawn which smelled of freshly cut
grass.
The grounds were sparkling with brightly colored lamps. Amelia's heart thumped loudly; she felt out of place in the villa.
It was different from when she first set foot in the Zhan mansion. At the time, she felt nervous for fear of losing Lucian if she gave
off the wrong impression. She felt nervous going into the An mansion because she knew in her heart that she didn't want to be
there at all.
Entering the luxuriously furnished hall, they were welcomed by Emma. She was wearing an elegant dress that shimmered under
the chandelier. Seeing them, she smiled gracefully and greeted, "I hope you two are hungry. Dinner's ready."
Surprised by her warm welcome, Amelia found herself speechless. She merely allowed Emma to take her hand and walk her
into the huge dining room.
She wondered why Emma felt gentle and kind despite having only met her that night.
Seeing the food lavishly spread on the table, Amelia forgot her feelings of nervousness and realized just how hungry she was.

"I cooked all of this for you, Amelia. I hope you like them. Please try some," Emma said. She turned to her son and added,
"Jonny, what are you waiting for? Serve Amelia some of the pasta."
Amelia's face went scarlet. Before she could make a polite reply, Jonny was already spooning food into her plate.
Emma smiled with satisfaction as Amelia reached for the cutlery and started eating.
"Auntie, these are delicious. You cook so well!" Amelia had no intention of flattering. She sincerely meant her compliments.
Amelia preferred spicy food and was a bit dejected when she saw that the dishes didn't have pepper. She thought she had no
appetite, but she couldn't stop eating once she'd tasted the food.
"Really? Oh, I'm glad you like it. Please have some more," Emma replied happily. She gave Jonny a wink, suggesting that he
should offer Amelia more food.
Amelia's plate was soon a pile of delicious treats. Her pregnancy gave her an unusually increased appetite. She was literally
eating for two.
After dinner, Amelia was helping with the dishes when a voice broke through the peace.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me we were having a guest?" It was Shelly who came unannounced and carelessly tossed her bag
onto the sofa. Her face contorted into loathing and disgust as soon as she saw Amelia.
"Shelly, you were staying at the Zhan's, right?" Why are you here? Have you had dinner?" Emma walked up to her daughter and
asked out of genuine concern.
Emma's questions only seemed to annoy Shelly more. She curtly replied, "Lucian has been staying at SJ Garden. I don't like
there so I came back."
Amelia thought there was a hint of sorrow in her words.
Seeing and hearing Shelly made Amelia's hands tremble, causing her to drop a small bowl. It broke into pieces at her feet.
Embarrassed, Amelia stooped down to pick up the shards. Jonny rushed to her side and said, "I'll do it. Please have a seat in the
living room and make yourself comfortable." Amelia obeyed and went straight into the living room, trying to avoid Shelly.
The broken china on the floor made Amelia remember how Lucian once broke a bowl when he tried cleaning the dishes. Tears
welled up in her eyes and her heart ached at the memory.

She thought that Shelly's mention of SJ Garden where she and Lucian used to live together may have caused her to panic and
lose control.
Enraged, Shelly followed Amelia.
"Was it because you heard me mention Lucian's name, Amelia? Do you still have feelings for him?" Shelly glowered at Amelia as
if the latter had done something completely unforgivable.
Jonny rushed to stand in between Amelia and Shelly. Facing his sister, he said coldly, "Stop acting like a brat, Shelly. Amelia
didn't do anything to you."
Jonny's defense of Amelia only made Shelly more furious. She reached out to shove Jonny. "Get out of the way!
"Look at you, Amelia! First you went after Lucian, and now you're going for my brother. What makes you think you're fit to be his
girlfriend?" She mockingly looked at Amelia from head to foot.
Emma made a motion to pull her daughter away out of embarrassment. "Amelia is here as An family's guest. Stop embarrassing
us!"
Shelly was infuriated. She shouted, "Who am I embarrassing? As far as I know, Jonny doesn't want anything to do with the
family or the family business. Why should I care about what he thinks?"
Emma's face went from embarrassed to crestfallen.
"Shelly, if you continue to act like a spoiled little kid, even Lucian would eventually tire of you!" Jonny said loudly but firmly. He
then took Amelia's hand and went up to his mother, "Thank you for the meal, Mom. Amelia and I will be leaving now. You'll find
us at the villa south of the city if you need us."
"Jonny..." Emma could barely convince them to stay before Jonny dragged Amelia away and left.
Jonny was trying to control his temper, but his rage showed in how quickly he walked. Amelia had to sprint to keep up.
The estate was so vast that Amelia was out of breath by the time they reached the gates.
"I'm sorry, Amelia. I acted too rashly just now," Jonny apologized when he saw Amelia panting.

Amelia waved a hand, dismissing his apology. "You didn't tell me we were leaving so soon. I didn't get the chance to properly
thank your mother."
"Don't worry. She won't mind," Jonny smiled reassuringly. He opened the car door for Amelia and saw her in before taking his
place at the driver's seat. Before starting the car, Jonny threw a lingering look at the mansion. Coldly, he said, "I won't be coming
back here again."
"What?" Amelia exclaimed. She didn't understand how Jonny could say those words. She wondered if it had anything to do with
his conflict with Edmund.
"You saw what happened just now. Someone clearly doesn't want me here," Jonny snorted.
Amelia understood. Reaching out a hand to Jonny's shoulder, she said, "Shelly was just in a bad mood. She has nothing against
you."
"No. She's always hated me. She deliberately attacked you to make me angry," Jonny pointed out.
"Oh, stop it. She's your sister. Anyway, An mansion is so huge and yet I didn't see a single maid. Why is that?" Amelia tried
desperately to change the topic as they drove off.