When I Was A Wallflower

Chapter 373 Melissa Putting up a Show
It was nighttime when the hot water in the shower created a mist that filled up the room.
Running water fell on Leo's head and formed streams down his face as it flowed down his chest, torso, and legs before finally
splashing against the tiles.
Leo's skin was as red as a beet after standing under such a hot shower for an hour. Yet, he repeatedly applied soap as he
harshly scrubbed his body and showed no signs of stopping anytime soon.
...
The next day, the government had not retracted the vog alert. So, Steven called Amelie early in the morning and advised her
from flying back due to worry.
Lumaria was a country with a great natural environment. Yet, a volcano suddenly erupted, creating severe volcanic smog that
affected a huge part of the area.
Even though Amelie desperately wanted to return, she had no choice but to patiently wait for it to subside.
After she freshened herself up, she donned appropriate makeup and conducted a few online meetings.
It was already noon in a blink of an eye. Just as she was thinking about grabbing some food to eat outside, Toby gave her a call,
saying, "Didn't you say you wanted to go for coffee? I'm already downstairs."
She immediately pulled apart the curtain to see a race car parked outside and a man in white leaning against it.
Even though she couldn't see his face clearly, the signature white clothes and how he carried himself all pointed toward Toby.
Amelie couldn't very well tell him that she was just being polite yesterday. So, she answered, "Sure."
She didn't let him wait long and appeared downstairs a few minutes later. "Where are we going for coffee?"
Toby tilted his sculpted face and said mysteriously, "You'll know. Get in."
So, Amelie didn't push for an answer and got in the car.

Toby brought her to a private kitchen that was known for its quality for lunch before pointing in a direction and telling her, "There's
a good coffee shop down this street."
He didn't start the car but motioned with his head asking silently for Amelie to walk with him. And so she did.
The area they were in was rather far from the city. So, there weren't many skyscrapers but lower residential houses. It seemed
like the houses were self-built as they all looked different from one another.
As they passed by a house, a child suddenly dashed out and bumped into Amelie before she noticed him.
"Woah," she exclaimed, instinctively reaching out to hold the child.
"You alright, Buddy?" she asked as she knelt down to check for any injuries.
The child looked to be around one year old and looked at her dazedly with his big round eyes.
Then, Amelie immediately looked around for his family.
"Urgh! Why do I have to come here every week?!" Then, when she was searching for his parents, she heard the shrill of an
impatient female from the courtyard.
Amelie was a little stunned when she heard that familiar voice.
"This. This. And this."
Leilo would send pictures of the children to Leo every doy, ond Melisso would be there picking o few photos with her in them.
Amelie was a little stunned when she heard that familiar voice.
Just as she expected, she saw a familiar figure standing by the wall when she turned her head around to look at the courtyard.
Jodie was wearing a mini dress showing off her long slender legs and carrying a mini bag, looking like the fashionista that she
was. Unfortunately, she also had heavy makeup on, and it was almost impossible to decipher her natural face.
At the moment, her professionally shaped eyebrows were furrowed as she looked highly displeased.
Beside her were two children crawling and one child holding onto her leg like he wanted to stand up. Nonetheless, Jodie pushed
the child away with her leg without hiding the disdain on her face.

"If you want to suck up to Leo, you can do it yourself! Don't pull me into this!"
"What do you mean pull you into this? These are all Leo's children. How could you not care?" Then, another voice sounded, and
Amelie immediately knew that it was Melissa.
Amelie was a little surprised that Melissa and Jodie didn't know that those children weren't Leo's.
"He can take care of them himself since they're his children. He has the money and influence. He can hire the best nanny in the
world. So, there's no need for us to butt in," Jodie complained unpleasantly.
She couldn't find it in herself to like the children that filled the courtyard. In fact, she detested them. If there weren't legal
repercussions for murder, she would have strangled the little brats.
"You know that I don't like children!"
It was well known that Jodie didn't like children. She especially didn't like that Leo had so many children as she thought about the
inheritance these children would take from him. Then, what would happen to her?
In her opinion, everything Leo owned would be hers if he didn't have a family. When these children grow up, they would sweetly
address her as auntie. Nonetheless, she bet that none of them would willingly share their inheritance with her when she brought
it up.
"You think I like children, then?" Melissa sighed in a low tone. "Have you ever thought about this? If we don't help Leo now, he'll
not care about us later."
She looked at the running children and suppressed the growing dislike within her heart.
Still, she had to plan ahead for herself. Leo wasn't her ideal son. So, she had to have a backup plan.
As she thought about that, she turned around and waved Leila over. "Are the pictures ready?"
"Yes." Leila nodded and passed over the phone.
Leila had worked for Leo for many years and earned his trust. So, she was in charge of caring for the children.
Melissa took the phone with her dainty fingers, her pinky finger pointing upward while she pressed the screen with her forefinger.
"This. This. And this."

Leila would send pictures of the children to Leo every day, and Melissa would be there picking a few photos with her in them.
She did this to garner Leo's good impression of her to change his view of her. That was one of the reasons she even bothered
coming here.
The other reason was that one of these children would eventually inherit his business. Therefore, her days would be easier if she
treated them well once they grew up.
She knew how to take care of herself and was aware that she could live until she was 80. However, she didn't want to grovel
under her grandson when she was that age.
So, she needed to instill her authority among the children now. That way, they would all obey her orders like she was the queen
later.
Leila knew Melissa's scheme but didn't say anything and obediently sent the pictures as she was instructed.
Jodie made sounds of disapproval when she saw that Melissa still had the mood to go through the pictures but stopped her
complaints since Leila was there.
After Leila sent the pictures, Melissa had enough of the situation and waved her hands in dismissal. "I'm tired. Let's go in for tea."
Then, she strode inside with Jodie trailing behind her as if the children were the devil on her heels.
Leila, who stood outside, let out a silent sigh and shook her head in disappointment, thinking of the show Melissa and Jodie were
putting up. This mother-and-daughter duo didn't think to advise Leo's sudden habit of meeting women and only thought about
their interests.
She was but a maid and didn't have a say in this. So, she could only swallow any displeasure she felt about this situation.
Meanwhile, Amelie heard everything they said clearly, although she was outside and couldn't see them. As a result, she couldn't
help but curl the corner of her lips in disdain.
These two women are such bad actors. They don't even realize that a child is missing.
Toby pressed on the corner of his lips and hid them as he looked at the smile on Amelie's face.

The young baby being carried by Amelie suddenly caught a whiff of her scent and moved closer to her with his big round eyes as
he snuggled against her.
His tiny hands held onto her neck and blabbered, "Smells. Smells good." Then, he tried to bite on her face with the few little teeth
that had just started to grow in his mouth.
He had mistaken Amelie for food and left a trail of saliva on her face.
Toby rushed to carry him away when he noticed the child biting Amelie. Alas, the child struggled and kicked his legs as he
wanted to be with Amelie.
The dirt on his shoes all landed on Toby and painted his white suit with numerous black footprints.
Just as he was about to pull the child away, someone came running out and exclaimed, "Sorry! I'm so sorry!" Then, he swiftly
took the child from Toby's hands.
Toby and Amelie turned their heads around to see a rather feminine male face.