Amelia checked her watch, not even trying to hide her impatience. “If you have something to say, just say it. I still have a lot of work waiting upstairs. I don’t have time to waste here with you.”
Clara’s face soured instantly. She almost dropped the caring mom act right then and there.
Her jaw tightened, and her eyes flashed with anger, but she forced herself to stay calm.
She knew Amelia was no longer the daughter she could control like before.
Clara took a deep breath and forced out a smile. “Why are you acting so distant? What could I possibly want? I just want you to come home for dinner! You never answer my calls, so I had no choice but to come here. Your grandpa keeps asking about you, wondering when you’ll visit…”
Amelia saw right through her. She knew this sudden kindness was leading to a trap.
She looked straight into Clara’s calculating eyes and calmly set a condition. “I can come back for dinner. But you need to tell me in advance who will be there. The Harlows… and who else?
“If I show up and see someone I don’t know–or someone I don’t want to see–I’ll leave immediately. Don’t blame me for embarrassing you if that happens.”
What she really meant was a warning: don’t try any tricks.
She wouldn’t let the Harlows push her around anymore.
Clara’s lips moved like she was hesitating about something. In the end, she mumbled, “Who else could it be? Just family. Your dad, your mom, oh, and Beatrice’s boyfriend and his family.”
“Who is Beatrice dating?”
Clara clearly didn’t want to explain much. She replied impatiently, “It’s not your boyfriend, so why are you asking so many questions! Let’s just do it this Sunday. We’ll all have a nice dinner at home and catch up.
Amelia felt even more suspicious.
The more Clara tried to avoid the topic, the more it showed that something wasn’t simple.
She was about to refuse, but Clara seemed to read her mind and quickly raised her voice. “Amelia, if you don’t want to go, then I’ll… I’ll come here to see you every single day! Until you agree!
Amelia’s face darkened.
This wasn’t a dinner invitation; it was a threat.
Knowing Clara, she wasn’t bluffing.
It looked like Amelia couldn’t avoid this family dinner after all.
She looked at Clara’s face–full of calculation but pretending to be loving–and finally nodded.
0:00 am
Chapter 531 Fake Motherly Love
Fine. I’ll go back on Sunday.”
Finished
Clara looked like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. “Oh, that’s my girl! I knew you were just icting tough. Great, I’ll see you Sunday for dinner then.
She left happily. Before leaving, she shoved the thermos into Amelia’s arms and said warmly, ‘I spent a ong time making this soup. Make sure you eat it while it’s still hot, okay?”
Amelia didn’t respond. She watched Clara’s back as she walked away, her steps light with obvious
atisfaction.
Amelia looked down at the thermos in her arms, a cold smile appearing on her lips.
nstead of going back to her office upstairs, she walked straight to the break room near the elevator.
Under the surprised looks of a few coworkers, she opened the lid, poured the loving soup down the sink, hen expressionlessly threw the thermos into the trash
One coworker carefully asked, “Ms. Harlow, wasn’t that from your mother? Why…”
Amelia only glanced at her and didn’t explain.
There was no way she would eat that soup.
Even before her and Beatrice’s identities were switched back, Clara had rarely treated her this nicely. And vhenever she did show a little kindness, it was always because she wanted something.
Not to mention, there was an unbridgeable gap between them.
Kindness that suddenly appeared like this couldn’t possibly mean anything good.
Amelia didn’t even need to wonder if there was something gross in the soup; the fake motherly love alone vas enough to make her want to gag.
During the lunch break, Amelia finished up her work and headed down to the underground parking
garage.
Mason’s car was parked in his usual reserved spot.
As she got closer, the window slid down, revealing his sharp profile.
He was looking down at his phone, apparently handling work, giving off a cold “don’t come near me vibe.
But the moment he noticed her and looked up, that coldness disappeared, replaced by a quiet warmth in
his gaze.
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.

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