Reborn Without You (Amelia and Christopher) novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

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Chapter 38

Amelia froze. She thought she must have misheard.

“What did you say?” she asked.

Christopher spoke slowly, almost leisurely. “Your attitude toward her has been harsh, and she’s upset because of it. You should control yourself and apologize.”

Amelia felt the air leave her lungs. What a cruel joke.

“So this is why you called me out?” she scoffed. “If she hasn’t died of anger, don’t come looking for me.”

Christopher didn’t seem offended. “Also, keep your daughter in line.”

Amelia’s lips curved into a bitter smile. Her daughter? As if she were the only parent. The thought was so cruelly ironic it almost made her laugh.

Was he starting to settle old scores?

Her gaze drifted down to the burn on his hand. It wasn’t small.

In the past, she would have been frantic with worry, fussing over him, carefully applying ointment. Now, all she could think was why the burn hadn’t been worse.

“Take care of your lower half, and you won’t have to worry about your daughter,” she said and turned to go inside.

Evelyn wasn’t asleep yet, so Amelia gently took her hand and led her back to her room.

Evelyn held Amelia’s hand as they left, sneaking a glance at Christopher before quietly following Amelia out of

the room.

Deep down, Evelyn had hoped her father would love her, but she loved her mother even more.

If Christopher made Amelia unhappy, Evelyn could only choose to let go of him. She didn’t want to do anything that would upset her mother.

Watching them walk away, Christopher’s expression grew dark and unreadable.

That night, Christopher stayed in the study.

The next morning, he ran into Stephanie as he came out.

She raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t go back to your room all night? Was it because Amelia was in there, so you stayed in the study?”

Christopher didn’t answer.

Stephanie snorted. “If a marriage ends up like this, it’s only a matter of time before you’re divorced. If Grandma knew, she’d be furious. After all, she adores Amelia the most.”

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Chapter 28

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Christopher glanced at her calmly. “Who told you we’re getting a divorce?”

Stephanie paused, then said nothing.

Early that morning, Amelia had already gotten Evelyn ready, preparing to take her to school.

Just as she came downstairs, Dorothy waved at her. “Feed Evie some breakfast before you go.”

“And you,” Dorothy added, looking at Amelia, “you didn’t eat last night. Have some breakfast before you leave. Did you fight with Chris? I heard he brought you chicken soup last night, and you didn’t even touch it.”

Amelia offered an excuse. “I wasn’t very hungry.”

“If Chris ever mistreats you, I’ll back you up,” Dorothy said, taking Amelia’s hand. “Before your grandmother passed, she told me over and over to take care of you. While you’re in our family, don’t ever let anyone mistreat you. If anything happens, come to me, understand?”

Amelia pressed her lips together lightly. “I understand, Grandma.”

She had practically grown up under Dorothy’s care. Dorothy had been very close to her own grandmother, and since Amelia had spent much of her childhood with Adelaide, she often received Dorothy’s attention. Whenever the family was busy, it was Dorothy who took care of her meals.

Amelia had grown up visiting the Zephyr family with her grandmother, and the first time she laid eyes on Christopher as a girl, her heart had skipped a beat. The young Christopher was very different from the composed, cold man he had become. He was confident and full of energy, strong and lively, always moving forward with purpose.

The tragedy of her marriage had begun with that first flutter of her heart for him.

Amelia had regarded Dorothy as her own grandmother, but her mistaken choices had led to a pending divorce with Christopher, and now she could no longer openly care for Dorothy as she once had.

After breakfast, Amelia prepared to leave with Evelyn, only to run into Christopher coming downstairs.

His hair was messy, his movements slow and unhurried. “Wait, I’ll go with you.”

“Evie will be late for school,” Amelia said.

In front of Dorothy, she tempered her refusal.

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