Since She Met Lucian novel Chapter 119

Lucian had a faint smile on his face when he asked, "You've always been forthright. Tell me, why did you get yourself involved in this business conflict?"

He was not one to place himself in complicated situations. If it weren't for Nicholas' poor health, Lucian wouldn't have taken over Zhan Group. He found it difficult to understand how Jonny could do what he never wanted in the first place.

"A desperate man will do anything," Jonny snorted before reaching for his drink. After quickly draining his glass of wine, he refilled it.

Seeing his sad demeanor, Lucian took a few sips of wine and sighed. "If it weren't for this, Amelia and I would probably still be together."

"I can't believe you're still not over here. I haven't seen her in a while. I guess that makes me a bad boyfriend." Jonny had never been good with alcohol but he kept on drinking. It wasn't long until his cheeks went red and he felt himself a bit more drunk than he wanted to be.

Lucian looked at him and smiled, "Let me drive you home."

"Don't be jealous, Lucian. I do like Amelia, but I respect you too much. I know that my friend's wife is off limits." The alcohol felt like liquid courage to Jonny. He wouldn't have said those words if he were sober. Even if he would end up on bad terms with Lucian, he would have still kept his pride.

And if he couldn't win Amelia's heart, he could at least stand by her side as her boyfriend.

Seeing Jonny struggling to stay on his chair, Lucian stood and propped him up. "You know you're not a heavy drinker. Why did you drink so much?" he asked.

That question took Lucian back to when he was in high school with Jonny. They would always spend time drinking and singing at KTV bars, and he would always end up carrying a drunk Jonny home.

It seemed as if Jonny's alcohol tolerance didn't get better with time. On the contrary, it took him less drinks just then before he felt his consciousness slipping away.

Lucian was glad Jonny didn't go to the business circle, or he would've been inebriated frequently.

It was all over the news that Jonny had invited An Group's major shareholders to a conference. After that, rumors spread like wildfire that Jonny was taking over the business and was supported by many of An Group's executives.

Gossip also had it that An Group CEO Edmund fell ill and was immediately rushed to the hospital when he heard the news. He was heard to be cursing in his ward, calling Jonny an ungrateful and disloyal son.

Courtney was happily drinking the tea Amelia prepared while she read the news on her phone. Upon reading a particularly surprising headline, Courtney immediately turned to Amelia. "Your boyfriend is in the news!"

'What boyfriend?' Amelia wondered before realizing that she could only be referring to Jonny.

She hadn't seen Jonny in several days but she thought it was just because he was busy at work.

"He likes keeping a low profile. How could he be in the news? Did he find a new girlfriend?" Amelia hoped that Jonny had found a girlfriend. She felt news like that would bring her some relief.

"No!" Courtney said, her bright eyes still on the phone. After reading the article, she summed it all up for Amelia. "It seems that Jonny's turning against his father. It's not clear whether he inherited An Group, but it clearly said that he was going to be competing with his father for the management of the company!"

"Really? Jonny is not interested in An Group. Why would he go against his father?" Amelia knew that it was Jonny's biggest dream to be a designer. He even completed a fashion degree to fulfill his goal. How could the news be true? Could it be that reporters were merely cooking up a story that would turn all eyes towards An Group?

"Based on these comments, Jonny is popular; as for Edmund, he gets nothing but foul words." Courtney looked at her friend to see her reaction.

Amelia just stood in a daze. She wondered if she should call Jonny.

"By the way, Amelia, can you handle everything this afternoon? I have to go home, you see." Courtney had put away her phone.

Amelia's attention was drawn by Courtney's question. She immediately replied that she could handle the shop alone because it was not a busy day.

"Nancy had to quit because of her studies. I need you here to watch over the shop because I have to go home. It's my father's birthday," Courtney explained.

"Is it uncle's birthday?" Amelia thought that she should give a present, too.

"When I was with Kent, I always pretended that I forgot his birthday. But I have to go home now. At least, I still have my family even though I don't have a boyfriend anymore," Courtney quietly said. She seemed to be coming into terms with everything that had happened.

Amelia smiled at her before turning to her phone. She ordered a cake for Courtney's father and wrote him a short message.

Since she didn't graduate from college, Amelia used to always find herself cash-strapped. She would often go to the Lin's for free meals. Courtney's parents treated her well. She only stopped visiting when Courtney eventually fell out of contact with them.

Courtney thanked Amelia for her work, and after about an hour, she was gone. As soon as she had left, Shelly came to the shop.

It was a quiet summer day in May and the sun shone to reveal Shelly's bright orange dress and flattering makeup. Amelia thought she looked like a doll.

"Would you like something to drink, Miss Shelly?" Amelia greeted her politely despite Shelly's cruel expression.