Chapter 5: The Mischievous Best Friend
1263 Words
Meroy Cross didn’t understand why Amelia Cross had suddenly changed. She bit her lip and scoffed, "Fine, keep your money! As if I even care."
Not wasting a moment, Meroy Cross dashed off to complain to Amelia Cross’s stepmother, Charlotte Hayes.
Charlotte Hayes had never liked Amelia Cross, even from the day she married into the Cross family. But what could she do? She loved Cross’s father. If not, why else would she have stayed with him even before his divorce, willingly becoming his mistress?
Amelia Cross had always been beautiful, so much so that even when Charlotte dressed her in dull, plain clothes and saved the best outfits for Meroy Cross, Amelia still looked like a delicate porcelain doll, drawing sympathetic glances everywhere she went.
When Charlotte first heard that the Carlisle family wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Cross family, she and Cross’s father were over the moon. Though the Cross family had money, business had been rough in recent years, and Cross’s father had been facing setback after setback. They were not the powerful family they once were.
The Carlisle family, on the other hand, was in a league of its own—a top-tier aristocratic dynasty. Even in their prime, the Cross family could never have hoped to be in the same social circle!
And yet, somehow, the Carlisles wanted a union with the Crosses!
Charlotte quickly dressed up her daughter, Meroy, in her finest clothes and pushed her forward. But much to her disappointment, the Carlisles weren’t interested in Meroy at all.
Finley, the Carlisle family’s butler, saw through it all clearly.
His employer wanted a beautiful wife who wouldn’t cling to him.
Not only was Meroy lacking in beauty, but with her overbearing obsession, she would likely only irritate him.
After Amelia married into the Carlisle family, Charlotte Hayes and Meroy Cross had fumed with resentment. They tried every way possible to get money from Amelia while encouraging her to go after her "true love."
Yes, everyone knew where Amelia’s heart truly lay.
...Including her husband.
Having spent most of her time hooked up to an IV due to her stomach issues, Amelia had barely eaten a thing. Back at home, she finally made herself a bowl of noodles and settled on the sofa, leisurely eating and watching television.
Charlotte watched Amelia Cross sitting there and felt a peculiar sense that her stepdaughter seemed somehow... different.
She approached Amelia. “Amelia, how are things with Ethan lately?”
Amelia looked up. "Ethan Hawthorne?"
Charlotte nodded. "Honey, I know marrying up is tough, swallowing all those hardships just to join the Carlisle family. But Ethan is such a good lad; I still prefer him."
Though Charlotte was just her stepmother, Amelia had lived with her since childhood and still addressed her as “Mom.”
Amelia ignored her, continuing to eat her noodles slowly.
She didn’t currently have a job; in the original storyline, after studying abroad, Amelia had initially joined the Cross family business. But after marrying Victor Carlisle, she was given a generous monthly allowance and eventually quit her job, investing all her time in keeping tabs on Ethan and Vivian Harlow, scheming against Vivian in a never-ending battle of wits.
But Amelia wanted to find something of her own to work on.
Charlotte noticed Amelia’s silence. “Well, look at you. A few days as a rich man’s wife, and you think you’re too good to talk to your own mother?”
“You’re blocking the television,” Amelia replied coolly, raising her gaze slightly. “If you think Ethan Hawthorne is so wonderful, why don’t you go after him? I’m a married woman, and I should keep my distance from a man with a girlfriend.”
Charlotte was taken aback.
To hear such words from Amelia was shocking.
Because of studying abroad, Amelia had always felt guilty towards Ethan, thinking she’d sacrificed true love for her education.
Now, even though she was married, she still couldn’t get Ethan out of her mind.
At dinner, Cross’s father returned home.
During the meal, Charlotte and Meroy sat on either side of him, the three of them laughing and chatting as if they were the only real family members present. Charlotte served Meroy and Cross’s father food, speaking in affectionate tones.
Amelia sat alone in a corner, seemingly ignored, as if she weren’t part of the family at all.
She smirked.
In her eyes, while some of the original Amelia’s vengeful schemes were wrong, Amelia’s life had also been tragic in its way—a woman ruined by the tiniest bit of warmth she’d felt in her youth, ultimately leading to her downfall.
Meroy pouted, addressing Cross’s father, “Daddy, I wanted a dress, but Amelia wouldn’t buy it for me.”
Cross’s father’s brows furrowed deeply. “Amelia, Meroy is your sister. What’s the big deal about getting her a dress?”
“I’ll buy it if you give me the money,” Amelia said lazily, taking a sip of water.
“What’s this about money among families?” Cross’s father was even more displeased. “Do you have any idea how difficult it was for your mother to raise you? She’s not even your real mother, and she’s treated you so well. You should show some gratitude.”
Charlotte quickly stepped in, playing the peacemaker. “Let’s not argue at dinner. Meroy, you’re being thoughtless. Just because Amelia has money doesn’t mean you should waste it. Want a dress? Your father will buy it for you later.”
Amelia smirked coldly.
She stood up. “I’m full. I’ll be heading back now.”
Watching her leave, Cross’s father’s brow creased again. “What’s gotten into her today?”
Charlotte was equally puzzled.
In the past, Amelia had been quietly envious, craving the warmth and joy they displayed as a family, never refusing their demands, always doing whatever they asked.
Today, though, something was different.
“How much is that dress, anyway?” Cross’s father asked.
“Fifty thousand pounds…” Meroy replied.
“Fifty thousand quid for a dress?” Cross’s father grumbled." You think money just falls from the sky? Do you know how tough business is these days?"
A few years ago, when the Cross family had been thriving, he might not have minded. But things were different now.
Grumbling at her for being wasteful, he eventually couldn’t resist and transferred some pocket money to her anyway. “Next time, see if you can get it from your sister.”
Amelia stood outside the Cross family home.
Being in a wealthy neighborhood made it hard to catch a cab.
And, she still had no clue where her apartment was, so she’d have to ask someone.
Oliver Bennett, unreliable as ever, was out of the question.
Scrolling through her contacts, she soon found the name “Eleanor.”
In the original story, Eleanor was one of Amelia’s friends.
...One who’d joined Amelia in every devious scheme imaginable.
Eleanor was the classic sidekick—loyal to a fault and blindly obedient to her “queen bee,” following her every order. She continued believing she and Amelia were doing the right thing, right up until Ethan Hawthorne arranged for her fatal “accident.”
Amelia sighed and dialed Eleanor’s number.
Within thirty minutes, a girl in a pink dress arrived in a convertible, pulling up in front of Amelia.
Contrary to Amelia’s mental image of a villainous sidekick, Eleanor had a round, doll-like face, curly hair, big eyes, and a cute, bunny-toothed smile.
- Writer
