For You

🌠5🌠

Secrets and Storms

Amelia’s POV

I still can't believe I met my best friend after all these years. He’s the same at heart, but undeniably more handsome now. I’ve seen his face in countless magazines—Carver was already a teenage social media sensation, and if he hadn’t gone into business, I’m sure he would’ve ended up a model or an actor.

After dinner, we were all gathered in the family room. I sat beside Carver on the couch, with Mom and Dad to our left. Across from us were Uncle Rick and Aunt Elizabeth, and the conversation had turned to how much things had changed over the last fifteen years—especially between Carver and me.

“Melissa, what are your future plans and hobbies?” Aunt Elizabeth asked, curiosity glinting in her eyes.

“Right now, I’m preparing to be a lawyer in Dad’s company,” I answered, trying to sound confident. “But ever since we moved here for the merger deal… I’m not really sure anymore.”

“Why not, child?” Uncle Rick asked warmly. “We’ll support whatever you decide. You and Carver are like our own.”

Dad nodded. “Rick’s right. Everything we own… it all belongs to Amelia and Carver.”

Then Uncle Rick turned to his son. “By the way, Carver, how did the meeting go? I never got the chance to ask.”

Carver leaned back, his voice calm but assertive. “They agreed to the deal—but with a few conditions. They want to discuss those with you during a conference call in a few minutes. Uncle Zen and I are supposed to join too.”

Mom chuckled and ruffled Carver’s hair. “I still don’t understand how people are afraid of you. You’re so polite and sweet.”

Uncle Rick and Aunt Elizabeth burst out laughing.

“Oh, Tia,” Aunt Elizabeth said, barely containing her amusement. “He’s only like that in front of us. You should see him at work. You’d question your entire opinion of him!”

Carver groaned slightly and stood up, clearly embarrassed. “Okay, okay. Enough. Dad, Uncle—time for the meeting.”

With that, the three men left the room.

“Let’s have our girl talk,” Mom smiled, turning toward Aunt Elizabeth.

“It’s so rare to have everyone at home,” Aunt Elizabeth said with a sigh. “Usually, it’s just me alone while Carver and Rick are at work.”

Mom agreed. “Same here. Amelia would come home late from work with her father, and I have to leave early for my clinic. We barely had time together.”

They weren’t wrong. Back when I was a teenager, they were hardly home. I used to be left alone with a creepy nanny named Pipl. She was horrible—making me do her chores while she slept in my bed. Worse, she used to threaten to cut my hair and make me look ugly if I ever told anyone.

One night, I mistakenly revealed everything to her in the dark, thinking it was Mom. What happened next was worse than I could’ve ever imagined. She beat me so badly, I could hardly breathe. But my parents were too busy to notice. We rarely saw each other—Dad left before I woke up, and by the time I returned from school, both of them were still working.

Things only changed when Mom went on maternity leave—though she lost the baby in an accident. That was the moment she finally noticed my fear. One day, she saw my reaction when I saw Pipl in her room. Suspicious, she checked the CCTV footage.

What she saw horrified her.

She fired Pipl immediately and sent me to a hostel. Since then, she never liked leaving me alone.

“Earth to Melissa?” Mom’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Is it about a guy?” Aunt Elizabeth leaned in. “Do you have a boyfriend? What’s his name? Is he good to you?”

“Control, Liza. One question at a time—it’s not a quiz show,” Mom chuckled.

I smiled weakly. “No, I was just thinking… about how lonely it used to be.”

Aunt Elizabeth nodded in understanding, but then quickly added, “So… boyfriend? Do you have one?”

I froze. This was the last thing I wanted to talk about.

“No, Aunt. I broke up with him a few days ago.”

Mom stiffened. I could feel her glare boring into me.

“What?” she snapped. “I warned you about that boy, but you never listened! His entire family is toxic. You know how much your father despises them!”

I stared at her, stunned. Mom had never shouted at me like this.

Tears welled in my eyes.

“Stop, Tia,” Aunt Elizabeth said gently. “Look at her—she’s crying.”

Mom wasn’t done. “How can I stay calm, Liza? He’s Adam Williamson’s son!”

Aunt Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “What?” she whispered. “Melissa… I didn’t expect this from you.”

“Amelia, go to your room,” Mom said coldly.

“B-but—Mom…”

“Now. It’s an order.”

I stood up, blinking back tears. My chest felt heavy.

Why did they overreact so much?

And more importantly—why do they hate the Williamsons?

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