Page 15 of Obsessing Over His Favorite
Amelia didn’t leave.
She remained close, her arm still looped with Charlotte’s, her smile sweet.
“Hello, Mrs. Cantrell.” Emily gave Charlotte a polite smile.
Amelia gave Emily a once-over, her gaze trailing from head to toe like she was scanning her for flaws. Then, with a syrupy smile, she leaned in just slightly and spoke loud enough for Charlotte to hear.
“Emily, you look… nice. Is that dress from your parents?”
There was a fake sweetness in her voice that made Emily want to roll her eyes.
“It looks a little… worn out.”
Emily didn’t even blink. “He got it for me today.” She pointed casually at Lucas, not even sparing Amelia a glance.
Amelia’s lips thinned into a forced smile, but the smug glint in her eyes was something Emily spotted instantly.
“Emily, can you please make a bigger donation this time for the charity?” Amelia’s voice was soft, almost concerned.
Emily turned to her, brows raised, questioning the sudden request.
Amelia bit her lower lip and glanced nervously between Emily and Lucas. “I really didn’t want to bring it up, but... I know charity galas aren’t something you’re used to. Your family isn’t as well-off as Lucas’s, but as his girlfriend, you’ll need to learn how these things work... right?”
Emily said nothing. She simply stared, watching Amelia carefully, waiting to see where she was going with this.
Taking a deep breath, Amelia continued, “The donation you made at the last event... it might’ve seemed big to you, but others might mock Lucas’s family for donating just half a million dollars. You’re donating on his behalf, so you need to donate a bigger amount. It reflects directly on his name.”
Charlotte’s expression tightened. Her eyes shifted to Emily, narrowing with visible disapproval.
“Amelia is right,” she said in a composed but firm voice. Then she turned to look at Lucas and Emily again, repeating, “Emily,Amelia is right. Our family isn’t poor. We’re expected to donate generously. If Amelia knows about your donation, it means others probably know too. It reflects poorly on us. You need to be more mindful of your actions.”
She shook her head, clearly unimpressed. “This is unacceptable. We shouldn’t be hearing such things—especially when we are more than capable of making a proper contribution. Charity events like these are about reputation as much as generosity.”
Emily’s jaw tightened at the words. A memory flashed in her mind—a similar gala, from when she was still new to her relationship with Lucas. She remembered Amelia pulling her aside back then too, whispering in her ear with that same soft, sweet voice.
“You should wear simple clothes to charity events. These people prefer to dress down—they don’t like flashy. And Emily, don’t donate too much. If you donate a large amount, people might think you’re trying to outshine Lucas’s family. Just donate a modest amount, okay?”
Now, standing here, hearing Amelia’s soft-spoken accusations wrapped in sugar, it became painfully clear. ‘It was never about helping me fit in. It was always a setup. A trap to humiliate me in front of Lucas and his family.’
Emily smiled, calm and controlled.
“I donated a smaller amount last time because Lucas told me he’d be making a larger donation on our behalf,” she said, turning toward Charlotte without even glancing at Amelia. “That way, the total would reflect appropriately.”
She was bluffing. Before coming here, Lucas had told her he would handle the official donation and she had seen him sign the cheque. If he had done it this time, then it must’ve happenedbefore too. So, she trusted her instinct and gave the response with quiet confidence.
Lucas stepped in smoothly. “She’s right, Mom. I’ve already made a separate large donation. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow, considering. She picked up her drink from the table, sipped once, then nodded. “If that’s the case, then it’s fine.”
Amelia’s smile faltered. Her fingers tightened around Charlotte’s arm, making the older woman wince and look at her with a frown.
Amelia quickly pulled her arm away and replaced it with a forced smile, stepping back slightly.
Not long after, Lucas excused himself to mingle with guests. Amelia followed suit, drifting after him like a shadow. Charlotte disappeared toward a group of her friends, and Emily, now alone, wandered toward the food table.
There wasn’t much for her to do here anyway. She didn’t know what this event was truly about or what these people valued. She had no clue what she had done at such galas in her forgotten past. She had come along only to avoid arousing Lucas’s suspicion... and maybe, to piece together what else she had lived through.
As she stood silently, the whispers around her slowly reached her ears.
