Since She Met Lucian

Amelia didn't respond to Jasper. Instead, she merely glanced at what Jasper was wearing and wondered to herself, 'I thought he
didn't like wearing colorful clothes? What the hell is he wearing then?'
This didn't go unnoticed by Jasper. In response, he tugged at his shirt a bit, a look of disgust on his face as he said defensively,
"This is expensive, you know and it's very trendy right now. Yolanda personally chose this for me and I want to make her happy
by wearing it."
Amelia's mouth twitched. She really didn't care about Jasper's fashion choices—her concern was why he called her over in the
first place.
"When your wife picks out clothes for you, you should be grateful." Amelia smiled.
The smile on Jasper's face froze. He reminded Amelia in a low voice, "If Yolanda's mom starts talking to you badly again, just
ignore her."
Jasper was being unusually kind to Amelia which made her confused. On the inside, she couldn't help but snort to herself.
As Amelia walked into the living room, the first person she saw was Sophia who was beaming at her enthusiastically. Sophia
then greeted her warmly, "Amelia, I heard that you'd be coming so I cooked your favorite dishes today."
At that moment, Amelia already figured that they needed something from her.
This wasn't how they normally treated her. On a regular day, they would glare at her and make snide comments. This sudden
change made Amelia feel nervous.
However, Amelia kept composed. She fixed her gaze on the gorgeously dressed Sophia.
"Is Amelia back?" Vernon said hoarsely, the excitement in his voice evident.
Upon hearing this, Amelia couldn't help but sneer. They were acting as if she hadn't been home for ten years and it's not like they
ever treated her like this before.
However, since Vernon was her father, Amelia raised her head and forced a wry smile as she watched Vernon approach her
slowly.
She found that it was exceptionally difficult for her to smile especially when Sophia was around. She didn't really like hiding her
emotions and it's not like Sophia ever did anything to her that would make her want to smile.

However, Amelia couldn't deny that she preferred this over the usual Sophia who always looked like she wanted to strangle her.
"Everyone's here. Let's eat," Jasper suggested.
It was only a little after breakfast so it wasn't really lunch time yet but Amelia didn't protest. She was genuinely curious why
Jasper called her to come over in the first place.
The three of them—Jasper, Sophia, Vernon—had vastly different looks on their faces. Jasper and Sophia were obviously excited
about something which was a rare sight while Vernon seemed preoccupied with something despite the smile on his face.
"Vernon, please wait for Yolanda. She will be here soon." Sophia had a gentle smile on her face. Then she turned to Amelia and
eyed her, in a tender voice, she spoke, "Amelia, would you mind waiting a little longer?"
Amelia couldn't help but be disgusted as she knew that Sophia wasn't really like this. Coldly, she said, "Whatever."
She didn't mean to stay long. She was a bit taken aback by the warm welcome she received as soon as she arrived.
When Jasper called, it sounded so urgent as he claimed that Vernon was sick. She rushed here right away that she wasn't even
able to have breakfast. However, now that she could see that Vernon was perfectly fine, she said frigidly, "Since my father's fine,
I'll be heading out now."
Even though these people were her family, she'd found it difficult to get close to them ever since Iris had passed away. Every
second she spent here was torture to her.
A trace of tension flashed across Sophia's face. She immediately turned to Vernon—a meaningful look on her face.
"Amelia, just have lunch with me before you go home. I have something to tell you," Vernon urged anxiously, frowning.
Perhaps it was because her own father that had asked, but Amelia's heart softened at this request that she couldn't find it in her
heart to deny his father of this.
"Dad, mom, Yolanda's back. I have to go pick her up," Jasper said with a big smile on his face.
"Go ahead!" Sophia answered. Then she turned to smile at Amelia, "They love each other so much that even though they see
each other every day, they still like to do these little things. It's so nice, isn't it?"
With that, Sophia let out a chuckle but quickly stopped when Vernon cast a glare at her.

"My God! I'm getting bigger by the day! I'm already so tired even if I've just taken a few steps," Yolanda said loudly so that
everyone in the room could hear her.
Amelia looked at Yolanda's belly and couldn't help but think how she would just be the same in a few months.
This made her feel all giddy inside. She put on a smile which led Yolanda to believe that it was for her.
"Amelia, you're here." Yolanda then walked up to her and took her hand. She was already panting. "Jasper told me that it's good
for pregnant women to go out for a walk. So they came here by car while I walked. I felt so strong!"
Yolanda said proudly. Amelia smiled, glanced at her belly and said, "You're giving birth in two months. I'm sure you won't have a
hard time then."
"Yeah, that's right. Once the baby's born, it's time for Jasper to do his part. He can do all the work then." Yolanda winked at
Jasper.
Rarely was Yolanda ever this pleasant. Amelia didn't really want to bother herself if it was genuine or not because either way, she
preferred Yolanda this way.
"Well, come on now, we need to eat already or the dishes will get cold," Sophia reminded kindly, a smile pasted on her face.
Amelia forced a smile back, unable to shake off the strange feeling in her heart.
If this had happened long ago, would she have healed faster? Would she have been closer to her family?
As Sophia served the dishes, Amelia couldn't help but notice how delicious and appetizing all the food looked.
Amelia had never tasted Sophia's cooking before. When Iris passed away and Sophia moved in right away, Amelia only lived
with her for a short while. Even then, Susan cooked all the meals as Sophia was always out, playing mahjong all day long.
Whenever Sophia returned home, dinner had long gone and the only exchanges she ever had with Amelia were limited to insults
and glares.
"Amelia, you're so special. My mom never cooks, you know," Yolanda complained as she eyed all the food on the table.
"You're right. I haven't even tried her cooking!" Vernon added as he looked at the table, seemingly confused.
"Well, I don't think I really need to say it but neither have I..." Jasper smiled in embarrassment.

Blushing, Sophia stammered, "You... I... Enjoy yourselves!"
Amelia didn't know what to make of this.
"Come on, let's all toast for Amelia. Thank you for coming home today." Vernon turned and raised his wine glass, smiling gently.
Amelia glanced at her glass filled with red wine and inwardly reminded herself that she shouldn't be drinking since she was
pregnant after all.
Jasper, Sophia, and Vernon all turned to Amelia expectantly. Only Yolanda was holding a glass of milk.
They were waiting for her response. Amelia scanned the table and pointed to the glass of milk. "I still have to go to work so I
can't drink wine. I'll just drink milk too."
"Wine is what makes a meal good! We're just really glad to see you here today. Just one drink!" Vernon insisted, still smiling.
"Dad, I really can't drink." She wasn't going to risk it as she had to take care of the baby.
"Well, let's just let Amelia drink her milk since that's what she wants," Jasper suddenly said much to Amelia's surprise. Out of
instinct, she cast a glance at Yolanda whose face shifted. Yolanda probably felt Amelia's eyes on her so she quickly smiled and
nodded in agreement.
"Well, we're family and we don't have to be so formal. Help yourself!" Vernon said good-naturedly as he lifted his glass and drank
his wine.
Amelia wanted to stop him but before she could even open her mouth, Vernon had already drunk his wine.
"Dad, you're not exactly in your best health. You shouldn't be drinking too much." Her returning home was probably the happiest
memory they all shared together. The more Amelia thought about it, the more upset she grew.
"Amelia, let's have a drink together." Sophia raised her glass of red wine, all the liquid swirling inside.
Amelia smiled and raised her glass of milk.
"I know I've said and done a lot of terrible things to you. I'm deeply sorry and I really hope you can forgive me. I hope we can be
a real family from now on," Sophia said smoothly. After she spoke, she downed her red wine.

Overwhelmed, Amelia bashfully took a sip from her milk. She couldn't help but be moved at all of this—Sophia had never liked
her and here she was apologizing to Amelia.
"Amelia, I'd like to propose a toast to you too!" Jasper stood up immediately, holding his glass of red wine. In an apologetic tone,
he spoke, "I, too, have wronged you in so many ways. I won't even ask for your forgiveness because I know that's a lot to ask of
you. However, I genuinely wish you a happy life."
Like Sophia, Jasper drank his wine after speaking. Amelia then took a sip of her milk too—still unable to shake off the
nervousness she was feeling.
She just didn't know what to make of all these people who had never been kind to her suddenly ask for her forgiveness and want
to start anew. Naturally, she felt curious and overwhelmed.