Ch. 341..345: My Sugar And Your Spice Chapter 341-345

Chapter 341 I Could Faint Shipping You Two

Leo's eyes were firmly fixed on the man's hand holding the woman's waist.

Even from a distance, Eugene could sense the icy, murderous aura that Leo radiated. Nonetheless, Eugene could not help but shudder upon seeing him in such a state.

"Get me the video!" He heard Leo's stiff order.

Immediately, Eugene fished out the iPad and searched for the video of Amelie and Blake's performance.

The performance was open to the public and broadcast live on their official website, so it didn't take long for Eugene to find the video before handing the iPad to Leo. "Mr. Alston, here it is."

Then, Leo quickly snatched the iPad and frowned.

On the other hand, Eugene stood still, but his gaze was drawn to the screen.

A moving video was more vivid than a plain photo. Moreover, the video was played in an ultra-clear resolution. Despite being shot from far away, one could still see the smile on Amelie's face.

Soon, comments popped up one after another on screen, all of them talking about the duo.

"Woah. Their moves are so neat and graceful."

"Their chemistry is unmatched!"

"They must be a couple, or they wouldn't possibly have such great chemistry."

"From a professional point of view, the woman doesn't look like a professional. The reason she's standing out is due to Blakey's superb skills. Of course, she is also smart enough to use dance moves perfectly."

"Damn! How does an amateur perform like a professional?"

"Huhuhu, I want to be like her! I want to be lifted by Blakey too!"

"Come on, Blakey can only lift someone under 100 pounds."

"I'm 100 pounds!"

"Pfft. Coughs…"

"Are you trying to make Blakey show the audience how he lifts weight?"

"It's scary to even imagine."

"A handsome man like Blakey deserves a woman with a beautiful face and a slender figure. Don't even try to take her place!"

"Blakey seemed really careful when he lifted her up! Even his gaze is so tender. Huhu. I don't want to be lifted by Blakey anymore. I love the two of them so much I'm willing to be their sacrifice!"

"Even if I die, I must die in your hands, Blakey."

Seeing the weird comments, Eugene almost couldn't stifle his laughter. I love the two of them so much I'm willing to be their sacrifice? Nowadays, netizens go to great lengths to ship their favorite couples. Of course, he did not miss the hand that nearly crushed the iPad. If he puts even more strength, the iPad or his hand will break. Calm down, Mr. Alston!

Meanwhile, Leo's full attention was on the two of them, and every time Amelie was lifted, his eyes squinted. Every time Blake glanced at her, Leo's expression would darken!

At that moment, Eugene almost felt like the air surrounding them had turned cold. Even with a coat, it felt like he was being sent into a freezer below 32 Fahrenheit. As time went on, the cold even caused his

teeth to chatter.

Strangely, though, Leo didn't burst out of anger despite watching till the end. After the video ended, he handed the iPad back to Eugene.

Seeing that, Eugene's heart thumped anxiously as he couldn't help stealing glances at Leo. Though his expression is still cold, it is only his usual poker face. D-Does he really not care at all? Why does he exude a chilly cold aura earlier if he doesn't care? Even the iPad was nearly crushed by him.

…

"Thank goodness we made it through smoothly."

Amelie was still wearing her performance outfit as she walked backstage with Blake. When she went on the stage earlier, she was so scared that she might make a mistake and affect his scores.

While walking beside her, he slowly looked at her while listening to her talk.

After the strenuous activity, sweat formed on her forehead, her face was flushed, and she was slightly panting. Sparks resembling stars in the night sky filled her eyes, making her alluring and captivating!

"Your performance was excellent," he praised her tenderly, unable to hold back the affection in his eyes.

At that moment, Blake's orbs were also sparkling. Not only was admiration present in his eyes, he even had the urge to be drowned by Amelie.

"Hehe." She was aware of how well she did.

Nevertheless, they had an audience rooting for them, and even after they bowed and thanked the audience for their support, they stood their ground and refused to sit down.

"You two did great!" The president of the organizer, Mr. Lynch, strode over and gave them thumbs up. "The crowd had so much fun and were satisfied with today's performance."

He was glad that Blake and Amelie managed to exceed his expectations.

"May I know if you're interested in a career in figure skating, miss? I can tell you have a strong foundation in dance. If you try figure skating, you will be very popular."

Though competitions were judged based on techniques, performances only required entertainment value.

Since Mr. Lynch had a few figure skating clubs, he was willing to take her as a student.

"I'm sorry, but I'm too busy for that," Amelie politely rejected his offer.

Figure skating was only an unintentional hobby that she picked on. She never thought of relying on it to make a living.

"I have children to take care of."

When Mr. Lynch heard that she was busy, he intended to persuade her, but the light in his eyes dimmed at the mention of children. Then, he couldn't help glancing at Blake. What a pity. Earlier, he almost shipped both of them.

Although there were rumors between Blake and Amelie, she always covered her face ingeniously, preventing anyone from recognizing her.

Mr. Lynch initially intended to persuade her to join his club, then use her as bait to lure Blake over. If he could sign her and Blake together into his club, he would definitely be able to earn a fortune. Now that his plan fell through, one could imagine his disappointment.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lynch. We have to take a leave now."

Blake knew that Amelie did not enjoy entertaining strangers, so he took the initiative to make a move and accompany her out of the venue.

"Let me take you home." When they were outside, he offered with a smile.

However, she shook her head in response. "No, thanks. I drove here."

"I don't have a car, anyway," he replied.

Amelie was speechless upon hearing Blake's confession.

Since they agreed to be best friends, she wouldn't abandon him. So, she offered him a ride home without hesitation.

After she dropped him off, the sky started to get dark as she drove back to Halport.

When Amelie parked her car in the housing area, she received a call from Julia.

"Excuse me, Amelie Dillon. How could you perform with Blakey on such a huge occasion without telling me? If you had told me, I would have rushed to watch the performance live!" she complained. "I still shipped you two even through the computer screen! I might have fainted if I were at the scene!"

Amelie was rendered speechless by her friend's statement. She was used to her exaggeration as she replied nonchalantly, "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to pass out, okay?"

"Ugh! I hate you!"

Julia pretended to be angry before asking, "Are you both really platonic friends? The gazes you two exchanged during the performance looked like you could win the best couple award. How about you make my ship come true and accept Blakey's feelings for you?"

She knew Julia loved joking, so Amelie countered, "Sure. When you pass out, I'll get a monkey to do CPR on you."

"Excuse me?!"

The two bantered with each other until Amelie entered the elevator that arrived on her floor.

She was about to enter the elevator when she felt a presence behind her. Caught off guard, she was pushed into the elevator. Before she could regain her senses, someone turned her around and pinned her against the wall.

The sudden occurrence made her let out a shriek. However, as soon as she opened her mouth, a large palm covered her lips! Amelie couldn't speak.

For a moment, she thought she had encountered a pervert. So, she struggled with all her might and threw punches at the perpetrator, but he could lock both her arms and drive her into a corner of the elevator.

Slowly, she came to a realization after smelling the familiar scent of the man. Under the warm yellow light, she saw the man's sharp features and stern expression.

Chapter 342 Do Not Anger Me Using Other Men

Leo Alston!

At that moment, he was mercilessly biting and sucking at Amelie's lips like a ferocious beast. Her lips were in agony from his kiss.

When she looked at him, his eyes were half-closed. He was so close that his long lashes nearly brushed against her skin.

Rage burned in his eyes, and his jaws were tense. He held her so tightly that she could barely move an inch.

In her mind, Leo had always been a cold, aloof, and strict man. Moreover, strong emotions were not easily acted upon. This side of him was a stranger to Amelie.

The kiss continued for so long that she was running out of air. Her legs went weak as her body slid down to the floor despite her demands not to do so. When she was about to suffocate, he let go of her. Then, his arms were steadily wrapped around her waist.

"Have you gone mad?" As she did not even have the strength to stand up, her only option was to glare and breathlessly shout at him.

Suddenly, Leo pressed Amelie closer with a strong palm on her head and neck. "You are not allowed to be so intimate with those men!"

As soon as he thought of Blake hugging her and all the body contact that would have happened, his entire being would radiate with pain as if he had been scalded by boiling water.

Meanwhile, Leo's other arm curled even tighter around her waist as if he was trying to squeeze out any of Blake's scent from her.

His hot breath brushed against her earlobe as his lips were so close that he was almost kissing her ear. When she felt his heat, she thought she might be gobbled up and drowned in his breath. "Let go of me for now. I can't breathe."

After Leo heard that, he finally let go of Amelie.

At that moment, the elevator stopped. She bolted far away from him and turned to stare at him warily with her back against the wall. Then, she watched as he walked out of the elevator.

A stray strand of hair was hanging in front of one of his eyes, covering half of it, and his clothes were wrinkled, suggesting he had come in a hurry.

"Stop!" Amelie commanded.

Surprisingly, Leo obeyed and stood there.

The way he looked at her seemed much gentler than before. Still, it was the type of gentleness associated with a cocoon that trapped its prey with layers and layers of silk.

She was still panting hard, and his scent lingered in her mouth. Although she was no longer in his arms, he still surrounded her. It was such an unfamiliar and discomforting experience.

Suddenly, Amelie's heart trembled uncontrollably. It took her a while to calm down enough to speak again. "Speak if you have something to say."

"I got jealous because you were with Blake," Leo declared truthfully.

There was a dark yet bright light shining in his black eyes. It made him look so pitiful, like a child who had been wronged. He had always thought he would be okay with anything she did, even if it was done in

revenge against him, as long as she did not leave his sight. However, when he saw the video of her skating with Blake, he realized he was not that great of a man.

She silently stared at him, feeling quite speechless upon hearing that.

With the state of their relationship, he had no right to make any demands on her.

However, when Amelie recalled what Leo did to Toby, she had no choice but to explain, "Blake and I merely think of each other as siblings. You're overthinking things."

"I won't allow it even if that's the case!" Then, he strode over and tugged at the straps of her bag.

Worried that Leo was about to do something again, she quickly let go of her bag. Still, she kept a close eye on every twitch and shift in his body, but all she saw was his fingers darting into her bag to pull a tiny knife from within it.

Seeing that, Amelie was rendered speechless.

That knife was something she brought around as a precaution against dangerous men. It was a small, discrete item. How did he know about it?

Then, he flicked the knife open and pressed the handle into her hand. "If you hate me, you can attack me yourself. Do not anger me using other men." He then pulled her hand over to point the knife at his chest.

While it did not have a long blade, it would still pierce his heart.

On the other hand, Leo looked so calm, as if being stabbed in the heart was trivial.

For a moment, Amelie felt the urge to sink the knife in and end his life. That would stop him from picking fights with her whenever he was bored.

Ultimately, she threw the knife back into her bag and spat out through gritted teeth, "Enough. I don't want to be a murderer yet."

"We've come to an agreement then," he stated swiftly.

That was quite a shameless response from him.

"I'm sorry, but that's something you decided. It has nothing to do with me." Amelie was in no mood to be fooled. "I have the right to date anyone I want. If you are really going to attack Blake, I do not mind being responsible for him for the rest of my life."

After Leo heard that, he silently stared at her, speechless. He would much rather she had stabbed him than listen to her say those words.

He was a man, and he knew what other men were like. How Blake looked at her was definitely not how a brother would look at his sister. Blake was ambitious!

Despite how much time had passed since that moment, Leo still felt the urge to scoop out Blake's eyes and feed them to the dogs. However, he would have fallen for his trap if he had been foolish enough to strike at Blake now.

Now that she had stated her piece, she could not continue talking to him. So, she turned around with a hand held over her mouth and headed for the door.

Bam! She slammed the door shut right in his face.

He was rendered speechless by that act.

…

It was the start of autumn. The leaves of the ginkgo trees were turning yellow. They formed a sea of shimmering gold.

A little girl sat at the small, sturdy table underneath the trees, dressed in a red dress and a pair of black Mary Janes, who was cheerfully swinging her legs to and fro. She held a strawberry ice cream cone in a chubby little hand. A happy smile was spread across her face as her tongue darted out to lick the creamy pink dessert.

Then, she wolfed down the ice cream in minutes since she was a swift eater. Later, she rubbed her bulging tummy and sighed satisfactorily before sticking out an ice-cream-stained hand. Soon, her hand was being held by a pair of slender yet broad hands that thoroughly cleaned the stains off with a wet tissue.

"What happened? Have you hit a wall with Mama?" Bria asked when the wet tissue moved to wipe her lips.

Ever since Leo bought her the ice cream cone and led her over to the bench, he had only sat there with a blank, wooden look in his eyes. His brows were locked in a frown as he remained silent the entire time.

His daughter was perceptive, and she immediately knew something was off.

While he was surprised to find out she knew the phrase "hit a wall," he responded, "How did you know? Did your mommy say something?"

"Tch!" Scorn was painted all over her face as she held her chin up high. "Mr. Sam read to me The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock could tell what was happening before anyone said anything, and I've learned a few tricks from him."

By Mr. Sam, she meant Samuel Gage.

Bria then leaned in close to Leo and blinked up at him. "If Mama's not ignoring you, you would not be here alone to buy me ice cream. You would be with her!"

Hearing that, he stared down at her in shock.

Was it a good thing or a bad thing that his daughter was way too bright? His ears turned red in embarrassment at having his secrets exposed. Still, he did not deny her guess.

Then, Bria patted Leo on the shoulder in a mature fashion. Her eyes gleamed with pity as she said, "Well, Mama can't be blamed for that. You were so mean to her before!"

She might be a child, but she remembered much of her life. Furthermore, she would never hold back because someone bought her some ice cream. What should be said would be said.

Being lectured by his daughter made him feel like he had failed as a father.

"I'm sorry."

Always apologize for one's mistakes; that was a rule he never broke, even if it were to a kid.

Seeing him apologize made her sympathize with him once more.

Even though Bria's father had done many wrong things in the past, her teachers had always told her that anyone could be a good child as long as they apologized for their mistakes and learned from them.

Since Leo now wanted to turn over a new leaf, she had to help him.

At that thought, Bria sighed. "Fine. I'll help you think of a way."

 

Chapter 343 Man Begging to be Pitied

It was time to eat.

On the other hand, Amelie ended the stream and stretched before languidly walking down the stairs.

In the dining room, Bria was helping Steven set the table.

"Bria, it's time to eat," he said, cheerfully pulling out a chair for the girl.

However, she did not need his help, as she quickly climbed onto the chair and sat properly.

Then, he loaded her divided plate with some of every side dish he cooked before adding the carbohydrates.

Bria ate so fast and happily that Steven laughed by watching her. His heart was filled with joy to see his little granddaughter be so mature.

"You are much more well-behaved than your mother," he commented, stroking her head while he gave her a tender look.

She was enjoying the warmth of his hand when she suddenly spotted Amelie. "Mama, hurry up. Grandpa made lots of amazing food today."

When Amelie strode over, she found the table laden with various new dishes.

Bria then placed a forkful of food on her plate. "Here, Mama."

"Thank you, and here is some for you." Amelie reciprocated by serving her daughter more food.

She also filled Steven's plate with some food. "Let's eat, Dad."

"Alright." He was joyfully beside himself to see his daughter and granddaughter so well-behaved. Afterward, he gently patted Bria on the head. "Focus on your food now."

Bria gave him a firm nod but did not immediately return to her food. Instead, she turned to her mother and said, "Mama, I want to learn figure skating."

"Figure skating?" Amelie stared at her in astonishment.

Bria nodded several times consecutively while humming in the affirmative.

"Your performance with Mr. Gareth is so pretty. I want to skate too. I want to perform. I also want to be famous like him."

Amelie had thought of making her daughter learn a skill or craft before, but she always thought it could wait since Bria was so young. Now that Bria was asking to learn something, she naturally had no reason to reject the request.

"Okay." Amelie nodded. "Whether or not you can perform like Mr. Gareth is not important. What's important is that you enjoy learning how to skate."

"Yay!" Bria joyfully cheered, pumping her hands high. Meanwhile, there was a flash of a sly fox's cunning glint in her big eyes.

The following day was a weekend. Amelie brought Bria to a large skating rink.

After registering, Bria went with her female instructor for her lesson.

Nonetheless, Amelie had nothing to do but sit and watch since she felt uncomfortable leaving. Thus, she pulled out her phone and started on some simple tasks from work.

"Mama! Mama!"

Before ten minutes were up, someone was tugging at her shirt sleeve. So, she turned around to find Bria curled beside her while wearing her pink skating outfit.

"What is it?" She stroked Bria's head. "Why aren't you with your instructor?"

"I don't want to learn with her." Bria pouted with bulging cheeks. "She doesn't skate as well as you do. I want you to teach me instead, Mommy."

Amelie turned to glance at the instructor. The instructors at the skating rink were only to teach kids who had only started learning how to skate. Naturally, the instructors were only mediocre skaters.

"Mama, teach me." Bria pleaded in a soft and sweet voice as she continued to tug at Amelie's shirt. Combined with the sight of her shimmering eyes, Amelie's heart immediately melted.

Well, she had nothing to do anyway. Hence, Amelie went to the instructor and told her about the request. Nevertheless, the instructor had no objections.

Soon, Amelie was teaching Bria to skate at the rink's edges after buying a new outfit and a pair of new skates.

"Dada!" Bria suddenly called out in the middle of the lesson. She was waving hard at someone.

"What a coincidence," Leo said as he skated over with a man in an instructor's outfit. After exchanging a look with his daughter, he then turned to Amelie.

"Are you skating as well, Dada?" Bria exclaimed in faux surprise at seeing his outfit.

He was currently dressed in workout clothes instead of his usual suit. The beige outfit was tightly wrapped around his tall body, making his skin appear fair and smooth. He did not look as cold as usual, yet he was still a striking sight.

"Dada's handsome!" Bria swiftly gave him a thumbs-up.

She then hurriedly nudged Amelie. "Mama's pretty as well."

Then, Leo turned to look at Amelie's outfit when he heard that.

She wore a white exercise outfit, making her tiny face look so beautiful and fair. There was no makeup on her face, and her hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She looked so much younger than her actual age, like a young girl who had finished puberty.

While Amelie's outfit was not cinched, her curves were still visible. Leo's throat tightened when he saw that, and his eyes darkened.

"Ah, so you're family," the instructor exclaimed as he watched the trio interact. "In that case, I'll leave you to catch up." He then walked away.

Bria stealthily winked at Leo before saying, "You're here just in time, Dada. Mama's teaching me how to skate. You can ask her to teach you as well."

"It is already against the rules for me to teach you how to skate here, Bria. I can't teach anyone else." Amelie knew what her daughter was scheming. "Mr. Alston should find a qualified instructor to teach him."

She then pulled Bria away. "Let's go."

Upon realizing her plan had failed, Bria sadly blinked at her father before following Amelie.

Later, Amelie led Bria around the rink a few more laps.

She thought Leo would either leave the rink or go to the instructor. However, when they skated back to their original spot, he was alone, leaning against the railing for support. It was evident that he had never skated before. Even with the help of the support railing, he was still highly unbalanced.

Suddenly, Leo let go of the support railing and tried to skate forward.

Bang! He had not even taken a single step before he was sprawled out all over the ground.

Amelie was rendered speechless upon seeing that. She assumed that he would have at least skated a step or two, no matter how new he was to skating. Now, it seemed like he knew nothing about skating, nor did he have any experience.

The impact of his fall could be heard by anyone within a few feet radius.

She could not help but feel her body ache in sympathy.

Leo soon climbed to his feet, though. After dusting himself off, he tried to skate forward once more. Before he could even do a thing, he crashed to the ground once more. One fall soon became a series of crashes. Crash after crash reached her ears.

Therefore, every time he fell, Amelie and Bria would frown and close their eyes.

I'm sure he'll give up after a few tumbles. After all, embarrassing himself in public like that would be equivalent to social suicide for a president of his stature. He should have gone somewhere where no one could see him tumbling like that. However, Amelie was proven wrong.

"Mama, let's go help Dada." Bria could not watch on any longer. Hence, she yanked on her mother's shirt, her eyes turning red as if she were about to cry. Bria knew from experience how badly her father would hurt if he fell, as she had experienced it herself. Moreover, she should not have devised this scheme, which resulted in her father's suffering.

It had been a long time since Amelie saw Leo look so wretched.

He had never looked so miserable before, not even when he was blind and raging with anger.

His series of falls were not for show. Every time he got back up, he was slower than before. Still, he gritted his teeth and kept quiet.

However, the pain was so overwhelming that his entire jawline was emphasized by how hard he was clenching. The throbbing vein on his face shined with a sheen of sweat.

His neat and tidy hair was a sweat-soaked mess.

"Let me teach you, sir."

Before Amelie knew it, a young woman was standing near him.

The young woman held out a hand to him. When she saw his face, astonishment was painted all over her face. As a regular visitor of this rink, she had seen many outstanding men and women. Nevertheless, she had never seen a man as handsome as Leo. Seeing him in his disheveled state set off an adrenaline rush in her. Then, she looked directly into his eyes, her lust and desire for him written all over her face.

"Scram!" Leo did not even look at her before he shouted.

The young woman stared at him in shock. She knew she was an attractive woman with a beautiful physique. At the skating rink, she was constantly being pursued by strangers. Nevertheless, she had never been yelled at before. Suddenly, her eyes turned red as she skated away swiftly.

Afterward, he slowly sat back up with one hand on the ground. He did not try to get up another time. Instead, he turned around to glance in Amelie's direction. Although Leo wasn't staring at her, the distress on his face made it evident that he was trying to get her attention.

On the other hand, it strangely reminded her of the begging face of a dog she used to own.

Soon, a few more girls skated over to him, asking him if he needed help. Quite a few of them even tried to help him up. However, the sight of his eyes always struck terror into their hearts. He might have been attractive, but the chill in his eyes was enough to stop them in their tracks right there and then. Ultimately, those girls were better off running away.

She could not help but feel her body ache in sympathy.

Chapter 344 Low-Class

"See that? Your daddy is a strong man. He doesn't need help." Amelie jerked her chin in Leo's direction as she spoke to Bria. She then dragged Bria to the other side of the rink.

Then, he silently stared at her, speechless.

It was not that he did not need help; instead, he did not need help from any other woman but her. What a heartless woman.

His heart clenched as he watched them skate away. The dejection born from being abandoned and ignored hurt more than the bruises on his body.

On the other hand, Amelie and Bria skated for an hour before leaving the rink. By the time they left, Leo was nowhere to be seen.

However, Bria could not resist glancing at the spot her father had fallen earlier. When she recalled how he looked when falling, she pursed her lips. It is entirely my fault for devising such a terrible plan. When my daddy fell, he looked so pitiful.

While Amelie did not pity Leo, Bria did not blame her for that. After all, her mother suffered much worse when they lived with him.

Still, would he stop coming to the rink because he had fallen too many times and humiliated himself?

Nevertheless, Bria still hoped for her parents to get back together, so her heart sank when she thought about how she might not see Leo again.

Amelie could see Bria was in a bad mood, so she suggested a nice meal.

Bria was currently in a growth spurt and had a big appetite. So, when she heard her mother would treat her to some steak, she was drooling. "Mama, I want the biggest steak! I want bibimbap and that sweet Fairy's Drink."

She had tried Perouvian cuisine a few times before, and these were the dishes she loved the most. The Fairy's Drink she spoke of was a special fruit tea with added passion fruit. There was even a slice of lemon on top. It was fruity, sweet, and beautiful.

Steven might be a fantastic chef, but he was not good at Perouvian cooking. After all, she was still a child, and after eating the same food too many times in a row, she yearned for something different.

Hearing that, Amelie wiped the drool off her daughter's face with a soft smile. "Okay. We'll order anything you want."

As they continued to talk, they walked into a Perouvian restaurant. Nonetheless, the food Bria ordered was not considered the expensive items on the menu. However, Amelie did not know much about Perouvian cuisine, so she always ordered discounted meals on the coupon site.

Without hesitation, Bria grabbed her mother's phone and tapped into the coupon site to order a meal she had eaten before.

"Good afternoon," the smartly dressed server cheerfully greeted them with a polite smile.

"We want this set," Bria said as she held up the phone to show the server their coupon.

When the server saw they wanted to order a discounted value meal, the sweet smile on her face instantly vanished. The discounted meals they offered through the coupon site were only meant to attract foot traffic to the shop. Hence, there was not a lot of profit to be gotten from those sales.

When the server saw they wanted to order a discounted value meal, the sweet smile on her face instantly vanished. The discounted meals they offered through the coupon site were only meant to attract

foot traffic to the shop. Hence, there was not a lot of profit to be gotten from those sales.

At that moment, it was also the peak lunch hour. Therefore, having the tables be taken by customers who would not give the restaurant much profit would be a waste.

"We do not have any tables for two. Please wait," the server coldly stated as she scribbled a note. After she handed it to them, she immediately walked away.

Nevertheless, Bria said nothing and took Amelie's hand. "Let's wait over there, Mama."

"Okay."

While Amelie noticed the server's abrupt change in behavior, she did not want to let Bria know about it. Hence, she smiled as she walked to sit in the waiting area with her daughter.

After waiting a few minutes, she felt the urge to go to the bathroom. She leaned over to stroke Bria's head. "I need to go to the bathroom. Do you need to go?"

"No, you go. I'll wait here for you," Bria replied as she snuggled into Amelie's touch. Then, she turned her face to peek at her mother with bright eyes from behind Amelie's hand.

Even though she was only a month away from turning four, she had a silver tongue. It was also a Perouvian restaurant that was not as chaotic as the world outside.

Amelie hummed in acknowledgment before tapping on Bria's smartwatch. "Call me if anything happens." She then walked to the bathrooms.

She was a gorgeous woman who stood out in the crowd. Then, she changed out of her exercise outfit to put on a shirt and a pair of jeans. Wrapped in denim fabric, her legs looked very long and slender. She wore a white button-up shirt tucked into her jeans with the collar slightly agape, revealing her slim neck

and a peek of her collarbone. It made her look so pure yet sensual. Thus, a lot of the people she walked past would turn to look at her.

Amelie ignored the stares and swiftly walked to the bathroom, not wanting to leave Bria alone for too long. She had just arrived at the bathroom entrance when a shadow moved into view, and someone slammed into her shoulder. The impact made her stumble backward.

Suddenly, she felt a hand wrap around her waist to stop her from stepping backward.

"My apologies," a man said.

Men rarely touched her around her waist, so she uneasily stepped aside and away before turning to look at him.

The man looked to be in his thirties. Even if he wasn't strikingly handsome, he was certainly more attractive than the average person. His eyes were narrowed in a smile that looked somewhat apologetic.

When the server saw they wanted to order a discounted value meal, the sweet smile on her face instantly vanished. The discounted meals they offered through the coupon site were only meant to attract foot traffic to the shop. Hence, there was not a lot of profit to be gotten from those sales.

Despite his calm and gentle appearance, Amelie still felt uncomfortable.

"It's fine," she calmly replied. She avoided further conversation by retreating to the bathroom.

A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom. She then strode toward the waiting area.

However, Bria was nowhere to be seen. Her heart sank as she stared at the empty couch. So, she hurriedly pulled out her phone and called her daughter. Unfortunately, nobody answered. Moreover, the watch was set to automatically answer the call if no one answered it after a few rings.

Then, when the call went through, Amelie heard noises from the other end of the line. Worried, she called out, "Bria! Bria!"

Her daughter's voice soon rang out, but Bria wasn't talking to her.

"You are the one in the wrong. You should apologize!"

"Apologize? You're being rude, kid."

There was a woman's voice on the other end of the call besides Bria's. It was arrogant and sharp.

Realizing Bria had gotten into an argument with someone else, Amelie was nervous and worried that her daughter was being bullied. So, she quickly called out for Bria once more.

Then, she saw a crowd standing around the private rooms and spotted a small figure among them. With her phone in her hand, she quickly walked over.

When Amelie saw the entrance to a private room, she soon recognized the tiny figure as Bria.

She stood in the doorway with her hands stretched out to block it. Her face had a stubborn look as she glared at the server. "I'm only blocking the door because you're being unfair. We were here first! How can you let other people be seated before us?"

The server she was shouting at was the server who had greeted them earlier. Two guests were standing behind her.

While the customers did not say a word, they still frowned and looked impatient when they saw the doorway was being blocked.

Seeing their impatience, the server panicked. "You're such a funny kid. Whom do you think you are to be compared to them? You ordered a discounted set meal while they booked a private room. The booking fee they paid is enough to pay for two sets. How can you compete with them?"

"If you want to be served because you came before they did, tell your mom to pay the booking fee. Can she even afford it?" The server had spoken extremely coldly and sharply, using very revolting words. "Move away, or I'll have the guards kick you out!" She then reached out to tear Bria away from the doorway.

Chapter 345 We’re Not That Close

Amelie did not allow the server's hand to touch Bria, though. She ran forward and flung the server's hand away. "Is this how the restaurant treats its customers? We paid for a meal, but security had to kick us out?"

If the server had stuck to using words, Amelie would not have stepped in. However, there was no way she would allow the server to lay a hand on her daughter.

Hearing that, the server stared at Amelie in shock. When arguing with Bria, the server spoke arrogantly since she felt the kid was an immature coward. Nevertheless, being caught red-handed by Bria's parents caused a humiliated look on her face.

Still, the server's shocked expression only lasted a few minutes. She soon regained her initial confidence as she held her head up high. "What's wrong with kicking you out? I can kick you out for violating the restaurant's rules!"

"Please show me the rules then. I want to know exactly which rule states that customers are to be served according to how much they spend." Amelie was someone who relied on her words to make a living. There was no way the server could win in an argument. One sentence was enough to render the server speechless.

Suddenly, the server's arrogance immediately vanished. "Even if it is not written down, it is an internal ruling. You should be dining in the main hall, not a private room. How are we meant to earn a living otherwise?" the server eventually stammered after a long pause.

"There were two groups who didn't book a private room, and they were seated first," Bria immediately responded in a loud and clear voice. "Tables 32 and 45 were also tables of two!"

Since Amelie knew Bria was a well-behaved child who wouldn't deliberately block a doorway, she didn't immediately lecture her.

Hearing that made Amelie's pupils shrink.

The server was surprised by how good Bria's memory was and cleared her throat in panic. "They did not order from a coupon site and are in a rush. Of course, they would be seated first. Since you ordered off a coupon site for a discounted meal, you should know that means you must wait. If you don't want to wait, you could come at another time. Why would you wait until peak hour?"

"Who said we're not in a hurry?" Bria shot back. "We are in a greater hurry than they are! Also, when is it any of your business when we come, Mrs. Waitress? Did you even state in your terms and conditions that buying off a coupon site means waiting?"

She had inherited Amelie's genes, for she was as good at arguing as her mother.

The term "Mrs. Waitress" seemed to shake the server in anger, though, and Bria's arguments had her at a loss for words. Her face went pale as she silently tried to come up with an answer.

"Forget it. Let's eat somewhere else." The other customers had long lost their patience and walked out the door.

"Forget it. Let's eat somewhere else." The other customers had long lost their patience and walked out the door.

Seeing that, the server immediately dashed over and bowed low. "I'm so sorry for the poor experience, sirs. Why don't I upgrade you to a better room? Please don't go."

"They haven't paid, yet you're upgrading them to a better room. What about us? We've already paid. What are you going to do, Mrs. Waitress?" Bria would not back off since she was in the right.

The server was too money-minded that Bria intentionally emphasized how old she looked.

Seeing that her daughter could handle herself, Amelie silently stood to the side.

"I—" The server's face immediately turned red. She had never imagined she would one day be spoken so rudely at by a three or four-year-old. Moreover, she was on the verge of crying from embarrassment, especially since it happened in front of other customers.

Meanwhile, Amelie was watching the entire time with cold eyes.

If the server had served others first, she might have stepped in to help the server. However, the server also insulted Bria. That meant the server needed to be taught a lesson.

Bria held her chin up high and her hand behind her back as if she was speaking in class. "My teacher said humans are all equal. It is wrong of you to look down on us. If you think people who buy off coupon sites are that bad, you can stop offering discounted meals. If you offer it and ignore us for buying it, you're being a bully!"

The server silently stared at Bria in shock. It was not her first time giving customers who bought off coupon sites poor service, but her first time being rebuked like this.

What kind of freak was Bria? She had spoken with such a silver tongue that she sounded like she had much experience.

"That's something even a kid knows. Are you so out of touch that you don't know that, Mrs. Waitress?" Bria was ruthless.

There were a lot of customers around them. If this went on, the other customers dining in the restaurant would be affected. When Amelie saw that customers were waiting to be served, she stepped forward. "Bria—"

"What's going on?"

Amelie had not finished speaking when she was interrupted by a woman's voice.

The crowd turned around to look at the speaker.

They watched as a face familiar to Amelie walked over on a man's arm.

The woman was well put-together with a perfect smile that made her seem so different from the angry woman in the Walsh Family. It was Michelle Walsh.

"Forget it. Let's eat somewhere else." The other customers had long lost their patience and walked out the door.

The man she was with was not a stranger to Amelie either. In fact, he was a very familiar person. She could have recognized him even if his handsome, stern face had been charred. It was Leo.

Even though they were only walking in with linked arms, it was still evident that their relationship was no ordinary friendship.

Minutes earlier, at the skating rink, he had been the man who had tried to get close to Amelie by acting miserable. However, now he was flirting with another woman.

Suddenly, a cold smirk silently spread across Amelie's lips.

"Miss!" Hope flashed on the server's tearful face when she spotted Michelle. "These two customers are from the coupon site. They think I'm being unfair to them because I had them wait, so they blocked the doorway and forbade other customers to enter."

The server was not a fool. She knew some things could not be said, so she left a few details out of her explanation.

"Oh—" Michelle slowly said as she turned to look over.

Amelie's face was blocked from Michelle's vision by the server and the other two customers, so she only saw Bria. Since she had never seen Bria, she naturally did not know who Bria was.

However, she had to appear generous since Leo was watching. Thus, she said, "It does not matter if they bought discounted meals. If there are no tables in the main hall, give them a private room."

"Alright," the server hurriedly said with a nod. Since the boss had spoken, she naturally could not object.

The server then turned to Amelie and Bria. "This way, please."

"Not interested!" Bria roared in anger while she glared at Leo.

She was much more disappointed in her father than Amelie was. To think she had tried so hard to help him get back with Amelie because she thought he had gotten better. Soon, her eyes turned red as she swiftly ran away.

"Bria!"

Leo had been busy with a phone call and only looked over when he heard Bria's voice. The anger and misery gleaming in her red eyes made him go numb as he instinctively went after her.

Amelie ran over and stopped him with a cold glare in her eyes. "Do not touch my daughter, Mr. Alston!" She then ran out after her.

"Leo—" Michelle uneasily called out when she finally spotted Amelie. Suddenly, she realized what had happened.

As everyone was watching, he tugged his arm away from her hand. "We're not that close, Miss Walsh."