When I Was a Wallflower (Leo and Amelie)
Chapter 108

Chapter 108 Take Responsibility

Leo's sudden action startled Amelie. Instinctively, she struggled to get away.

His hand tightened hard around her neck.

"What is the meaning of this, Mr. Alston?" she asked as she struggled. Her voice was cold from rage.

Her eyes shone with a furious blaze.

Her reaction merely upset Leo even further. Just then, he recalled the sweet smile on her face when she was talking to Toby.

His heart clenched in pain.

"What tricks did you pull to seduce him? You won't spare even my friend, huh?" he barked out harshly.

She looked up, confused.

Friend?

The only friend of his whom she was close to was Toby.

Did he think she was seducing Toby?

Was she that trashy in his mind?

Her heart jolted in agony as if something just pierced it.

On the surface, though, she laughed. She was laughing out of anger. "What tricks can I pull? If your friend was seduced, it would only be because of how pitiful I look when I'm with you!" "Pitiful?" Leo sneered. "It's all your fault though, isn't it?"

It was only then that he realized he had lost control of himself. He was blabbering by now.

Growing up, he had never said anything like that, not even during the time he had loathed her the most.

However, the words spoken could not be taken back.

Amelie had always known he hated her, but it was the first time he ever spelled it out so bluntly.

Although she had decided to draw the line and stay away from him, his words still hurt her.

Before she could speak, someone dashed over.

The newcomer shoved Leo hard, pushing him away.

"You're a sc*mbag, Leo!" cried the newcomer. Her eyes were burning with fury, a fire strong enough to consume those in its path.

"Julia?"

Amelie could not help but let out a cry when she saw who it was that came.

Julia had specifically come all the way here because she knew Amelie was going to leave tomorrow. When she finally arrived, she found Amelie being threatened and even heard what Leo just said.

Like an agitated rooster ready to fight, Julia turned to shoot him a sharp glare. "All her fault? How could you say that? If you don't want to be a responsible man, then keep your lower half in check. Don't touch Amy at all."

"Putting aside the fact that her testimonial all those years ago had been a great help to the Alstons, even if she had not helped you at all, you still have no right to detest her! You slept with her, so you have to take responsibility. It is her right to request you marry her!"

Julia was beyond herself with anger. Her chest rose and fell as she roared at him. She did not care if she were so loud that other people heard her, nor if she would be recognized by other people. "Enough, Julia," Amelie said, walking over to pull her away.

She did not want to use the past to gather sympathy in the present.

Julia refused to stop, however. Her eyes were red as she pulled away from Amelie. "Also, what has Bria done? Why does she not have the right to be born? Why must she be unduly punished just because you're angry?"

"An immature and irresponsible man like you will only ever be liked by Amelie," she continued. "Other women would have gone far, far away from you."

"Speaking of which, a sc*mbag like you certainly isn't worth Amy—”

"Julia!" When Amelie realized Julia was about to mention the corneal donation, she immediately shouted.

After the interruption, Julia bit her lip and kept quiet. Nevertheless, tears kept streaming down her cheeks.

She was just so upset on Amelie's behalf.

"Anyway, Mr. Alston and I have split ways. We won't even have the chance to bump into each other again. Let's not create unnecessary trouble," Amelie hinted, knowing that Julia's tears were for her. "Let's go."

She then dragged Julia up the stairs and into the apartment.

Julia was still crying, upset at the injustice.

Amelie sighed and gently wiped her tears away with a handkerchief. "You're usually a carefree woman. Why are you crying for me?"

Julia grabbed Amelie's hand. "It was not worth it, Amelie. We should have told him just how untrustworthy that scum was. We should have told him about the corneal donation!"

"There is no need." Amelie shook her head. "I have left that love behind. I don't want him to continue hovering around me because of what happened. It'll be so annoying!"

"It upsets me, though!" Julia could not be calm about this matter. "That Clayton woman did nothing for him. She betrayed him, yet he treats her like some precious treasure. Even though he knows she is the reason the blood was contaminated, endangering you and Bria, he never once scolded her for it. The two of them went on being as loving as ever."

"You have done so much for him, but he can't even keep his initial promise," she continued. "He just forgot all about you. I don't want him to live an easy life. I want to carve into his heart so that he may never know peace for the rest of his life!"

"To forgive him is to forgive me, correct? Anyway, he loves Elyse. Even if I tell him about the past, what then? He would only compensate me with cash. I do not need more money anyway."

"Ah." Julia's shoulders drooped as she let out a heavy sigh.

Amelie laid a hand on her shoulder. "Julia, I just want to live a happy, peaceful life with Bria. As for the past, none of it is important now."

As Julia looked up into Amelie's eyes, she found them to be shining bright and clear.

Amelie had genuinely thought things through.

"Okay," Julia said with a nod, finally no longer splitting hairs over the issue. "Let's go far away from this darned place and forget all about that trash." After comforting Julia, Amelie headed to Bria's room.

The little girl had kicked her blanket away because of tossing and turning.

Amelie shook her head before walking in to pick up the blanket and carefully tucking Bria in once more.

Once that was done, she ducked her head down to stroke Bria's tiny face. Her lips were tilted up in a motherly smile.

Thank goodness, she was strong enough to pull through all those years ago.

Still asleep, Bria rolled over and clutched at Amelie's hand with both of her arms, just like a little koala bear.

Amelie was about to chuckle at the sight when she heard Bria mumble, "Daddy..."

She immediately froze. Her smile went stiff.

It was a long while before she finally looked down at Bria.

Bria was still fast asleep and showing no other signs of waking up. However, that mumble left a deep impression on Amelie's mind that could not be erased.

No matter how carefree and independent Bria was, deep down, she still yearned for a father's love.

Amelie's heart trembled in agonizing pain as if someone had just carved it out.

Meanwhile, in the car...

Leo was driving when he seemed to hear a young child's voice calling him Daddy.

It made his heart skip and tremble as if something sharp had just scraped it. The pain made his face go pale.

In fact, he nearly drove off the road due to the pain.

He swiftly spun the steering wheel and stomped on the brake pedal, causing the car to screech to a stop at the side of the road.

The screeching of the tires echoed through the silent night sky.

Finally, he leaned against the steering wheel as he panted hard. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

He was already frustrated by losing control that night. Julia's words were as sharp as knives as they stabbed into him, especially when Bria's name was mentioned. He was so ashamed when he heard about her.

Just then, he recalled Bria's beautiful, adorable face.

That delicate child should be cherished and treasured, but...

He did not know how long he pulled up for, but eventually, he was snapped back to reality by his ringing phone.