When I Was a Wallflower (Leo and Amelie)
Chapter 383

Chapter 383 Better Than a Dog

"He didn't say a word to me when such a big thing happened to you. How could I not divorce him?" Julia shouted.

"So... You're doing this for me?"

"You're my best friend. You went to such a dangerous place, and he should have accompanied you-no matter what!" Julia's voice still sounded angry. Amelie felt both warm and amused, "He asked me to bring a bodyguard, but I refused. Also, I didn't want him to tell you."

"I don't believe it!" Julia still thought Amelie was helping Samuel.

"It's true," Amelie assured her again and again. "If you divorce him over this, won't I become the guilty one? You're my good friend. Don't do this to me."

Julia was dumbfounded. "Then I'll give him the cold shoulder for a few days."

"Okay, then just give him the cold shoulder!" Amelie finally felt relieved when she heard Julia's tone soften.

"Elie, there's something strange I've noticed." Julia finally got to the point after venting her anger. "Did you tell anyone that you were going there? How did those people replace out?"

Amelie had been wondering about this too.

"Could it be your assistant who leaked that information?"

Amelie had hired a secretary to help with work. It was a young woman named Gladys Shea who had just graduated from college. Amelie thought about Gladys' character carefully and shook her head. "She's just a young girl who's new to the job. Her social connections are not very complicated. She couldn't possibly know those people."

"Then who could it be?" This was like an unsolvable problem standing between the two of them. Amelie had more doubts besides this, such as how Leo happened to travel to the same country with her and stay in the same hotel. Life wasn't like a TV drama, and she didn't believe in that many coincidences. If it wasn't a coincidence, then was it deliberate? Who did it? Leo?

Amelie thought hard about it and became more confused.

In the dark room, Leo still hadn't let go of Chandler. Chandler had no clue how much Leo knew about his secrets, so he had to continue pretending to be ignorant. "Leo, I don't know why you mentioned Miss Dillon, but I have no contact with her. Is there some misunderstanding between us?"

Leo didn't turn around but instead made a gesture with his hand. The bodyguards got the message and suddenly pushed Chandler to the ground. Then, they started punching and kicking him. Chandler curled up and held his head in a fetal position without any intention of fighting back. Immediately, the sound of punches and kicks filled the room. The bodyguards all knew that Leo was giving Chandler a taste of his own medicine for what he did to Amelie. Chandler had to feel what it was like to be beaten up too!

Just when things were getting intense, the door was kicked open and Melissa stormed in, holding her bag. She was shocked to see Chandler getting beaten up and she instantly screamed in disbelief, "What the hell is going on here? Stop it! Stop right now!"

She stumbled in and began screaming at the bodyguards. However, the bodyguards only listened to Leo and ignored her. She was frustrated with their ignorance and decided to look to Leo for answers. "Leo, why are you beating up Chandler? He's innocent!"

Nevertheless, Leo simply turned around, his face indifferent as he stared at his own mother who was half a head shorter than him. His cold, heartless stare made Melissa's heart freeze as if she had just been drenched in ice water. Am I really afraid of my own son now?

The sound of Chandler's painful screams alongside the punching and kicking continued to echo in her ears. It made Melissa feel sick to her stomach. Her heart was pounding, and her face turned pale. Leo's indifference made her tremble with anger. She couldn't hold back her tears anymore after remembering the years of coldness Leo had shown her. With tears rolling down her face, she said, "Leo, I'm your mother! How could you do this to me? I've raised you since you were a baby! Since you don't care about me as your mother, I have no choice but to replace someone willing to respect me and be close to me. Are you even trying to drive him away now?"

Melissa became more and more aggrieved as she spoke, and her tears fell like rain. Melissa couldn't understand why Leo was so cold to her all these years. She only thought about his indifference and didn't even consider the consequences of her actions. She kept crying until she was gasping for breath.

Finally, Leo raised his hand and the bodyguards stopped their actions.

Melissa hurriedly ran over to Chandler. "Chandler, how are you?"

Chandler was beaten up badly, with bruises all over his face. At that moment, he was being lifted by two bodyguards. He shook his head weakly toward Melissa and said, "Mrs. Alston... D-Don't blame Leo. I-It's all a misunderstanding. I'm fine..." He was a mess with a bloody face and dirt all over him like he had just been pulled out of a trash can.

Melissa didn't want to get too close because she was disgusted by how dirty he was. She only commanded the bodyguards, "Hurry up and take him back!"

The bodyguards dragged Chandler out and quickly left the room. Then, Melissa fanned her nose. She stood up for Chandler only because she was afraid that Leo would hurt him so badly that no one could please her and make her happy anymore as Chandler did.

"Leo, I didn't want you to hit Chandler because I'm afraid you'll end up committing a crime," said Melissa.

After Chandler left, Melissa realized that what she had said was wrong and quickly explained herself to Leo. Eugene, who had overheard their conversation, almost burst out laughing. Melissa wanted Chandler to be the gentle and affectionate son, but she also wanted Leo's financial power and influence. Her greed was apparent.

Leo's current demeanor was a direct result of Melissa's actions as his mother, leaving her with an unshakable responsibility. Despite this, Melissa shamelessly portrayed herself as the victim and attempted to gain Leo's forgiveness without realizing the emotional toll her actions had taken on him. Eugene couldn't take it anymore, so he walked over and said, "Mr. Alston, the car is ready."

As Leo stepped out, Melissa's eyes bulged behind him. She thought Leo was very ungrateful.

"Goodbye, Mrs. Alston." Eugene pretended not to notice her annoyance and bid goodbye to her before quickly catching up with Leo.

...

When Melissa returned home, Chandler had already changed his clothes, and the blood on his face had been washed off, but he still had ugly purple bruises that resembled a color palette. Seeing her, he limped over to greet her and take her bag, "Mrs. Alston, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Melissa recoiled at the sight of him and avoided his hand as he took her bag. "You have bruises on your face. You should rest early."

She couldn't help thinking that his face would give her nightmares that night.

Chandler pretended not to notice her disgust and showed a grateful look instead. "Thank you, Mrs. Alston," he said.

He added, "You are the only one who has cared for me since I was a child, and I'm so..." He began to choke up with tears.

His acting was so genuine that Melissa felt guilty and walked over to pat his hand. "As long as you're okay, that's all that matters."

"Yeah." Chandler nodded and hid his cunning eyes. "Don't argue with Leo tonight because of what happened. Mrs. Alston, I just want you two to get along. If I affect your relationship with him, I-I'll have to leave."

"Don't worry, it won't happen," Melissa replied, not wanting Chandler to leave. Chandler understood her heart and could always make her happy without her having to worry about him. It was even better than keeping a dog.

However, Chandler had no illusions about how Melissa saw him. He sneered in his heart while flattering her with sweet words.

"But why did Leo hit you?" Melissa asked. She had only received a call from the driver who had accompanied Chandler; he told her that Leo had dragged Chandler into a house. Although she had gone to rescue Chandler, she had no idea what led to the situation in the first place.

Chandler had been waiting for this question. After hearing her words, he sighed, seemingly reluctant to speak.