Chapter 11

Evelyn turned her head and caught Nathan's smug little grin.

She frowned and said, "I saw it first. Give it back!"

Nathan pulled a face. "Whoever grabs it first gets it."

But she had seen the bottle first, and she wanted that drink.

In the past, she would have stayed quiet and let her brother have it. But her mother had told her recently that if anyone bullied her, she could fight back.

She was just about to snatch it when someone suddenly stepped in between her and Nathan.

Nicole looked down at her from above. "What are you fighting over?"

Her tone wasn't harsh, but to a child, it carried a weight that pressed down hard.

Evelyn's brows knitted tight. Her tiny fists clenched, her eyes filled with tears before she could even speak. She stood there stiff and small, looking like a child abandoned, unwanted, with nowhere to run.

"What, crying again?" Nathan sneered as he twisted open the cap. "Too bad no one cares if you cry. And this isn't even the kind of drink for you."

He lifted it to his mouth, ready to drink in front of her.

Before the bottle could touch his lips, it vanished from his hand.

Startled, Nathan looked up and met Amelia's eyes. For a moment, he froze. It was the first time he had ever seen that look in her eyes—cold, distant, and unfamiliar.

Amelia didn't say a word. Her face was icy as she tossed the drink into the trash. The clang of the bottle hitting the bottom made Nathan's heart jolt.

Then, she bent down and gently cupped her daughter's tear-streaked face. "Dirty things belong in the trash. We don't want it."

With Amelia here, Evelyn finally felt she wasn't alone. Tears still clung to her lashes, but she bit her lip and nodded hard.

"It's just a bottle of soda. Was there really any need to make such a scene?"

The cool voice came from not far away.

Christopher was walking toward them, his gaze sharp and cold as it locked on Amelia.

Amelia sneered.

In front of everyone, his favoritism toward Nicole and Nathan was so blatant that it left nothing to the imagination. He was shamelessly prioritizing them, trampling on her and Evelyn's dignity in public. He didn't seem to care that he was shoving their faces straight into the mud.

In Amelia's past life, she had swallowed her pride again and again, always retreating and compromising. That weakness had cost her everything.

It had cost her the life of her daughter.

Not this time. Not in this life!

Amelia looked up, her gaze cold as she looked straight at Christopher. "Since when do you get to tell me how to handle my business?"

Christopher's expression didn't change, but his face darkened.

Amelia didn't spare him another glance. She took Evelyn's hand and walked back to their private room without looking back.

Luke leaned closer to Christopher with a frown. "What's with Amelia? She's like a completely different person."

This wasn't the woman he remembered. The old Amelia had revolved around Christopher, doting on Nathan as if he were her own. Now, she was acting like a stranger.

However, it didn't take Luke long to come up with an explanation. "She's getting clever. This is just another tactic to make you notice her."

"Don't you have anything else better to do?" Christopher snapped.

His voice was low and cold, as if Amelia's transformation couldn't interest him less.

"Chris, did you tick Mia off or something? You've been on edge lately. You were never like this." Nicole patted his shoulder lightly. "When you go home, you should probably smooth things over. Women are trouble, sure, but they're trouble you have to coax. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Enough. Don't bring her up again. She's a waste of breath," Luke said, then changed the topic. "You've got the ISSDC next week, right? How's the prep going?"

Nicole smiled confidently. "Everything's ready."

"Then let me wish you a smashing success. Once you take home that ISSDC award, you'll be in high demand here. With that kind of achievement at your age, every research institute will be fighting to recruit you." Luke chuckled. "Honestly, with a woman like you, who'd ever look twice at someone like Amelia? She's just a plain housewife."

-

Back inside the private room, Alfred looked at Amelia with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. It was as if he were reassessing the student he had once been so proud of.

"What is it?" Amelia asked softly, catching the look in his eyes. "Do you have something to say to me?"

Before Alfred could answer, Jasper stood and smiled at Evelyn. "Didn't you get a drink? How about I take you out to get one?"

Evelyn's face lit up. She liked Jasper, and she happily trotted after him.

The moment they were gone, Alfred's expression hardened. "I saw what happened out there."

Amelia froze for a second, then lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

Alfred's voice was edged with anger.

"Your husband humiliated you in front of everyone. I thought you left everything behind because you had love worth fighting for. And this is what you gave it all up for? A marriage in shambles, and a man who treats you like that?"

He couldn't help feeling frustrated that he couldn't get through to her.

Amelia looked down, hiding the shadow in her eyes. She had let go of the past, but that didn't mean there was no bitterness left.

Christopher's coldness had long since become routine. He was always the picture of refinement with others, polite even when distant, his smile ready, his manners impeccable.

But with her, it was as if she didn't exist. She was invisible, treated like less than a stranger.

Back then, Amelia had believed love could be repaid with love. Now, she knew better. Women who lost themselves in romance rarely had a good outcome.

Amelia smiled bitterly. "I brought this on myself. I have no one else to blame."

Alfred stared at Amelia, his expression heavy. After a long pause, he let out a deep sigh. "I'm about to retire. I don't want to dwell on the past anymore. At my age, holding grudges is just pointless."

He paused, then added, "Next week, Northon is hosting the ISSDC. Would you be interested in signing up?"

The ISSDC referred to the International Space Systems Design Competition, which was directly tied to aerospace engineering. Winners could secure internships or collaborations with ASTRA, the prestigious international aerospace science and technology research administration.

Amelia didn't have to go, but if she competed and placed, she would instantly become one of the most sought-after young talents in the field.

She blinked, caught off guard. "But hasn't the registration already closed?"

She had competed once before and achieved remarkable results, which had earned her the chance to pursue her master's and doctorate together. Universities had fought to recruit her, offering free tuition and full research funding. That success had even led to her exceptional acceptance into Institute 511.

Alfred's mention of the competition now was no coincidence. He wanted to see whether her skills had deteriorated, and if so, to what extent.

"If you want to enter, I can get the organizers to add a spot for you," Alfred said. "Everyone makes mistakes when they're young. But if you're ready to start over, it's never too late."