The signature put-together short hair and classic-looking face came into sight-it was none other than Toby Walsh.
Leo stiffened, and his eyes turned profound while the surrounding temperature dropped when he saw Toby, who also saw the pair before approaching them with a plain smile. âWhat? Have you guys been enchanted by the mother and daughterâs performance too?â
âNo, we were just passing by.â Elyse fixed her image with breakneck speed and returned to her typical fair maiden look, smiling ambiguously at Toby while hinting, âI guess you werenât lying about what you said, Mr. Walsh. You do have feelings for Miss Dillon.â
Toby smiled in response, and the smile pierced Leoâs heart, suffocating him as he reminded icily, âHave you forgotten that sheâs now the first lady of Starlight Media?â
Nevertheless, Toby remained silent and only shifted his gaze to Leo as his smile deepened.
âItâs getting late. Letâs go,â Elyse interjected and hooked her arm around Leoâs.
To that, Leo said nothing but only turned to his vehicle.
âDo you not regret it, Leo?â Tobyâs voice came from behind, causing him to stop in his tracks.
He stood with his head drooped and hands balled into fists on his sides. It was only a loose grip, but it made him look inexplicably lonely.
Elyseâs heart skipped a beat, and she bit the corner of her lip when she saw him like this. Just as she was about to say something, he began walking ahead.
After dropping Elyse off, Leo returned to the Alston Residence.
However, he stopped at the gates, leaving the vehicle stalling for a long time.
The dim, cold lighting cast on his obscure countenance made him look aloof and lonely.
It wasnât after a long while that he finally pulled his phone out and made a call. âHow much do you know about Amelie?â
âNot much, just that she only began living like a normal, vivid human being after leaving your house,â
Toby said plainly.
His words were practically a slap on Leoâs face.
If it were any other time, Leo wouldâve just snorted disdainfully and sniffed about how the life Amelie lived in Toby remained quiet about the fact that Amelie was Foxy and only said, âLeo, has it ever occurred to you that the Amelie weâre seeing now is her original self?â
âAre you accusing me of breaking her wings and turning her from a glamorous woman into the Alston Familyâs anonymous and invisible Mrs. Alston?â Leo caught the underlying message right away.
âIâm just letting you know that she used to love you deeply. Since you never reciprocated her feelings back then, thereâs no reason for you to appear in her world now,â Toby reasoned.
Leo had wanted to retort that he didnât care about entering her world at all. However, his chest suddenly felt inexplicably stuffy, and he had trouble uttering even a single word.
In the end, be just hung up in low spirits.
After Amelie and Julia exited the car, the latter took Bria from Amelie without a word and quirked her chin. âThis oneâs mine. Go and park the car.â
Amelie was rendered speechless. Did you just steal my daughter?
At that, she shook her head resignedly and watched the two leave before getting into the car to park it in the garage.
However, she had just pulled the door open when another hand pushed it, slamming the door shut.
Startled, Amelie looked up to find a countenance seething with rage.
âMiss Clayton?â She quirked her brows, somewhat surprised by the young womanâs appearance. Of course, Elyseâs expression hadnât gone unnoticed by her either, and she kindly reminded, âThough itâs in the middle of the night, your image will be affected if someone captures your intimidating look.â
However, Elyseâs expression only twisted further. âYou did it on purpose, didnât you?!â
Amelie quirked a brow in response, made baffled by the womanâs inexplicable question.
Elyse, on the other hand, was currently seething with rage, so she clenched the hem of her skitt tightly and snapped when she saw Amelie reacting impassively to all of this. âDo you honestly think pulling Bria out to perform in front of Leo, singing and dancing where we would certainly pass by will get Leo to look at you?! Huh, stop dreaming! He will never like you! Anything you do will only repulse him and make him hate you even more!â
Amelie was taken aback. Did Leo see Bria and me dancing and singing? âIn that case, why have you come all the way here?â she asked plainly after coming to herself.
Elyse was rendered at a loss for words, and a silent chuckle escaped Amelie as she thought the young woman She didnât know Leo would pass by at all! Besides, if she wanted to get back together with him, why would she claim herself to be the first lady of Starlight Media?! It wouldnât be a bright idea, would it?
Slowly, Elyse came to her senses and also realized it wasnât wise of her to come here at all. If anything, it would only send Amelie the message that Leo cared about her.
At that, she straightened her clothes and regained her fair maiden look. âDonât get the wrong idea. Leo only showed up tonight because I begged him to. Iâm happy for you that youâre able to meet the CEO of Starlight Media and even gain his trust. Having Leo appear will convince others that you two are on friendly terms, and the road ahead will be easier.â
âWell, thank you very much, Miss Clayton.â
Pigs could fly if Elyse was that nice. However, Amelie didnât burst the formerâs bubble and thanked her instead, causing a pang of inexplicable guilt to rise within Elyse.
Very quickly, she realized her words were tantamount to exposing herself, and humility enveloped her face.
Thus, she simply threw her facade away and spoke her heart out. âSince youâve gone to Halport, Dillon, then I hope you and your child stay there for good. Think about it. You, wandering around with your daughter in front of Leo all the time⦠If he wants to take custody of Bria, youâre no match for him. Iâm doing this for my future and also serving you a gentle reminder. I suggest you think it through!â
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Amelie standing rooted to her spot for a long while before she finally wiped the sweat rolling down her forehead.
She had to admit that Elyse was right to remind her of that.
It was her mistake for bringing Bria there and even letting Leo see her.
Indeed, she had to do something to cover up Briaâs brilliance a little.
The following morning, Amelie was making breakfast while pondering how to tell Bria not to live stream anymore when rushed footsteps traveled to her ears, followed by Juliaâs dramatic screeching, âI swear to God, these people sure are amusing. Can you believe theyâre comparing you to her?!â
Amelie looked up dazedly to find Julia approaching her with her eyes glued to her phone while swiping the screen non-stop.
âLook at this. Your dance from last night had been uploaded onto the internet, and now, itâs blown up.
Most of them are saying the way you dance is very similar to Foxy.â
Amelie lowered her head to check the comments section, and sure enough, there were over ten thousand comments mostly revolving around her and Foxy.
Some said her style was identical to Foxyâs, while others said they were two different individuals.
âWhat did I say? There are still a lot of people who arenât blind.â Julia smiled affectionately while scrolling down the comments. âThey can already tell youâre Foxy just from this clip alone while those Alston bâstards were completely oblivious to it throughout the four years you lived with them!â
To that, Amelie only smiled plainly. She had long gotten over the issue. That said, she was rather surprised that everyone was butting heads over something so minor.
âWhy donât we take this chance to let the world know who you are?â Julia suddenly suggested, causing Amelie to shake her head. âI donât want to bring my private and online life too close together.â
âTouché.â Julia nodded in agreement. âNow, the only thing to do is let them fight amongst each oâwhat the heck is this?!â
Julia shouted so suddenly that she startled Amelie, who reflexively looked at her while she brought a comment to Amelie. âLook at how shameless this woman is!â