Chapter 5

Amelia bandaged her wound roughly and pried open a window, leaping from the second floor.

The height was nothing for a healthy person, but her injuries made the landing excruciating. She nearly fainted.

Edmund had taken all the cars, so she limped to the hospital.

After treating her wounds, she left the hospital only to be forced into a car by two of Edmund's assistants.

"Amelia, you did this, didn't you? Why are you trying to ruin me? I already gave you back the Hopewell heiress title and status. What more do you want?" Rosalyn screamed, smashing a laptop into Amelia's face.

Blood trickled from Amelia's forehead, running down her cheek.

Edmund raised his hand instinctively but stopped when he saw the laptop screen. His gaze turned icy, chilling to the bone.

The headlines read, "Hopewell foster daughter Rosalyn Hall misuses family funds to buy villa."

"Hopewell foster daughter Rosalyn Hall schemes to seize company."

...

Amelia scanned the trending topics quickly.

"It's not me," she said.

If she wanted to take down Rosalyn, she had countless ways. She wouldn't bother with something so convoluted.

Rosalyn's eyes reddened, and she looked defiantly at Edmund. "She won't admit it, fine. But I won't let these lies ruin me. Take back your filthy villa, and don't come looking for me again!"

Edmund pulled Rosalyn into a tight embrace, his cold eyes turning to Amelia.

"I've called reporters to the Hopewell Group. You'll explain to everyone that Rosalyn didn't do these things and apologize to her on your knees," he ordered.

"You want me to kneel to Rosalyn?" Amelia asked.

Despite the numbness from Edmund's betrayals, tears welled in her eyes.

When she first returned to the Hopewells, the elite social circle shunned her. At a banquet, a group accused her of theft, cornering her in the spotlight to demand she confess.

Edmund had fought them off single-handedly, taking blows until he collapsed. His last words to her before losing consciousness were, "With me here, you'll never bow to anyone."

Now, he demanded she kneel to Rosalyn.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Edmund's eyes, but under Rosalyn's expectant gaze, he spoke firmly. "It's just kneeling to apologize. It won't hurt you. Also, as compensation, I want you to let Rosalyn inherit the Hopewell Group. You've only been back a few years. You know far less than she does," he added.

Amelia's tears fell as her last shred of hope vanished.

She would never hand over the Hopewell Group.

Nor would she kneel to Rosalyn.

Edmund's eyes flashed with menace at her silence. "Don't regret this, Amelia. I gave you a chance."

At the company, Amelia saw Edmund had gathered all the shareholders and employees.

When reporters questioned him, Edmund looked at Amelia.

"All these stories were fabricated by Amelia through paid media to slander Rosalyn. The villa was my gift to Miss Hall, and the Hopewell Group... is my birthday present to her," he declared.

The crowd erupted. A reporter at the front pressed, "We understand you're Amelia's fiancé, but you're just a bodyguard. What right do you have to give away the Hopewell company?"

Edmund smirked and took an acquisition contract from his assistant.

"Today, as president of Zenith Enterprises, I announce that the Hopewell Group has been fully acquired by Zenith. It has no connection to Amelia anymore," he said. "Now, I return the company to its rightful owner. It always belonged to Rosalyn."

Amid gasps, Edmund handed all the Hopewell Group's shares to Rosalyn.

Amelia's fists clenched so tightly they creaked.

While she scrambled to save her dying father, Edmund had used their trust to secretly transfer the company's shares, leaving nothing for her family.

Revealing his identity, Edmund looked at Amelia, expecting shock. He found none.

"Amelia, I promised your father I'd care for you, and I won't break that vow. Even without the Hopewell Group, you won't need to worry about your future," he said. "Hiding that I'm Zenith's president was wrong. I planned to tell you at our wedding, but your stubbornness forced my hand. Apologize to Rosalyn. She's taking over the company, and I don't want any negative press affecting her work," he urged.

Amelia stood still, staring at Edmund silently. No one could read her thoughts.

Edmund frowned, his tone growing colder. "It's just kneeling. It's nothing for you. Didn't you do this all the time in the slums? Why act high and mighty now?"

Before he finished, Amelia's hand struck his face.

The sharp slap stunned the room. Edmund stared, incredulous that she'd hit him.

"You climbed to the top with my money and forgot where you came from? Don't forget I saved your life! Edmund, I made you who you are. I can also leave you with nothing."

As her words landed, Edmund's personal assistant burst into the office. "Mr. Nash, we're in trouble! Our territories at the port have been taken!"