"Chris, I feel terrible," Leila groaned, collapsing to the ground.

Chris scooped her up and dashed to the nurse's station, looking like a comic book hero, but sadly, not Amelia's hero as his concern was entirely for someone else.

Amelia's lips twitched, a hint of bitterness on her face.

"Stay calm," Lucius whispered beside her, "Don't lose your cool."

Amelia looked up at him, surprised. Over the years, Lucius had been her mentor and friend, always there to help. She'd asked him why he was so kind, but he only gave vague answers each time. She'd tried to figure it out herself but never got the answer. Now, looking into his wise eyes,a spark of insight hit her, and she had a faint guess.

The news of Leila falling down the stairs eventually reached Victor.

"I didn't do it and I'm not going to admit it," Amelia said coldly,her voice firm.

"The cameras didn't catch the scene, so you can say whatever you want,"Chris said, his eyes dark and intense.

He was defending Leila.

"I swear," Amelía avoided his gaze as she said, her heart tightening and a chill running through her, "If I'm lying, I'll live in pain forever."

"That's enough," Victor waved her over, "I believe you. Come here."

Amelia's nosetingled, and she forced down the moroseness, sitting beside

Victor.

Lucius spoke up. "It might be a misunderstanding; Ms. Ross has misunderstood Bella before."

"That's true. Leila doesn't like Bella," Victor said in a slightly indifferent tone. "Let her rest. Chris, take care of her."

Chris left without a word, clearly unhappy with the outcome. Amelia knew this wasn't over.

When she went to the pantry for water, she ran into him.

Chris appeared suddenly, seizing her hand and pulling her to the stairwell.He then grabbed her shoulder. making a move as if to push her down the stairs.

Amelia's heart pounded, and she instinctively clung to his arm as if it were her last hope, "What the hell are you doing?"

Chris showed a vicious smile, still pressing her down slowly with only one hand.

Amelia's body tilted, and she teetered on the edge of falling down the stairs.

Was he avenging Leila?

Her eyes reddened, anger rising, "Mr. Spencer, you're truly despicable!"

Chris sneered, "Haven't you been acting all along? Why should I be a gentleman in front of you?"

This made no sense.

Amelia's face went pale, but she had to hold onto his arm tightly as if it were a lifeline.

This feeling of having her life controlled was awful. Especially by him."Well. I get the firsthand look at your vindictive and petty nature today,"Amelia sneered, thenlet go,letting herself fall.

She was betting he wouldn't let her fall.

As expected, the moment she released her hands, Chris's usually calm eyes showed shock and anger.

He instinctively reached out to grab her, but ended up getting pulled down too. In that critical moment, he held her tight, using his body to shield her.

The dizziness and impact hit her hard, and it took Amelia a while to realize she was in Chris's arms.

"Are you okay?" His tense voice came from above her head, "Did you hurt?

Amelia quaickly calmed down, then she checked herself and founad she was fine, while Chris's voice was clearly shaking.

They had fallen together, and he had protected her.

A strange feeling stirred in Amelia's heart.

But she showed an impassive expression, coldly saying, "I'm fine, Mr.Spencer. Don't joke like this next tíme."

With that, she pushed him away and stood up.

He got up too, but his left arm looked off, like it was broken.

"I like to joke," he said, seemingly unfazed by the injury, staring straight into her eyes, "This game is only fun when we play it together, don't you think?"

"Crazy," Amelia muttered under her breath and went upstairs.

That night, she heard from Victor that Chris had sprained his arm. When he went to get it set, he was sweating bullets but didn't say a word.No one knew how he got hurt.

Amelia stayed quiet, secretly thinking about how to use the next few days in the hospital to get closer to him.

She figured another "accident" might do the trick.

But she didn't expect an accident to come her way.

That noon, she brought the soup she cooked to the hospital.

As soon as she got out of the car, a familiar female voice rang out.

"Amelia, it's really you, you bitch! Since you're back, why didn't you come to see us?" It was Nina, and the moment she appeared, Amelia's heart tightened.

Nina was her biological mother, and that natural bond couldn't be erased in just a few years.

But Amelia couldn't show her panic.

She turned calmly and saw Nina and Karen rushing over.

Four years ago, these two were a wealthy lady adorned with gold and silver, and a young lady dressed in luxury brands.

Now they seemed to have fallen on-but their voices were still loud.

"You bitch, speak up! Why don't you talk? We've been looking for you like crazy these years. If Karen hadn't seen your news, we would still be looking. You bitch, you..."

"Mom, look at her, she looks rich now. Stop wasting time, ask her for money, she owes us." Karen said coldly.

Nina and Karen had been living in poverty for years,barely able to pay rent and utilities, while Amelia still looked so glamorous. They found it really unfair.

Reminded by Karen, Nina immediately realized and sneered, "Exactly, you owe us. If you hadn't insisted on divorcing Chris, our family wouldn't have fallen. Debt collectors have been breaking down our door, and we've been hiding like rats in the gutter. But you..."

"Excuse me," Amelia's aloof face showed a trace of impatience, "You've got the wrong person. I'm not Amelia. If you keep bothering me, don't blame me for calling the police."

Nina was shocked, "You want to call the police? Go ahead, I'm not afraid of you. You heartless bitch, your family is suffering, and you're putting on airs. I'm telling you, if you don't give us money today, we won't leave!"

Karen added,"Amelia, you can't be heartless. Dad is still in the hospital,don't you care about him?"