Amelia wasn't about to let this golden opportunity slip away. She had to find a way to get Evelyn to attend her birthday party.

Jonathan didn't hesitate. "Of course, it's your birthday. You can invite whoever you want. The party can certainly accommodate a few extra guests."

A subtle smile played on Amelia's lips. "A few days ago, I visited Aethelgard Industries and met an exceptional designer. I'd like to invite her."

As she spoke, she carefully observed Jonathan's reaction, searching for any hints in his expression.

Jonathan's brows furrowed slightly. He cast a glance at the staff nearby before leading Amelia inside, lowering his voice. "Amelia, why did you go to Aethelgard Industries again?"

He sighed, clearly exasperated. He wanted to tell her—once and for all—that she needed to stop holding onto any hope regarding the founder of Aethelgard Industries, especially since he was already married.

But seeing the look in her eyes, he swallowed his words.

It was rare for Amelia to be so deeply affected by a man. He didn't want to be too harsh.

Hopefully, she would come to her senses on her own.

Amelia, meanwhile, misinterpreted his silence entirely.

She assumed Jonathan was still struggling to help her get closer to Aethelgard's founder.

"Jonathan, I just want to invite Mr. Blackwood to my birthday party. Nothing more. Don't worry about me," she assured him.

Jonathan studied her for a moment before something occurred to him. "He won't be able to attend. I heard he's out of town right now. Must be handling important business."

Amelia's brows lifted slightly. "Mr. Blackwood isn't in town?"

Jonathan nodded. "Yes. We were supposed to have a meeting, but he postponed it—said he had urgent matters in a neighboring city."

Amelia lowered her gaze, and instantly, the pieces clicked together.

So that was it.

Evelyn must have taken advantage of his absence to visit the hospital for a secret prenatal checkup.

Which meant—without a doubt—the child she was carrying wasn't Mr. Blackwood's!

A glint of mockery flickered in Amelia's eyes.

Evelyn, that shameless woman, dared to cheat on Alexander and get pregnant with someone else's child?

This time, Amelia wouldn't let her get away with it.

Meanwhile, after finishing their shopping, Evelyn and Charlotte headed to a nearby restaurant for a meal.

"Evelyn, I still don't trust Amelia's intentions. You need to be careful—don't walk right into a trap." Charlotte twirled her fork in her pasta, her tone serious.

Evelyn shared the same suspicion. She nodded, but the thought dampened her appetite.

"Don't worry. I'll be cautious." She hesitated before adding softly, "Honestly, I don't interact with Amelia much. She's a Sterling—we come from completely different worlds. We only discuss design, nothing more."

Charlotte scoffed. "That's what worries me. A spoiled socialite like her could easily make things difficult for you. Don't be too compliant. Don't just follow her orders blindly."