Chapter 31

In the front passenger seat of Simon’s car, Amanda grew increasingly enraged as she looked out the window at the passing nightscape. That son of a b*tch will really do anything to humiliate me!

Simon, who was driving, saw her anger and chuckled. “Still mad?“

“What?” It was only then that Amanda snapped out of her thoughts. “No, I just feel embarrassed that you had to see that.”

She just wanted Simon to help her get through an awkward situation. Never in a million years would she have thought that Elias would show up and even humiliate her at every chance he got.

“I’m just surprised he’s your ex-husband.”

Never had he expected Elias to be Amanda’s ex-husband, for it seemed to him that the two had no connection whatsoever.

At that, she laughed self-deprecatingly. “You’re wondering how the Winterses ever took an interest in a woman like me and why Elias would agree to marry me when we’re from two different worlds, no?”

“Quite the contrary, Simon refuted, causing Amanda to look quizzically at him.

“Elias is a known libertine scion in the circle. I’m just surprised you’d marry him. Is he your type?”

All this while, Simon thought Amanda was into mature men, but to think she would marry a libertine scion like Elias,

His question stumped Amanda for a second. Is he my type? Maybe. She still remembered how her face flushed crimson and her heart raced wildly when she first saw Elias.

He was in a suit and tie, and he was displeased with Howard’s forced marriage arrangement. Still, he married her for Howard’s sake.

“Did you two marry out of love?” Simon rephrased, seeing that she didn’t answer him.

“No.” Amanda looked out the car window and answered casually. “He doesn’t love me. It was a forced marriage by his grandfather.”

Does he not? Looking at the way Elias behaved, Simon didn’t think that was the case.

Also, it seemed that Elias was unaware of Aiden’s existence. Simon wanted to voice his query but thought he was being nosy, so he kept it to himself.

Suddenly, Amanda’s phone rang, breaking the awkward atmosphere in the car.

She answered the phone, and a voice filled with anger came from the other end of the line. “Mommy, you lied to me again! You said Mr. Simon would come back tonight and that

you

would

take me to see him! Where are you now?! You big fat liar! I will never ever talk to you again”

As the car was silent, Simon heard the little munchkin’s raging protest as well.

Amanda, on the other hand, was rather speechless.

“I’ll talk to him,” Simon commented with a chuckle.

At that, she handed her phone helplessly to him, then gazed at his dashing side profile.

“Aiden, I’m right next to your mommy. My flight was delayed, so please don’t blame her. How about we make a deal? You go to bed early tonight, and I’ll take you out to play tomorrow. How does that sound?” Simon coaxed with a smile.

However, the little one grumbled upsettingly when he heard Simon’s voice. “You and Mommy aren’t lying to me, are you? Have you two secretly gone out to play behind my back?”

“Of course not. The flight was delayed and it’s too late now. Little kids need to go to bed early to grow tall. Be good, and I’ll pick you up from school tomorrow on time, hmm?”

“Okay, fine. I’ll trust you this once. I’m only doing this for you. I’m still mad at Mommy: tell her I won’t talk to her tonight. Hmph!” With that, Aiden hung up without saying a word to his dear mother, disheartening Amanda. That ungrateful little rascal!

Simon, on the other hand, laughed and stated, “Looks like he’s pissed. We’ll have to make it up to him tomorrow.”

“I really don’t know what to do with him anymore. He makes nothing of me nowadays.”

“That’s not true. That boy is doing everything to find you a husband. Don’t be so hard on him.” Simon murmured with a smile, rendering Amanda speechless.

By the time Amanda arrived home, Colette had already bathed Aiden and even tucked him in. Now, she was just waiting for Amanda to come home.

“You’re back, Miss Bailey. I’ll be off, then. Aiden’s already asleep.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Colette. Take care on your way back.”

After seeing Colette off, Amanda went to the bedroom and couldn’t help chuckling when she saw the child sprawled in bed.

She thought her baby boy looked adorable no matter what.

Just then, the ringtone blasted and nearly woke the boy up.

With that, she hurriedly covered her phone and left the bedroom.

It turned out to be a call from Elias. Why would he call at this hour?

Then, what happened at the dinner table earlier returned to her, and anger washed over her once more. You really have the guts to call at this time, Winters. You asked for it!

“What do you want?!” Amanda lashed out right after answering the call. “Are you going to continue to humiliate me? Do you not have anything better to do? What business do you have with me introducing my boyfriend to Grandpa? I don’t recall anyone forcing you to go back to the manor.”

However, in the face of her tirade, Elias only icily asked where she was, stumping her.

“What do you care?! Why the hell have you called?!”

“I’m in my office. Come over. I have work to talk to you about.”

“You’re really asking for a fight, aren’t you?” Amanda nearly laughed in anger. “You want to talk to me about work at this hour? Talk tomorrow!”

“No. Right now. Immediately. Elias demanded, giving her no chance to negotiate.

“I’m sorry but I’m already home, in my bathtub, taking a bath. I can’t go right away.”

I won’t go! What are you going to do about it? However, much to Amanda’s surprise, Elias fell silent for a few seconds before asking, “You’re home alone? Are you not with Nicholson?”

“Are you nuts! Just what do you keep in that head of yours? He’s already gone home. He hasn’t even had the chance to adjust to jet lag, having just come back.”

“All good, then. Rest early.”

With that. Elias ended the call, leaving Amanda reeling in bafflement while the busy signal echoed.

Speechlessness overcame her as she gazed at her phone, and she couldn’t help thinking Elias had called only to make sure she wasn’t with Simon.

Sometimes, she really couldn’t understand what this man was thinking or what he wanted to do.

Meanwhile, darkness filled the CEO’s office of Winters Enterprise as Elias stood behind the floor- to-ceiling windows, overlooking the cityscape. He had a cigarette between his lips, and the burning red tip flickered in the darkness.

The smoke might have blurred his handsome features, but it couldn’t conceal the profoundness. in his eyes.

Of course, he didn’t ask Amanda to come over for work. He just hated the idea of her possibly spending the rest of the night with Simon.