Chapter 3 His Contract Wife,His Greatest Regret

Two days passed, and Amelia's situation became more difficult. She had visited three different places looking for work, but none of them offered her anything permanent. One shop owner told her he already had enough workers. A woman who needed someone to clean her house promised to call her later but never did. By the afternoon, Amelia was exhausted. She sat on a low wall outside a small shop, holding a bottle of water she had bought with the last of her transport money. Her phone vibrated. She checked the screen, hoping it was someone offering her a job. It was an unknown number. Amelia almost ignored the call, but something made her answer. "Hello?" "Good afternoon. Am I speaking with Miss Amelia Rosewood?" "Yes. Who is this?" "My name is Daniel Hayes. I'm calling on behalf of Mr. Alexander Blackwell." Amelia sat up immediately. Alexander Blackwell? She remembered the party, the woman's silver dress, and the humiliating way she had been dismissed. "What does he want now?" she asked before she could stop herself. There was a brief silence. "I understand that your last encounter with Mr. Blackwell wasn't pleasant," Daniel replied politely. "However, he would like to meet with you." "Why?" "He has something important to discuss with you." "If he wants to complain about what happened at the party, he can save himself the trouble. I have already moved on." "Miss Rosewood, this isn't about the incident at the party." "Then what is it about?" "I'm afraid Mr. Blackwell would prefer to explain that himself." Amelia laughed without humour. "Of course. People like him enjoy making everybody wait for them." Daniel remained professional. "I understand your concerns, but I assure you that he has a reason for requesting this meeting." Amelia looked at the street around her. She needed money. She needed a job. Most importantly, she needed to find a way to pay for her mother's surgery. But she did not want to put herself in a position where Alexander could humiliate her again. "Tell him I'm not interested." She ended the call. For a few seconds, she felt proud of herself. Then she remembered the hospital bill. Her smile disappeared. "Amelia, what are you doing?" she whispered to herself. "You need help, not another fight." She placed her phone in her bag and started walking home. At Blackwell Global Group, Daniel lowered his phone and looked at Alexander. "She refused, sir." Alexander raised an eyebrow. "She refused?" "Yes, sir." A strange expression crossed Alexander's face. He was accustomed to people rearranging their schedules whenever he requested their presence. Some people even arrived hours early because they were afraid of displeasing him. Yet Amelia Rosewood had ended the conversation without giving him the opportunity to explain himself. "Call her again." "Sir, she may not answer." "Then send her a message." Daniel hesitated before asking the question he had been holding back. "Sir, why is this meeting so important?" Alexander closed the document in front of him. "Because I need answers." "About her father?" "About everything." Daniel nodded, but Alexander could see that he was still curious. Alexander stood and walked towards the window. His father's company had grown into an international business empire, but there were parts of its history that Alexander had never fully understood. Several years earlier, he had discovered discrepancies in old financial records. Whenever he tried to investigate them, he encountered missing documents and people who suddenly became unwilling to talk. His uncle, Richard Blackwell, had always insisted that the matter was settled. Alexander did not trust him. Richard had a habit of smiling whenever he wanted to hide something, and there were times when Alexander felt that his uncle knew far more than he admitted. If Thomas Rosewood had been involved, his daughter might possess information that could help Alexander uncover the truth. He was not interested in her personal problems. At least, that was what he told himself. That evening, Amelia sat beside her mother, helping her eat dinner. Her phone vibrated again. She glanced at it. A message from Daniel Hayes. Good evening, Miss Rosewood. Mr. Blackwell would still appreciate an opportunity to speak with you. He has assured me that this meeting concerns an important personal and business matter. Please let me know if you are willing to attend. Amelia read the message twice. She wanted to delete it. Instead, she placed the phone on the table and continued helping her mother. "Mummy, have you heard from the hospital today?" she asked. Evelyn's expression changed. "They called this afternoon." Amelia stopped moving. "What did they say?" "They want us to discuss the surgery arrangements as soon as possible." "Did they give you a new date?" "Not yet." Her mother tried to smile. "Don't worry too much. We will find a way." Amelia lowered her eyes. Her mother was the one who needed help, yet she was the one comforting her. Later that night, Amelia returned to her room and opened Daniel's message again. She did not trust Alexander. But she also knew that refusing every opportunity because of pride would not solve her problems. After several minutes, she typed a reply. I will meet him. Please send me the time and address. Daniel responded almost immediately. Thank you, Miss Rosewood. Mr. Blackwell will see you tomorrow at eleven in the morning. A car can be sent to pick you up if you need transportation. Amelia frowned at the last sentence. She did not want Alexander thinking she had agreed to meet him because she wanted his money. She typed another message. I can get there myself. Thank you. Then she put her phone away. She had agreed to meet Alexander Blackwell, but she had no idea what he wanted. Perhaps he wanted to question her about her father. Perhaps he wanted to apologise for the way he had treated her. Or perhaps he had another reason entirely. Amelia lay awake long after midnight, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow, she would meet the man who had made her feel worthless. She promised herself that no matter what happened, she would not allow him to take away her dignity. She had already lost enough. She would not lose herself too. At exactly eleven the next morning, Amelia arrived at Blackwell Global Group. She stood outside the impressive building for a moment, taking a deep breath before entering. She had no idea that Alexander was already waiting for her. And she certainly had no idea that the meeting she had nearly refused would change the course of her life forever.