Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Amelia stared at her wall clock. The moment it clocked the time she went downstairs yesterday, she took the duvet off her body and walked towards the door, hoping she would meet Cullen again.

She knew nothing about her environment, and she had been indoors since he left in the morning. During breakfast, she made sure to pack up dinner.

Moving quietly down the staircase, her heart made a loud thump when she saw Cullen sitting at that exact spot and staring at the stars like someone in deep thoughts.

She thinned her lips in memories, and her heart clenched. Back when she was a little girl, her father had always made time for them to sit under the sky at night.

However, after his death, she lost sight of who she was and the things she loved. She felt ashamed of letting people treat her the way he would be restless where he was.

She apologized for not being able to stand up for herself as he taught her. However, not anymore. From this second, everyone would pay, and she doesn't care who pays with their lives.

Call her heartless, but that's left for you. You barely know her story.

"The sky is beautiful tonight, right?" Cullen's mellow voice spoke up, breaking the silence between them and pulling Amelia out of her thoughts.

Amelia let out a soft breath and walked towards him. Reaching him, she took the couch beside him and cleared her throat.

Rubbing her hands together, she asked, "Can we talk?"

Cullen did not reply immediately. He stared at the sky a couple of minutes more, before nodding his head. All these while, Amelia remained forbearing.

Amelia took in a deep breath, "Thank you. Thank you so much for saving me… and accommodating me. I'm so lost for words. Also, thank you so much for years back. I'm so glad I can finally thank you in person, and not in my heart anymore," she said with a shaky smile and wet eyes.

Cullen maintained a straight expression. He did not even turn to her, or react to her words.

Amelia went on, "I was a housewife with zero allowance, but I have a little savings so_"

"You'd be leaving my house tomorrow?" Cullen interrupted her, completing her words for her. He finally leaned his head to look at her, before turning away.

Amelia gulped and nodded, "Yes. I have to start afresh,"

"And if he comes after you again?"

Amelia left his words hanging. She never really thought about Daniel coming after her anymore. He doesn't want her, so that would never happen.

'However, what if he wants me just to watch me suffer?' At this thought, her body trembled, and she lost every strength in her.

"Why don't you say yes to the deal and let's sue him?" Cullen suggested, his hands under his chin thoughtfully as he watched the sky with rich interest.

A shudder ran through Amelia at his words. The thought of seeing Daniel terrified her. She had once thought about doing this, but her mother kicked against it and supported Daniel.

Her terrified eyes turned accusative when she rested them on Cullen's back. "What would you gain from making me your girlfriend?"

Everything seemed fishy, especially his request. He knows nothing about her, and he doesn't seem like the kind of person to chase a woman.

Cullen chuckled. He turned to her fully, "Let's say I want the world to know about his inability to take care of his woman. Since he can't do that, but left her in the arms of another man to take good care of her, he should also not take over his company. Also, what if I'm doing this just to hurt you in the end?"

A creepy smirk graced his features, and he added. "You pick your choice. The former or the latter?"

"Hurt me?" Amelia asked in surprise.

Cullen just shrugged his shoulders and relaxed into his seat, holding her gaze. He loves to see the pure look of confusion in the eyes of his prey.

Amelia shook her head. "You think you can hurt me?" she asked with a bitter smile, holding his gaze, she started softly. "I stayed loyal to a man who continuously hurt me, lied to me, raped me all the time, ignored me, watched me break into a million pieces with zero emotions on his face, crumbled me, took his anger out on me, with the help of his mistress killed my child and made me be the bad guy," tears rolled down her cheek.

Amelia choked on her saliva. "What do you think you would do to me that can hurt me? Tell me, I want to feel more pain. Maybe if I do, I will be able to turn off my emotions," she smiled in tears.

Cullen was taken aback by the drastic turn of things. He never meant to trigger her this much. He only wanted to get her to accept the deal, so she could begin to play her role.

However, Cullen did not show his actual emotion on his face. His expression remained blank, and he held her gaze and replied, "Yes is all you need to say if you want to turn off your emotions. I'll be_"

Unexpectedly, Amelia's phone rang, cutting Cullen off his words. Surprised by the sudden call, Amelia stared at her phone, only to see Daniel's name.

Her eyes darkened and she twisted her lips while folding her fingers into tight fists. The mere sight of Daniel's name changed her whole emotions.

"I'll leave you," Cullen took the sight of the name as a cue to leave.

Amelia declined the call immediately. "No need to do that. He must have made a mistake without the help of Diana," she said coldly.

Cullen nodded with a small smile.

Talking about Daniel, she remembered something. "Six days from now, he will be hosting his annual company Thanksgiving. I don't know why I trust you this much, maybe it is because I had no one over the years." her eyes turned calculating, and she clenched her phone tight, "When that time comes, I need your help," her voice was filled with determination.

Cullen stood up from his seat and knelt before her, holding her tight gaze. "Not to lie, you're a very beautiful lady, and your charms are really strong. Regardless, I can't help you, Flame. Be my girlfriend first, and I would do anything you want, anything without batting an eyelid. Remember, the world is a battlefield. You watch my back and I'd watch yours,"

Amelia was taken aback beyond shock.

"I'm 25," she muttered absent-mindedly. She wished she would push him away with that. He looks like someone who would only date girls from 18-20.

Cullen smirked. "And I'm 30. Think about it, Flame," he ruffled her hair and stood straight. Throwing his long legs with an air of pride and dominance, he got to the staircase and disappeared, leaving Amelia confused about everything.