Chapter 548
Chapter 548
Tony, wearing a suit, put on a straight face as he walked in hand-in-hand with Jolin toward where Amelia was. Although Tony wasn't comfortable being in public with so many people, an adorable smile appeared on Tony's face when he stopped before Amelia.
“Mommy.” Tony reached out his hand, wanting a hug from Amelia. However, he suddenly recalled that Amelia had requested that he be obedient yesterday. He stopped in his tracks.
Amelia patted his head and said, “Did you greet Grandma?”
Tony lifted his head. When he noticed Isabella beside Olivia, his enthusiasm dropped a little. His voice returned to normal. “Hi, Grandma.”
Olivia truly loved her grandson, so her anger dissipated when she laid eyes on Tony.
The woman bent over and hugged Tony. She asked, “Have you eaten yet, Tony? Are you hungry? Shall we go and have some food together?”
Tony took a peek at Isabella. He replied, “Grandma, I don't like it when you are with Ms. Walker. She told me that I'm a b*stard child that nobody wanted when you weren't here! I found out the meaning of b*stard child on television. It means a motherless and fatherless child. But I have a mom and a dad! Am I right, Grandma?”
As soon as Tony said that, Olivia and Isabella's faces darkened.
Olivia never expected Isabella to do this to Tony behind her back while Isabella was in disbelief. At his age, how does he know how to complain and lie?
Isabella's beautiful face twisted in fury. She took a deep breath to calm herself.
She kneeled in front of Tony and coaxed him gently, “Hey, little one. If a kid likes to lie, his ears will grow longer when he sleeps. You know I like you, but you don't like interacting with me. But why do you have to lie?”
Tony looked at her with fear in his eyes. He burrowed into Olivia's embrace and choked, “Grandma, I'm scared of her. She likes to bully me. Are you the same as her, Grandma? Would you hit me too? I want my mommy!”
Olivia's expression darkened. She instructed in a disapproving tone, “Isabella, the maid told me that your family is here. Why don't you go and greet them? After all, I do not want Carol to complain that I keep taking her daughter away from her even before she marries my son.”
Isabella felt so wronged by Olivia. She replied, “Mrs. Clinton, I didn't do it. I never said he was a b*stard child. I won't do it even if I had the guts to. Tony is so cute. Anyone would love to be around him. Why would I do this to him? I don't know why he doesn't like me, nor do I know why he had to lie!”
Olivia's face became even darker. She thundered, “Isabella, are you implying that my two-and-a-half- year-old grandson is lying? I never thought of you as someone so wicked! How can you talk ill about a kid? Oh, whatever. I'll eat something with Tony first. You go ahead and meet your family. We will talk tomorrow.”
Olivia wasn't hesitant in chasing Isabella away. She was the focus of attention today, and there were many guests around. Olivia knew she couldn't risk the humiliation and embarrassment of being stuck in a fight now.
Isabella's expression changed. She explained, “Mrs. Clinton, that's not what I meant! I...”
“Go ahead and be with your parents. I have to welcome the guests with Mr. Clinton. I won't be needing your companionship today.”
“All right, Mrs. Clinton.” Isabella walked away with rage building up inside of her.
Olivia's face became softer as she turned her gaze toward Tony. She urged with patience, “Hey, Tony. Grandma chased the bad person away. Should we go and eat something now?”
Tony nodded his head. He kissed Olivia's cheek and said, “Grandma, I love you! Please don't ever get together with the bad person again, okay? I don't like her at all. She said I'm an unwanted child and that once she married Daddy, she would sell me to other people. I'm scared of her! Grandma, please don't talk to her ever again. I'm afraid I won't get to see you anymore, Grandma.”
Olivia's face darkened. “Tony, tell me the truth. Did Ms. Walker really say all these things to you?” She held Tony's face in her hands. “Tony, do you know that lying makes you a bad kid and that your nose will grow longer in the middle of the night?”
Tony stared at Olivia. His eyes slowly reddened. He cried, “Grandma, why won't you trust me? Do you like the bad person more than you like me?”
Olivia's heart ached for Tony, seeing him in this state. She quickly added, “No. No. Tony, I don't. Come
on. Let's go and eat something nice.”
The woman scooped Tony up and left.
This unexpected turn of events had never crossed Amelia's mind. She was pretty sure that Tony was lying.
If Isabella had told him those things, he would have told me. But he didn't, so I'm sure these things didn't happen to him. He is lying to help me out. I don't want him to grow up and become a chronic liar!
Amelia had mixed feelings knowing that Tony had learned how to lie at such young age. Though she knew he did it for her, she was unwilling to see things turn out this way.
“Oscar, Tony lied. I'm scared he would be full of lies by the time he turned three.”
Oscar wrapped his arm around her waist and said, “Don't worry about him. He is more brilliant and obedient than the other kids of the same age. I'm sure Tony knows what he is doing. Maybe he did this to stand up for you! After all, he is the only person that Mom tolerates. I hope the misunderstandings between you and mom can lessen with Tony being the middle person. I'm serious. Amelia, chill! You have to believe in your son. He is smarter than you think.”
Amelia's face softened as she pondered about it.
“I believe he is a good kid. I just don't like it when he chooses to lie. Do you know how upset I was when I saw him lying in front of me? My son had to lie to protect me. I feel useless, and it hurts right here.” Amelia put her hand on her heart. It felt heavy to her.
Oscar smiled as he hugged her. “Come on. I'll introduce you to a few people who worked with Clinton Corporations for many years. They are important to us. If you bond with their wives, it would be beneficial for our business.”
Amelia glanced at him. The heaviness in her heart dissipated slightly at his words.
Amelia acted the part of the sensible other half when Oscar introduced her to his business partners. She was careful and elegant in the way she talked and acted. It wasn't long before those arrogant ladies accepted her as a part of their circle. Although some of them suspected something was going on, they didn't dare to show it on the surface to avoid offending the Clintons.
While Oscar and Amelia were immersed in a pleasant conversation with others, a woman stared at Amelia with hatred in her eyes.
“Isabelle, I thought you were with Olivia? Why are you here?” Carol peered at Oscar and Amelia. Jealousy and indignance grew in her. “You spent 2 years trying to win over Oscar's heart to no avail. You are nothing compared to Rachel.”
Isabella wrapped her fingers around her glass tightly. She raged, “I got to spend some time with Mrs. Clinton earlier before Tony lied and said I called him a b*stard child. Can you believe it? He knows how to lie at such young age. Amelia must have taught him that. They are such a wicked pair, like mother like son. That kid's existence would impair my progress with Oscar, and it would also be hard for Noah to marry Stephanie too!”
A cold gleam flashed across Carol's eyes as she narrowed her eyes. “Oh, did he?”
“Mom, why would I deceive you? Even though he looks cute, he is a devil deep down inside. If Tony
can talk poorly about me in front of Mrs. Clinton today, he can talk crap about Noah tomorrow. You have to understand that Mrs. Clinton loves that child deeply. With him around, our meticulously-crafted plan could go to waste! If we are not careful enough, he could defeat us,” Isabella sneered. This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Carol's mind began to wander as she stared at Amelia.
“Amelia is a difficult opponent to deal with. She is ruthless and much harder to go against than we initially thought. This woman used her son to bewitch Olivia so that we would back down now.” Carol gritted her teeth.
Isabella gripped her glass tightly. “Mom, what should we do now? I'm afraid I can't keep up a good impression in front of Mrs. Clinton with Tony around.”
Carol glared at her. She hissed, “Can't you win him over?”
Isabella looked displeased by Carol's reaction. She answered, “Mom, Tony is a smart kid. Even though he is young, he knows more than we think. It seems like he knows I'm going to compete with Amelia for Oscar's attention. He is already giving me a hard time before I can get on his good side! Do you think I would be so helpless if it weren't for the above reason?”
Carol obviously didn't believe it. “How smart can a 3-year-old be? How stupid can you be to be unable to fend off a child's tricks? If you were Rachel, I think you would have won over the Clinton family by now,” She complained.
Isabelle fumed upon hearing her words.
“Mom, why didn't you ask Rachel to go after Oscar if she is your favorite daughter?”
“Oscar is not suitable for her. He is a scheming man, while Rachel is simple-minded. She should be with someone who knows and loves her.”
“Mom, did you forget that I'm your daughter too?”
“You had always been power-crazed and cunning since you were young. I'm sure I have nothing to worry about you. Rachel is different, though. She has no intention of competing with others. I need to show her more love.”
“Mom, you guys always sided with Rachel. What about me? I often notice you are so stern around me. Don't you think this is unacceptable?”
Carol remained silent. A hint of impatience surfaced on her face.