"I have to admit that I haven't done anything particularly wicked in my life, so if you want to talk about karma, meeting President Robinson was just bad luck for me."
Amelia Cobb's words jumped into Christopher Robinson and the others' ears word by word.
"No one told me the truth, but it's not hard to guess. The Cobb family and President Robinson reached some kind of agreement, and I became your pawn and bargaining chip. How pitiful am I? It's already sad enough to be born into such an inhumane family, but now I have to be sacrificed for the sake of moving forward."
"Doesn't President Robinson have any sisters? Aren't there any women in his family?"
Her accusations fell like pearls into the hearts of the three listeners.
Neither light nor heavy, but indeed, every word struck a chord with them.
Amelia was good at psychological warfare. If not for this skill, how could she have become a top negotiator at such a young age?
If not for this skill, how could she thrive in this industry?
Juliet Walker and Isaac Fenton were both silent for a moment. The sight of Amelia's tearful accusations was indeed moving.
But Christopher Robinson was not like these two.
He silently tapped off his cigarette ashes: "Amelia, your accusations are directed at the wrong person."
"First of all, the Cobb family sought my help. Secondly, I didn't handpick you. It was your grandfather who pushed you forward, with the consent of your father. Furthermore, I too feel wronged and sad as I was spending my money and effort in the hopes of finding an obedient and virtuous wife. Miss Cobb was repeatedly assured to me as the person I wanted, so I reluctantly agreed to your father's request. Now, sitting beside me is a Miss Cobb who gives me a sense of being cheated."
"According to what Miss Cobb just said, am I entitled to go and settle accounts with the Cobb family members?"
Christopher's words were just as calm and without emotional ups and downs as Amelia's, but every word was well placed.
Amelia was startled, and her gaze cracked as she stared at him.
Christopher's words undoubtedly meant that no one in this world was innocent.
"There's an ancient saying: knowing when to advance or retreat. The Cobb family's actions are tantamount to blackmail."
"Whether or not the Cobb family is like that, I have no control. But doesn't Mr. Robinson think I'm innocent?"
"Doesn't Miss Cobb think I also suffered heavy losses?"
"Please pull over."
She couldn't continue conversing with that idiot.
Upon hearing Amelia's words, Isaac looked at Christopher through the rearview mirror, noticing that he had no intention of speaking out.
He dared not stop: "Sorry, Miss Cobb, we cannot park here."
Amelia's breath was stuck in her chest, neither going up nor down.
After a while, the car stopped in front of a Thai restaurant.
At noon, Amelia was initially planning to have lunch, but she didn't expect Christopher to bring her out.
In the restaurant, the boss seemed to know Christopher and greeted him warmly while nodding and saying hello to Amelia.
"The usual place?"
"No need, a small private room will do."
The boss nodded and led Christopher and Amelia into the private room.
Until Amelia sat down, she could feel the probing eyes of the man lingering on her.
"The dishes?"
"Give it to her," Christopher took off his suit jacket and draped it over the chair behind him.
The woman, dressed in an ancient-style dress, hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Christopher. Usually, he would order casually every time he came.
Today, giving the menu to Amelia was undoubtedly letting her make the decision.
Lola didn't say anything, handing the menu over: "Do you need any recommendations?"
Amelia could feel the woman's inquisitive gaze and didn't give her any extra attention while ordering: "Braised Beef, Chicken Soup, Stir-fried Seasonal Vegetables, and Shredded Pork."
Lola stared at Amelia in surprise: "Has Miss Cobb been here before?"
"Not at all, but I can see you're very familiar with me."
Amelia answered her question and asked one in return.
The reason she was certain was that ordinary people couldn't enter this Thai restaurant. Many people had booked a table for a year without tasting their dishes.
As a college student, Amelia had never had the opportunity to set foot in a place like this.
If she were a pampered girl, she might think that Old Mr. Cobb would bring her here.
But clearly - she was not.
A flash of embarrassment crossed Lola's face.
She didn't expect to be questioned by a girl who had never left school.
She laughed awkwardly: "Mr. Robinson rarely brings female guests alone. This is the first time, so I took a guess."
Guess?
Amelia lowered her head and took a sip of the tea in front of her, not speaking anymore.
Even if it wasn't a guess, there was nothing she could say.
And for a man like Christopher Robinson, the women he brought to any occasion were never the same.
She had seen it before.
Nightclub, where the women he brought wore revealing clothes and could accompany the others well.
In the coffee room, those he singled out were tea officials with a scholarly disposition and a gentle temperament.
At the dinner table, any part of the women beside him was boundless.
Thus, she didn't believe this was his first time.
Christopher leaned back in his chair, staring at Amelia.
Her lowered head as she drank water resembled someone he once knew, but it was just that - a resemblance.
That girl who almost ran away from the engagement party certainly didn't interest him, but the now provoked and defensive Amelia intrigued him.
"There is a banquet next Tuesday that Miss Cobb will need to attend as my fiancée."
Without looking up, Amelia asked, "Can I refuse?"
"I'm not asking for your opinion," Christopher picked up the cup and took a sip of water.
Amelia raised her eyes and stared at him: "Then why bother informing me in advance, Mr. Robinson? Why not just have someone pick me up when the time comes?"
"With this advance notice, people who don't know any better might think President Robinson respects me a lot."
Christopher Robinson: ......….
Without a doubt, he had kicked an iron plate.
Amelia's guard against him was like she was guarding against a human trafficker.
"Heh," the man sneered, "sharp-tongued."
Amelia was taken aback, somehow detecting a touch of indulgence in Christopher's words.
On the other hand, Juliet asked Isaac while pouring water for him, "Has she changed?"
Isaac took a sip of water to calm his mind: "Indeed."
"I still remember her trying to flee her wedding in a white dress, timid, incapable, and cowardly. She's nothing like she is now."
As Isaac thought about it, something felt off: "Possessed?"
Juliet felt a chill running down her back, feeling a cold draft behind her.
"It shouldn't be that. We have to believe in science, not ghosts."
"But she really has changed. We've interacted with her a few times before, and she was always submissive. But now, every word she says is incisive, and she leaves you speechless. Her stubbornness is eerily similar to Edward Cobb."
"Which Edward Cobb?"