Mrs. Zhao's breath hitched, her heart hammering beneath the fitted silk dress clinging to her frame. She stood frozen, her fingers curling around the lapel of her tailored mocha blazer as though steadying herself. The delicate clinking of her diamond-studded earrings was the only sound in the room until she managed to find her voice, tight and edged with disbelief. "Bring Amelia back into this family? Are you even aware of what you're doing?" The calm, polished tone she usually carried now quivered, revealing cracks beneath her composed exterior.
Across the room, Mr. Zhao leaned against the ornate headboard of their king-sized bed, an indulgent grin creeping over his face as he watched her unravel. He chuckled, a low, cold sound that filled the room. "Oh, I'm fully aware," he replied, his words deliberate, each one weighted and piercing. "I want Amelia back in Nick's life." He paused, holding her gaze with a steely intensity. "Where she belongs, don't you think?"
