An Ocean Between Hearts

After getting back from the orphanage, Amelia went straight upstairs to her walk-in closet and started packing.

It hit her then—she barely owned any clothes.

Most of what she had were the outfits Miranda gave her when she first married into the family. In five years, Chad hadn't bought her a single thing. Not once.

When her clothes were packed, Amelia turned her attention to the gifts she'd given Chad over the years. Carefully chosen birthday presents, each one meant to make him happy—he hadn't even looked at them. They'd sat in a dusty corner, forgotten.

She sold them all for scrap.

Watching the truck pull away, Amelia felt a strange sense of relief. She turned to head back to the villa when a car horn blared behind her.

A sleek Maybach pulled up, and out stepped Yara, Chad's younger sister, in a striking red dress.

Yara's eyes flicked to the departing scrap truck, then back to Amelia with a sneer. "Seriously? Selling scrap? So typical of someone from a small-time family."

Amelia didn't bite. She turned to leave without a word.

Yara's smirk twisted into anger as she stormed forward and grabbed Amelia's arm. "Amelia!"

For years, Amelia had been nothing but quiet and compliant, always trying to stay on everyone's good side. But this cold indifference? It sent Yara over the edge.

"Are you deaf?" Yara snapped, her voice sharp with fury. "I'm talking to you!"

Amelia turned, pried Yara's hand off her arm, and shot her a look that screamed, 'Enough already.'

Yara had hated her from day one, acting like Amelia's background made her unworthy of marrying into the Felton family. For five years, Yara had done everything to make Amelia's life harder—dumping out breakfasts, stomping on freshly washed clothes, you name it.

But now? Amelia was done playing nice.

Yara looked like she was about to snap again, but then her expression shifted. A smug, nasty smile crept across her face.

"Selling scrap suits you," she sneered. "Oh, but you probably don't know yet—Chad's real love is back. Guess the outsider's finally getting kicked out."

Before Amelia could respond, another woman stepped out of the car.

She wore a simple white dress, her eyes sparkling with warmth. Long hair framed her porcelain skin, and her understated look—no jewelry, no fancy extras—only made her elegance stand out more.

It was Amelia's first time seeing Irina.

Five years of a broken marriage, five years of waiting for something that never came—none of it had touched this woman.

No wonder Chad could never let her go.

Irina walked over, gently tugging on Yara's arm. Her voice was soft. "Yara, don't say that. She's still your sister-in-law."

Yara scoffed. "Sister-in-law? Please. Irina, I told you in the car—Chad's always loved you. He's been thinking about you for years, flying out every week just to see you. Those gifts? All from him. How can you still not see it?"

Yara spun back toward Amelia and barked, "What are you standing there for? Go bring in Irina's luggage! Chad already said she's staying here."

Amelia's eyes flicked to the suitcases, but she didn't say a word. She walked past them and headed inside.

Yara stomped her foot, glaring after her.

Eventually, the driver hauled the luggage inside. Yara, still fuming, was about to storm after Amelia when Chad walked in, his pace quick.

His shoulders relaxed the second he spotted Irina sitting on the couch. With a glance toward Amelia, he said, "Irina's house hasn't been lived in for years. It needs renovations, so she'll stay here for a few days."

Amelia stayed silent.

The tension in the room thickened until Irina stood, biting her lip. "Chad, maybe I should go. This is your home, and... your wife doesn't seem too thrilled about me being here."

Chad quickly stopped her. "There's no need for that. Amelia's always been generous. She won't mind something so small."

Amelia watched him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You're right. I wouldn't get upset over something so trivial. Stay as long as you like."

Why not? This house would belong to Irina eventually anyway.