Chapter 99 A New Job


    Amelia''s face went red with panic.


    "Johnny, I actually, um, I want to move out of here if that''s okay," Amelia stuttered.


    "You can''t move out just yet. Now is not a good time," Jonny quickly replied.


    "When I give birth, it will only bring us more trouble," Amelia argued. She didn''t want to put Jonny in the


    middle of a scandal. Moreover, she didn''t want anyone to say anything spiteful about her child.


    Jonny seemed to have read her mind. "You''re worried there might be a scandal, so you want to end


    this rtionship now," he confirmed.


    Amelia acknowledged that it was one of the reasons. She pursed her lips and tried to avoid Jonny''s


    knowing look. But she eventually turned to him and added firmly, "Please let me move out."


    Jonny''s face fell. After a moment of silence, he replied to Amelia, "I didn''t realize you were so eager to


    be rid of me." A bitter smile yed on Jonny''s lips. It made Amelia feel a tinge of guilt.


    "Jonny, I didn''t know I was pregnant. I was as clueless as you. Now, I just want to live a peaceful life


    alone and find work to support myself and my baby." It was because she trusted Jonny that she felt


    comfortable to confess her honest thoughts.


    "Amelia, do you really think that I''m less capable than Lucian of helping you? Did you think that those


    words won''t make me worry about you and your future?" Jonny looked at her with hurt in his eyes. He


    kept his voice low and yet Amelia heard the concern in his tone.


    Amelia fell speechless.


    Perhaps it was because Jonny didn''t want her to feel even more anxious that he reluctantly agreed. He


    added, however, "We have to keep our rtionship."


    Amelia furrowed her brows in confusion. She didn''t understand what Jonny meant.


    He had already agreed to help her move out. Why did he still insist on maintaining their pretend


    rtionship?


    "I''ll help you move out when the time is right. For now, you have to stay," Jonny replied grimly.


    Jonny''s words didn''t make much sense to Amelia. She only nodded and said, "I hope you find your true


    love soon."


    This way, she hoped that she wouldn''t have to pretend to be his girlfriend anymore, and everyone


    would finally be happy.


    "I already have someone I like," Jonny said gently.


    "Really?" Amelia said with delight. Her face brightened up as she asked curiously, "Who is she? Why


    aren''t you pursuing a rtionship with her?"


    Jonny merely gave her a wry smile. "She doesn''t love me." Jonny tried to hide his embarrassment by


    crossing his arms over his chest. Amelia thought he looked ufortable.


    "Well..." Amelia took Jonny''s hand in hers. "It''s not always easy finding a person you like, let alone


    having someone to share love with."


    Jonny nodded in agreement. He appreciated Amelia''s efforts atforting him and regretted that his


    words made her uneasy. He gave her an effortless smile and said, "At least, you found Lucian."


    Amelia couldn''t understand why Jonny always brought up Lucian. She felt in her heart that she still


    loved him deeply, and that tried as she did, she was far from over her rtionship with him.


    She didn''t say anything after a long while. She only snapped back when Jonny stood up to leave.


    Amelia saw Jonny to the door but before he could go, he turned to her and said, "Remember to eat the


    food I bought for you. If you really want to move out, I''ll help you find a ce."


    "Oh, don''t worry about that. I''ve already decided where to stay. I want to continue living in the house I


    was renting before. Mrs. Chen is very kind to me," Amelia replied.


    Jonny said with a light smile, "Okay, if that''s what you want, I won''t stand in your way. But I hope


    nothing would change between us. I hope you won''t treat me as an outsider once you''ve left."


    Amelia felt relieved after getting Jonny''s approval. She smiled warmly and said, "Thank you, Jonny."


    She was grateful from the bottom of her heart.


    The next day, Amelia was back at Mrs. Chen''s. She didn''t have much stuff so it wasn''t difficult for her to


    move out.


    Jonny asked to drive her, but she politely declined his offer. She had just arrived at Mrs. Chen''s when


    she received his call. She reassured him that she was fine and that she didn''t have much with her


    anyway so she didn''t need his help.


    "I''m so happy you''re back, Amelia. I finally have someone to talk to again," Mrs. Chen weed


    Amelia with the warmest of smiles.


    "I''m so happy to be back, Mrs. Chen," Amelia replied with equal excitement.


    Mrs. Chen helped her carry her things to her room. The old woman then called her to lunch once


    Amelia had finished unpacking.


    "You should''ve let me prepare the food, Mrs. Chen. Isn''t it hard to be up and about in your age?"


    Amelia said with embarrassment once she saw the appetizing dishes spread on the table.


    "Oh, nonsense! Doing these chores makes me feel useful. Come and let''s eat," the old woman said


    enthusiastically. Her wrinkled face showed nothing but joy.


    Amelia took a seat and started eating with Mrs. Chen. In between mouthfuls, she dered, "By the


    way, Mrs. Chen, I''m considering staying here for quite a while. Do you think it''s easy to find a job


    nearby?" Amelia had been on the lookout for a job since she came. Although the neighborhood was


    not as bustling as it was downtown, she hoped that it wouldn''t be too difficult to find employment


    considering that the area was right next to the city.


    Mrs. Chen paused and thought about her question. Beaming, she finally said, "I think they''re looking for


    a clerk down at the supermarket. You may want to hand in your resume."


    "Is that near?" Amelia thought that she''d ept anything as long as she was qualified for the job and it


    wasn''t too far from the house.


    "Yes, it''s about a five-minute walk from here," the old woman replied with glee. After a few moments,


    however, she cautioned, "But that supermarket is huge. I don''t think the work is going to be easy."


    "It doesn''t matter, Mrs. Chen. Anyway, no work is easy if one really wants to do a good job." Amelia


    dismissed her concern with a smile.


    The next morning, Amelia found the supermarket after following Mrs. Chen''s directions. She noted the


    name printed on the storefront''s sign and realized that it had many store branches across the city. This


    branch was thergest in the area.


    Amelia approached the information desk and asked to see the manager.


    The manager was a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed sses and a slightly bulging belly. When he


    saw Ameliae in, he pushed his sses up his nose and looked at her carefully. "What position are


    you applying for?" he asked.


    Amelia smiled sweetly before handing him her resume. "I''m applying to work as a clerk, manager.


    Please have a look at my resume."


    "Amelia Mo..." The manager read her name aloud. He looked at her again and asked, "Why does your


    name sound familiar?"


    Amelia''s heart sank, remembering how Lucian searched every corner of the city looking for her when


    she left SJ Garden. He even went as far as cing ads on newspapers and on TV. No wonder the


    manager knew her name.


    But Amelia had already prepared for this scenario. She confidently replied, "Yes, I have the same name


    as the girl they were looking for in the papers some time ago. But I''m not as lucky as her. My husband


    is just an ordinary employee in a smallpany. And yet we''re very happy."


    The manager looked at her and nodded, seeming to believe everything she said. He added, "You have


    the same name and you look like her, too!"


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    Amelia felt nervous but she tried her best to keep herposure. She chuckled softly and joked,


    "Maybe we''re sisters separated at birth. But that''s impossible. I''ve always been my parents'' only child."


    Even Amelia was surprised by how well she was able to invent her new identity. She felt a bit proud for


    getting better at lying. She ced her hands behind her back and crossed her fingers.


    "This job may look easy but I assure you that it is not. Do you think you have what it takes to do it?"


    Going over her resume, the manager saw that Amelia only filled out one row for her working


    experience. He worried that she didn''t have adequate background to do a good job.


    Wishing to keep a low profile, she didn''t include Zhan Group in her list of previous employment.


    "Manager, I know I don''t have much experience, but I promise you that I work hard and I trust your


    judgment," Amelia said firmly. Her face lit up into a confident smile.


    "You''re smart. I haven''t even nodded my head," the manager said tly, but Amelia thought she saw


    the faint trace of a smile on his lips. "Well, we''ll try you out for three days, after which, we''ll see if you


    can really handle this job. If you pass, you''ll sign a contract."


    "Thank you very much for this gracious offer!" Amelia had never feltfortable with ttery, but she


    really wanted the job because it was not far from the house she rented.


    That night, Amelia shared the happy news with Courtney. She initially thought that Courtney would be


    happy for her, but Courtney scolded her from the other end of the line, "Amelia, are you insane? You''re


    pregnant! What''s the matter with you?"


    Amelia was so surprised, she almost threw her phone. After Courtney finished scolding, Amelia replied


    calmly, "Who says pregnant women can''t work?"


    Amelia knew that it was good for pregnant women to go about and keep active. She also didn''t want to


    stay cooped up in the house all day.


    "At least, find a different job. You don''t want to work in a supermarket! People can be mean towards


    clerks. And you''re soft, Amelia! I don''t think you can handle it," Courtney said sourly, as if she had often


    witnessed clerks getting treated poorly.


    "It''s not as bad as you say it is, Courtney. Besides, I need this job to support myself. It''s going to be


    fine," Amelia refuted.


    "Alright, alright! I know how stubborn you can get. It''s useless for me to say anything if you''ve really


    made up your mind. Just take care of yourself, okay?" Courtney epted that there was nothing she


    could say to change Amelia''s mind, but she was terribly worried for her friend. "I''m just concerned


    about you, you know? You live alone and have no one to take care of you."


    "Mrs. Chen has been nothing but nice to me. Besides, I''m not a kid anymore, Courtney. I can take care


    of myself." Amelia understood that Courtney was only looking out for her and she greatly appreciated


    her for it.