I Became the Billionaire's Fake Lover to Get My Revenge
Chapter 47: Does It Sound Familiar?

Chapter 47: Does It Sound Familiar?

"Mrs. Bennett?" Anna hurried out to the terrace, her eyes locking onto Amelie sitting there with a cup of coffee in her hand.

When Anaїs had mentioned someone was waiting for her on the terrace, Anna’s mind had raced through several possibilities—she’d even briefly considered it might be someone from the police. But Amelie Bennett was the last person she expected to see.

"Miss Dumas," Amelie rose gracefully from her chair, extending a hand for a friendly handshake. "I apologize for showing up unannounced, but I thought we should talk about what happened yesterday at the auction."

Anna’s stomach tightened at the mention of the auction. She had hoped the incident was behind her, but it seemed fate had other plans.

Of course, she was aware that her actions had caused a scandal, and it would have been naive to expect it to be easily dismissed. Still, a part of her had hoped the matter would fade into the background.

"Of course," Anna replied, her voice slightly strained as she forced a practiced smile. "Thank you for coming, Mrs. Bennett."

She took a seat across from Amelie, her fingers instinctively wrapping around the warm cup that was placed in front of her. She nodded at the maid, who had quietly filled her cup with freshly brewed coffee, offering a silent gesture of gratitude.

"Please, call me Amelie," Amelie said with a soft smile, and Anna felt a small wave of relief. There was no pretense in her tone, only sincerity.

Amelie’s gaze shifted to the cup in front of her, her expression softening.

"You must have been surprised by my behavior yesterday," she continued in a gentle voice. "But when I learned about what you’re going through, I couldn’t just stand by and say nothing. After all... I’ve been through a similar betrayal myself."

"Oh..." Anna lowered her gaze, her thoughts drifting back to the scandal from a year ago involving Amelie Bennett and her husband’s mistress.

She was genuinely surprised by Amelie’s friendly demeanor, especially since she had initially assumed that their interaction would focus on judging her language skills and accent. "Thank you... for understanding me, and for respecting my... well, my desire for revenge."

"Not at all," Amelie shook her head, sliding her hand across the table to give Anna’s hand a light, encouraging squeeze. "I made the mistake of letting the punches land when I was in your shoes. So when I see other women going through the same thing, I stand by their desire to make those responsible pay for what they’ve done."

Anna couldn’t help but smile. If a powerful woman like Amelie Bennett was on her side, she was certain she was on the right path. And she was grateful that Amelie was willing to share her own experiences and understanding with her.

"And that’s why I’m here today," Amelie continued, her expression turning more serious. "Susanne Hyde will be deported today and sent to home arrest while awaiting the first trial. Since what she’s done falls into a gray area of the law, the severity of her punishment will depend on my further involvement."

A shiver ran down Anna’s spine as she understood the gravity of Amelie’s words. She knew exactly what she was being asked: to decide whether she wanted Amelie to use her powerful connections to ensure Susanne’s punishment, or let the law take its own course.

The answer was clear.

"I want her punished," Anna replied, her voice cold and resolute. "Please, do whatever you can to make sure she gets what she deserves."

Amelie’s lips curled into a knowing smile, and she gave a brief nod. "I will see to it. You have my word."

Anna felt as though a heavy boulder had been lifted from her shoulders. One problem had already been resolved, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. One rat was already in the bag.

"I still feel bad," she said suddenly, lowering her gaze. A guilty, sad smile flickered on her lips. "I’ve ruined such an important event, one that you worked so hard to organize. I’m really sorry, Amelie."

"Don’t be," Amelie replied, shaking her head as she gave Anna another reassuring pat on the hand. "The donations were made, and the artist who was second in line for the highest bid ended up receiving the prize instead. And if anything, I didn’t do much to prepare for the event. It was all thanks to William. He paid for everything and even made another generous donation to compensate for how the event ended."

Anna’s brows arched in surprise. "Pardon? He did all that?"

Amelie nodded with a smile. "Indeed. Ah! That reminds me," she said, turning and gesturing toward something placed next to the terrace door. "The painting belongs to you, I believe?"

A strong blush bloomed across Anna’s cheeks, and her palms became a little clammy from the rush of embarrassment. "Yes, well... I only do it as a hobby––"

"Don’t," Amelie interrupted with a slight frown between her brows. "Don’t downplay your talents. I know you’ve worked hard to get where you are. What you have isn’t just an inborn gift; it’s the result of years of dedication and effort. You were subdued by your husband and his family, letting them bury your flame. But now, you’re free from their oppressive grip, able to do whatever you want."

She paused for a moment, offering Anna a confident glance, followed by an encouraging smile. "Especially since you, too, now have a powerful man by your side, someone who will support you no matter what path you choose."

Anna blushed again, quickly shaking her hands in dismissal. "Oh, no, you’ve got the wrong idea. William is just––"

"Anna." The sound of her real name from Amelie caught her off guard, making her freeze. "There are men who only use women, and then there are men who don’t mind being used in return. They’re clever that way. But let me assure you of one thing––these men have been deeply wounded in the past and struggle to express their feelings properly."

Amelie’s gaze softened, as if weighing her words carefully before continuing. "William Stark is not an easy man to be around. He has built many walls around his heart and doesn’t let anyone close easily. But you must remember one thing––no man will go to such lengths simply because he wants something from a woman."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in, watching Anna closely. Then, with a knowing smile, she added, as if she understood exactly what was stirring in Anna’s heart: "My husband, Liam, once paid a million dollars just for a dance with me. Does that sound familiar?"