James
The moment Cheng stepped into the office, his demeanour screamed unease. He moved cautiously, his phone in hand, as if the news he carried would set off a bomb.
“Boss,” he began, his voice carefully measured, “you and your wife are both trending on the Internet.”
I didn’t react immediately. Trending on the Internet? Of course, it would be something trivial.
Cheng continued, “You attended Miss Susan’s recital yesterday, and the First Lady asked you to hold her bouquet. A photo of you holding the flowers was taken and posted online. It's causing quite a stir.”
His eyes darted nervously as he added, “Your wife, on the other hand, went to watch your brother's race last night. Some photos of them looking... close were taken and posted online as well. Netizens don’t know they’re brother-in-law and sister-in-law. They’re calling it a scandal....”
The way he delivere
ZeldaI didn’t want James Ferguson to suspect I had been studying abroad, so before Liz could clarify, I nodded and said with a small smile,“Yes, I am the translator. However, with Mr. Ferguson’s Italian skills, it seems I’m unnecessary here.”Liz didn’t seem to mind my improvisation. She had originally brought a translator, but their delayed flight had left her without one. Since I spoke Italian, she had asked me on the way to the hotel to step in temporarily.Susan stood awkwardly to the side, unable to follow our Italian conversation. Her discomfort was evident, her expression pinched and her fists clenched. She looked like she was shrinking into herself, and I could almost feel the hatred radiating off her.Without acknowledging her, I quickly followed Liz into her room. The door shut softly behind us, leaving Susan outside.I could imagine her frustration even without hearing it.When I return
JamesFrom the moment I spotted her, something in me tightened. Zelda Liamson was crouched on the cold ground outside the hotel, barefoot and clad only in a thin dance costume. She clutched her phone like it was her last lifeline, her face pale, her shoulders trembling slightly. She looked completely lost, like a lone figure adrift in an unforgiving storm.It was hard to reconcile this image with what Anna had told me earlier. Anna claimed she’d left irresponsibly, but this? This wasn’t the demeanour of someone careless or dismissive. Something had clearly gone wrong, but I didn’t move.Chen Ting, sitting stiffly in the driver’s seat, glanced back at me hesitantly. “Boss, should I go ask Madam what happened?”I kept my eyes on her, my hand gripping the door handle tightly. My thoughts churned, but I didn’t respond.I wasn’t sure what stopped me. The sight of her like this stirred something unfamiliar—a mix of frustration and something else I didn’t want to name. But before I could act
ZeldaMy heart sank."Let go!" I demanded, though my voice betrayed a crack of emotion.Behind him, Susan seized the opportunity. She shoved Jian away and cowered behind James, clutching his arm like a lifeline. Her theatrics began immediately."James, she’s crazy! I don’t know what she forced into me—I feel awful! My stomach hurts so much!" she wailed, clutching her abdomen with exaggerated agony.Her performance was an instant success. A murmur rippled through the room as her cronies chimed in."Oh my God, is Susan really pregnant?""Did Zelda force-feed her abortion pills? That’s so cruel!""How could you harm an innocent child like that, Zelda? This is vicious beyond words!"Each word cut into me like a blade. My fists clenched, but before I could respond, Jian acted.She grabbed a bottle of wine off the table and hurled it with all her might.The glass exploded on impact, fragments scattering across the room like shrapnel. Gasps and screams followed, but Jian’s voice cut through
Susan Wenger’s face turned pale as James’s glare cut through her. It wasn’t the look of a protector—no, it was as if he saw her as an enemy. Her fear was palpable as she stumbled back two steps, her eyes wide and glassy.When he gave a small flick of his hand, two bodyguards moved forward without hesitation, seizing her by both arms.“James!” Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I didn’t do it, I swear! You can’t let her hit me!” Her sobs shook her, a pitiful display meant to garner sympathy, but James didn’t even flinch.Desperation twisted her face as she turned her gaze to Yuell.“Brother Yuell, it’s your place. You set this party up. Are you really going to stand there and let this happen to me?”Yuell's eyes darkened with annoyance. He clearly didn’t agree with what was happening. His jaw tightened as he stepped forward, his displeasure thick in the air.“James, you—”“It’s none of your business,” James cut him off with an icy glance, each word as cold as a winte
ZeldaMy head hung down, my stomach flipped, and my heart raced. Slung over James's shoulder, I kicked my legs furiously, the narrow elevator space making my discomfort feel suffocating.“Put me down!” I demanded, gripping the hard line of his back for balance. “James, if you don’t let go, I swear I’ll throw up on you again!”A deep, cold voice rumbled above me, “Try it.”The steel in his tone made my skin prickle, but the fire of rebellion burned hotter. His broad shoulders were as unyielding as stone, every step making my position more precarious and my irritation sharper.As he tightened his hold, my eyes wandered down. His butt. Right there, infuriatingly firm, and far too tempting a target.The memory of the public spanking he’d given me earlier flared in my mind. Anger surged, along with something I didn’t want to name. My hand lifted instinctively.I slapped him once.A solid, satisfying smack.And then again.It felt… unexpected. Taut. Elastic.Lost in thought, I let my hand f
Just when I thought James Ferguson was about to pin me down on the sofa, ready to devour me without any escape, darkness swallowed my vision.I gasped, my heart hammering in my chest, and clawed at the sudden blackness until I realized a shirt—his shirt—was tossed over my head. I ripped it away, fuming, but by the time I untangled myself, James had already reached the bathroom.“Think about what to say to me later,” he said coolly before shutting the door behind him.The sound of water running only heightened my frustration.I darted toward the door of the suite, my fingers fumbling at the lock, but it refused to give. I twisted and tugged with growing panic. He must have done something to it. The realization sent a rush of helpless fury through me, and I gave up with a frustrated sigh.When he finally emerged, steam clung to the air around him. His robe hung loosely over his frame, barely secured, while droplets of water clung to his dark hair. He moved with a slow, deliberate calm t
YuellI couldn't stop my thoughts from racing as I remembered the events from tonight. The drinking contest. The way it had all spiralled out of control. The way she had taken advantage of me. The way I had ended up on the bed, my dignity slipping further and further.I remembered how I was so drunk that I couldn’t even fully comprehend what was happening, how she had kicked me off the bed at the worst possible moment, making my head spin as I hit the ground. By the time I could react, she was on me like a wild animal, accusing me of trying to assault her. Before I could even say anything, she started hitting and kicking me.Of all the humiliations in my life, this had to be the worst. I had almost lost my first kiss, my virginity, and my pride, and now I was bruised, embarrassed, and completely furious.I could feel the anger bubbling inside me, threatening to explode.“Unless that woman, Jian, kneels down and apologizes, there is no point in reconciling!” I hissed, my lip still thro
I froze all over, my fingers clenched tightly around my phone. The edges pressed into my palms, but I couldn’t move. My thoughts were tangled, but I forced myself to speak, the words trembling from my lips."Are you feeling unwell? Are you feeling sick from drinking? How about I make you a bowl of soup? Or do you have a headache? I'll give you a head rub?"I set my phone and bag aside and reached toward him instinctively. I remembered how James would get terrible headaches after drinking. I was here to ask for his help, and even though his attitude cut me down like cold steel, I had to endure it. Pride and dignity didn’t matter—not when Jian’s fate was on the line.My hand hovered just inches from his forehead when he moved, his fingers catching my wrist midair.His brows furrowed, eyes dark and sharp. "I don’t lack people to serve me, so stop pretending to care."The words hit hard, cold and final.I let my hand fall, my throat tightening with frustration. My mind raced, but I droppe
ZeldaAs the door shut, James exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. His body was tense, his fists clenched at his sides.James stood motionless, staring at the door, his jaw clenched so tightly that I thought he might break.Mr Ferguson was the first to speak, his voice firm but not unkind.“James, I know you’re angry, but she’s still your mother.”James let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Still my mother?” His voice wavered. “What kind of mother does this to her child? What kind of mother lets him suffer for years and then—then when the truth comes out, she refuses to even acknowledge it?”His father sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “She’s scared, James. Scared of losing everything she’s built, scared of what the truth means.”James turned on him, pained.“And what about me? Does she care how scared I was? How much I lost? How I spent years believing I was the mistake, that everything that went wrong was somehow my fault?”Helen’s voice trembled from the doorw
ZeldaI sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the divorce papers I had once been so ready to sign. My hands rest over my stomach, where our child—my child—grows.I told myself I wouldn't cry over James Ferguson again. But here I am, my heart still aching in ways I wish it wouldn't.He had always been my saviour. When I was just a scared thirteen-year-old girl, lost and alone, James had taken me in. I admired him, idolized him. But then admiration turned into something else. Love. The kind that consumed me, that I could never shake off, no matter how hard I tried.But James had never seen me that way.First, it was Susan Wenger... I watched as he gave everything to Susan, how he smiled at her the way I had always wished he would look at me. And when Susan was gone, I thought—maybe—just maybe, James would see me.But then came Luoxing.And that had been the final proof I needed to know the truth. I was never going to be James's first choice.That was why I decided to leave. I refused t
JamesThe Bai estate was as grand as ever, standing as a symbol of power, wealth, and the history that bound our families together.Or so I thought.I stepped inside without hesitation. No one stopped me. They never would. For years, I had been welcomed here like a son.I had thought I was.But tonight, the weight of betrayal clung to me like a second skin, suffocating, inescapable and true.As I entered the main hall, I found them all gathered—Mr. Bai, Mrs. Bai, and their daughter, Bai Luoxing.The moment they saw me, Luoxing was the first to react. She stood up, her eyes filled with something between relief and hesitation."James!"I lifted a hand to my head, stopping her in her tracks.She hesitated, then slowly sat back down, casting a quick glance toward her mother.Mrs Bai, ever composed, sat calmly at the head of the table, an air of relaxed control around her. She didn’t look surprised to see me.She probably didn’t know that I knew everything.Mr. Bai, on the other hand, was
JamesA slow, numbing realization crept over me, drowning out everything else.The Bai family hadn’t just manipulated me.They had shaped my entire life."They couldn’t just bring Luoxing back," Dom continued, his voice low. "Not when the whole world was looking for her. Not when they hadn't gotten anything from their attempt. So they kept her hidden, cared for her, made sure no one found her."I barely heard him. My mind was already racing ahead, connecting pieces I had never thought to question before."But the Ferguson family—" My voice caught. "We never stopped searching for her.""And that’s exactly what they wanted."I snapped my gaze to him."Think about it, James." Dom leaned forward, the dim light casting sharp shadows on his face."Your parents. Your grandmother. You. You were all drowning in guilt, haunted by the loss of a little girl you thought you failed to protect. You clung to Madame Bai and saw her as a second mother because she was grieving too. She played her role p
JamesThe air in the car was filled with tension, Zelda's rigid posture and clenched phone screaming her silent fury at me. I deserved it—every bit of her anger, every cold shoulder. But damn if it didn't carve a hollow ache in my chest.Then my phone buzzed, slicing through the suffocating quiet.I answered, and within seconds, the tension in my shoulders eased."We found Dom."The words sent a rush of grim satisfaction through me. Finally. After all the hunting, all the dead ends—we had him.My grip tightened on the phone. "Alive?""Barely. He's talking."Good.I glanced at Zelda, still stubbornly turned away from me, her reflection faint in the window. This changed everything. With Dom's testimony, the Bai family's carefully constructed lies would crumble.But first—"Keep him secure. I'll be there soon."Hanging up, I studied Zelda's profile. She thought this was about the divorce. About me stalling.She had no idea the storm that was coming.And for once, I'd be the one to shield
JamesMadam Bai’s fingers combed through Bai Luoxing’s hair with practised tenderness, her voice saccharine."Don’t cry. Mom knows your heart is too soft—you would have stopped me if you knew."Then she lifted her chin, her blind eyes fixed in my direction with eerie precision."James, I only helped your wife leave because she wanted to. I didn’t want you two to become bitter enemies. You may not understand my intentions, but the truth is, this all started with her desire to run. Luoxing is innocent."Innocent.The word tasted like ash."So sending men to hunt her down—was that also a favour?" My voice was lethally quiet.Madam Bai’s wrinkled face twisted in feigned confusion."Hunt her? James, I only sent people to find her after she disappeared! For her safety! And my nephew—where is Dom? Did you see him?"Zelda stiffened beside me. I could almost hear the furious drum of her heartbeat.I stared at the woman who had once been like a second mother to me.Even now, faced with the trut
JamesMy lashes lowered, hiding the smug satisfaction in my gaze as I buried my face against her again. Good. She didn’t push me away this time.Then— Thump.Something struck the side of my face.I froze.Before I could process it, another hit—this time square on the bridge of my nose. Not painful, but sharp, like a tiny jolt of electricity.My head snapped up, eyes wide."Was that… Littleton?"Zelda’s lips curled, amusement flickering in her gaze before she pressed them flat again."Littleton’s here to teach you some manners," she said dryly.Of course, it was Littleton.Even in the womb, my kid couldn’t stand watching their shameless father grovelling like this and decided to intervene.A stunned laugh caught in my throat.I stared at the slight swell of her belly, then slowly raised my hand, pressing my fingers where I’d been kicked. The impact had been soft, muted by layers of flesh and fluid, but it sent a current straight through my chest.My heart hammered—not from fever, but s
JamesThe pain in my chest was sharp, unrelenting, as I watched her smile—so effortless, so free. As if I meant nothing.If it were up to me, I’d never let her go.Especially not now, with those men hovering around her like vultures, waiting for their chance. But I couldn’t do anything. Not anymore.I didn’t dare to force her, didn’t dare to manipulate things behind her back like I used to. One wrong move, and she’d slip even further from my grasp.And then there was Dom. Until he was dealt with, she wasn’t safe here."Don’t worry," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "I’ll fulfil your wish this time. Consider it… compensation for the wedding."That damned wedding. My fault. All of it.Maybe ending this marriage was the only way to truly start over. She looked at me then, her eyes searching mine, and for the first time, she saw it—my resolve. No tricks, no games. This was real.Her lashes fluttered, her grip on my collar loosening as she whispered,"So after we land…
ZeldaOf course I couldn't bear it.I never wanted to compete with Bai Luoxing for anything. She was the one who forced her way into my marriage. Even then, I retreated—step by step, until I'd put an ocean between us.Yet the Bai family still wouldn't let me go. They wanted me dead. How vicious could they be?But Leiy hadn't said much earlier. Even I was only guessing. Did James... already know it was them?My eyes widened in shock. "You knew? Bai Luoxing helped me leave the country, and the Bai family has been hunting me since I landed—"His face darkened at the mention of my escape. "How else do you think I found you?"I pressed my lips together, then let out a cold laugh."Well, color me surprised. I thought even if I accused the Bai family, you'd assume I was just smearing their name out of spite."The pain that flashed across his face was sharp enough to almost make me regret my words. Almost.His chest heaved, and before I could react, his hand shot out, gripping the back of my