A black Rolls-Royce Phantom parked nearby blinked its lights twice. Andrew strode over, opened the door, and got into the driver’s seat, his long, clean hands resting on the steering wheel. The car slowly pulled out of the garage.
He drove slowly, searching for Isabella along the way. He wanted to find her quickly and then, confess openly that he wasn’t just some wanderer. His identity and position could provide her with everything she desired.
However, despite driving quite far, he still hadn’t seen Isabella’s shadow. Yet, he could faintly smell her scent. Perhaps they had missed each other at some unsuspecting crossroad.
…
Meanwhile, James found Emily in the club’s restroom.
She curled up in a corner, tears streaming down her face.
“Emily? Why are you hiding here?” James raised an eyebrow, looking at her.
Emily lifted her pointed chin, tearfully murmuring, “James.”
“Get up quickly; the floor is cold.” James walked over and helped her up from the ground.
However, Emily’s legs gave way, and she collapsed into James’ arms. This time, she wasn’t acting. She had been huddled in the corner for so long that her legs had gone numb.
Yet, James didn’t see it that way. While supporting Emily, his eyes showed a hint of coolness and disdain.
Mostly, there was regret. He felt he must have been blind to fall in love with someone so artificial, someone who only sought the attention of men.
Despite their canceled engagement, Emily still portrayed herself as fragile and delicate in front of James.
“I’ll take you home,” he said.
Emily instinctively wrapped her hands around James’ neck, resting her head on his chest, and sobbed helplessly, “I don’t want to go back; I’d be a laughingstock in this state. My father would think I’m useless.”
Emily’s words were quite skillful; not blaming David for anything but clearly conveying her situation to James.
“Is it your father forcing you?” James asked, puzzled.
Emily bit her lip, “Dad thinks it’s for my own good. He wants me to marry up, even by using some means. But that’s not what I want. I just want to grow old with someone I love.”
After speaking, she started crying again.
James softened momentarily. “If you don’t want to go home, come to my place for now.”
Emily didn’t say anything, indicating her acquiescence.
James drove her to his bachelor apartment. During the journey, neither of them spoke; the serene atmosphere was filled only with their breaths.
Emily’s silence was to display her vulnerability, while James was uninterested in wasting words on her.
The car stopped in the parking lot below the apartment building. James helped Emily out of the car and carried her upstairs.
James’ apartment was quite familiar to Emily; they had lived together during their relationship.
“You’ll sleep in the guest room tonight. The housekeeper just tidied up yesterday; the bedding is all new,” James said casually, then left her and went to the study alone.
Emily sat in the guest room, feeling bored. She habitually opened the closet to find her nightwear.
She had many clothes and accessories, too many for the wardrobe, so she kept some in the guest room.
Emily opened the wardrobe, seeing her clothes neatly hung inside. Despite their long separation, James still kept her things. This only meant that he hadn’t forgotten their past together.
There’s a kind of man who, even if deeply wounded by the woman he loves, won’t change his mind. Emily felt James was that kind of man.
This realization suddenly lifted Emily’s spirits. Even her sprained ankle seemed less painful.
Although she didn’t succeed in seducing Henry today, if she could reconcile with James, it would still count as an unexpected gain.
Emily lay on the soft, comfortable bed but couldn’t fall asleep. Today was just the beginning. How could she make him accept her again?
After all, she had initially trapped him by deceiving herself as a virgin. Now that her secrets were exposed, would he reject her?
Emily began to suffer from insomnia. However, the progress of things seemed not as difficult as she had imagined.
In the middle of the night, in a half-dream state, she suddenly heard thunder outside the window. Emily felt this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that she must not miss.
She lifted the blanket quietly, softly got out of bed, and walked to the door of the adjacent master bedroom, reaching out to knock on the door.
At this time, James hadn’t gone to sleep yet; he was sitting by the bedside reading a book.
Hearing the knocking, he didn’t seem surprised. Instead, a cold, mocking smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
He hadn’t expected her to succumb so easily.
After a period of intimacy, Emily’s body softened in James’ embrace, her smile gentle and charming.
James half-embraced her, a faint sweat on his forehead, but his handsome face didn’t show much emotion. He reached for a cigarette box on the bedside table, lit a cigarette, and asked, “Want to take a shower?”
Emily turned over, laying on his chest like an octopus; her legs were still draped over him as she lightly gasped, “I’m out of strength. Can you carry me?”
She looked at him playfully.
Blowing smoke rings, the smoke veiled the sarcasm and indifference on his face.
In the past, she loved these antics, pretending to be helpless for him to carry her into the bathroom, where they would continue their intimacy.
But now, James wasn’t interested in serving her a second time.
“Be good, go by yourself. I have some documents to deal with. I’ll be sleeping in the study tonight,” James said gently.
Pouting, Emily coaxed him for a kiss before wrapping herself in a blanket and shuffling into the bathroom.
James then rolled off the bed. He stared at the messy bed, disgust evident in his eyes. Tomorrow, he would have the housekeeper throw away and replace the bedding; just looking at it made him feel sick.
He strolled out onto the balcony to smoke. Behind him, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. He smirked disdainfully. Who was really manipulating whom in this game between men and women?
Feeling somewhat irritated, James instinctively took out his phone and dialed Isabella’s number. However, her phone remained switched off.
Isabella was still in a cold war with Andrew, so she had turned off her phone directly.
James didn’t connect the call, holding the cold metal phone, and sighed lightly. The girl in his memories was always so pure and lovely, yet he foolishly let her go.
Perhaps, one only realizes what they’ve lost after it’s gone.
After Emily finished her shower, James was no longer in the house. The air was filled with the aftermath of lovemaking and a faint smell of tobacco.
She lay back on the comfortable large bed, closed her eyes contentedly.
So what if she had dumped James initially? As long as she beckoned, he would come back wagging his tail like a dog.