“I’m sorry.” Subconsciously, I refuse him. It is hard to say what is going on between James and me, but as for Morley, I don’t want him to get involved.
“We’ll still be friends.”
Morley’s expectant eyes dim down. “Alright. You’ve been refusing me all the time.” He looks at me with a wry smile. “You wouldn’t have fallen in love with me even without James. I know it.”
“I don’t want to lose you as a friend. If we are lovers, when we break up, we will be more embarrassed.” This is what I want to say. I don’t want to lose Morley as a friend, but if he insists on courting me, then I may never see Morley again. I don’t want to hurt him.
Morley nods, “I see. Don’t worry. I will control my feelings. But please let me stand by you.”
I don’t know what to say, looking at Morley’s imploring eyes but unable to answer.
At last I say nothing, look at the starry sky and change the subject, “It’s getting late. Do you want to go back?”
Morley smiles unnaturally and says, “Ok, I get it. I know what I’m going to do. We’ll still be friends.”
I nod.
Morley is a smart man. He knows what he’s doing.
“Introduce your girlfriend to me if you have time.” I get up to see Morley off.
Morley looks at me and says, “OK.”
So far, we’ve made everything clear.
I watch Morley leave with a sigh.
Morley’s family is as good as James’s. In fact, I am already afraid of dealing with people of this kind. If I have known his origin from the beginning, I would never have made friends with him.
Porter calls me. He says he has everything ready except for me.
The Orlando family’s wedding ceremony will be held in three days. We can’t let Isabel succeed.
As for Morton Orlando, I don’t want him to show up. I should have a more detailed plan about him. I must hurt Isabel so much that she couldn’t turn over at her prime days.
I can’t wait any longer.
“I’ll take you to try on some clothes later.” James sends me a message.
I reply, “What’s up?”
“You will use it in a few days.”
A few days later? It occurs to me something. Could it be because of Isabel’s wedding a few days later?
I am just wondering how to show up fair and square.
“Alright.” I reply him immediately.
James comes to pick me up. As soon as we meet, he hugs me and I nudge him. “There are many people here. Stop it.”
“What are you afraid of? You’re my woman, and I’m making out with my woman. Who can control that?” James kisses me.
I don’t know what James would think of me when the day will come. Would he hate me?
I can’t help thinking of the way James looks at me in the future. His eyes will be full of anger. He must hate me so much, but I have no choice but to do so.
“I’ll take you to an important wedding in a few days.” James takes me by the hand and says, “I’ll introduce my family to you. They might freak out.”
“Because I’m like Carolina?” I say.
“Yes.” When James hears me mention Carolina, his eyes dim. “But she’s gone.”
“But I remember you have a fiancée.” I withdraw from his hand, “Then will I be the mistress? The mistress is the most hateful. Don’t you think so?
“Oh?” James looks at me thoughtfully. “Is it not because of the conditions of negotiation that our relationship survives? You can’t hurt me much. Do you understand?”
I understand, and smile, “In fact I am just your mistress.”
“It’s not right. After all, I don’t know what your condition is. I’m waiting for that day.”
James raises his eyebrows and examines me.
I feel like being controlled by James invisibly. But the terms of the negotiation are in my hands, why do I always feel oppressed?
“You’ll know what my terms are.” I smile at James gently, much like I did as Carolina.
James freezes and looks at me blankly.
“Remember, I am not Carolina.” I say gently to shatter all illusions James has.
Carolina, don’t you miss Carolina so much? I can see James looking so disappointed and know his helplessness when he wakes up to the reality. Why did he force my father to die when he thinks Carolina is so important?
I think of this with hatred. We will not be good.
James takes me to a bespoke dress shop, supposedly run by a famous designer, a place that no ordinary person like me would ever visit in a lifetime.
“Hello, Mr. James, what can I do for you?” The staff comes over.
James points at me and says, “Get a dress for her, and we will need it in three days, so do it quick.”
“All right, don’t worry.” She bends over.
At this moment, the door is gently pushed open, and then a gentle cry mingles with surprise sounds, “James?”
I look back and recognize her at once.
I’ve seen her in photos. She’s James’s fiancée, Salome.
I immediately withdraw my gaze and follow the clerk to take my measurements.
I don’t dare to speak, walking cautiously after the staff.
She is James’ bride-to-be.
I can’t tell how I am feeling now. I only feel very embarrassed at the moment, as if I am caught on spot. Maybe I am a mistress.
I tell myself that it’s not true. I’m destroying his family or his happiness. I’m just trying to get my things back. All I want is to avenge.
“You have a perfect figure.” The staff compliments me. “What’s your relationship with Mr. James? You know it is James’s fiancée who came in just now, right?” She says, looking forward to seeing a good play.
I smile and conceal my guilt, “Mr. James and I are just friends. Is that Mr. James’s fiancée coming in? I don’t know her. Maybe I should greet her later.”
I say as if nothing has happened. It is time to meet this woman. The woman would accompany James in the future. I must know what kind of temperament she has, so as to let myself give up completely.
After getting my size, I go out.
Salome is talking with James, with a smile on her face, looking very sweet.
When she sees me, she is shocked, and I respond with a smile.
James sits on the sofa lazily, looking at us with playful smile.
This woman probably doesn’t want me to be here, and I’m not going to greet her.
So, I stop after taking only a few steps and look at her and James.
I will not take the initiative to come forward, but to see what they are planning to do. One is pretending not knowing anything, the other trying to keep peace, and I’ll cooperate with either.
There is strong emotion in James’s eyes, as if he has made us bump into each other on purpose.
He is looking forward to the next scene.
Salome is very poised. If I don’t go up to her, she pretends not to know me. She just freezes for a few seconds and then turns around and talks with James.
“I wonder if I look good in that dress. Do you think Mrs. Orlando would like it?” Salome puts her hand on James’s arm.
James nudges her and says, “She’ll love it. You’re so beautiful.”
James is always a ladies’ man, not only because of his background, but also because of his handsome appearance.
Is he trying to provoke me?
I give James a careless smile and stare at them.
Instantly, James looks gloomy and stares back at me.
“James, how many children do you think we should have when we get married?” Salome deliberately says, “I think it is better to have three. I like children. They are much lovely.”
James looks at me, but puts his hand on Salome’s waist and says, “Ok, it’s up to you. Let’s have as many babies as you like.”
James acts like he is not in love. He looks like hating Salome.
I couldn’t help chuckling, thinking James doesn’t have to do this. He just wants to see me jealous. Rest assured. I will satisfy him.
Salome is happy and snuggles in James’s arms, showing her love as if no one is watching them. “James, you are so sweet.”
I simply face them, like watching a play to look at them. I am very curious what will happen next.
Salome feels somewhat regretful.
James is even more annoyed.
“What are you looking at?” James yells at me.
I chuckle and say, “Go on.”
James gives me a hard look and says, “Do you know what you’re talking about?”
How could I don’t know? But I don’t bother to argue with him here.
Salome tugs at James’s sleeve and says, “James, who is this young lady?”
I am sure that Salome knows who I am, but she is still pretending that she does not know anything. She is really very smart.
James says angrily, “You don’t have to know her.”
Salome purses her lips and says nothing more.
At this point, I am actually a little angry. I think James is a jerk. One is his well-known fiancée, and the other is his mistress. He treats neither unfairly.
He wants to get what he wants, to love him as Carolina used to be, and even wants me to be jealous. He wants me to be with him day and night, but I’m not the same person as I used to be anymore.
I know what I’m going to do.
Just wait for it, James.