2024-10-29 00:31:31James paused in the doorway, taking in the sight before him. Tom sat on the leather couch, laughing and talking with his in-laws, a glass of expensive wine in hand and a smug grin plastered on his face. James’s jaw tightened.
Helen glanced up, her eyes narrowing. “Look who finally decided to join us,” she sneered. “James, maybe take some notes from Tom here on how to be a real provider.”
George chuckled. “Maybe if you learned to be a man, we wouldn’t have to entertain better options for Pamela.”
James ignored them, his gaze fixed on Tom. “Interesting choice of company, Tom.”
Tom raised his glass, feigning surprise. “James! Always a pleasure.”
“Is it?” James replied, his tone ice-cold. His eyes flicked to the lavish gifts spread across the table: vintage wine, a designer handbag, and a diamond necklace.
Helen clapped her hands. “Oh, look at what Tom brought! Real gifts, not the cheap things you get for Pamela.”
Tom leaned toward Pamela, placing the necklace in her lap. “This would look stunning on you, Pamela. Only the best for the best.” He winked, his hand lingering just a bit too long on her shoulder.
Pamela shifted uncomfortably, glancing away. “Tom, I… I don’t think—”
“Oh, don’t be shy, darling,” Helen interrupted, patting her hand. “After all, Tom is a real catch. Wouldn’t hurt to give him a chance.”
James gritted his teeth, but his voice was steady. “You know, Tom, you’re quite generous for someone who can’t seem to own up to his mistakes.”
Tom’s smile faltered, but he recovered quickly, chuckling. “Mistakes? Sounds like someone’s desperate.”
Helen sneered. “James, stop embarrassing yourself. Tom’s obviously leagues above you.”
George nodded, sipping his wine. “If you cared about Pamela, you’d step aside and let her be with someone worthy of her.”
James ignored their taunts, keeping his gaze locked on Tom. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Tom. The hit-and-run.”
Tom’s smirk faded. “Accusing me now? Pathetic.”
James pulled out his phone. “Pathetic? Let’s take a look.” He pressed play, and the screen displayed footage of a black Mercedes S600, speeding down the street and hitting his sister, then driving off.
Helen scoffed. “That could be anyone’s car, James. Honestly, you’re reaching.”
Tom forced a laugh, but his face had paled slightly. “See, even Helen understands. There are hundreds of black Mercedes S600s. You’re just trying to slander me.”
James raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “Oh, I thought you might say that.” He swiped through the photos on his phone, enlarging a close-up still from the video, showing Tom’s face clearly through the windshield at the moment of impact.
Pamela gasped, eyes wide. “Tom… that’s you…”
Tom stammered, looking from James to the screen. “This is a setup! This is blackmail!”
George jumped to Tom’s defense, his tone furious. “Enough of your nonsense, James. This is just an attempt to cover your own failures!”
James kept his voice steady, addressing Pamela directly. “Pamela, I know things have been tense between us, but you need to know the truth. I won’t stand by and let the man who nearly killed Emily walk free.”
Pamela glanced between James and Tom, her expression conflicted. “James, I… I didn’t think you were capable of making up lies like this, but…” She stared at Tom. “Tom, what’s going on?”
Tom cleared his throat, managing a feeble smile. “Pamela, don’t tell me you believe him. He’s just grasping at straws. Besides, you know what people say about James—he’s been down on his luck for years. He’s just trying to blame someone for it.”
James took a step forward, his voice firm. “This isn’t about luck, Tom. It’s about justice for Emily. You left her there, in pain, and now you’re here, acting like a hero? You can’t talk your way out of this.”
Tom’s gaze flickered, his confidence cracking. He looked away, avoiding the eyes now fixed on him.
Pamela’s voice was quiet but laced with steel. “I never knew you were capable of something like this, Tom. Emily could have died.”
Helen sputtered, her confidence faltering. “Pamela, darling, don’t be dramatic. Tom made a mistake, but James is just blowing it out of proportion.”
Pamela straightened, her eyes filled with a newfound resolve. “No, Mother. James is standing up for Emily. And maybe… maybe I need to start standing up for him.”
A silence fell over the room, each person processing the weight of what had just unfolded.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 107
Note inside the box:“You missed. Again. But don’t worry—next time, I won’t.”—LVictor scanned the area with growing unease. “He’s mocking us.”James stared at the bullet in his palm. It was polished, engraved with a number: 82.Pamela’s age? A countdown? A code?Damien circled the perimeter. “No surveillance. No footprints. They scrubbed everything clean. He wanted us to find this.”James slipped the bullet back into the box and handed it to Victor. “Send it to forensics. I want every trace of print, chemical, or toolmark pulled from that casing.”Victor nodded, already on his comms.Damien tilted his head. “You think this is a threat to Pamela?”James didn’t answer immediately. Then, grimly, “No. I think it’s a threat to me. A reminder that he can reach anyone I care about.”James’s Estate – Later That MorningPamela sat curled on the edge of the sofa, watching the fire crackle in the hearth. Her hair was still damp, her robe exchanged for one of James’s oversized shirts.He steppe
Chapter 106
The Trap TightensThe next morning, Emily stood by the window of her safehouse, coffee untouched in her hands. She hadn’t slept. The silence of the apartment was suffocating, each creak and shadow pulling her nerves tighter.She flinched when her phone buzzed.Unknown Number: You should’ve stayed on campus.Her hands trembled. A second message appeared—this time, an image. It showed her from behind, standing at that same window, moments ago.Emily dropped the phone.Downstairs, one of the guards caught the alert from the security system. James’s team had swept the apartment, locked down the perimeter, but clearly, someone had gotten close—too close.Maple Group HeadquartersJames’s eyes were bloodshot as he read Emily’s forwarded messages.“She’s supposed to be in a secure location,” he growled.Victor was already coordinating. “I’m pulling the surveillance now. Whoever got that photo had to be within fifty feet. If we’re lucky, they tripped a motion sensor.”Pamela hovered nearby, te
Chapter 105
As Damien left the office, escorted by security, Pamela turned to James, her expression a mixture of disbelief and concern.“You can’t be serious,” she said, her voice low. “You’re really going to work with him?”James rubbed his temple. “I’m going to use him. There’s a difference.”Victor folded his arms. “Still, it’s risky. Damien could be feeding Liam everything we say.”James nodded. “Which is why we won’t say much. Only what we want Liam to hear.”Pamela narrowed her eyes. “So he’s bait.”“Exactly.” James turned to the window again, his gaze dark and steady. “If Liam wants to play with shadows, let’s give him ghosts.”Meanwhile…Across the city, in a high-rise suite dimly lit by the fading evening sun, Liam Donovan stood by the bar, swirling a glass of bourbon. A man stood opposite him—tall, lean, with slicked-back hair and a presence that carried quiet violence.“Damien met with James,” the man reported.Liam smirked. “Of course he did. Like a moth to flame.”“Should I intervene
Chapter 104
James set his phone down, his fingers tightening around the device. Liam Donovan wasn’t just another businessman—he was a predator, the kind who thrived on exploiting weaknesses. Gregory had been desperate enough to call in a man like that, and now, even behind bars, his reach still lingered.Pamela’s brows furrowed as she stepped closer. “What did he say?”James exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the city skyline beyond his office window. “He made an offer.”Victor scoffed. “Let me guess. ‘Why fight when we can strike a deal’?”James smirked. “Almost word for word.”Pamela’s stomach tightened. “And what does he want?”James turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Control.”Victor’s jaw clenched. “Then we have a problem.”James’s eyes darkened. “No. He has a problem.”The Trap is SetBy morning, James had already begun countermeasures. Liam operated in the shadows, but that didn’t mean James couldn’t bring him into the light.Victor stood at James’s desk, handing over a file. “We fo
Chapter 103
The Last Loose EndDespite Gregory’s arrest, James couldn’t shake the feeling that something was unfinished. He sat in his office at Maple Group, fingers steepled as he studied the documents Victor had placed in front of him.“All of Gregory’s accounts have been frozen,” Victor reported. “The properties under his name are being seized. His investors have pulled out. On paper, he’s done.”James barely nodded. “And off paper?”Victor hesitated. “There’s one thing we haven’t accounted for—his offshore connections. Before his arrest, he made a large transfer to an unnamed entity. We don’t know where it went.”James’s jaw tightened. “Whoever received that money is still out there.”Victor sighed. “I’ve got people digging. But there’s something else you should see.”He pushed a file forward.James opened it. The first page was a printed email—one that had been sent from Gregory’s encrypted account just hours before his arrest.James’s eyes darkened as he read the message:“If you’re reading
Chapter 102
A Race Against TimeJames’s car sped through the city streets, Victor’s voice sharp in his earpiece.“We have a location. Gregory’s men were spotted near the east industrial district. They’re moving in on something—or someone.”James’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Pamela and Emily?”“They’re secure,” Victor assured him. “But this isn’t just a scare tactic, James. Gregory is making his final move.”James’s jaw clenched. “Then we make ours.”At the East Industrial DistrictThe air was thick with tension as Gregory’s men surrounded the abandoned warehouse. The target was inside—someone they had been paid to silence.Inside, a man sat in the shadows, his face pale with fear. He had once been one of Gregory’s closest business allies, but now, he was nothing more than a liability. He had agreed to testify against Gregory, and in return, Gregory had sent his men to eliminate him.A masked man stepped forward, gun in hand. “Mr. Shaw sends his regards.”The man squeezed his eyes shut
You may also like
The Hidden Successor In Disguise
SHIROE75.1K viewsRise Of The Disrespected Trillionaire Heir
Blaq78.0K viewsThe Ultimate Husband
Skykissing Wolf7.6M viewsSon-in-Law: A Commoner's Path to Revenge
Naughty Snail121.1K viewsThe Billionaire's Masked Heir
Jasmine Ousmane 347 viewsTHE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR
Victor Amos Regannez45.1K viewsThe Richest Student Heir
Limeberry172.4K viewsSon Of The Mafia Family
Neru angi883 views