Chapter 21
At that moment, Jocelyn’s face was deathly pale. As soon as the car stopped, she jumped out and began vomiting
Everything churning in her stomach came pouring out. The sour stench overwhelmed her senses, making her feel deeply humillated. She had never been this pitiful in her life.
As she wiped her mouth with her sleeve, her fury surged to the point that she wanted to tear James apart with her bare hands.
“James Payne! What the hell are you trying to do? Do you think I’m afraid of you? If you dare lay a hand on me, you’re done! Most of your businesses are tied to the Mentley family.
“If I die, you’ll be going down with me, too. Let me go right now!!!
With that last sentence, the proud Mentley family heiress seemed to have made a comeback. She straightened up, her posture arrogant and noble onch more, refusing to meet James‘ eyes. Her gaze was full of scom and contempt for him.
“Jocelyn, you’re not the only heiress in the Mentley family.”
James smiled and approached her as he continued, “Do you really think that what we have is more than a transaction? You were just a chess piece the Mentley family handed over to me. From the moment the contract was signed, your life belonged to me.”
His words were slow, but they made focelyn flinch slightly. She stared at him, feeling a chill spread through her entire body.
Disbelief filled her eyes as she cried out, unwilling to accept the truth. “James! If I die, how will you explain this to the Mentley family? We’re not even married yet!”
However, James didn’t stop. He kept advancing, forcing her back step by step.
“So what? Naomi was my only family. She was the only person I cared about all these years. Because of you, I thought she hadn’t changed. Because of you, I overlooked the pain that damn Jeanine Academy inflicted on her!”
from endless torture etched into her
James recalled the horrifying scars on Naomi’s back–new wounds layered over old ones, crisscrossing like brands from skin.
There wasn’t a part of her body untouched by scars. It was as if every inch of her had endured untold suffering
As the memories resurfaced, James‘ voice began to tremble with anguish. “Because of you, she had to get skin grafts,
He thought about how painful it must have been for Naomi to have a knife slice into her flesh. But he remembered clearly how she hadn’t said a single word. She didn’t act coy and ask for mercy, nor did she ever plead. She didn’t even look at him
The thought pierced his heart all over again.
“And in the end, even. James couldn’t finish the sentence.
Memories from the past resurfaced in his mind.
“I was wrong, I acknowledge my mistakes, I beg you, please don’t leave me hebel Save me, Uncle James… I can’t be left alone here with these men. It’ll drive me crazy. I’ll lose my mind!”
Naomi’s shrill screams of pain and despair rang out. Blood mixed with tears streamed down her forehead and stained the floor red. That complete mental breakdown Naomi once had–it had also been Jocelyn’s doing. And even then, he still turned his back on her. James shut his eyes and fell silent for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, Jocelyn turned and bolted.
James didn’t bother giving chase as he watched her figure slowly disappear into the distance. That was because this road led to a dead end.
Naomi had once been a cheerful and sweet young lady. She would run ahead and look back at him, calling out over and over. “Uncle James, hurry up!”
When she was wronged, she’d cling to his sleeve and cry her heart out, sobbing so hard that the people around them couldn’t help but stop and stare. But Naomi had never found it shameful.
James knew that it was his fault. He had done this. Just like now, step by step, he had driven Naoin into a dead end
It was time to end it all.
