Chapter 70: Lower Abdomen Collides with Flower Bed
"You can really get me out of the country?"
Mabel was at her wit's end now.
James had left Mabel no room to maneuver. In just one week, Apex Global Enterprises had disappeared from Imperial City.
Mabel's father was now saddled with massive debts.
To pay off the debts, he wanted to sell her to an abusive old man nearly seventy years old.
If she really married him, her life would be ruined.
"What do you think?"
Mabel had no choice.
Right now, she could only trust Amelia.
"I trust you."
"Good."
Amelia was about to hang up when Mabel urgently stopped her. "Amelia, I'll get rid of the baby in her belly for you, and you give me an extra five million dollars."
That child wasn't worth that price.
"Five hundred thousand dollars."
"Fine."
Mabel gritted her teeth and agreed.
To leave this hellhole, she would definitely get rid of Mia's baby.
......
Half a month later
At the Smith Group, Amelia called James early in the morning. "Mr. Smith, they want to move tonight's dinner to noon. Is that okay?"
"Fine."
James agreed.
"Okay, Mr. Smith, I'll arrange it."
After speaking, Amelia hung up in a businesslike manner.
Ever since he reminded her to keep work and personal matters separate at the company, for the past half month at work, she hadn't crossed any lines.
As for Mia—
Thinking of Mia, the cold, hard lines on James's face visibly softened. He picked up his phone to video call her.
Mia was getting ready to go out. After answering, she set the phone aside and sat down to change her shoes.
James saw this and asked, "Where are you going?"
"To browse at the bookstore."
She'd been going to the bookstore every day for the past few days.
Although she was trying to give things another shot with James, she hadn't thought about living off him without a care like before.
After going through it once, she clearly realized how important financial independence was for a woman.
The baby wasn't three months along yet, and the pregnancy wasn't stable enough for her to look for work, but she could spend this time reading more to enrich herself.
"This Saturday, I'll go with you?"
He wasn't comfortable with her going out alone.
He wanted to arrange bodyguards for her, but she thought that was over the top and felt uncomfortable with it.
Mia looked up and rolled her eyes at the phone. "James, I'm barely showing yet!"
It wasn't that serious.
She couldn't even go out.
"Then let the servants..."
"I'm leaving now. It's not safe to look at my phone while walking. Hanging up."
Mia got up and opened the door. After speaking, she ended the call and put her phone in her bag.
He was so naggy.
......
The Smith Group
Even after being hung up on, James showed no sign of annoyance.
Over the past ten-plus days, he'd watched as her guard gradually came down.
She would act cute and throw little tantrums. The old Mia who loved to smile and was carefree was coming back.
There was a knock on the door—it was Aaron.
Amelia had already set the time, and he came to adjust James's other appointments for the day.
James set his phone aside and started his busy day.
......
The bookstore
This was her fourth time coming here. Mia walked in with familiarity and went straight to the third floor.
Mabel followed behind her to the third floor.
To escape her misery, she had pretended to agree, which allowed her freedom of movement.
She'd been staking out the entrance of Luxe Haven for half a month, and four days ago, she finally caught Mia going out alone.
Like a scorpion lurking in the shadows, she calculated a single decisive strike.
Today was the day she would make her move.
She quickly found Mia in front of a bookshelf.
"Mia."
A shrill voice rang out.
Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward them.
Including Mia's.
Her back pressed against the bookshelf as she looked up toward the voice.
At first glance, she almost didn't recognize Mabel.
In less than a month, she looked like a different person—so thin her face had changed shape. Her makeup was heavy, but it couldn't hide the injuries on her face.
Watching her walk with a limp, clearly having trouble with her legs, it was obvious she'd been having a rough time.
With Mabel like this, Mia could handle her with one hand. She wasn't worried about her getting physical.
Mia just gave her a cold glance, not wanting to engage. "This is a bookstore. Keep your voice down."
"Why should I keep my voice down? What are you afraid of? Afraid I'll tell everyone you're a homewrecker?"
Not only did Mabel not lower her voice, it got louder and louder.
"Are you sick? Did a dog bite you when you went out?"
Like she had rabies, barking wildly here.
"I'm sick? You dare to do it but won't admit it? Who seduced another woman's man when she wasn't around, threw yourself at him, and used a fake pregnancy to force marriage?"
Mia couldn't be bothered with her.
"The position you stole with your tricks won't be stable. It won't be long before Amelia replaces you."
"Do you know how much he cares about Amelia? He can't live without Amelia anymore. He arranged for Amelia to join his company to be with him, just so he could see her every day."
Mia's heart tightened.
James had Amelia join the company to be with him?
But quickly, she pushed the thought away.
Mabel was clearly trying to provoke her.
She didn't want to deal with Mabel, but Mabel wouldn't let up.
Staff members came over to intervene, and Mabel temporarily shut up.
Once they left, she continued.
Mia was exasperated.
What a lunatic.
Not only was she making it impossible for Mia to read properly, she was disturbing others too.
Mia decided to leave.
No point arguing with a crazy person.
She put down her book and quickened her pace, leaving from the other side.
Seeing her leave, Mabel cursed and followed behind her.
Mia ignored her and walked faster.
With her bad leg, Mabel couldn't keep up with Mia's pace.
The two quickly put distance between them. Mia stayed alert the whole time, watching out for Mabel.
Worried that she might lose her mind and charge at her recklessly.
She quickened her pace while keeping an eye on Mabel behind her.
It wasn't until she safely reached the first floor and looked back to see Mabel still at the first-floor corner that Mia finally relaxed and strode toward the exit.
As she walked out, she wondered whether today was an accident or if Mabel had done it on purpose, and whether she should switch to a different bookstore tomorrow.
Lost in thought, she had already walked out of the bookstore.
As Mia walked out, she kept watching Mabel behind her.
As she stepped through the door, in that last glance at Mabel, she saw a vicious smile appear at the corner of her lips.
That smile terrified Mia.
Like a venomous snake opening its mouth at her.
She instinctively quickened her pace forward.
She was only watching Mabel and didn't notice the person who had been lying in wait at the entrance.
Seeing her, they found the right moment and charged at her with full force.
Mia couldn't react in time.
The person's impact was too strong. Her whole body was knocked toward the planter at the bookstore entrance.
Her lower abdomen was positioned right at the sharp corner of the planter.
Mia's face instantly turned extremely pale.
She wanted to stop it, but her body was out of her control as she crashed into it.