Chapter 72: Borrowing James
His jawline was taut, clearly struggling to control his emotions. His gaze wasn't on her—it fell coldly on something behind her.
Benjamin?
Mia immediately turned around and saw that because she'd suddenly let go, Benjamin had lost his balance. His face looked terrible as he tried to steady himself.
"Benjamin."
Mia gasped and immediately pushed against James, trying to go help him.
But—
The arms around her waist were like iron clamps, locking her firmly in his embrace, making it impossible to break free.
"James, let go!"
Seeing Benjamin's face getting worse and worse, and unable to push James away, Mia anxiously slapped his chest hard. "Let go! Can't you see he can barely stand?"
James looked at Mia in his arms, so worried about Benjamin, and his voice grew even colder. "What's it to you?"
Hearing his increasingly cold tone, Mia belatedly realized—James was jealous.
This was the first time she'd seen James jealous. It was quite novel.
But still, he should pick his moments and targets for jealousy.
Knowing how stubborn James could be, Mia quickly explained what had just happened.
She'd just gotten to the part about nearly having an accident.
James's ice-cold expression instantly cracked, his grip loosened, and he stepped back slightly. His worried gaze swept over her from head to toe. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Thanks to Benjamin protecting me, the baby and I are both okay."
And here he was, making a scene!
As she spoke, Mia pushed James away and turned to help Benjamin.
Before her hand could touch Benjamin, James pulled her back again.
"I'll do it."
She was about to get annoyed when she heard James say, "I'll do it."
So Mia obediently stood in place, watching James step forward and grip Benjamin's arm to support him.
What had taken all her strength to hold up, James steadied with one hand.
Benjamin's body suddenly went limp, transferring most of his weight to James.
James's expression darkened.
His hand started to let go.
"James, if you're going to help, do it properly."
The moment he moved, Mia, who'd been watching them closely, noticed.
Afraid James would actually let go, she was already moving to take over.
James was speechless.
He could only support him properly, shooting Benjamin a warning look.
Don't test his limits.
Benjamin ignored it.
He hadn't expected Mia's husband to be James.
...
Benjamin was helped onto a wheelchair, and medical staff pushed him off for X-rays and examination.
Mia worriedly started to follow, but James pulled her back, pinching her pouty, frustrated face. "I'll make sure he's taken care of."
"Let's get you checked out."
"Okay."
Mia was used to James making arrangements.
He was so good at planning everything—letting him handle things was especially worry-free.
Since they were already at the hospital, getting checked would be more reassuring anyway.
James walked inside with his arm around her, and Mia leaned against him, the corners of her lips unconsciously curving up.
This scene was all caught by Amelia, who had just finished her call with Mabel.
Seeing Mia perfectly fine, her gaze turned cold.
That bitch Mabel, claiming Mia's baby had already been taken care of.
How dare she lie to her.
Making her happy for nothing.
Her gaze fell coldly on Mia's lower abdomen.
This baby—she'd see just how long it could last.
Amelia quickly adjusted her expression and pushed her wheelchair in that direction.
She should go thank James.
Today he'd saved her.
Fighting five men alone, disregarding his own safety to deal with those people who'd come to cause her trouble.
That's how she'd escaped unscathed.
Thinking of James in that alley, fighting for her sake.
Every move radiating that heart-racing masculine energy.
Amelia's heart began to beat irregularly.
Since that meeting, she'd increasingly discovered James's charm.
Her gaze couldn't help but follow him.
She pushed the wheelchair faster and faster, eager to see—
When Mia found out that while she was in danger, James had been fighting desperately for her, Amelia, what expression would she have?
"James, thank goodness you showed up in time today to deal with those people for me, otherwise—"
Hearing the familiar voice, the smile on Mia's face instantly froze.
She looked toward the sound.
It really was Amelia.
She sat in a wheelchair, her leg wrapped in bandages.
The moment she saw her, the doubts that had flooded her mind when James suddenly appeared were answered.
Because of Amelia.
When she was in danger, he'd been protecting Amelia instead.
Mia's heart instantly felt like someone had squeezed it, the pain making her instinctively try to pull her hand away.
The moment she moved, her hand tightened—James pulled it back.
From holding hands to interlocking fingers.
Mia looked at him.
James's gaze was on Amelia as he said coolly, "Just passing by. No big deal."
Hearing this, Amelia almost couldn't control her expression.
She hadn't expected James to distance himself from her so directly in front of Mia.
What "just passing by."
Didn't he know how cold his personality was?
Try someone else—see if he'd bother helping.
...
Mia understood that James was explaining to her.
He'd said that from now on, he and Amelia would just be friends.
He'd really done it.
Right now, his attitude was open and honest—truly just friends.
She also knew today was an accident. James hadn't appeared in time, and she didn't blame him.
But seeing him with Amelia made her heart especially uncomfortable.
She felt awful inside but didn't want to show it in front of Amelia.
She kept her face neutral, but her hand tightened forcefully, her nails digging deep into the back of James's hand.
For not being there when she was in danger, for being with Amelia instead!
James noticed and glanced at her.
He guided her hand directly to his waist, to the softest flesh there.
Mia turned to look at him, seeing his face completely open, his eyes holding a secret language only the two of them understood.
The intimate couple exchanged a glance, and Mia understood what James meant.
In the past, when she was upset or angry, she'd pinch him.
With his body full of muscle, pinching anywhere just hurt her own hand.
Later she'd discovered that soft spot on his waist.
After that, whenever she got angry, she'd pinch that spot.
James's cooperation made some of the anger in Mia's heart dissipate.
She pulled her hand back, deciding not to pinch.
Their hands fell back to their sides, but still held tightly together.
Inside, Amelia was already furious. It was bad enough that Mia was deliberately being affectionate in front of her, but even James was deliberately playing along.
It had been unforgivable before.
Let alone now, after she'd developed feelings—
"Mia, my leg is injured and it's inconvenient. Could I borrow your husband for a few minutes to help me to my car?"
Amelia smiled graciously as she finished, then added half-jokingly, "You won't be too stingy to lend him, right?"