Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Just like when I was abroad alone before.

I ran into some thugs who cornered me in an alley. I was completely helpless and alone, thinking I might actually die there.

If Aria hadn't shown up in time, I don't know what would have happened.

But why me?

Why is it always me?

The two scenes kept overlapping crazily in my mind, forming a huge net that trapped me tightly, almost suffocating me.

Pain flashed in James's eyes as he clenched his fists at his sides.

The hospital room fell silent.

I lowered my eyes, trying to breathe deeply to calm myself down.

After I finally calmed down, I looked up at James, "Why did you come back last night?"

Thank goodness he came back.

Does that mean he still cares about me?

The huge hole in my heart gradually began to fill up.

It felt warm, at least the cold wind wasn't blowing through it anymore.

But the next moment, James's words were like ice water in the dead of winter, drenching me from head to toe. My heart, which had just warmed up, froze over again.

"I forgot something and came back. I happened to see some drunk guy pulling at a young woman. After I got out of the car, I didn't expect it to be you."

Didn't expect it to be me?

My mind went blank, and my ears started ringing.

The tiny bit of comfort I'd just felt instantly vanished into nothing.

He didn't come back for me, and he didn't rush out of the car for me either. He was just being a good Samaritan.

How ridiculous.

So it was all just my wishful thinking?

I pulled at the corner of my mouth mockingly and couldn't help but say sarcastically, "I never knew you were the type who liked playing hero."

James's brow furrowed with displeasure, and my heart sank bit by bit.

Being delusional hurts the most.

The tiny spark of hope in my eyes dimmed again.

I lowered my head and bit my lip hard, using the pain to remind myself.

Stop being delusional. Stop hoping that James might still care about me.

We can't go back to how things were.

"James..."

My voice carried a sob I couldn't suppress. I looked up to meet James's cold eyes.

Suddenly, an impulse rose in my heart.

Maybe I should just tell him everything!

Tell him the truth about why I left all those years ago.

If I did that, would James stop resenting me?

I opened my mouth and asked in a hoarse voice, "If one day you found out it was all a misunderstanding, would you regret what you said today?"

James froze, something complicated I couldn't understand flashing in his eyes, then he laughed coldly, "If? You tell me, what's the point of talking about 'ifs' when it already happened?"

My body instantly stiffened. I didn't know how to argue back.

It's true, I really did leave back then.

Even though I did it to get investment for James, I really did abandon him when he needed me most.

That was the only thing I could do for James.

But looking at James now, he clearly wouldn't trust me.

Since I can't tell him the truth, I should just stop clinging to him.

I slumped back against the headboard and shut my mouth.

James's gaze swept across my face, his eyes full of irritation.

He suddenly stood up and walked away.

He slammed the hospital room door so hard it scared several passing doctors and nurses.

I had no reaction to him leaving.

Right after James left, someone quietly appeared in the room.

My eyes moved slightly as I looked expressionlessly at Lucy, who was sitting on the sofa wearing sunglasses that covered half her face. My tone was cold.

"Ms. Green, are you here to mark your territory?"

"What a shame you weren't qualified to attend that charity gala. Otherwise, you could have met some important people to help your career reach new heights."

Lucy's superior attitude instantly turned dark.

She took off her sunglasses, unable to hide the greed in her eyes.

"You really have a sharp tongue. No wonder James can't forget you."

I didn't care at all about the mockery in her words.

Lucy had already come between James and me. Even if I made a scene, what would it change?

I'd just get another look of disgust from James.

My so-called wife status was nothing but a caged canary in name only.

I thought mockingly to myself, just as I met Lucy's pitying gaze.

"Even though James made me famous, I know I can't always depend on him. I can't be a canary in his palm."

She paused, looking at me mockingly with superior pity in her tone, "But you, as his wife, can't see this clearly."

I was slightly stunned, "You also think I'm just a canary living off James?"

I guess that's true.

I can't even find a job to support myself.

James keeps me locked in the villa with no freedom.

Isn't that exactly what a caged canary is?

"So you do have some self-awareness."

Lucy sneered, "If this continues, James will get tired of you sooner or later and throw you away. Aren't you scared?"

I asked softly, "What's there to be scared of?"

If I could leave James, I'd have my freedom. I could find a stable job, pay for Mom's treatment, and take care of her.

Now Mom is all I have in my heart. I don't want to think about anything else.

Lucy's expression changed. She clearly didn't expect me to be so calm.

She raised her voice, "Aren't you afraid of James abandoning you?"

I looked at her quietly, not quite understanding why she was so worked up.

"If I get abandoned, you should be the happiest person, right? Ms. Green, you've achieved your goal. That should be enough. Don't be too smug."

Lucy came to see me today with such obvious bad intentions.

I know it, I just don't want to argue with her.

I don't want James anymore either.

Since he won't let me go, let's just keep torturing each other like this and see who suffers more.

Lucy snorted, "I haven't achieved my goal yet. Anna, do you know why James left you there last night?"

"He's James. How could he not know what Cade is like? Cade is famous in our circle for getting handsy when he's drunk."

At these words, my face turned pale.

Lucy continued, "James knew everything. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come back so timely."

"Forgot something? That's just an excuse. You're such a pitiful wife. Not only do you have to be a caged canary by James's side, but you also have to be lied to."

Meeting the pity in Lucy's eyes, my hands under the blanket clenched into fists, my nails digging deep into my palms, sending sharp pain through me.

The pain brought back my rationality.

I took a deep breath and slowly smiled distantly, speaking calmly, "Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself. At least I'm qualified to attend the gala. What about you, Ms. Green? I bet you tried everything and still couldn't find a way to get in, right?"

The superiority Lucy had been trying to maintain instantly crumbled.

She glared at me with a dark expression, "Don't get cocky. James will throw you away sooner or later!"