Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Coming out of the stadium, Kai handed James a white paper bag. "Mr. Smith, Daniel just had someone deliver this."

James took the bag, gave a sound, then took my hand and got into the car.

On the ride back to the hotel, I didn't say a word the whole way.

Having lost the football bet to James, as a die-hard football fan, I felt incredibly disappointed.

Especially thinking about what James had said before—that guessing wrong meant punishment—I felt anxious and unsettled.

I really didn't know what punishment awaited me. My heart was very uneasy at that moment.

When we got back to the hotel, the staff had already delivered our luggage to the new room.

As soon as I entered the door, I rushed over and squatted in front of my suitcase, rummaging for clothes.

I planned to play dumb—grab some clothes, take a shower, then go straight to sleep. Maybe I could dodge this bullet.

"Ella," James called from behind me.

Without looking up, I kept searching through my clothes. "What?"

"Are you going to take a shower?"

I nodded. "It's too hot. I sweated a lot just now."

James chuckled and sat down nearby. "Doesn't the hotel have bathrobes?"

I quickly explained, "I'm used to wearing my own clothes."

Actually, it wasn't about habit at all—I was clearly being defensive!

James saw right through me. "You're on your period. What do you think I could possibly do to you? Is it really necessary to be this guarded?"

I quickly denied it. "No, I'm not."

James walked over and squatted down, directly closing my suitcase lid. He commanded in a low voice, "Wear the bathrobe to sleep tonight."

I had no choice. I put down the clothes I'd just found, grabbed a pair of underwear, and hurried to the bathroom.

I figured he had a point—I was on my period, so I really didn't need to be too scared. He probably wouldn't do anything to me.

Thinking this way, I felt a bit more relaxed.

After a quick shower in the bathroom, I came out wrapped in the bathrobe.

Looking up, I was surprised to see several bottles of alcohol on the round table beside James.

Before I went to shower, that table was clearly empty. When did he order drinks?

Could it be he didn't eat enough at dinner and wanted to drink in the middle of the night?

When James saw me come out, his eyes turned toward me. "Done washing?"

I nodded.

"Come here." His voice was emotionless.

I had no choice but to put down my towel and walk over.

James pointed at the paper bag on the sofa. "For you."

"What is it?" I became alert and slowly walked over to pick up the bag and open it.

"A jersey signed by Liam?" My voice trembled uncontrollably with surprise.

James looked at me and smiled. "Happy now?"

I was indeed incredibly happy and honestly nodded.

"This must be really expensive, right?" This wasn't just expensive—a jersey signed by Liam was something money couldn't easily buy.

James casually replied, "Not bad."

Looking at the jersey in my hands, I was filled with joy, but James's expression somehow changed.

"Ella," James suddenly said, "if I played football this well, would you also want to buy my signed jersey?"

I frowned, thinking to myself, probably not!

But I didn't dare say it out loud.

Seeing no response from me, James reached out and snatched the jersey from my hands, tossing it on the sofa. His tone became serious. "Alright, we can talk business now."

Hearing his tone change, my heart tightened, and my throat felt constricted.

The business he mentioned—could it be the punishment he talked about during the game?

I watched as he unhurriedly picked up a bottle, opened the cap, then put it back on the table. "Pour me a drink."

He looked at me as he spoke.

I walked over, picked up the bottle, and poured him a full glass.

James took a sip, set the glass down, and said with a half-smile, "Want to try something exciting?"

I shook my head without thinking.

Exciting or not, I didn't want to play. Not at all.

"Ella," James said, "when I want to play with you, you're not allowed to refuse."

I froze in place, not daring to make a sound for a long time.

James glanced at the bottles on the table, then at my shocked face, and said, "Feed me the drink."

I hesitated for a few seconds, then walked over and picked up the glass he'd just sipped from, stiffly bringing it to his lips.

James looked at the drink I offered, reached out to take the glass, but gently set it aside.

James looked at my frightened eyes and put the glass back in my hand. "Hold it, don't spill."

He looked at me and asked, "You still like the gift I just gave you, right?"

I responded flatly, "Yes."

"Didn't George tell you when my birthday is?"

I nodded. It seemed his birthday was indeed in a few days.

James continued, "Then shouldn't you return the favor and give me a birthday gift?"

I bit my lower lip and asked, "What do you need?"

James thought for a moment. Actually, he lacked nothing, but at this moment, he seemed to have an idea.

He pointed at the belt thrown on the sofa and said, "That. Just get me one like that."

Following where his finger pointed, that belt looked expensive. I probably couldn't afford it.

James seemed to see my concern and said, "Didn't I give you a card? Use the money on the card to buy it for me."

For him, what I bought probably didn't matter. What mattered was that he wanted me to spend his money.

I hesitated for a while and said, "I'll figure something out."

I changed the subject. "I'm a bit tired. Can I go to sleep first?"

He pulled me into his arms. "Sleep. Tomorrow, when you wake up, we'll go back to Phoenix City."

I had no choice but to curl up obediently in his arms and sleep.

The next day at one in the afternoon.

"You're full already?" James looked at me sitting across from him and pushed the dishes on the table toward me. "Finish these two plates."

I looked at the food in front of me and swallowed. "I'm really full."

"You only ate this much?" James questioned. "Didn't you eat two sandwiches before?"

I looked helpless. "I really can't eat anymore."

James didn't insist further. "Well, don't complain about being hungry on the plane. It takes several hours to fly back to Phoenix City."

I nodded. "Okay."

James checked the time. "Let's go then."

I put down my utensils and stood up. "I want to use the restroom first."

I left my seat and walked toward the restroom.

When I came out of the restroom, having just washed my hands and preparing to return to my seat, I heard a woman's faint crying nearby.

This voice—why did it sound somewhat familiar?

I followed the sound.

I hadn't gone more than a few steps when I spotted a burly guy pinning down a woman, clearly up to no good.

When I saw the woman's face clearly, I was completely shocked. It was actually Lucy.

In that moment, without thinking, I grabbed a decorative item nearby and smashed it hard on the man's head.

The man cried out in pain and cursed, "Damn it!"

Clutching the back of his head, angry and hurt, he turned around and saw me glaring at him.

Looking at my frightened expression, the man suddenly flashed a wicked grin and taunted, "You want to join us?"

With that, he released Lucy beneath him and lunged at me.

Just then, a dark shadow flashed by.

Just as the man's hand was about to touch my shoulder, he was kicked into the wall behind him, letting out a painful scream.

Immediately after, I felt my hand being tightly grabbed, and a force pulled me toward the restaurant exit.

I glanced at the person pulling me—it was James—while I couldn't help looking back.

I saw the burly man get up from the ground again, run over to grab Lucy, pin her down, and frantically tear at her clothes.

I shouted, "James, wait!"

James stopped and looked back at me. "Still not leaving? Do you really want to join them?"

"No," I said urgently. "Lucy is still in there."

My tone was anxious. "James, can you please save Lucy?"