Chapter 32 Caroline’s Counterattack
He didn't know James at all, just thought he was some idiot rushing in to play hero.
James didn't respond. He walked forward step by step, his leather shoes crushing the broken glass on the floor with crisp, crackling sounds.
The cold aura around him pressed down layer by layer, and the temperature in the private room seemed to drop several degrees.
"Get lost if you know what's good for you, or I'll make sure you can't survive in Silvermoon City!"
Allan kept shouting arrogantly and reached out to push James's shoulder.
James's eyes turned cold. With a flip of his wrist, he grabbed Allan's arm directly. A crisp snap followed—the sound of breaking bone was particularly piercing.
"My hand!"
Allan screamed, his whole body convulsing in pain, his face instantly twisting into a mess.
James didn't stop. He lifted his foot and stomped on Allan's other forearm. Another dull thud.
Allan collapsed on the ground in agony, tears and snot mixing together, wailing non-stop.
"Today I'm crippling both your hands to teach you how to control your filthy paws."
James's voice was flat, yet carried a ruthlessness that made people's scalps tingle.
He glanced sideways at the Collins Group employees standing nearby, his eyes cold as knives.
Those employees' legs went weak with fear. They all lowered their heads in unison, not daring to even breathe loudly.
James didn't look at them again and turned to walk toward Caroline.
She was still frozen in place, shoulders trembling slightly, face terrifyingly pale, her torn sleeve hanging to one side, looking particularly disheveled.
James took off his black jacket and wrapped it directly around her.
The jacket was oversized, enveloping her entire body.
"Don't be afraid."
He softened his voice, completely different from just moments ago.
Caroline didn't speak. She grabbed his jacket corner tightly, her knuckles losing all color.
Her heart was still pounding wildly. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Allan's disgusting face, and her stomach churned.
James bent down and scooped her up in his arms.
She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck, warm tears instantly soaking his collar.
James carried her all the way out of the hotel and gently placed her in the car.
The car door closed, and the cabin became completely quiet, leaving only her suppressed trembling.
"It's okay now. He'll never be able to touch you again."
James pulled her closer into his embrace, his palm patting her back repeatedly, the movements clumsy yet gentle.
Caroline sniffled, her voice hoarse beyond recognition.
"I was so scared just now. I was afraid I couldn't break free."
The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt. Tears fell harder, her shoulders shaking.
"It's okay now, it's okay. Caroline, I'm here."
James looked down, his fingertips wiping away the tear tracks on her face.
Looking at her reddened eyes, his Adam's apple rolled gently, and he lowered his head to plant a light kiss on her forehead.
Very light, very steady.
Caroline's body trembled slightly. She looked up at him, eyes wet and full of panic and dependence.
James's heart tightened. The kiss slowly moved down, brushing past her eyes, landing on her lips.
No longer restrained and gentle, but carrying the tension of something lost and found, and suppressed heartache.
Caroline closed her eyes tightly, her fingers clutching his shirt hard, the fabric crumpling into a ball.
Her heartbeat was so fast it felt like it would explode. Her mind went blank, nervous and panicked, yet she didn't want to push him away.
The moment their lips and teeth intertwined, James suddenly froze.
He pressed his forehead against hers, breathing hot, eyes dangerously dark, forcibly stopping himself.
Going any further, he feared he couldn't control himself and would scare her.
Only their ragged breathing remained in the cabin, the atmosphere tense and heated.
Caroline opened her eyes in a daze, eyelashes fluttering lightly, her cheeks burning hot.
Before long, unable to hold on any longer, she leaned against James and fell into a deep sleep.
Her brows were still slightly furrowed, her sleep restless.
Back at the residence, James gently placed her on the bed and tucked her in.
Just as he turned around, his phone suddenly vibrated frantically—an unknown number.
He answered. Before he could speak, Daryl's furious cursing exploded from the other end.
"Caroline, you bitch! You crippled Allan! Do you know who he is?"
"The Collins family is going to be destroyed by you! You jinx! When you get back, I'm going to kill you!"
Daryl cursed with flying spittle, not realizing at all who had answered the phone.
James's expression instantly darkened.
He wanted to have Daryl killed directly, once and for all.
But on second thought, if Caroline wanted to establish herself at the Collins Group, she couldn't always rely on his protection.
She had to get through it herself, master the ability to face difficulties on her own.
"This is James."
That simple sentence brought instant dead silence on the other end.
After several seconds, Daryl's trembling voice came through, unable to speak coherently.
"Mr. Anderson? I didn't mean it. I thought it was Caroline."
"Daryl."
James leaned against the wall, fingertips holding the phone.
"If you dare curse at her one more time, I'll rip out your tongue. If you dare frame her again, I'll make you like Allan, spending the rest of your life bedridden."
Daryl was scared out of his wits, responding repeatedly.
"I know, I know. I won't dare again, never again."
James hung up directly, tossed the phone aside, the coldness in his eyes lingering.
The next morning, as soon as Caroline stepped into the company, an assistant frantically called her to a shareholders' meeting.
The conference room was packed, the atmosphere so oppressive it was suffocating.
Daryl shrank in a corner, eyes sinister, but no longer daring to be arrogant.
Landon sat in the main seat, face gloomy.
A bald shareholder was first to slam the table and stand up, pointing at Caroline and cursing.
"Caroline! Look at what you've done! Allan is our top client!"
"Now he's been crippled, the deal is completely hopeless, and the company has lost millions of dollars. Can you take responsibility?"
Another fat shareholder chimed in, his tone sarcastic and sleazy.
"Exactly! Allan just wanted to have a friendly chat with you, right?"
"If you'd just gone along with him, the deal would've been done. Was it necessary to make such a scene?"
As soon as those words came out, Caroline's expression turned cold, her fingertips digging hard into her palms.
"Friendly chat"—the phrase made her physically sick.
"Friendly chat?" She spoke up, her voice not loud but exceptionally clear.
"Why don't you send your wife and daughter over to have a 'friendly chat' with Allan? Would you be willing?"
The fat shareholder immediately flew into a rage, his face flushing red.
"How dare you! I'm your elder. How dare you talk to me like that? If it weren't for James protecting you, what would you even be?"
The surrounding shareholders nodded one after another, chiming in.
"No matter how fierce James is, he can't interfere with the Collins Group's internal affairs! Now that we've lost a major client, you must be removed as deputy manager!"
"You're already Mr. Anderson's woman anyway. Just be a good sugar baby. Why pretend to be a career woman!"
The taunts came one after another. Caroline's chest felt tight, but she didn't step back even half a step.
She remembered what James had said. Taking a deep breath, she suddenly stood up.
Before anyone could react, she raised her hand and slapped the bald shareholder across the face.
A crisp sound, and the entire room fell instantly silent.