Chapter 200: Mia, Give Me a Chance to Try?
Evening, end of work.
The black Maybach arrived at Mia's company entrance a few minutes early.
Ever since this car had appeared at her company, he'd switched from his usual Bentley to the Maybach.
He had no intention of keeping a low profile. After arriving, instead of waiting in the car, he got out and leaned against it conspicuously.
From the moment he started sending flowers and afternoon tea,
James had no plans to keep a low profile anymore.
He didn't want to wait slowly anymore, without even the right to declare his claim.
Soon it was time to get off work.
When James spotted Mia, he strode toward her.
After three days of his gestures, even though Mia hadn't said anything, her colleagues had pretty much figured out that besides James, who else could get that afternoon tea shop that doesn't do delivery to make an exception?
Seeing James walk toward Mia, they all stopped to watch how James would confess.
But unexpectedly, he walked over, looked at Mia with passionate eyes, and said quite naturally: "I bought your favorite shrimp tonight. What flavor would you like me to make for dinner?"
This wasn't exactly a confession, which disappointed everyone a bit.
But thinking it over carefully, the information revealed in those words was even more than—
In an instant, the looks directed at them became increasingly suggestive.
This move of James's to claim his territory worked even better than that passionate kiss from a few days ago.
After speaking, he reached out to hold her hand.
Mia glanced at James coolly and, without leaving a trace, raised her hand to wave at her colleagues, avoiding his grasp.
She turned and walked toward the car.
James immediately followed with his long strides, proactively opening the car door for her and helping her in.
The car drove away.
Throughout the ride, Mia didn't say a word.
Not until the car entered her residential complex and stopped downstairs.
She didn't get out immediately, but turned to look at him with a calm expression and said: "James, you've crossed the line!"
What about their agreement? What exactly had he been doing these three days?
James already knew from Mia's silence throughout the ride that she was upset.
After she spoke, he didn't get angry either, but slowly turned his head to meet her gaze.
He looked deep into her eyes with utmost seriousness and confessed to her formally once again.
"Mia, I love you."
That confession still sent ripples through Mia's heart.
She had prepared what she was going to say.
She was ready to tell him that it would be best if they didn't see each other anymore.
His actions had seriously affected her normal life.
She didn't like him interfering with her like this, but these words were disrupted by his confession.
"Mia, I know I'm still here in your heart. Don't deny it."
Three days ago at Mia's company entrance, James had already made up his mind.
He raised his hand and gently pressed it against her heart.
There, the rhythm was clearly irregular.
A person's heartbeat can't lie.
When he decided to take that step forward, he was determined to win.
"So what, James? I told you..."
Mia reached out to pull his hand away, but James grabbed her hand instead, his eyes even more serious.
"Mia, you know I was extremely unwilling to divorce back then, but I had no choice."
"I couldn't just watch you become more and more unhappy, so I could only choose to let go. Watching you leave me and live well, even if I was miserable, I accepted it. All of this was my own doing."
"I made many mistakes in our marriage. I did so many things that hurt you deeply."
"So you're scared—scared of repeating the same mistakes, scared of getting hurt again."
"But nobody's perfect. I can't turn back time and erase the hurt I caused you, but for the rest of my life, I'll do my best to make up for it and repair the damage."
"I'm not forcing you to accept me immediately or be with me. But I want to ask you to give me a chance to pursue you again."
"You divorced me, but you can't stay single forever, right?"
"You'll need to find a partner too, someone who can take care of not just your physical needs, but also your emotional and psychological ones."
"Since you'll eventually find someone, and everyone has a chance, why do you have to keep me at arm's length?"
"Can't you just give me a chance to pursue you again?"
"Just treat me as an ordinary person you've just met. I've fallen in love with you and want to pursue you. Can you give me a chance to pursue you?"
James's eyes were full of sincerity.
He knew Mia no longer rejected him.
She just couldn't let go of those hurts.
He was the one at fault.
He should also be the one actively fighting for this.
He would definitely use his actions to make her completely let go of her reservations and trust him again.
Seeing that Mia didn't show much resistance to his words and didn't immediately unbuckle her seatbelt to get out,
James knew there was a chance.
He promoted himself even more actively.
It was as if Mia were the interviewer and he was interviewing.
"Mia, let's talk about the exterior first. Look at my height, weight, and appearance—all pretty good."
"Then there's cooking. You love to eat, and after our divorce, I've been learning to cook. Although I haven't reached master level yet, I'll keep working hard."
"Whatever dish you want to eat, I can learn. As long as you're willing, I can cook for you for the rest of your life."
"Most importantly, we're so compatible and in sync."
"You've already test-driven me again, and you were quite satisfied, right?"
"Choose me, satisfaction guaranteed."
Mia: "...Shut up!"
He was serious for just a moment before getting improper again.
"Mia, give me a chance for a trial run?"
Looking at James, whose eyes were full of sincerity and who had said this much,
What else could she say?
"I'm hungry."
Without answering directly, she said this and pushed open the car door to get out.
James was smart enough.
Hearing this, he knew there was a chance.
He immediately got out after her, went to the trunk to get the groceries, and caught up to her in a few quick strides. "Mia, if the trial is satisfactory, can I be made permanent immediately?"
As he asked, he reached out to hold her hand.
Mia raised her hand and swatted it away.
"Don't get handsy in public."
Mia glanced at James from the corner of her eye. "I'm only giving you a chance to pursue me."
After speaking, she quickened her pace forward.
James's eyes held a smile.
He had patience.
Having taken another step forward, he was confident about completely eliminating Mia's fears and worries.
Back home, James consciously went into the kitchen, put the groceries he bought into Mia's refrigerator.
He took out what was needed for dinner, put on an apron, and started working.
Mia curled up on the sofa and turned on the TV.
The romantic dramas she used to love no longer interested her.
She had it on but wasn't watching, her attention drawn to James in the kitchen.
At first, she really did want to draw a clear line with James.
But fate seemed to be deliberately arranging things, pulling her and James together again.
From the night she was kidnapped and drugged, her relationship with James had already deviated from her initial plan.
In the car downstairs, listening to James say all those things,
She suddenly seemed to understand.
She was determined to divorce because back then, being with James made her truly unhappy.
Now, being with James, she had to admit she was happy.
No longer living in dependence on him, she wouldn't put him first in everything anymore, nor would she allow herself to become completely dependent.
She was now financially and personally independent.
Between them, she was now the one controlling the pace.
She no longer had to worry that if James changed his mind or betrayed her, she would have nowhere to turn.
As James said, she never planned to be alone forever anyway.
She had originally planned to emerge from the shadow of that marriage and start a new life.
To open her heart and find someone who made her heart flutter, to start fresh.
She had never considered James before.
But...
Mia's gaze fell on James cooking for her in the kitchen.
Only one phrase could describe him: perfect lover.
Just as she was admiring the view, her phone on the coffee table rang.
Mia briefly looked away and glanced at the caller ID.
It was an international call from Marigoldia.
Thinking for a moment, she picked up the phone and swiped to answer. "Hello, who is this?"
"It's me."
A hoarse, deep voice came through.
Strange yet somehow familiar.
Mia was quite annoyed.
The most annoying thing about answering calls was encountering this kind of overly self-important person.
Not identifying themselves—who knows who you are?
She had no clients in Marigoldia, nor anyone she knew there.
Mia's tone wasn't pleasant as she retorted, "Who do you think you are?"
"You heartless person, you can't even recognize my voice. All that caring and protecting you was for nothing."
The mock-angry tone instantly brought Mia back to her memories. She unconsciously raised her hand to touch her forehead.
Every time she made him angry, he would speak to her in this tone, then flick her forehead with his finger as punishment, but never with any real force.
"Uri!"
Mia called out in delighted surprise.
Uri, far away in Marigoldia, had a hint of laughter in his voice. "Mia, it's me."