Chapter 206: Can't Quit
"Stop it. Are you still a child?"
James reached up and grabbed Lavinia's slender wrist, pulling her hand away.
His grip was firm but not harsh, his voice slightly low.
Clearly, he was displeased with her behavior.
"James, you're really no fun!"
The woman who had seemed so ladylike moments ago turned into a little girl in front of James.
She pouted and pulled her hand back, but didn't sit down.
Standing beside James, she used his own words against him, "If I'm not a child anymore, then where are your gentlemanly manners?"
James looked at Lavinia helplessly and stood up to pull out the chair across from him for her.
Hearing the movement, Mia looked up again, and her eyes met James's directly.
Their gazes locked.
Mia?
What was she doing here?
Thinking about how Lavinia had just hugged him from behind.
He wondered if Mia had seen it.
Would she misunderstand?
James's heart jumped, and he instinctively let go of the chair.
Just as he was about to call out to her, he saw her look away coldly.
That glance just now seemed like an accidental sweep.
He'd been panicking all this time, but Mia didn't care at all.
She didn't care that he was having dinner with another woman, nor that another woman was touching him.
He had thought that when Mia agreed to give him a chance to pursue her, it meant their relationship had taken a big step forward.
But seeing how indifferent Mia was, James suddenly wasn't sure anymore.
That morning at breakfast, when he saw someone being attentive to Mia, his jealousy and frustration showed how much he cared.
Right now, the calm and indifference Mia showed seeing him with Lavinia meant she didn't care at all.
Even though he was mentally prepared for a long pursuit of Mia.
But realizing Mia didn't care about him, James felt hurt even though it didn't show on his face, and his mood clearly darkened.
"James?"
Lavinia remained in her sitting position, and seeing he hadn't pushed her chair in, she turned her head elegantly to remind him.
Hearing her voice, James looked away and pushed the chair in for her.
Lavinia sat down.
She elegantly rested her chin on one hand, watching James sit back down.
This time, he didn't sit across from her, but in the seat to her left.
After sitting down, his gaze clearly looked toward a certain spot again.
The same direction he'd been looking when he forgot to push her chair in.
There sat two women of different ages, both equally beautiful.
And James's gaze was clearly fixed on the beautiful woman facing her.
"James, do you want me to help you?"
After the food arrived, Lavinia asked James mischievously.
"What?"
James turned to look at her.
"Peel shrimp for me."
There was a plate of shrimp on the table.
"She'll definitely get jealous."
Seeing James didn't move, Lavinia added another line.
This one clearly tempted James.
He didn't say much, but picked up the disposable gloves from the side and started peeling shrimp.
The first one.
No reaction.
The second one.
Still no reaction.
The third one.
Finally there was a reaction—Mia stood up, taking the girl with her.
She didn't use his name to sign the bill, but paid directly and left.
The whole time, she didn't look at him once.
She truly didn't care about his behavior at all.
James was completely speechless.
What happened to the jealousy?
The shrimp peeling was completely pointless.
He threw down the half-peeled shrimp in his hand, watching Mia's departing figure.
His heart felt terribly blocked.
Seeing this, Lavinia looked innocent, "James, you can't blame me for this trick not working. This move works every time as long as the girl loves the guy. If it doesn't work, it only means the girl doesn't love—"
James knew she didn't mean anything by it, but he took it to heart.
A knife stabbed into his chest.
He was very clear that he loved Mia deeply.
But what about Mia?
He thought that because Mia was willing to sleep with him, it meant she still had feelings for him, that she still loved him.
But was it possible that Mia really was just settling because of habit or simply because of those reasons he gave when selling himself to her?
The more James thought about it, the more his heart ached.
He couldn't eat this meal anymore.
"Lavinia, I'm leaving first. When Louis comes, tell him we'll have a proper welcome dinner for you next time."
After speaking, without giving Lavinia time to react, he had already gotten up hurriedly and rushed out.
Even if Mia didn't care, he couldn't help but explain.
By the time James rushed out, Mia and Lily had already left in a taxi.
After James left, Lavinia looked at the half-peeled shrimp on his plate.
She picked up the disposable gloves he had just worn, put them on, finished peeling that shrimp, and ate it.
After eating, she elegantly pulled them off, threw them aside, got up and left.
Louis wouldn't be coming tonight.
...
The taxi stopped downstairs at the apartment complex where Lily lived. Mia wanted to get out and see her in, but Lily stopped her.
"Mia, I can go in by myself. You should go back and rest early."
Lily insisted, so Mia didn't push it.
"Don't overthink things when you get home. Rest well."
"Okay!"
Lily nodded and opened the car door to get out.
Mia sat in the car, signaling her to go in quickly. She watched until Lily walked into the complex before signaling the driver to leave.
After entering the complex, Lily felt uncomfortable physically and slowed her pace, walking slowly with her head down.
From the moment she saw Benjamin and Saskia, her heart felt like someone was constantly cutting it with a knife.
It hurt so much she couldn't breathe.
She had just reached the building entrance when she suddenly heard a familiar voice, "Get in the car."
Lily immediately looked up.
She saw Benjamin's car parked downstairs at her complex. He sat inside, the window rolled down, looking at her with cold eyes devoid of any warmth.
Seeing that look, and remembering the gentle gaze he had for Saskia.
Her already bleeding heart was cut again.
She wasn't blaming him, nor trying to throw a tantrum.
She knew she had no right.
It was just that seeing him intimate with another woman really hurt.
It hurt so much that for a moment, she didn't know how to face him again.
For the first time, Lily disobeyed Benjamin's words.
She didn't obediently get in the car, but turned and continued walking inside.
Benjamin's eyes grew even colder.
He hadn't expected Lily to dare disobey him.
He didn't push open the car door to chase after her, but the moment she disobeyed and continued walking forward, his voice seemed to be laced with ice.
"Lily, if you don't get in the car today, you'll never have another chance to get in this car."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Lily's steps froze abruptly.
She stood in place, unable to take another step forward.
She understood clearly what he meant.
She wanted to have some backbone, didn't want to be threatened by him.
But—
Her feet felt like they were filled with lead, unable to move forward.
If she kept walking, she would never see him again.
At the thought of never seeing Benjamin again, Lily's eyes immediately reddened, tears welling up.
She couldn't do it.
She couldn't bear to.
Benjamin was like a drug to her.
Once she got hooked, she couldn't quit.
Her feet seemed to have a mind of their own. After holding out for just a few seconds, she turned around and walked back to Benjamin's car, pulled open the door, and got in.
As soon as she sat down, she heard a cold laugh.
Lily gripped the seatbelt tightly, biting her lip.
...
At Emerald Estates, Benjamin walked ahead with Lily following behind.
One in front, one behind, they entered the door.
As soon as Lily entered, Benjamin grabbed her chin.
A punishing kiss followed.