Chapter 64: Do You Have Questions in Your Heart?
She had been feeling somewhat hesitant.
James's reaction settled it for her.
She couldn't back out now.
Mia's face flushed red as she reached out to pull the blanket over him, about to get up and go back to her room to sleep.
The moment she moved, her wrist was caught again.
Because of his high fever, his large hand was scorching hot.
Gripping her wrist, the heat penetrated through her skin, making her body tremble sensitively.
She instinctively tried to pull away.
Even in his weakened state, James was far stronger than Mia.
With just a slight pull, Mia, who had been kneeling on the bed with one knee, was yanked into his arms.
In her rush to change his clothes earlier, she had only fastened two buttons on her pajamas.
A large expanse of skin was exposed at her chest.
Her face pressed right against it.
With every breath, she inhaled James's masculine scent. Mia's face grew even hotter.
She braced her hands on either side of his body, trying to get up.
James's large hand pressed down, pushing her back into his embrace.
James's consciousness was foggy, thinking he was dreaming.
Except in dreams, Mia, who hadn't forgiven him yet, would never be this intimate with him.
His large hand pressed against her back, as if wanting to merge her into his body.
This embrace wasn't enough for James.
His arm slid downward, circling her slender waist.
With their height difference, he easily lifted petite Mia by the waist.
Her entire body was pulled onto the bed.
While she was still dazed, James had already used his leg to push aside the blanket, pulling her completely into his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck and nuzzling affectionately.
He was still feverish, his breath hot and scorching.
His thin lips pressed against her ear, his voice even more hoarse after the high fever, speaking softly by her ear, "Mia, let's not get divorced, okay?"
James had never lowered his head in front of her before.
With her, he wasn't like he was with others—distant, cold, keeping everyone at arm's length.
He was gentle, he doted on her, but he had never humbled himself.
Between them, he had always been the one looking down from above.
Facing James lowering his head for the first time.
The force with which she was about to pull away his large hand from her waist clearly loosened.
...
The night grew quiet.
Mia leaned against James's chest, listening to his slightly heavy breathing by her ear.
Holding her, he quickly fell asleep again.
Her hand still rested on his arm.
She hesitated for a while between pulling away or not.
In the end, she closed her eyes.
She didn't wake him again, just stayed there in his arms.
Soon, surrounded by his scent, she fell into a deep sleep.
...
The next day, James's consciousness hadn't fully cleared yet.
Out of habit, he tightened his arms, pulling Mia, who liked to nestle in his embrace while sleeping, onto his body to give her a good morning kiss.
"Mia, good morning."
He came up empty.
James's consciousness instantly cleared, and he opened his eyes.
Mia was gone. Only he remained in the bed.
Last night's embrace seemed like a dream.
But James knew last night wasn't a dream.
He had woken up groggily in the middle of the night and truly felt her in his arms.
She had slept soundly.
Just like every night they used to sleep in each other's arms.
He had thought that after last night, Mia had forgiven him.
But now it seemed—
James raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, threw off the blanket, and got up to go downstairs.
Downstairs, he didn't see Mia, nor did he see the housekeeper.
He called Mia's phone—she had left it at home.
He called the housekeeper and learned she was accompanying Mia on a walk to aid digestion.
She wanted to come back to make him breakfast, but he said no need, told her to stay with Mia and keep an eye on her.
The housekeeper agreed and hung up.
Throughout the entire conversation, Mia hadn't said a word.
So, she still hadn't forgiven him?
...
After missing a day at the company, there was a lot of work piled up.
James changed his clothes and drove to the office.
Last night he was certain that Mia's attitude had clearly softened.
Her forgiving him was just a matter of time.
...
At the Smith Group, as soon as James arrived at the company, he threw himself into work.
He wanted to finish his work quickly so he could go home early in the evening.
While he was busy.
The office door was pushed open from outside without a knock.
James looked up with a cold expression at Amelia appearing in the office doorway.
Wearing professional attire, with the Smith Group employee badge on her clothes.
Holding coffee, she walked in uninvited.
...
She didn't close the office door, walking in on high heels while saying, "Last time you drove me home, I promised you coffee. I'm here to deliver on that promise."
As soon as Amelia spoke, people at the Smith Group began discussing intensely.
Her words directly confirmed the previous rumors.
She and James had an unusual relationship.
"You're the new marketing department manager?"
James saw her badge—Marketing Department Manager.
For company personnel recruitment and transfers, important positions were first determined by HR, then passed to Robert.
He trusted Robert's work ability very much. These decisions were directly approved by Robert.
But after that day at the hospital, his attitude should have made it clear enough for Robert to know that he didn't want to see Amelia appear at the company.
James's eyes filled with anger. Robert's work was getting worse and worse.
Did he have to spell everything out before Robert would do his job?
Looking displeased, he raised his hand to press the direct line to call Robert in.
Then he remembered—he had transferred Robert to Zephyria a couple days ago.
James was extremely speechless.
"Yes, surprised?"
Amelia walked gracefully to his desk, and as she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, placing the coffee by his hand.
"I made it myself. Try it."
James didn't touch the coffee, nor did he respond to her words.
What was there to be surprised about?
Right now he just felt troubled.
Mia's temper was particularly bad this time. Even though the matter had been resolved, she kept holding onto it.
His illness this time had finally shown signs of Mia softening.
Before Mia forgave him, he shouldn't have too much contact with Amelia.
Amelia is wearing a pencil skirt and her legs are very straight. She leaned half against the table, her gaze fixed on James.
"I've been back in the country for a while now, adjusted pretty well. I was just looking for work when I saw your marketing department was hiring, so I applied. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to use our connection."
Her words were impeccable, with nothing to criticize.
After speaking, she naturally reached out to touch James's forehead, "Has your fever gone down?"
The intimacy revealed in her words was no less than what she'd said when pushing open the office door.
But her expression was frank.
James noticed, and before her hand touched his forehead, his office chair rolled back slightly, avoiding her.
He immediately closed the door.
This scene fell into the eyes of employees outside who seemed focused on work but were actually watching the office.
James avoided her because he was afraid of ruining his aloof image in front of them.
Closing the door—
What else would a man and woman with an ambiguous relationship do behind closed office doors?
Amelia had achieved her goal and stopped pressing forward.
She withdrew her hand and said with a smile, "James, what's this about? Acting like I'm going to do something to you."
"I just heard from colleagues that you didn't come to the company yesterday because of a high fever. Between friends, just showing concern."
James wasn't in the mood to joke with her.
He knew Amelia had always considered him a friend, and he now only saw Amelia as a friend too.
Concern between friends was fine.
But the problem was, Mia right now—
He couldn't let Amelia stay at the company.
James got straight to the point, "Amelia, with your work abilities, you don't need to settle for a marketing manager position. If you want—"
Before he could finish, Amelia interrupted, "Is Mr. Smith saying that the Smith Group can't accommodate me and wants to fire me?"
Deep down, he knew Amelia's capabilities. If it weren't for Mia's objections, he would welcome Amelia joining the company.
Setting aside their private relationship, Amelia herself was talented, capable, and excellent in every way.
Amelia knew when to advance and retreat. Her barb only pricked slightly before she withdrew it, "Because of Mia?"
No beating around the bush.
Frank, just like James.
James answered with silence.
"James, an honorable person is open and poised. Only people with guilty consciences deliberately avoid suspicion."
James was stumped.
This time Amelia didn't back down, suddenly leaning forward, "Do you have a guilty conscience?"
You're the one who said we're just friends.
"No." James answered quickly.
Having gotten her answer, Amelia retreated, saying with a smile, "Neither do I."
"Then what's there to fear?"
They were just ordinary friends.
What was there to avoid?
James couldn't argue.
Having achieved her goal, Amelia stood up and said to him, "I'll get back to work then."
"The coffee's the perfect temperature. Remember to drink it."
As she stood up, she reached out to touch the edge of the coffee cup.
As she withdrew her hand, she accidentally knocked over the cup. Coffee spilled out, landing right between James's legs.