Chapter 7: Begging for Mercy
Half an hour later, as Mia got into the car and reached for her seatbelt, her sore wrist made her gasp.
James, who had just gotten in, chuckled softly. When Mia turned to glare at him in embarrassment, he leaned over to fasten her seatbelt for her, and kissed her slightly swollen lips before pulling away.
Mia let out a soft huff.
But she wasn't really mad.
Her wrist was sore, but it was worth it to get James to come out and relax on the weekend.
The car headed toward Imperial City's largest shopping mall.
As soon as Mia entered, she grabbed James's hand and rushed forward. "James, hurry up."
"Be careful."
James pulled her back to his side, hooking his arm around her waist to keep her from rushing ahead.
Mia scrunched up her neck and lifted her little face in his arms, smiling at him sweetly to get on his good side.
In her excitement, she'd forgotten again that she was pregnant now and couldn't be as reckless as before.
James flicked her forehead with his finger. "If you dare be reckless again, you'll get it when we get home."
"I won't, I won't." Mia immediately backed down and begged for mercy.
When he punished her, no matter which way, she couldn't handle it.
After that, Mia walked as if there was a string pulling her from above, obediently slowing down as they entered the elevator.
The elevator was crowded. Protected in James's arms, she smiled sweetly.
The elevator stopped on the third floor.
The third floor was women's clothing. James held her as they started to exit, but Mia pulled him back. "Not the third floor, the fourth floor."
Her purpose for coming out today wasn't to buy clothes for herself.
The elevator quickly closed and soon reached the fourth floor.
As soon as the doors opened, Mia pushed James out of the elevator.
"James, look."
Right in front of the elevator was a mother and baby store. Mia's eyes immediately lit up.
Walking into the store, everything seemed new and exciting.
"James, this is so cute, and this one too, look... they're all so cute, what if I want to buy everything?"
Mia couldn't put anything down, touching this and touching that.
James stayed by her side, ignoring the looks from people around them, focused only on being near her to prevent her from getting bumped.
Hearing her words, he simply said, "If you like them, buy them all."
"Where would we put everything if we bought it all!" Usually she didn't notice, but right now, James was really being domineering.
"Should we buy another place downstairs?"
There were few people who could talk about buying a property worth tens of millions of dollars as casually as buying groceries.
And just to store baby supplies.
Mia looked at James, who was seriously considering it, and laughed as she leaned into his arms. "Look at you, throwing money around!"
"Throwing money around?" James lowered his head slightly, his thin lips against her ear, deliberately emphasizing the words.
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm calling the police!"
Mia's face instantly turned red, and she pounded his chest in embarrassment.
Wasn't there a cop around to control him!
James laughed softly, a laugh that came from deep within, extremely pleased.
His chest vibrated against her ear, and Mia couldn't help but smile too.
The two browsed with their own roles.
Whenever Mia liked something, James had the sales assistant following them write it down.
After browsing, he swiped his card, left an address, and held her as they moved to the next store.
Just as they walked out, James's phone rang.
The phone happened to be in the pocket on Mia's side, so she naturally took it out and handed it to him.
As he reached to take it, she also saw the name flashing on the screen: Amelia.
The smile disappeared from her face.
James saw it too. He tightened his hold on Mia as she pretended to struggle and pull away, locked his arm around her to keep her from making a fuss, and answered the phone right in front of her. "Hello, Amelia."
Mia perked up her ears.
His phone wasn't on speaker, but being close, she could still hear clearly as Amelia said, "James, I'm being discharged today. Can you come pick me up?"
It was a friend's tone.
But hearing her call him James still made her feel a bit sour, though she wasn't angry.
Until—
"Okay." James actually agreed.
Mia's face instantly darkened, and she pushed James away and turned to leave.
"Mia—"
...
At the hospital, before the line disconnected, Amelia heard James call Mia's name and laughed softly.
For a woman to do what Mia did was truly pathetic.
She casually put her phone aside, admiring her delicate manicure.
James had agreed to pick her up without a moment's hesitation in front of Mia, which completely erased the slight displeasure she'd felt from him not showing up on his own.
...
At the mall
"Mia." James reacted quickly, reaching out to pull her back.
He held his phone in one hand and wrapped his other arm around the angry Mia.
"You—let go."
In public, Mia didn't want to make a scene and become a laughingstock. With red-rimmed eyes, she said in a low voice.
James didn't let go, but he also didn't immediately explain to her.
Mia's nose tingled even more.
Seeing he wouldn't let go, she said stubbornly, "Why are you holding me? Aren't you going to pick up your 'friend' Amelia? Hurry up and go!"
"Did I say I was going to pick her up?"
James's long arm held the petite Mia firmly in his embrace as his long fingers swiped across his phone.
Seeing James lie with his eyes wide open, Mia said huffily, "Do you think I'm deaf?"
As soon as she finished speaking, James's call connected, and Mia heard a familiar voice. "Mr. Smith."
This was...
Robert Davis.
James's assistant.
She knew his voice too well—she'd dealt with it plenty of times.
James was very busy with work. Nine times out of ten when she looked for him, it was Robert who answered the phone.
James didn't waste words and gave direct instructions. "Go to the hospital now and pick someone up from discharge. Last name Martinez."
After speaking, he hung up and looked down at Mia, who had buried herself in his arms like an ostrich again. Amused, he pinched her red earlobe and deliberately teased her. "Still angry?"
"Angry? When was I angry?"
Hearing his obvious teasing, Mia refused to admit it. "Don't accuse me falsely. I'm not that petty of a woman."
She lifted her head from his arms and linked her arm through his, saying prettily, "James, let's go browse that store up ahead."
Acting as if nothing had happened, but she couldn't help smiling.
James hadn't lied to her. He and Amelia really were just friends.
...
At the hospital
Amelia's phone, which she'd set aside, vibrated. She picked it up and saw a message from James: "Here."
She got up slowly, stepped into her high heels, and walked elegantly out of the hospital room. A caregiver followed behind her with small steps, pushing her luggage.
At the hospital entrance, Amelia didn't see James or his car.
Just as she was about to call him, a black Cayenne drove up and stopped beside her.
The car door opened and a man got out, looking at her with a respectful attitude. "Ms. Martinez, hello. I'm Robert, Mr. Smith's assistant."
"Okay." Amelia just nodded slightly, her manner quite aloof.
Her gaze fell on the back seat, waiting for James to get out and open the car door for her.
Robert was very smart and immediately walked to the back seat, pulling open the door for her. "Ms. Martinez, please get in."
Though Amelia inwardly found Robert meddlesome, she didn't show it. She stepped forward and bent down to get in the car. "James—"
When she saw the back seat was empty, her movement froze.
She suddenly straightened up, looked at Robert, and unable to control her emotions, questioned him in a cold voice, "Where's James?"