Chapter 79: Jealousy
He was worried that she would overthink things again like last time, hiding away to cry in secret and making herself sick from all that crying.
He didn't listen to Amelia's reminder, ignored her attempts to stop him, didn't even care about the hundred-million-dollar deal, and left his business partners who were already on their way. He rushed over anxiously to find her.
What was she doing?
She was hugging and getting cozy with Benjamin in front of everyone, with no awareness that she was a married woman.
James's chest heaved violently. His face darkened with anger, his fists clenched tight as he tried hard to suppress his rage.
Mia, absorbed in the joy of shooting, was completely unaware.
Following Benjamin's guidance, she tried pulling the trigger. Bang.
The balloon she aimed at burst.
"Benjamin, look, I hit it!"
Mia, who hadn't hit anything before, was thrilled to hit one.
She was always easily satisfied.
She turned around within Benjamin's gentlemanly loose embrace, her face bright with smiles as she shared her joy with him.
"Super awesome!"
Benjamin didn't hold back his praise and approval! He gave her a thumbs up!
Mia felt a bit embarrassed by his sincere praise, her face warming slightly, looking like someone shy in front of someone they liked.
They'd just met, yet he didn't hold back in affirming her.
But what if it were James?
He'd probably just give her some half-hearted encouragement.
Because in his eyes, hitting a balloon was as insignificant as dust in the air, not worth mentioning, let alone praising!
But no one dislikes being affirmed!
Mia pushed down the sting in her nose, not letting herself feel sad again. She couldn't let down Benjamin's thoughtfulness.
So she covered it up with an even brighter smile.
Benjamin was slightly dazed by the sight.
Outside the crowd, James watched the two bathed in sunlight, scattered rays falling on them both.
Gazing at each other, eyes full of affection, as if no one else existed!
The pressure around him grew heavier and heavier.
So heavy that people around him, with him as the center point, unconsciously stepped back.
It was almost noon, supposedly the warmest time of day, yet the temperature seemed to have suddenly dropped several degrees.
James's self-control had reached its breaking point.
Usually, Mia could detect even the slightest change in his mood, but today, everyone around noticed him except her!
Her eyes were full of Benjamin.
This was outrageous!
Did she think he was dead?
That smile belonged to him alone. Who gave her permission to smile at another man like that!
Mia's smile destroyed the last bit of reason in James's heart.
He rushed forward in a few large steps, his hand grabbing Benjamin's hand that was touching Mia, yanking it back hard.
The distracted Benjamin wasn't prepared. James pulled him around, and before he could steady himself, a heavy punch came at him.
By the time he noticed, it was too late to dodge. He took the punch hard, his body stumbling backward.
His back hit the table with the air guns, the impact knocking the table over.
The table was cheaply made and fell apart when Benjamin crashed into it. He fell on top of it.
A pained groan came from deep in his throat. James's punch split his lip, blood sliding down from the corner of his mouth.
This scene made Mia's pupils contract.
Snapping out of James's sudden appearance, her eyes looked like they were about to shoot flames as she yelled at James: "James, are you crazy?"
She slapped away James's reaching hand and turned to rush toward Benjamin without thinking, "Benjamin..."
She'd barely taken a step when a strong force grabbed her arm.
Mia's rushing body spun half a circle in place and fell into James's arms.
Her waist tightened.
His arm locked around her still-slender waist like an iron clamp.
She was forced tight against his body, fitting perfectly.
James's eyes were dark and stormy, his gaze coldly fixed on Benjamin.
"James, let go!"
Mia was forced into James's arms.
Unlike yesterday at the hospital, she didn't just fail to resist him—she struggled violently.
She was pressed dominantly into James's arms, unable to see Benjamin's condition behind her.
The more she couldn't see, the more worried she became.
She'd just seen blood at the corner of his mouth.
He'd already been hurt yesterday saving her. Even if yesterday's injury wasn't too serious, getting thrown like this again today...
"James, don't you understand plain English? I said let go!"
When she couldn't break free, she reached for his arm around her waist.
Pinching and pulling.
But his arm seemed welded to her waist. No matter how hard she tried, it didn't budge.
Mia was worried about Benjamin. When pulling didn't work, she started pushing and hitting James!
But even when Mia used all her strength, her hits didn't hurt James at all.
Yet even though he felt no pain, her attacking him for Benjamin's sake made James's eyes grow colder and colder.
She'd always put him first.
But now—
She was in his arms, but her eyes were on Benjamin.
The more she worried about Benjamin, the hotter James's anger burned.
The cold air around James grew stronger, his expression increasingly cold. He glanced at Mia still struggling violently in his arms.
He suddenly crouched slightly, his large hand on her waist moving down to stop at the back of her knees.
His arm tightened as he stood up. Mia's feet left the ground as he lifted her and threw her over his shoulder.
Mia's face went pale with fright.
Suddenly thrown over his shoulder, she felt dizzy. By the time she came to her senses, James was already carrying her, striding forward.
Her upper body was suspended in air, giving her no sense of security.
The only thing supporting her was James's arms locked around her legs.
He held her steady, but her feet and hands had no support. The deep-seated insecurity she'd always felt was now magnified infinitely.
Her fear of heights came from looking down from high places—that feeling of not being grounded, of having no security.
"James, put me down!"
She was so scared her voice came out tearful.
But James, in his rage, didn't hear her.
He had only one thought: get her away from Benjamin.
Otherwise, if she kept provoking him, he didn't know what he might do.
James's steps grew longer and longer. Her body swayed with his movement, her face growing paler and paler.
The shooting area wasn't far from the entrance. James walked quickly, and in just over ten minutes, they were out the amusement park's main gate.
Seeing Mia had "calmed down," James's expression clearly softened a bit.
He carried her all the way to the car, opened the door with one hand, and gently placed her inside.
She sat in the seat, her feet touching the floor mat.
Only then did Mia feel grounded again. She let out a long breath.
Once she recovered, she immediately reached for the car door handle.
She didn't want to be in the same space as James.
James, who'd just gotten in the car, saw this and his face darkened again.
What was she trying to do?
Go back down to find Benjamin?