Chapter 143
Amelia's face turned deathly pale as she kept explaining: "I didn't, I never did that, she's lying, she's framing me."
I swayed weakly: "Even at this point, you still won't admit what you did to me?"
"Forget it, I never really expected to get an apology from you anyway."
"Sophia, you did this on purpose, badmouthing me in front of all these people, ruining my reputation. You want to make sure I can't rest in peace even after I die."
"I really didn't. I'm just telling everyone the truth." I covered my mouth and coughed a few times.
Amelia lost it, pointing at me and shouting: "Sophia, I won't let you go even after I die. You forced me into this; you're the one who killed me."
I put on an act: "Amelia, please don't do anything rash. I... I forgive you."
"As long as you come down, I can let everything go."
"Who cares! Sophia, I want you to live with guilt for the rest of your life. I want you to never have peace."
At this critical moment, the police nearby snapped into action, rushing forward and grabbing Amelia, pulling her back from the edge.
Amelia struggled desperately, crying out: "Let me go, I want to die, what's the point of living!"
The police held her down, trying to calm her: "Just calm down. Whatever it is, we can work it out. Don't joke around with your life."
As Amelia tried to jump again, I rolled my eyes back and passed out.
I didn't hit the ground. Instead, I fell into a familiar embrace, "fainting" in his arms without a care.
James held me, his body stiffening for a moment, then he rushed toward the stairwell, his voice hoarse as he shouted: "Doctor, doctor, come check on her quickly."
James carried me all the way back to the hospital room and laid me on the bed.
Doctors and nurses crowded around to examine me.
After the doctor confirmed I had only fainted temporarily due to emotional stress and physical weakness, and that there was nothing seriously wrong, advising me to rest well, the room quieted down again.
I opened my eyes directly.
Liliana and the others had been scared by my "fainting spell" and were now standing by the bed, looking at me with concern.
"Sophia, you're awake!" Liliana exclaimed with relief.
I nodded "weakly," my gaze sweeping past her and landing on James, who had been staring at me the whole time.
His eyes were full of worry. He stepped forward, his voice somewhat dry: "How do you feel?"
"I'm not dead yet." I looked away, my tone cold. "Shouldn't you be watching over your beloved? What are you doing here pretending to care so deeply?"
"You never treated me well before, so why put on this act of devotion now? It just makes me sick."
My words cut him like knives.
Liliana and the others also looked at him accusingly.
James's Adam's apple bobbed as his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.
After a long while, he said hoarsely: "Sophia, just now on the rooftop... You were faking it, weren't you?"
I pulled at the corner of my mouth and admitted freely: "Yes. If I didn't fake passing out, was I supposed to stand there and let Amelia continue her act and keep slandering me?"
My frankness left him speechless for a moment.
James looked at me, his eyes unfathomably deep, churning with too many emotions that eventually settled into silence.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"Sorry?" I laughed, my eyes stinging. "James, what's your sorry worth? Can it bring back my child's life? Can it erase all the times Amelia hurt me?"
"No, it can't bring anything back. So keep your cheap apology. I don't need it."
I took a deep breath, suppressing my churning emotions, and said as calmly as possible: "I'm going to continue with legal proceedings and sue Amelia for attempted murder. This time, I absolutely won't let her get away."
I stared at him, saying each word deliberately: "James, this is my final warning to you. If you protect her again, I won't let you off easy either."
"Also, please stay away from the child and me in my belly from now on."
James's body trembled slightly. After a long time, he slowly nodded, his voice terribly hoarse: "Okay. But I still want to ask you to spare Amelia's life."
"I'll send her abroad and arrange for people to watch her. I won't let her come back and bother you."
"Consider it me repaying her life. From now on, I'll only owe you. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it. Even if you tell me to die, I'll gladly do it."
I was amused by his shameless words.
I had just told him not to protect Amelia anymore, and not even a second later, he was asking me to spare her life.
So he hadn't listened to a single word I said.
"James, you've really disappointed me."
"Get out! Who wants your life? It's filthy. Get as far away from me as possible."
"Don't let me see you again, or I'll definitely kill you."
"James, are you crazy? Amelia almost killed Sophia, and you're still asking Sophia to let her go?" Liliana said angrily.
"Liliana, shut up." James snapped coldly. "I'm talking to Sophia. It's not your place to interrupt."
"If you dare say one more word, I'll send you abroad immediately."
Liliana was scared by James and shut her mouth, just glaring at him angrily.
"Sophia, I know I've wronged you, but I promise you, this is the last time. From now on..."
I cut him off coldly: "There is no 'from now on.' James, the next time we meet, either you and she die, or I do."
"Sophia, I'll take that as your agreement. Rest well." After saying this, he didn't look at anyone else and left the room with somewhat unsteady steps.
Liliana spat at his retreating: "How did I end up with such a stupid brother who can't tell right from wrong?"
"Sophia, don't be sad. He's just a stupid man. We don't need him—let's just throw him away. I'll introduce you to someone better." Andrew also patted my shoulder, silently comforting me.
Ethan ran to pour me a cup of hot water.
I leaned against the headboard, looking at the tightly closed door.
James, you're asking me to let her go, but who ever let me go?
This time, I absolutely won't soften again.
Liliana said Amelia had been sent abroad by James.
The next time I heard news about Amelia, Liliana said she had escaped.
"I don't know if James did it on purpose or not, but Amelia, a woman who's even pregnant, somehow managed to escape right under the noses of four bodyguards."
"It doesn't matter anymore. As long as she doesn't show up and dance in front of me, I can pretend she's already dead."
"Sophia, how can you just let her go like this?" Liliana really couldn't understand.
I sighed helplessly: "Liliana, I can't afford to mess with the Smith family. For James, crushing me would be as easy as crushing an ant."
"He wouldn't..."
"Wouldn't what? Liliana, men's hearts are cold and hard, especially James's. I tried to warm his heart for so many years, but I never could."