Chapter 92 Announced! Gloria Is My Wife
When John walked in, James was clutching his teacup with a pale face, completely unaware that scalding coffee had spilled onto the back of his hand, leaving reddish marks.
"Mr. Williams." John spoke softly.
Only then did James snap out of it, a flash of pain crossing his eyes as he looked up.
"Remember Vanguard Technologies Ltd.?"
"Of course. Back then, your business partner not only ran off with the money but also took all your research materials. If Vanguard Technologies Ltd. hadn't invested in us, it would've taken us another ten years to get back on our feet."
James gave a bitter smile. "Caspian says Vanguard Technologies Ltd. is his company."
He tilted his head back and downed his coffee. The coffee was bitter, but his heart was even more bitter.
So everything he took pride in was actually given to him by Caspian.
It was an early wedding gift he'd prepared for Gloria.
Caspian had pulled James out of the mud, cleared every obstacle from his path, and helped him rise to the top.
Caspian could actually do all this for Gloria!
Now that Caspian had torn open this truth without caring about either side's dignity, it meant he wouldn't back down this time.
No matter how high James climbed in the future, just thinking that the person who helped him was Caspian made his heart feel like it had a thorn stuck in it that couldn't be pulled out.
Caspian was going for the kill, crushing both body and spirit.
Evening.
When Gloria woke from her dream, the curtains were drawn and the room was dim.
She sat dazed on the bed, feeling for a moment like she'd been abandoned by the whole world.
After a while, memories flooded back like a tide. Gloria touched her belly - her baby was still there, but there'd been no news about Vivienne until now.
Gloria covered her face with both hands, not understanding how things had spiraled so out of control in just one short month.
James hadn't predicted this outcome, and neither had she.
Life was full of unknowns.
What could she do?
The door was gently pushed open. Gloria looked up alertly, only relaxing when her eyes fell on Caspian's tall figure.
She didn't know when it started, but James had become as terrifying as a demon in her mind, while Caspian was like a protective charm that made her feel safe.
Caspian stood at the door fully dressed, the light falling on his well-defined features, creating a gentle glow.
He was bathed in a golden halo as he walked toward Gloria step by step.
"How are you?" Caspian's voice was gentle and slow, not cold like before.
He must have just showered - there was a faint scent of unfamiliar body wash in the air, completely different from his usual scent.
This version of Caspian had less of that lofty authority and more human warmth.
Gloria pressed her fingers to her temples, answering with obvious fatigue: "Not good. I have a headache. How's my grandmother?"
"She woke up briefly. She's not in immediate danger, but..."
"But what?" Gloria looked at him sharply.
"Her memory is confused and she can't control her body right now. She might be in this state for quite a while. You need to prepare yourself mentally."
Gloria's heart sank. She threw off the covers to get up, but Caspian raised his hand to stop her. "Vivienne just took her medicine and went back to sleep. Even if you go, you won't see her. More than Vivienne's situation, don't forget you're pregnant."
Caspian reminded her unhurriedly: "You can hide the baby in your belly for now, but not forever. What are you planning to do?"
After everything with Vivienne, Gloria was truly at a loss now.
"After Vivienne passes away, they might be my only family left in this world. I..."
After an abortion, she would truly be all alone.
Seeing Gloria so vulnerable and helpless, Caspian tentatively suggested: "Once Vivienne's condition stabilizes a bit, would you like to leave Silverlake Springs and find a safe place to have the baby?"
Gloria murmured softly: "A safe place."
"A place where even James can't find you."
Caspian's voice carried a hint of weariness, like a siren on the rocks, with a bewitching quality that tempted Gloria.
"Is there really such a place?"
"Gloria, you'll get your divorce decree in half a month. When that time comes, I'll arrange for both Vivienne and you to leave together."
Their eyes met, and Caspian's gaze held an undeniable determination: "As long as you want to leave, no one can stop you."
Get away from James, leave this place of trouble, safely give birth to the twins - even if she ended up alone for the rest of her life, it would be better than being imprisoned by James.
The offer was too tempting.
"Okay."
Caspian's thin lips curved slightly. "In half a month, I'll take you away."
"Caspian, what can I do for you?" Gloria felt uneasy.
Caspian had already helped her so much. Though she could now offer him a large sum of money in gratitude, given his status and position, directly giving money would seem more like mockery.
He had too much already - so much that Gloria felt she could never repay him.
Seeing a strand of hair stuck to her lips, his fingertip gently hooked it and tucked it behind her ear. "You don't need to do anything."
In the soft light, Gloria could only see gentle ripples in his deep eyes.
"Gloria, I just want you to be happy. Whether it was three years ago or now, my heart hasn't changed."
Since James couldn't make her happy, from now on, he would.
For the next two days, James didn't bother Gloria. He was seriously ill, and after two days of struggling, he nearly ended up in the ICU himself.
When he got better, his first reaction was to ask about Gloria.
"Where's Gloria?"
"Vivienne just got transferred out of the ICU. Mrs. Williams is taking care of her."
"Has Caspian been there these past two days?"
John nodded. "Yes, he hasn't left her side. Mr. Williams, you and Mrs. Williams have less than half a month until your divorce is finalized."
James clenched his fists, a sinister look floating in his eyes.
"Go prepare a PR statement. Clarify my relationship with Maria and announce my real marital status!"
Hearing this, John instinctively tried to stop him: "Mr. Williams, don't forget about your contract with Willie. You have a thirty-day cooling-off period. If this news breaks and affects the partnership, it won't be worth it. It's only half a month anyway. Why not wait until the contract is officially signed before announcing your marriage to Mrs. Williams? Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
A bitter smile crossed James's pale face. "John, there's no such thing as the best of both worlds in this life."
He used to think he could want it all. Facts proved he'd made a huge mistake.
The thirty-day cooling-off period was Caspian's challenge to him. If he waited until the day the divorce decree was issued, it would once again prove that Gloria was less important than his work.
"I've already made so many wrong moves. For the days ahead, I don't want to be wrong anymore."
James's eyes were filled with determination as he said hoarsely: "At any cost, I will get Gloria back and tell everyone that Gloria is my wife!"