Chapter 152
James didn't stop talking until the waiter had brought out all the dishes.
He looked at Emily and picked up the wine glass on the table, gently swirling it.
"Why so quiet? Are you surprised to see me?"
Emily lifted her gaze, eyes cold as she went straight to the point.
"James, where's Sophia? Weren't you two always inseparable? Why aren't you together now?"
At the mere mention of Sophia, James’s expression turned dark in an instant.
He slammed the wine glass down on the table with a bang, his tone full of accusation.
"That bitch Sophia is nothing but a liar! She was using me the whole time, using the Smith family's influence to help the Johnson family. Now that the Johnson family has fallen, her true colors have shown. Why would I keep a woman like that around?"
He spoke with sharp indignation, as if he were the one who had suffered a great injustice.
But Emily just looked at him coldly, her eyes full of mockery.
She spoke up, exposing his lies.
"James, stop pretending. What do you mean she used you? The truth is, once you saw the Johnson family was hopeless and of no use to you, you cast them aside without hesitation.. You're just a social climber who only cares about money and status. Why dress yourself up as so noble?"
Emily’s words struck like a sharp blade, plunging deep into James’s heart..
A flash of anger crossed his face, but he quickly regained his composure.
A playful smile tugged at his lips, as if her accusation hadn’t affected him at all.
"So what if I am? Emily, I didn't ask you here today to talk about Sophia. Emily, I like you. I want to be with you."
The second he said it, Emily felt a wave of disgust.
She never imagined James would say something like this.
When he was with Sophia, he had pursued her relentlessly.
Now that he had broken up with Sophia, he has become worse.
But who did James think she was? Did he really believe she could forget everything that had happened in the past?
Emily suppressed the disgust rising within her, not daring to provoke James carelessly.
She was alone right now, and if she really fell into James's hands, a direct confrontation would only make things worse.
She pretended to stay calm and picked up her water glass for a sip. Taking advantage of looking down, she quietly pulled out her phone and sent William a message.
It was just one simple sentence.
[I'm at Alder Bistro. James.]
After confirming it was sent, she quickly put her phone away, acting as if nothing had happened.
Soon after, her phone vibrated.
It was William's reply.
[On my way.]
James saw all of this.
From the moment Emily took out her phone, he'd noticed her little move, but he didn't stop her or grab her phone. The smile on his lips only deepened.
A calculating gleam flashed in James's eyes, along with some secret satisfaction.
This was exactly the result he wanted.
Once William arrived, everything would fall into place.
As she watched James’s confident expression, a growing sense of dread crept over Emily.
He must have noticed her little move!
But he wasn't saying anything, why?
Emily was puzzled but didn't dare ask.
After all, the message was already sent. It was too late for regrets now. She could only hope William would arrive quickly.
The air in the restaurant grew thick with tension, and even the soft background music feel hash and out of place at the moment.
Emily shifted uncomfortably in her seat, wanting to get up and leave several times, but James kept reaching out to stop her.
"Emily, don't rush off!"
James toyed with the fork on the table, his gaze falling on her with a hint of obsession.
"I just want to know - what makes me worse than him? The Smith family may not be as prominent as the Brown family, but we're still well-established. And I'm not bad looking either. Why won't you give me a chance?"
His tone was grave, as though he genuinely couldn’t comprehend why he kept failing with Emily.
Emily was thoroughly annoyed by his pestering. Her earlier patience finally snapped.
She looked up at James and nodded decisively.
"Yes, you're worse than him in every way! William is more responsible than you, has more principles than you, and knows how to respect others better than you. You're nothing but a power-hungry, selfish opportunist. You and he aren't even on the same level. I'd rather stay single forever than marry someone like you."
Her words were harsh and unsparing, tearing into James without mercy.
James’s face turned ashen in an instant, the obsession in his eyes twisting into raw fury.
He suddenly slammed the table and stood up, reaching to slap Emily across the face while roaring.
"Emily, how dare you talk to me like that? I'll show you today what happens when you cross me."
Just as his palm was about to land on Emily's face, a cold voice came from the doorway.
"Touch her, and you're finished."
At this critical moment, William had arrived just in time.
He strode over, his tall figure projecting an intimidating presence.
William grabbed James's wrist, gripping it so hard that James couldn't help but cry out in pain.
He felt a sharp pain shoot through his wrist, as if the bones were about to snap.
After seeing William, the rage in James's eyes instantly faded, and his face quickly put on a fake smile.
While trying to free himself from William's grip, he said awkwardly.
"Mr. Brown, what brings you here? I was just having dinner with Emily, and we were just talking. I wasn't really going to hit her."
William snorted coldly and tightened his grip even more.
He looked at James with utter contempt.
"James, I'm warning you - stay away from Emily. If I see you bothering her again, I don't mind making the Smith family disappear from this city completely."
His words carried absolute authority. James's face instantly turned pale.
He knew very well that William could follow through on that threat.
William had just taken over the Brown Group and wielded considerable influence.
And he was no match for William at all.
Thinking this through, James could only grit his teeth in hatred and nod repeatedly.
"I understand. I won't bother her again."
Having gotten the answer he wanted, William finally released his wrist.
James rubbed his wrist while backing away.
His eyes were full of resentment, but he didn't dare show it too obviously.
William naturally didn't care about his thoughts.
He turned and walked to Emily's side, putting his arm around her shoulders, his tone instantly becoming gentle.
"Are you okay?"