Chapter 38

“James, really. I'm fine,” I had told him. “I really should go to work with you today.”

James shook his head in refusal and kept his stance on the matter firm. Even after last night, he still held that same look of concern in his eyes.

“No,” he pressed. “Mia, I want you to stay home and relax for a bit.”

“But—”

He raised a suspected brow. “You and I both know that you didn’t get a stitch of sleep last night. So, please take at least a few hours today and actually rest.”

I hated to admit it, but he was right. My body still felt terribly exhaustingly drained from all the crying and feeling utterly distressed.

“...Alright,” I agreed.

I genuinely wasn’t sure if James’ insisting on me staying home today was a blessing or a curse. Part of me was thankful for the chance to give my body and head the extra bout of rest that it needed. On the other hand, I was also given an extended amount of time to think back on the unsettling situation with Diana.

No matter how many times I ran the entire scenario through my mind, there was no decent alternative that I was able to come up with. Horribly enough, I reached a point where all I could hear was the backlashing insults that Diana made against my family. Even though I lost my parents when I was in middle school, the memory of them was still solid in my mind. I knew they were good people who loved their children and would have done anything to ensure their wellbeing and security.

To think, all James’ mother cared about was social standing...It spoke volumes of the type of parent she was.

About halfway through my morning, I was already beginning to regret staying back at the house. I was in desperate need of a distraction to keep my mind occupied.

‘I should have thought this through,’ I said to myself. ‘Because I can’t take much more of my thoughts eating away at me like this.’

After a quick shower and a fresh change of clothes, I left the bedroom in search of Lily. When I found her in the kitchen, speaking to a few of the staff, I made the light suggestion that she and I have tea out on the patio outside in the courtyard.

While the scenery was beautiful and peaceful, I could sense a rather dense tension in the air. I wasn’t sure exactly what Lily managed to catch from my earlier encounter with Diana, but she bore witness to the aftermath.

“How are you feeling, dear?” she asked as she sipped her tea.

I shrugged my shoulders and felt my eyes droop. “Honestly, I still feel a bit run down, physically speaking.”

Lily nodded her head. “How about mentally?”

I let out an indignant snort. “It hurts more than I care to admit.”

She nodded again. “And emotionally?”

I paused for a short moment. “...Numb.”

She reached over to gently pat my hand. “Don’t worry,” she assured me. “I’m sure that this whole issue with Mrs. Derek will eventually blow over and it will be as though it had never happened.”

Good God. I hoped she was right. It was bad enough that Diana and I now had to live with this awkward situation between us going forward. But, I truly hoped that we could both move on from it.

An unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach had me thinking otherwise, unfortunately.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a slim figure standing in the doorway. It was Monica, looking smug and all-knowing as ever.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” she hummed deviously.

My brows drew together in question. “What?”

She rolled her eyes at my helpless ignorance and came over to stand over me. She held up her phone, showing over a dozen different articles...all pertaining to me...and the offer that Diana had made me.

My eyes widened in disbelief as I choked back a startled gasp.

“You did this, didn't you?”

Monica smirked and shrugged her shoulders back. “I think the world deserves to know that not even James’ mother thinks you're worth anything. Especially when it comes to her son.”

I narrowed my gaze as slowly began to feel that same sensation of rippling anger course through me once more. I got up from my chair and moved to stand in front of her.

“You see, that’s where you’re wrong. According to Diana, I’m at least worth three million dollars...What exactly are you worth?” I questioned back.

Monica glared at me with baffled disdain. “Excuse me? I’m worth millions—”

“Maybe on paper.” I took a step closer. My vicious glare never left her. “But what about your actual character actually makes you valuable, Monica? Because I can’t seem to think of a single goodman thing. I know it was you who tried to sabotage the press conference. How did that turn out for you by the way?”

“That joke of a press conference doesn’t matter anymore. All that anyone will be talking about is how you were offered money to leave James alone. All anyone is going to ever see you as is a common whore,” she spat out.

I hadn’t expected to fight back a laugh during this little altercation. Perhaps it was exhaustion coming out, or maybe my tolerance had finally run its course. Nothing that Monica said really bothered me at that point.

“You can go ahead and run to the press a million times over for all I care,” I stated fiercely. “Because no matter what you say—I will always counter it with the truth. Unlike you, I’m not afraid of the world tearing me to pieces. I've been ridiculed and tormented for so many years, that I know how to handle that sort of pain. But what I want to know is, how kindly do you think James’ mother is going to take her private business being plastered all over the internet for the world to see?”

Monica’s expression suddenly filled with fear. “You wouldn’t tell her—”

“Oh, yes. I would. I would rat you out so quickly because I am sick of you conniving, sneaky, and manipulative shit!”

Fear crossed over Monica’s face as she rushed off the patio and ran past James in the process.

I raised my brows in shock. “Oh...Hey. How much of that did you see?”

A stunning smile curved James' mouth as he took me in his arms. “Only all of it. I don’t think I’ve ever been more attracted to you than I am right now,” he chuckled warmly.

I playfully rolled my eyes at his boyish remark.

“Mia, I’m so sorry about the articles,” he said softly.

“James, nothing about this is your fault.”

He shook his head. “You know I still feel responsible for my mother’s part in all of this. I plan on talking to her and making sure that she is undoubtedly made clear regarding our marriage.”