Chapter 8
Charlotte gritted her teeth against the pain, forcing out each word.
"Are you seriously going to make me sign this, James?" she asked.
Her words made that uneasy feeling in his chest come rushing back.
Was he really going to force her to sign it?
What did she mean by that?
Vivian's eyes flickered as she deliberately blocked his gaze, giving a cold, mocking snort.
"We agreed to a one-time buyout of the story, and you signed the NDA," Vivian said.
"But you just couldn't get enough, sneaking out of the hospital, still trying to squeeze more out of me. Where do you think that happens in real life?" Vivian sneered.
James froze mid-motion, his face turning cold.
He glanced at Charlotte sprawled on the floor, then stepped into a corner and dialed the hospital.
"Is Charlotte still in the hospital?" James asked.
By the time he got off the phone, Charlotte's signature had already been forced onto the agreement.
The bodyguards hauled Charlotte all the way to a deserted beach and tossed her out without a hint of mercy.
The freezing wind and surging tide battered her relentlessly, leaving her trembling and drenched.
James checked the message from the nurse.
Miss Rivers just went to sleep.
He put his phone away and was about to head inside when he caught sight of a glaring pool of blood on the floor.
For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was slipping away, right under his nose.
When Charlotte woke up again, she found James keeping watch by her hospital bed.
He looked at her with a hint of scrutiny.
"Where did you go yesterday?" James asked.
Seeing him like this, Charlotte almost laughed. It was just so ridiculous.
She dodged his hand, her voice raspy and strained as she spoke.
"Aren't you tired of all this acting?" she shot back.
You acted like I was a total stranger at the villa, then had your guys toss me out on the beach like I was trash.
If it weren't for a few random people who happened to be there and called an ambulance, I'd be dead by now.
Forget about ever making it back to Harbor City, my body would've just ended up as fish food.
James could hear the bite in her voice, and his irritation flared up all over again.
"The rumors from the press conference are finally dying down," James said, his tone flat.
"We'll have to postpone the wedding for a few days," he added.
He said this, waiting for Charlotte to get upset.
Or maybe she'd pout or try to get his attention in some other way.
But Charlotte just nodded quietly, not making a fuss.
James froze, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about her.
"You used to make a fuss about getting compensated, so why aren't you asking for anything now?" The thought lingered on his lips, but he swallowed it back.
"Foster Enterprises and Vivian's collab has been getting a lot of buzz lately. I'll be teaming up with her for more promo to boost her profile. As for you..." James trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.
Charlotte was about to cut him off, but just then, the door to the hospital room swung open.
"Miss, please sign for this in person," the nurse said.
Charlotte glanced at the document and immediately spotted the official seal of Rivers & Partners.
James watched her sign, and for a moment, he felt a weird panic, like things were slipping out of his hands.
Once the nurse left, he snatched the document away.
Just as he was about to open the agreement, Charlotte spoke up quickly.
"You said you wanted to make things work between us, and I believed you. After all, we're husband and wife. But seeing you take care of someone else just doesn't sit right with me. Giving me Riverside Villa as compensation, isn't that fair?"
She lowered her head, hiding the mess of emotions in her eyes. That little bit of vulnerability, just at the right moment, hit James right where it counted.
His tense face finally softened. He ran his hand through her hair, then signed the last page without a hint of hesitation.
Before heading out, he gave her a few lingering looks.
He couldn't help but feel nostalgic for those days when they first started to really talk, when everything between them felt so real.
"Get some rest and recover. Once I wrap things up in the next couple days, I'll take you to the auction and let you choose something you like," James said.
James bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, then turned and walked away, his phone buzzing nonstop in his pocket.
The hospital room fell silent once more.
Charlotte stared at the divorce agreement she'd been waiting for, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes.
If he'd ever cared about her, he would've seen the truth.
He couldn't even hold onto his last chance.