Chapter 3

"Emma, are you okay? Why did you lose your balance?" Sophia crouched down with surprise.

After one glance at Sophia, James went over and helped Emma up. "So careless. Things are different now. Call me if you want to come here."

Emma didn't want to hear James chatter, so she calmly lifted her head and asked, "Did you come to pick me up?"

James hesitated, glanced at the sad Sophia, and then answered blandly, "Yeah, that's why I'm here."

He helped Emma to the passenger seat. Then, he turned to Sophia and said, "Miss Curtis, come, we are going in the same direction."

In the car, Emma looked back. She watched James hand the bouquet to Sophia himself and softly comfort Sophia. Soon, the sweet smile was back on Sophia's face.

After James started the car, Emma asked, "Why did you come?"

James kept his eyes on the road and answered casually, "You have mobility issues. As your husband, shouldn't I look after you?

"Devan Arellano organized a gathering today, and he wants you to be there. I came for your opinion. He will understand if you don't want to go. After all, Marcus needs you..."

At the mention of Marcus, Emma felt that her fingers shuddered as a wave of dull pain coursed through her whole body.

'Marcus doesn't need me anymore. As his father, James is still ignorant of his death,' she thought.

Her nails bit into her palm, and she cut James off. "No, I would like to go."

After one glance at the rearview mirror, James nodded in silence.

The atmosphere in the private room was lively though James had brought with him two dates, Emma and Sophia.

James helped Emma sit down and then chose the seat beside Sophia.

Devan told the waiter to serve the dishes and thoughtfully added two dishes for Emma.

One man didn't know Sophia, but he was interested in her. With a glass of wine, he walked over and spoke to her, "Hi, you are a new face here..."

Instantly, James pulled a long face and cut the man off by saying, "She is my date. She doesn't drink."

The man quickly changed his expression, made an apology, and walked away.

During the gathering, James was quite attentive to Sophia. He thoughtfully replaced her wine with orange juice and affectionately tucked her hair behind her ear as he had done for Emma. "Look at you! How careless! Your hair is almost in the soup."

Like an outsider, Emma quietly watched James and Sophia.

With a red face, Sophia timidly opened her mouth after her gaze landed on Emma. "Emma, don't be mad. James did so because I am clumsy..."

"Relax. No misunderstanding here." Emma gave a half smile. She was surprised to find that her heart no longer ached acutely.

'Yes, I am dead inside, so my heart doesn't ache anymore,' she thought. To her, the food was tasteless.

After the gathering, James headed to the parking lot for his car, so Emma and Sophia were left alone.

The moment James turned his back, Sophia changed her expression and shoved Emma to the ground. "You cripple, I will beat you. Back in school, you outshone me in every aspect. Now, you are crippled."

Emma fell to the ground and went pale for the sharp pain.

Sophia leaned over and whispered right into Emma's ear, "James is already in love with me. You know that, don't you?"

Emma's heart skipped a beat.

Before Emma gave a reply, James's car pulled up before her.

"What happened here?" James asked as he got out of the car.

Sophia blinked guiltily, and her eyes became a little watery. "Emma slipped and fell. I should've caught her. I'm so sorry."

"Not your bad. She should have been careful." James soothed Sophia and then helped Emma up.

Emma's white dress was already smeared.

After a slight frown, James helped Emma into the back seat and said, "Sit here. I'll take you to the hospital right away."

She looked up at him, and her throat was too tight to say a word.

For the first time, she realized that James, a neat freak, couldn't make an exception for her.

James drove toward the hospital. Suddenly, a car charged at James's.

"No!"Sophia shrieked.

With his pupils constricted, James spun the wheel sharply. After a bang, James's Cullinan skidded and then hit the railing.

"It hurts! James, help me!" Sophia cried her heart out.

Without hesitation, James embraced Sophia and gently soothed, "There, there. The ambulance will be here any second."

Emma slumped over in the back seat, her head buzzing from the crash. Her vision was blurred by blood, but she still saw James's worried look.

The sirens wailed in the distance and soon stopped at the crash site. The paramedic asked, "Is everyone okay? Can you hear us? Can you talk?"

James responded, "Get the lady in the passenger seat out first."

The paramedics hesitated. "But I think the woman in the back seat needs immediate help..."