Chapter 7
That afternoon, Jessie arrived with a deliberately gentle expression. “Ms. Coffey, are you feeling any better?” she asked sweetly.
“About that piece of land the Keane family owns on the outskirts–since. you originally wanted to turn it into a shooting range, I’ll let you take over the renovation rights.”
She stepped forward and placed a stack of planning documents on the nightstand.
That land had been sitting abandoned for years. Two years ago, Isabella had asked James for permission to turn it into a shooting range.
Once she got his approval, she supervised the construction herself, rain or shine.
But just a week before it was completed, Jessie suddenly announced she wanted to learn horseback riding. Without a second thought, James had the plans changed and turned the range into a stable.
Isabella’s expression was calm. “I don’t want it anymore.”
With a flick of her hand, the papers scattered across the floor at Jessie’s feet.
“If you want it so badly, go ahead and pick it up.”
Jessie’s face twisted for a split second before she turned to James, eyes welling up with tears.
“James, you saw that, didn’t you? I came with genuine intentions to
Chapter 7
apologize, but she kept using her family background to make things. difficult for me. When you’re not around, this is how she treats me…”
James frowned, casting Isabella a sharp look, his expression warning.
“As long as I’m here, who would dare lay a finger on you?”
Isabella didn’t bother to explain. She threw off the covers and climbed out
of bed.
She gathered up everything from their past–the plane tickets from her back–and–forth trips between the UK and the US when she was chasing him, their wedding album, and the lighter she had kept for three years- and clutched them tightly to her chest.
Then, without hesitation, she tossed it all into the roaring fireplace.
Crack!
Flames leaped up, devouring the memories they once shared, leaving nothing but ash behind.
James’s face turned stormy. “Isabella, what the hell are you doing?”
Three years ago, after lighting a cigarette for him, she had secretly slipped his lighter into her coat pocket.
On countless sleepless nights, she would pull it out just to hold it, turning it over in her hands again and again.
That one small moment, more distant than even a coworker’s casual kindness, had become her most treasured memory. She had cherished it for three years. Isabella lifted her eyes and said flatly, “Just clearing out
the trash.”
She didn’t want anything to do with James anymore–not the man, not his
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things.
Without sparing another glance at his furious face, she turned and walked back to the bed. Behind her. Jessie’s voice rang out hesitantly, “James,
aren’t you going to comfort Ms. Coffey?”
James’s voice turned cold. “No need.
“She’ll come crawling back soon enough.”
Isabella let out a bitter laugh.
He was so sure she couldn’t live without him.
So certain that no matter how coldly he treated her, no matter how he trampled her heart, even if she was battered and broken, she’d always. come back, tail between her legs, begging for his attention.
But not this time.
And not ever again.
The next day, James received an invitation to bring his wife to a formal dinner at a mountain estate.
Just as he was about to open the Bugatti door for Isabella, he heard Jessie call out behind him.
“James…”
He froze mid–motion.
Jessie lifted a delicate hand to her forehead, swaying slightly. “I feel a little dizzy…”
In an instant, James pulled his hand back and rushed to steady her.
Chapter 7
Isabella wasn’t surprised.
11
She didn’t bother asking why Jessie had tagged along–she simply got into
the car herself.
As the car pulled away, Jessic collapsed gently against James’s shoulder.
His body stiffened for a moment before he began massaging her temples, his eyes filled with tenderness.
Isabella didn’t want to see any of it. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat.
Suddenly, a piercing shriek echoed through the valley–then a wall of flames surged toward them, carried by a violent gust of wind.
The wildfire hurled in with terrifying force.
The Bugatti swerved sharply, slamming into the rocky mountainside.
The driver’s head cracked against the window, and he passed out. James’s eyes widened in panic as he lunged forward to grab the steering wheel.
But before he could reach it… Boom!
A massive impact sent everyone inside hurtling through the air. In the split second, before she lost consciousness, Isabella forced her eyes open with the last of her strength.
At the edge of a cliff, James was leaning out, one hand clenching her wrist.
And in his other hand, he was holding onto Jessie.
Chapter 8
