NovelNext Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The man standing before me was the same one I'd seen with Jessica Taylor in the car the day I first met James Anderson. And as expected, Jessica walked in right after him, slapping me across the face with a force that left me reeling.
"Daniel Carter," she spat, venom dripping from her words. "This little witch is the reason I couldn't marry James Anderson and help you take over the Anderson Corporation!"
Daniel Carter. I'd heard of him—his name was practically synonymous with power and influence in this city. The Carters and Andersons were the two most prominent families around. Unlike the reclusive James Anderson, who stayed out of the public eye, Daniel was a regular on the entertainment pages, often spotted with models or actresses.
It seemed Jessica had been targeting James for Daniel's gain all along. I won't lie—Daniel was handsome, suave, with that effortlessly charming look that women loved. But when he grabbed my chin and stared at me with those cold, calculating eyes, all I felt was a cold shiver.
"My dear Jessica, calm down," Daniel said, his voice smooth as silk. "This one's rare. It's not worth it to damage her."
Jessica shot me a venomous look, then turned back to Daniel with a mischievous grin. "Are you interested in her?"
Daniel's gaze slid over to me with a sly wink. "Little beauty, how about doing me a favor? Just get some documents from James Anderson."
"In your dreams!" I spat, disgust twisting in my stomach. I hated James Anderson, sure, but I hated the likes of Jessica even more. Plus, stealing business secrets? That's a one-way ticket to prison.
"Then your lawyer brother's not going to make it out unscathed," Daniel said, his smile fading into something darker.
I froze. "What have you done to Kevin?"
Daniel chuckled darkly, planting a kiss on my cheek. "Behave, and you'll see him. Make any wrong moves, and you'll only get part of him back."
A part. The words made my blood run cold. Cursing them under my breath, I knew these people were monsters. Before leaving, Daniel whispered the details of the documents he wanted from me.
I immediately tried calling Kevin. No answer. Panic gripped me, but I couldn't waste any more time. I had to make sure he was okay. The elevator was packed, so I took the stairs. By the time I reached the first floor, I overheard Daniel and Jessica talking.
Jessica was laughing, but it sounded hollow. "Are you really interested in Sophia Carter?"
Daniel's voice was low and amused. "Of course not. If you don't like her, we can just send her to one of my clubs to earn us some money."
"That's more like it," Jessica said. "The idiot doesn't even know Kevin's perfectly fine."
Daniel's voice dropped to a whisper. "He's just isolated for a high-profile case, no contact allowed. Once she gets the documents, Kevin will be fine."
Relief flooded me, anger quickly shifting to something lighter. Kevin was safe. That was all that mattered.
A week later, I called James Anderson.
"James, I want to meet you."
Three months passed before I finally saw him again. He'd lost a lot of weight, his once round face now sharp, his features more severe.
When he saw me, a flash of hope crossed his face. "Sophia, are you willing to give me another chance?"
I stared out the café window, trying to steady my emotions. "James, I thought you'd have figured it out by now."
He reached across the table, grabbing my hand in a desperate, almost frantic grip. "Sophia, I know you're upset that I haven't contacted you for three months. But it's not what you think. My mom has been threatening me."
His voice was shaky, his expression full of guilt. "She said if I contacted you, she'd hurt you. But now that I'm in charge of the Anderson family, no one can touch me anymore."
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Something dark was lurking beneath the surface—an obsessive need. It felt like I was just a piece in his twisted game.
I regretted coming to see him. But I needed to use his influence to protect Kevin. So, I told him everything. I half-expected him to lash out, but his response shocked me.
"So, you came to me just for Kevin Johnson?" His voice was colder than I'd ever heard it.
I stayed silent, the truth hanging in the air between us.
James let out a bitter laugh, standing up and moving closer. His voice cracked as he said, "Sophia... do you really... not love me anymore?"
I looked at him, my heart aching for the man I once loved, but I couldn't ignore the betrayal. I nodded, my voice firm. "No, I don't love you anymore."
He staggered back, as if I'd struck him. Then, in a sudden, desperate move, he kissed me. I tried to pull away, but he whispered against my lips, "Don't you want to fix this? Let's put on a show."
I didn't push him away. Instead, I gritted my teeth, holding myself still, refusing to let him get any further. A tear slipped from his eye as he held me tighter.
"I never thought we'd end up like this. Only pretending, only for another man, would you even come close to me."
"Sophia, I regret it. I really regret it. Why didn't I see sooner that I'd fallen for you through all the little things you did?"
A wave of bittersweet pain washed over me. But there was no going back. The lies, Jessica, my grandmother's death—it was all too much to forgive.