That silence destroyed him.
James’s chest heaved. His hand shot out suddenly, grabbing her wrist and yanking it up from her lap. The force jolted her toward him.
“ANSWER ME!” he shouted, his voice cracking with rage and desperation. “God fucking dammit, Mia—did you sleep with that motherfucker?!”
The words tore out of him—loud, raw, trembling—jealousy, anger, heartbreak bleeding together without restraint.
Something in her snapped.
Mia turned sharply toward him, fury flashing in her eyes. Her hand lifted—
slap.
The sound echoed inside the car.
His head jerked to the side.
“Don’t talk anymore,” she said coldly, her voice sharp as glass. “If you cannot say anything good, then it’s better you don’t speak at all.”
A bright red handprint bloomed across James’s cheek.
Instead of calming him, it stripped away the last of his restraint.
His jaw clenched hard. His breathing turned harsh, almost feral.
“Why shouldn’t I?” he growled, voice ragged. “You are burning me alive. There is fire in my chest right now.”
His eyes were wild—desperate, broken open.
“The moment I saw you smile at him…” His voice shook. “Do you know how jealous I was? I am jealous to the point I want to kill him right now.”
The words came out erratic, cracking with rage and unbearable jealousy.
Mia stared at him, disbelief and confusion knotting her expression. She didn’t understand what he wanted from her—why he was doing this, why he wouldn’t let go.
Before she could speak—
James suddenly bent forward with a strangled gasp, one hand flying to his chest. His breath stuttered, pain ripping through him as he hunched over.
Mia watched him silently.
Tense. Guarded.
But she didn’t move.
His phone vibrated suddenly, breaking the heavy silence.
The screen lit up on the console.
William.
Mia reached out, picked it up calmly, and pressed it to her ear—her expression cold, detached.
“Your boss’s chest is aching,” she said flatly. “Come here and take care of him.”
William went silent on the other end of the line.
For a split second, there was only the faint sound of his breathing—clearly startled to hear her voice.
