James’s savings were nearly gone. The mere two hundred dollars remaining in his account kept him awake at night.
Finally, late one night, he swallowed his pride and contacted those project managers he had previously dismissed.
The cold rejections and mockery from the other end of the line made his anger spiral out of control. He smashed his phone
violently against the floor.
“Bastards, all of them bastards!”
He cursed through gritted teeth, rage boiling in his chest, but he was powerless to change the situation.
Michelle picked up the shattered phone while listening to James’s roars.
Yet in her eyes, unfathomable emotions flickered.
Michelle keenly sensed that Cooper Corp had truly abandoned James.
She then turned her attention to Nathan.
She sent countless flirtatious messages’to Nathan every day, but they all sank like stones.
This was strange–in the past, Nathan would have been interested seeing her so forward.
Michelle bit her lip, silently cursing Nathan for not appreciating her advances.
1/2
Chapter 10
News of my broken engagement had already spread throughout our social circle.
Contrary to his usual behavior, Nathan was now showering me with affection, practically wearing his heart on his sleeve.
Yet he completely ignored Michelle’s flirtations.
Unwilling to give up, she took out her phone and composed another suggestive message:
“Nathan, do you remember that night we watched the fireworks together?”
“How are you? I’ve been missing you so much lately…”
Before she could hit send, James snatched the phone from her hand.
“What are you doing? Flirting with another man behind my back??”
James’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Michelle like a cornered beast.
Michelle pretended to be fragile, her eyes instantly reddening. “James, don’t misunderstand, I was just…”
“Just what? Just thinking I’ve fallen on hard times, so you’re looking for another sugar daddy?!”
James suddenly grabbed her throat with shocking force.
“You want to betray me too! You want to abandon me too!”
Michelle struggled desperately, finding it harder and harder to breathe as everything began to blur.
Survival instinct kicked in as she grabbed a sculpture from the table and smashed it against James’s head.
James grunted and collapsed to the floor.
Michelle clutched her throat, coughing violently.
Looking at James lying on the ground, there wasn’t a trace of concern in her eyes–only disgust and contempt.
“Look at yourself. Without your parents‘ protection, you’re nothing but trash!
“I refuse to live this poor life with you! I was hoping you’d make a comeback, but you’re completely useless!”
James looked at her in disbelief.
“Michelle, didn’t you say you loved me? You never used to care about money like
this…”
