Chapter 5 You Can Also Let Them Sleep with Ava
"It's not a big deal anymore. I'm really planning to break up. I already told him. Last night, I thought about it for a long time. From now on, I'm only gonna care about Aiden and Isabella. I'll always treat them like my own parents."
This was the best solution I could come up with.
Sophia said, "Are you sure about this? Who even is Ava? She doesn't match James's family background, and look at her past. She smokes, fights, and dates losers. She and James will never work out!"
Sophia's attitude shifted again. I looked at her, puzzled. She seemed disappointed and said, "Are you really gonna let them be together so easily? Ava is so annoying; she must have been plotting this for a long time! Why should you let her win?"
I suddenly got why James didn't just get with her directly. He had his pride. I was just a prop to keep his dignity intact.
I shrugged, "Not breaking up and dragging it out won't make me happy either. You said he's unfaithful, and I feel the same. They've been secretly together for three years; they might have already slept together. If Ava didn't have his leverage or if they weren't having an affair, how could they be tangled up for three years?"
"What? Three years?" Sophia couldn't help but curse and scratched her head. "James is really something!"
"But you can't just let those jerks be together! I really wanna beat them up!" Sophia was fuming for me.
I said, "Forget it. Ava wants to marry into the Smith family; it's not that easy. I don't need to keep breaking them up. I'll crash at your place tonight. I need to calm down. I'll move out of the Smith Manor on my day off."
James and I were done, and we shouldn't live under the same roof.
Sophia nodded, "That's good. Otherwise, if you break up, Isabella and Aiden will try to get you back together. Just thinking about it is a hassle."
It was indeed a hassle. Dating and breaking up weren't just between James and me; he still messed with me even if he didn't like me. He was really bad.
I avoided James for a few days, and he finally couldn't help but call me. I didn't answer. So he came to block me after work.
James asked, "Why did you move out? And why are you avoiding me?"
I replied, "I thought we already broke up. Didn't you hear that day?"
"You were just angry; I didn't take it seriously." James rubbed his forehead, looking troubled.
James said, "My parents miss you a lot. They're worried you aren't eating or sleeping well. I see your foot is almost healed. Let's go back and talk about getting married."
I made it clear, "I can take care of myself. I'm serious about breaking up. Today, I'm officially telling you. Please, don't bother me anymore."
"Emily." He stepped forward to grab my hand, but I dodged and hopped into a nearby taxi.
I thought my stance was clear and firm. I didn't expect that the next day, my company had business dealings with the Smith Group and specifically assigned me to go. It was work. I couldn't refuse.
In the Smith Group's reception room, I saw James, just as I expected.
"Mr. Smith, meeting me this way makes you look very unprofessional," I said calmly.
James smiled, "Emily, your company is small. With the Smith Group's help, it will grow better. Think about it, isn't it better not to break up with me?"
"Are you threatening me?" I hated him talking to me like this. He seemed to think I was as fake as he was.
James said firmly, "Emily, I just hope you won't be so impulsive. I will only marry you. Neither Ava nor anyone else will change that. How can I make you believe I never betrayed you?"
"You asked your friend if he wanted to sleep with me, right? And you can also let him sleep with Ava! Besides, they're all single, isn't that perfect?" I sneered.
James frowned, "I was joking. Emily, why are you saying such harsh things now? Is this something a girl should say?"
I retorted, "You can say it, but I can't even repeat it, right? As my boyfriend, you should be with me, yet you spend all your time taking care of another woman. Where's your sense of boundaries? Do you have the nerve to lecture me? Let me tell you, after we break up, you won't even be my friend!"
I put the contract on the table and continued, "I'll leave the contract here. I'll have another colleague follow up with you, Mr. Smith."
"Emily, you'll regret missing out on me!"
I ignored him and walked out the door. I took half a day off from work to move.
Although my parents had passed away, they left me two properties, and the closer one wasn't far from my company. I would have someone clean it up and move in this afternoon.
Back at the Smith Manor, Aiden was out with his friends, and only Isabella was home. When she saw me, her eyes turned red.
Isabella said apologetically, "Sweetie, I know all about the foolish things James did! It's all our fault; we were too busy back then. He was closer to Mia than to us."