A Vengeful Ex-Wife novel Chapter 215

"Once this matter is settled, please don't come to me for anything ever again. The Song family and the Song Group have nothing to do with me. And stop trying to manipulate me just because the Song family raised me."

Maria's tone was firm. If she somehow managed to convince James to help Song Group, she would owe nothing to Chandler and Elaine in the future. She never wanted to hear things like family affection from these people again in the future. In fact, she didn't want to have anything to do with them anymore.

Caroline was silent for a while before finally responding, "I got it. I'll tell Mom and Dad."

Maria hung up the phone and looked at the table laden with dishes and two full glasses of wine, her face twisted into a sneer.

She had wanted to thank James and celebrate the success of her scheme against Jonathan, but now it looked like the purpose of this meal was going to change.

She lifted her gaze to the ceiling, feeling helpless. And beneath that was a whole bundle of complex emotions, too.

While she was indeed rich, she was not capable of producing the amount the Song Group needed in such a tight time frame.

And she didn't want to use her last trump card just to save the Song Group.

She needed to find a way to persuade James.

Maria plucked one of the glasses and downed its contents.

When James arrived half an hour later, she had already drunk several glasses of wine.

He rang the doorbell, and she went to open the door on unsteady beat.

When she saw him standing outside, she pounced on him and clung to his arms like a spoiled child. "Why are you so late?”

One of his arms snaked around her waist and he led her back inside the apartment. "Traffic jam." Those two words were explanation enough.

They had taken only a few steps into the room when Maria kicked the door closed, then proceeded to kiss James, who had been about to change into his slippers.

He returned her embrace without missing a beat and kissed her back just as fervently.

He soon realized, however, that Maria seemed to be acting a little strange.

He pressed her against the shoe cabinet by the door, and the loose sleeves of her dress slipped from her shoulders and now draped over her arms. The sudden cold it brought to her body sobered her up in an instant. James had buried his face on the crook of her neck, planting kisses on her skin. She pulled at his nape. "Let's eat first."

He ignored what she said for several seconds before finally nipping gently on her lips and pulling away.

He headed to the bathroom, and Maria settled at the dining table and waited for him. She perked up and patted the chair beside her when she saw him approach. “Sit here!"

He did as she asked, casting a sideways glance at her as he sat.

Maria placed a glass of red wine in front of him. "Let's make a toast."

"Did anything special happen today?" She had cooked dinner and opened a bottle of wine. There must be something.

They clinked glasses and Maria took a sip before saying, "It's Valentine's Day."

Valentine's Day? James had to wonder if he had been so engrossed with work that he had forgotten the date, or if Maria was extremely drunk already. She had, after all, reeked of alcohol since the moment he had come home.

She leaned on his shoulder, chuckling gently to herself. "Every day I spend with you is Valentine's Day in my book."

He said nothing. She was definitely up to something again.

But if Maria wasn't going to be out and open with what she wanted, he wouldn't take the initiative to ask her about it either.

She fished a forkful of lobster meat from one of the dishes and put it against his lips. "Here, try some lobster."

James paid no heed to the food, and looked into her eyes instead.

She personally prepared dinner, made out with him, and fed him. It was not easy for James to realize that she had a big favor to ask of him.

"What are you looking at? Aren't you going to eat?" Her eyes drifted over to the lobster. "Perhaps you don't like seafood?"

James opened his mouth and ate the forkful of food she was feeding him.

"Is it good?" she asked expectantly, tilting her head to look up at him.

James chewed, swallowed, and nodded. "It's not bad."

Maria smiled happily. "I learned it from a chef. Thank God my lessons didn't go to waste."

"How long are you going to keep saying things you don't want to?" James snorted.