"Summer, this is your last chance. Just say it," James said in a cold and threatening voice.
"Maria has gone to hospital."
"What the hell for?" Anxiety was clawing under James' skin, demanding to get out.
Summer choked on a sob. Maria truly was a troublemaker. "She went for an abortion."
James' entire body went cold.
He rushed to his feet, his thunderous expression wiping the smile off Cooper's face.
"How dare she?" James whispered to the phone, his tone low, his breathing heavy.
"She's already taken the medicine."
Bang! James kicked the table in front of him, toppling it over.
Cooper could only stare silently at what was unfolding before his eyes.
James had never lost his temper like this for as long as he could remember.
Was it because James had somehow changed in the time they were apart? Or was the news he had just received exceedingly grave?
Summer heard the crash from the other end of the line, and she shivered. "Mr. Xi..." "Where the hell is she now?" "She's currently resting in the ward. I came too late. I wasn't able to stop her. I'm so sorry, Mr. Xi." This part was scripted, of course. Maria had specifically fed her these lines so as not to drag Summer into any trouble.
James ended the call abruptly and switched to Maria's contact number.
Cooper took the opportunity to ask, "What happened?"
James said nothing, but his face continued to grow darker and darker as he waited for the call to connect.
When it finally did, he didn't beat around the push. "Maria Song, tell me what you've done. I want to hear it straight from you. Are you playing a prank on me again?"
There was a moment of pregnant silence, and James heart felt heavier as the seconds ticked by. He finally snapped and yelled into the phone. "Maria Song, how dare you!"
How could she get rid of his baby?
"Are you heartbroken, James Xi?" she asked, her voice calm and gentle.
It was his turn to go quiet.
"Because if you do, then that's great. I'm sure it's just exactly how I felt all those years ago. I'm glad someone can finally understand." She gave a small chuckle then, which somehow sounded sorrowful and self-derisive.
"I don't believe you," James muttered firmly.
"What don't you believe, exactly? That I had your child aborted just now?"
Maria scoffed. "James Xi, did you honestly forget that I'm only staying with you for the sake of my revenge?"
That rendered him speechless.
He ended the call without saying anything and called his assistant. Ignoring the fact that it was almost midnight, he asked his assistant to arrange for a private plane to take him home as soon as possible.
He then headed to the door, only to be pulled back by Cooper. "James, hang on a second there."
James stopped and turned to look at his brother.
"I don't know what happened, but Maria must have her own reasons. Don't give in to your impulses. Just hear her out first, okay? Show her some mercy. Please."
Mercy? James snorted. "Even when she didn't show me any mercy? Keep your kindness in check, Cooper.
It could get you killed someday."
James flew back to H City. He hadn't even packed or brought any of his belongings back with him.
Cooper knew his brother very well—he wouldn't let go of Maria so easily.
He rushed to call his man stationed at H City. "Keep an eye on James and Maria. If anything happens to her, please inform me immediately."
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