Chapter 18 Did James Pick Her up from Work?

The sky was getting dark, and the city's neon lights were starting to flicker. Emily peeled off her nurse's uniform, stretched her sore wrists, grabbed her bag, and got ready to head home.

Being a nurse was tough, but today she felt surprisingly calm, free from any heavy emotions.

It was rush hour, so Emily decided to make her way to the bus stop. But a black sedan pulled up in front of her.

The tinted window descended with measured slowness, revealing James’s sharply defined features. His grip on the steering wheel was casual yet authoritative, eyes unwavering as they met hers. "Get in," he ordered, his voice a blend of command and invitation.

James, ever the epitome of dominance, had rarely troubled himself with such gestures. In all their years of marriage, this unexpected act of consideration—arriving unbidden to fetch her—was unprecedented.

For a fleeting moment, Emily was tempted to accept, to savor this unusual expression of care. But the thought of Olivia brought her steps to an abrupt stop.

"No need, it's okay, I can go back by myself." Emily gently refused, trying to keep her distance from James.

Today at the canteen, James just walked out without a second thought, even though Olivia was there too. She looked really upset.

"James, I'll take the bus. You and Olivia are a great match. I don't want to cause any misunderstandings," she said.

'I must be out of my mind, waiting for Emily at the hospital entrance.' James's thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration and self-reproach. Ordinarily, he would have peeled off already if anyone else had kept him waiting like this. Yet here he was, foot on the gas, unable to leave despite his mounting irritation.

"Think you're something special?" he jeered, masking his conflicting emotions with sarcasm. "I'm actually waiting for Olivia. She's still in surgery and can't leave yet. She asked me to head home first, and I just happened to see you. So, I figured, why not offer you a ride?" His voice dripped with disdain, but his eyes betrayed a fleeting, involuntary glance at Emily.

Hearing this, Emily felt a confusing mix of relief and disappointment. She opened the car door and settled into the passenger seat, her mind racing. She had thought he was here just for her. But why did it matter now that they were divorced? This wasn't something she should be longing for anymore.

The car started moving slowly, and neither of them spoke. The atmosphere was silent but filled with an unspoken tension. Emily tried to keep her distance from James, leaning against the car door with the window half-open. The scenery outside zipped by, and the cool night breeze brushed her cheeks.

James's gaze unintentionally fell on Emily's profile. A few strands of her hair danced in the wind, and despite her tired look, she was stunningly beautiful under the streetlights.

For some reason, James hit the brakes. Emily turned to him, confused, revealing a glimpse of her fair neck. Her eyes were slightly red, glistening with unshed tears, making it hard for him to resist.

James took a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing, his eyes darkening. Emily, just an innocent woman, always managed to stir up his hidden desires, making him want to tease her and make her cry.

"James, why did you stop?" she asked, but her voice trailed off.

In the dim light, James's face was close to hers, their breaths mingling. They locked eyes, their noses almost touching, the darkness hiding their true emotions.

Emily's face flushed, her heart racing. Before she could react, James's long, well-defined hand grasped her neck. The rough texture of his palm lightly grazed her skin, sending contradictory sensations of itchiness and abrasion. Her head felt dizzy, and although James wasn't using force, she felt like she couldn't breathe.

As her rationality started to slip away, Emily pressed against his chest, her watery eyes pleading, "James, we can't do this."

James froze, realizing what he was doing. He released her neck but couldn't shake the smooth feeling.

He already had Olivia, so why couldn't he control himself around Emily? If Emily hadn't spoken, he might have lost control and kissed her. It shouldn't be like this; the person he loved was Olivia. It must be because Emily had left for too short a time, and he hadn't gotten used to it yet.

James irritably tugged at his collar, suppressing the desire in his eyes, and put his hands back on the steering wheel.

Emily shrank back into the corner of the passenger seat, her small body taking up only a tiny bit of space. Her neck tingled uncomfortably from his touch, a mix of pain and soreness, but she didn't dare to speak, afraid of provoking another reaction from James.

But thinking of James's eyes filled with desire just now, she felt a bit happy. Emily silently scolded herself, 'I should try to stay away from James in the future.'

"Let's go pick up Michael." James broke the silence, his voice a bit hoarse.

"Okay." Emily was stunned for a moment, not expecting James to bring up Michael at this moment. She didn't refuse; she was still willing to go pick up Michael with him.