Chapter 31 The Con Artist

"Even if Emily's my ex-wife, she's still Michael's mom. Why don't you ask her who she wants to go with?" James shrugged off John's arm, sneered, and slumped back in his chair, his cold eyes locked on Emily, the threat in his gaze crystal clear.

Emily felt a tightness in her chest. Over the past few days, she'd come to realize just how domineering James could be. If he said anything reckless in front of John now, she'd lose all her dignity in front of him. John was her only good friend, and she really didn't want him getting dragged into her personal mess.

Emily took a couple of steps toward James.

John looked at his empty palm, feeling a pang of sadness. "Emily, if you don't want to, you can say no." He looked at Emily, unconsciously clenching his fists, his tone slow and steady.

He could see that Emily wasn't really willing to compromise, so he offered, "It's okay. I'm here. No one can force you to do something you don't want to do."

This was a direct challenge to James, whose expression grew even darker, the anger in his eyes almost tangible.

'If there's nothing going on between them, why would John act like that? Only a naive woman like Emily would actually believe that he is just being friendly.' The more James thought about it, the angrier he got. Especially when he saw Emily hesitate after taking two steps towards him, his anger reached its peak. 'Could her eight-year-old friendship with John really compare to our relationship?'

"Emily, if you still want to see Michael again, you'd better come over here. Otherwise, I'll think you're not a competent mother, and there's no need for you to see Michael anymore." James threatened.

Emily's whole body trembled as she looked up at James in disbelief, only to meet his deep eyes. She couldn't figure out what James wanted to do. But for Michael's sake, it was best not to provoke him.

"John," Emily said with a strained voice, her eyes misty and pleading, "you should go. I need to discuss some things about Michael with James."

John's expression turned dark instantly. He could reach out to pull Emily over; they were so close, yet he had no right to protect her. But he knew Emily was compromising for Michael's sake.

Emily's pleading look made John's heart ache. He turned his face away, unwilling to see her like this. He couldn't blame Emily; she had no other choice.

John forced a smile. "It's okay, Emily. I'll go now. Remember to apply the medicine to avoid scars. If you need anything, call me anytime."

With that, John placed the iodine swabs and other stuff on the table, picked up his coat, and prepared to leave.

As he was leaving, he turned and looked at James meaningfully. "James, the Williams family may not be as famous as the Smith family in Mist Isle City, but we still have some clout. If anything happens to Emily, we can definitely cause you some trouble."

'John is clearly threatening me. He really cares about Emily, even daring to threaten me,' James thought but didn't care. 'Even if he can cause me some trouble, so what? In Mist Isle City, with my grandfather Chase Smith around, no one can significantly affect me.'

"Dr. Williams, you should mind your own business. The matters between my ex-wife and me are none of your concern," James said.

John glanced at Emily, confirming she really wanted him to leave, then drove away from the small apartment.

It wasn't until John's car was out of sight that Emily breathed a sigh of relief.

She didn't want John to stand up for her or do anything. After eight years in the Smith family, she knew very well the power and status of the Smith family in Mist Isle City. She could bear it all alone; she didn't need John to be troubled by these things.

Emily lowered her eyes. Just as she turned around, James kissed her.

"James."

James's familiar scent overwhelmed her, a strong aroma spreading between their lips, engulfing Emily's entire sense of taste. His kiss was aggressive, filled with anger, fierce and forceful.

Emily couldn't handle it, trying to turn her face away, but James bit her lips hard.

Emily groaned in pain, tears uncontrollably sliding down her cheeks.

James had no intention of letting her go. He pinned her wrists with one hand, pressing her against the dining table, his tall, heavy body weighing down on her.

He didn't speak, and his actions were far from gentle. He pulled down her pants without hesitation and made love to her.

Since the divorce, Emily hadn't experienced anything so forceful. She gasped sharply. "James, no. We..."

James ignored her cries, gripping her waist as if venting his anger.

Emily felt intense pain, each of James's movements making her break out in a sweat.

The table behind her was very hard, and with James's violent thrusts, her waist felt like it was about to break.

Emily bit her lip, unwilling to beg for mercy, turning her face away in silence, enduring James's brutal actions.

It wasn't until James saw Emily's face scrunched up in pain, her lips bloodless, that he eased his force a bit, staring at her face with a gloomy expression, his movements still unstopping.

"James, how did I offend you?" Emily was full of grievances, her tearful eyes looking at James.

James let out a low, cold laugh, "Emily, you just divorced me and now you're hooking up with another man, right? How can a promiscuous woman like you swear you married me for loving me and not for my money?"

Emily's mind was foggy, not understanding why James was acting crazy. She grabbed the table leg in pain. In this position, she could only let James make love to her.

"John and I are really just friends. He used to cook for me when we were kids. Now he just feels sorry for me being alone and wants to help. We have no other relationship." Emily clung to James's shoulder, her voice breaking from his actions, unable to form a complete sentence.

"Liar." James felt a pang of bitterness, but he also knew that in Emily's heart, she and John were really just friends.

As James saw Emily's pitiful face, his cold gaze softened for a moment.