Chapter 41 How Do You Still Have the Nerve to Come

James's heart was pounding like crazy, the sound echoing in his ears. It felt like his heart was breaking into pieces.

'Why does Emily have to make me feel this way? From now on, I'm done being sad over her,' James thought.

Emily had no clue.

At dawn, John awkwardly made his exit, his face red with embarrassment. He hadn't planned on getting that drunk.

Emily had wanted to see Michael, but she couldn't get through to James on the phone. When she tried again, the line was busy. Then James's personal secretary texted her, saying James was swamped and couldn't see her.

'I want to see Michael, not James. I miss Michael, but the rejection in that message is so clear. What's James's deal this time? I can't go up against him now, so I better not tick him off,' Emily thought.

Another weekend rolled around, and Emily headed straight to the Smith Villa. The butler gave her a complicated look. "Mr. Smith said he doesn't want to see you."

"Why?" Emily was both confused and a bit angry. "I don't want to see him; I just want to see Michael."

The butler stood firm at the door, blocking her way with a mix of pity and indifference on his face. Emily was usually kind to the staff, always giving them gifts and extra holidays during festive seasons. Even now, in a simple white trench coat, she looked lovely without trying.

The butler, feeling soft-hearted, couldn't meet her slightly reddened eyes. If it weren't for James's strict orders, he wouldn't have the heart to turn her away. "Mr. Smith has ordered that you can't come in."

Emily got anxious and stood on tiptoe to look inside. "This was agreed upon during our divorce; I can come to see Michael every weekend. Let James come out to explain himself!"

'Michael is my life; how can they not let me see him? Not allowing me to see Michael is absolutely unacceptable!' Emily thought.

As she struggled to get inside, several bodyguards and maids rushed out and held her back. In the chaos, Emily didn't know who pushed her to the ground, her hair a mess, her clothes disheveled. The stinging pain in her palm brought her back to her senses. Just as Emily was about to call James again, she saw Olivia, dressed in beige loungewear, walking out.

Olivia looked down at Emily, her eyes filled with disdain and barely concealed glee. "Emily, how do you still have the nerve to come here?"

'Why wouldn't I have the nerve? Why do these people talk so weirdly?' Emily wondered as she struggled to get up from the ground, not bothering to argue with Olivia, just looking at her urgently. "I just want to see Michael."

Olivia looked Emily up and down, a mocking smile on her lips. "Follow me and I'll take you in."

Emily didn't care about Olivia's intentions; she just wanted to see Michael.

With Olivia's word, the bodyguards and maids blocking the door exchanged glances and reluctantly stepped aside.

Emily followed Olivia into the living room, where she saw James lounging on the couch with a book, and Michael next to him, fidgeting anxiously.

As soon as Michael saw Emily, his eyes lit up, and he immediately wanted to run into her arms. But a stern look from James made him sit back down, looking at Emily with pitiful eyes.

"Emily," James finally looked up, his eyes cold and harsh. "Look at yourself. Do you think you're fit to be Michael's mother?"

'Why wouldn't I be fit?' Emily was stunned and looked down to see her once white trench coat now covered in stains, her shoes dusty, and her hair a mess. She hadn't thought much when she rushed in, but now she felt a sudden shame, as if she were being stripped and scrutinized.

Emily couldn't help but clutch the hem of her coat, tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't want to see James's disdainful gaze. Compared to Olivia, who was dressed comfortably and casually, she must look terrible now.

Olivia chuckled as she walked to the couch, and James pulled her into his arms, his face showing a tenderness he had never shown before. "Didn't I say not to let her in?"

"But she looked so pitiful." Olivia wrapped her arms around James's neck, smiling helplessly. "If we didn't let her in, the neighbors would say the Smith Family lacks compassion. After all, she is Michael's mother."

"She is just a gold digger." James snorted, looking at Emily as if she were trash. "Emily, does your boyfriend know you come to your ex-husband's house so often?"

Emily opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. 'Haven't I already said that John and I are just pretending to be a couple? Why did James believe it before, but now doesn't?' she wondered.

"I just want to see Michael," Emily said.

"Olivia and I are getting engaged soon," James continued. "I hope you can come less often. During the engagement period, I don't want anyone to misunderstand Olivia. Do you understand?"

'They're getting engaged so soon?' The thought hit Emily like a ton of bricks, almost making her unable to stand. 'Just last week, James made love to me. I even thought James still had some feelings for me. Why does all hope suddenly vanish?'

Emily wanted to pretend she didn't care, but she couldn't stop the tears from falling onto the floor.

Michael couldn't bear it any longer and ran over to hug Emily's leg. "Don't cry, Mommy. Daddy is bad. He bullies Mommy."

"Michael, come back here!" James felt a surge of violent emotion, not realizing how tightly he was holding Olivia's waist, almost crushing it, and Olivia's smile was barely holding up.

'Why does Emily have the nerve to cry? She has slept with John, and now she has the nerve to cry?' James thought before he said angrily, "Get out, Emily. I never want to see you again!"