Chapter 163 Hate You for a Lifetime
"Peyton!" Seeing Peyton get slapped by James again, Addison was furious. She stood in front of James and shouted, "Bastard, you're going too far. No matter what Peyton did wrong, she's still a woman, a child. Slapping her around like this, aren't you afraid of getting struck by lightning?"
James smiled. "Not afraid."
'A child? A woman? The people she bullied were probably no less than midnight killers.' James thought.
"If you're so tough, then hit me too. I don't believe you dare to kill me. Do you know why I look down on you and hate you? It's not because you're weak or incompetent, but because you're so despicable."
Addison was enraged by James. "You're just someone who gets arrogant when things go your way."
Addison continued, "Embarrassing Christopher at the birthday party, disgracing Joseph at the hospital. You make a scene whenever you have a bit of power, without understanding the importance of enduring humiliation for the greater good."
"So what if the painting is real or fake? So what if the credit goes to someone else? Only by experiencing hardship can one become truly successful. Didn't your mom teach you that?"
"I scold you and teach you every day for your own growth. If I didn't care about you, I wouldn't bother with you at all."
"And what happened? You don't understand my good intentions, always going against me, and causing chaos in the Smith Family."
"You've contributed to the Smith Family, but you've brought more harm. In the past few months, you've made everyone in the Smith Family lose face."
"You're also vengeful. Didn't Mary just divorce you yesterday? Do you have to use Peyton as an excuse to make a fuss?"
"If you like Mary, as your brother-in-law said, find a way to make amends. What's the point of doing this?"
"All you're doing is making us hate you more, resent you more, and look down on you even more. In my heart, you'll never compare to Joseph."
Addison ranted at James, venting her emotions. Regardless of right or wrong, she wanted to put all the blame on James.
She would never face reality, never admit her mistakes, and never acknowledge James' excellence and value.
Especially with Mary's tearful regret, she didn't want to admit she had missed out on a good son-in-law.
Antique appraisal and medical skills to save people, in Addison's view, were just luck. James mostly relied on Olivia to climb into high society.
"And don't forget, the Smith Family has been good to you. If the Smith Family hadn't given you $50,000 to treat your mom and $1,000 a month for pocket money, your mom would have died in the hospital long ago."
"You would have starved to death too. Now that you have some confidence, you're repaying kindness with ingratitude. Can you live with your conscience?"
Abigail also looked down on James and judged him.
"What's the point of saying all this?" James smiled. "In your hearts, you've decided I'm worthless, so I'll always be worthless. No matter what I do, you won't change your minds. No matter how much I shine, you'll think it blinds you. You know very well how I've been in the Smith Family."
James continued, "As for conscience and settling old scores, that's even more laughable. The $2 million from SH Corporation was recovered by me; Mary's funding gap was solved by me; Jesse's dirt was exposed by me; Christopher's million-dollar project was approved by me; Charles' fraud was resolved by me, and I got you out of jail. And the $1,562,500 in compensation, the $14 million for the Buddhist temple. Which of these returns isn't worth more than the $50,000 favor from the Smith Family?"
James' face showed mockery. After letting go of his obsession with Mary, he became indifferent and relaxed toward the Smith Family.
"I owe you, and you remember it clearly. But what you owe me, you all pretend to forget. Since you don't appreciate what I've done for you, I'll take it all back. Christopher's project ends here, the $14 million for the Buddhist temple must be returned, and the VitaliCalm matter will be re-investigated. You don't like it, right? Then give it all back to me!"
James' tone was calm, but his words were extremely damaging.
Christopher and the others' faces changed drastically. James had hit their vulnerabilities directly.
Especially Addison, her face turned pale.
Abigail shouted, "James, aren't you afraid we'll tell Mary? If we tell Mary about all this and let her know you have no feelings, you'll never have a chance to reconcile."
She threatened James, "If she really marries Joseph, you'll regret it."
"Who told you I want to reconcile with Mary?" James sneered. "We're already divorced. From now on, we'll go our separate ways."
Addison shouted, "James, don't go too far."
James' tone was calm. "I'm not going too far, just satisfying you. After all, my contributions to the Smith Family are negligible."
"James." At this moment, a familiar voice called from behind.
James' heart trembled as he turned around, seeing a red BMW that had appeared without him noticing. The person calling him was Mary, dressed in black.
She was as beautiful as ever, but with a sad expression.
James didn't respond but just looked at her calmly.
Mary's face was haggard. She looked at James and spoke in a daze, "James, stop causing trouble. Give my brother-in-law and the others a way out."
"I thought you would say sorry." James laughed at himself. "I guess I was naive. In your world, there's never a sorry."
"James!" Mary's face suddenly turned red.
She never imagined James would be so blunt.
Then her face softened. "James, let them go. Let's not get divorced. Let's live well together and understand each other, okay?"
James' eyes flickered for a moment, then a trace of self-mockery passed.
He had once dreamed of living well with her and understanding each other, but he least wanted to hear her say it at this moment.
He didn't respond, turning to walk toward the Mercedes.
Samuel quickly got into the driver's seat and started the car.
Mary's little hope slowly faded.
"I was wrong; I have personality issues, but I can change. We can still try to make it work."
James shook his head. He didn't want to try anymore; it was too exhausting, too torturous.
Mary couldn't listen to anything. "Do I have to give up all my dignity and beg you not to leave and reconcile? I really can't do that."
She was nearly breaking down. "Let's stop torturing each other, okay?"
"Just be yourself." James walked past her. "Actually, you're just unwilling to accept it."
Mary was stunned. "Do you really like Olivia?"
Then her body shook, blocking James' way. "Don't go."
James walked around her and got into the Mercedes.
Mary had no strength to resist, tears streaming down her face as she shouted, "James, do you want me to hate you for the rest of my life?"
James' hand paused on the door. Then, he slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, they were clear and bright.
Once he decided on something, he never looked back.
"Drive."
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