Chapter 520 I Won't Rent My Shop Anymore
James released his grip, and Allan collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood with a pained groan.
Seeing Allan was safe, Hestia quickly let go of James's arm and backed away, guilt written across her face.
"James, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bite you. Really, I didn't." She nervously fidgeted with her hands. "I was scared you might kill him, and then you'd get arrested. I panicked."
Hestia couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes as she fumbled for excuses.
James remained silent, staring at the bite mark on his arm—deep and angry red, nearly breaking the skin. No doubt about it, Hestia had bitten him with all her strength.
It was clear that Allan still meant a great deal to her.
"I brought this on myself," James muttered with a hint of self-mockery.
He didn't care whether Hestia had feelings for Allan. But using him to make Allan jealous, then turning against him when things got heated? That stung.
Still, he didn't explode or curse her out. He just nodded. "I understand."
In that moment, something shifted. If Hestia had been climbing the ranks to "important friend" these past few days, she'd just been demoted back to casual acquaintance.
"James, I'm glad you understand..." Hestia's tone carried a hint of reproach. "But honestly, you went too far. You nearly beat him to death."
"Allan struck first, if I remember correctly," James said with a faint smile.
"Only because you provoked him! If you hadn't said he wasn't worthy to fight you, would he have attacked?" Hestia bit her lip. "He's used to getting his way. He can't handle being challenged—he only lashed out because you pushed him!"
"So this is all my fault?" James looked at the love-blind girl standing before him. "I shouldn't have come here, shouldn't have contradicted Allan, shouldn't have defended myself against his flying kick."
"That's not what I meant. Please don't be mad, okay?" Hestia glanced at Allan, who was being helped to a chair. "You just shouldn't have been so brutal. You hurt him and brought trouble on yourself."
James could see it in her eyes—the resentment that he'd thrashed someone she couldn't even bring herself to hit.
"So he can hurt me, but I can't hurt him," James said, smiling without humor.
Hestia hesitated. "James, my mom's right. The world isn't fair. You and Allan are from different worlds."
She was clearly implying he shouldn't have fought back. James felt something inside him go still. "Got it."
"I'm sorry, James. Don't be like that."
Hestia started to apologize again, but when Allan let out a pained groan, she abandoned James mid-sentence and rushed into the crowd.
"Allan, how are you? Are you okay?" She pulled out a tissue and gently dabbed at his cheeks.
"I'm fine, just a little swollen," Allan replied. Being a seasoned player in the game of love, he didn't rage or demand revenge. Instead, he grabbed Hestia's hand and pleaded, "This pain is nothing. These injuries don't matter."
He gazed into her eyes with practiced intensity. "If it means having you back, I'd give up my hands or feet. The pain of losing you hurts way more than any beating."
Playing the victim card masterfully, he asked, "Will you give me another chance?"
Genevieve jumped in, "Hestia, Allan challenged James for you even knowing how dangerous he is. That kind of devotion deserves another chance."
"Yeah," Asher added, visibly distressed. "Look how badly he's hurt. All the time I've known him, he's lived like royalty. Today he nearly got his face destroyed for you. Cut him some slack, just this once."
Hestia pressed her lips together, looking back and forth between Allan and the eerily calm James. Her face betrayed her inner struggle.
Sensing her hesitation, Allan reached into his pocket. "Hestia, these are Angel's Tears. I was saving them for your birthday, but I want you to have them now." He pulled out a diamond necklace. "I hope our love lasts until the seas run dry—stronger than diamond."
The necklace featured twelve diamonds of various sizes arranged like teardrops, each one dazzlingly brilliant.
"Holy shit, Angel's Tears!" one of the girls gasped. "That thing costs like eight million dollars!"
"It was crafted by Master Sores," another added. "There are only six in the world. You need serious connections just to buy one."
"Damn, Allan must really love her. Eight million bucks without even blinking!"
The girls' eyes burned with jealousy as they stared at the necklace.
Hestia's eyes widened—not because of the price tag, but because she knew Allan. He spent lavishly on his own pleasures, but never more than a hundred grand on gifts. The necklace was genuinely shocking. Maybe he had changed.
Allan caught her softening gaze. "Hestia, please forgive me." His voice dropped to a sincere whisper. "Whatever happens, I swear I'll stay by your side. Through good and bad, I'll protect you until my last breath. I'll never look at another woman again."
"James," Hestia said, turning away from Allan's proclamation to face him. "No matter what I choose, you won't hate me, right?"
Asher, Genevieve, and the others all looked at James with mocking expressions. What could the poor sap possibly do about it?
James simply nodded, his face betraying nothing.
"I'm happy to have known you," Hestia said, patting his shoulder awkwardly. "Thanks for hanging out these past few days."
She turned back to Allan, took the necklace, and put it on. "You'd better not go back to your womanizing ways," she warned, giving his ear a playful tug. "I won't let you off so easily next time."
"Whatever you say!" Allan laughed, standing despite his pain. He grabbed Hestia in a bear hug and spun her around, planting a kiss on her cheek. As he did, he shot James a triumphant glance over her shoulder, his face broadcasting the arrogance of a victor.
In Allan's mind, this loser James had tried to steal his woman. How pathetic! Already, he was plotting revenge.
Hestia gave James an apologetic smile. She'd decided to forgive Allan partly because she still loved him, partly because her mother had pushed for it, and partly because—let's be real—James couldn't compare to Allan. Billions in assets versus what? A tea shop owner? No contest.
"The lovers reunite at last!" Genevieve cheered. The crowd erupted, their shouts nearly lifting the roof.
Hestia kept sneaking glances at James, expecting to see heartbreak and disappointment on his face. His calm acceptance puzzled her.
Shouldn't he be upset about losing someone like her? Why was he so damn calm? Was it some kind of strategy?
Genevieve and her girlfriends also assumed James was just pretending to be composed. Their eyes made no effort to hide their contempt.
What a loser. Allan had gotten on his knees, begged for forgiveness, and made a passionate declaration of love, while James just stood there like a statue, watching without a word. Pathetic.
"Congrats, Hestia. I'm out," James said simply. He had no love for Allan, and this little celebration had nothing to do with him.
"Get lost! You're not welcome here," Allan called out, riding high on his victory. "For Hestia's sake, I won't make you pay for attacking me today."
James didn't bother responding.
"Wait, James." Hestia suddenly remembered something and hurried over, her expression uncertain. "Allan's my boyfriend, and you're my friend. I know you're beefing with the Garcia family, and you're planning to open your shop soon. Could you do me a solid and resolve this peacefully?"
She pushed on hopefully. "If you give the recipe to Allan, and he gives you some cash, you could patch things up. What do you say?"
Having watched her boyfriend get his ass handed to him, she felt guilty. If James surrendered the recipe, Allan could score a big win with the Garcia family. Everyone would be happy.
"I'll respect what Hestia wants," Allan said with a snort. "Hand over the Level Eight black tea recipe, and I'll give you ten million dollars. We'll wipe the slate clean. Hell, I'll even let your mom come back to the Garcia family."
"Sorry, but I don't need your ten million," James replied with a cold smile. He turned to Hestia. "The Garcia family owes my mom too much. I need to get justice for her."
His voice was firm. "Giving them the recipe is not an option."
Hearing James refuse her, Hestia's face darkened. "If you're going to be this stubborn, then I have no choice." Her voice hardened. "I won't rent the shop space to you anymore. Move everything out by tomorrow."
She crossed her arms. "I can't help you fight against my boyfriend."
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