Chapter 249 Ruthlessness
James was shocked, his muscles stiffening!
Even a man as composed as James felt a wave of panic. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect Harmony to break down like this, throwing herself at him and confessing her feelings!
'Was this the same cold, aloof Ms. Brown I knew? ' He puzzled.
James prided himself on his composure. No amount of ridicule or hardship had ever fazed him. Yet, faced with Harmony's sudden, overwhelming affection, his mind went blank. He was utterly lost.
"James," Harmony sobbed, clinging to him. "I really like you. Please don't go, okay?"
James's lips moved soundlessly. This was beyond anything he could have imagined. He gently disentangled himself from Harmony's grasp and turned to face her, his expression serious. "Harmony, what are you doing? I'm your friend's husband. Have you lost your mind?"
Pain flickered across Harmony's face. Jennifer's image flashed in her mind, intensifying her tears. "He's Jennifer's husband," she whispered, more to herself than to James. "Why do I like him? Why am I like this? What should I do? But I really like him."
Her tone was filled with pain, self-blame, helplessness, and despair.
James felt a pang of sympathy but quickly turned away, unable to bear the sight of her anguish. He knew that any sign of softness would only fuel Harmony's hopes, and that was the last thing he wanted.
"Harmony," he said, his voice firm and resolute, "I don't know when this started for you, but let me be absolutely clear: I am Jennifer's husband. I was, I am, and I always will be. There is no possibility of anything between us. If you value Jennifer's friendship at all, you will put a stop to these thoughts. It's impossible."
Harmony was inconsolable, her sobs growing louder with each passing moment. James hadn't foreseen this turn of events.
It was only recently, after a series of encounters with James, that Harmony admitted her feelings to herself. The realization tormented her. She constantly reminded herself that James was Jennifer's husband and that their love was forbidden.
But she couldn't fight the pull she felt towards him.
In his presence, she maintained a facade of composure, burying her true feelings deep within.
However, the events in M City had chipped away at her resolve. James's bravery in saving her had awakened a deep admiration within her. Then came his captivating performance at the medical conference, his passionate speech etching itself permanently in her memory.
Still, she clung to the belief that she could control her emotions. She knew the insurmountable obstacles that stood between them, condemning her love to forever remain unrequited.
But the recent incident had shattered her carefully constructed walls.
Seeing the photos of her and James on the camera had been like unearthing a hidden treasure. They were tangible proof of their connection, however fleeting.
Her crush was already a closely guarded secret, and these photos were the only evidence she had of their shared moments. They were precious to her.
James deleting them felt like a cruel violation, a deep wound to her already fragile heart.
It was then that she lost control, lashing out at him in anger and despair. Why did he have to be so callous, destroying something that meant so much to her?
His cold, resolute rejection was the final blow, shattering her completely.
She had overestimated her strength. The pain of his rejection was unlike anything she had ever experienced, far surpassing the hurt she felt when Jared broke off their engagement.
Back then, she had felt disappointment and anger. Now, there was only pain, a deep, aching sense of loss and despair.
Words failed her. Her mind was a jumbled mess of emotions. All she could do was cry, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She hated herself for her weakness. She was a strong, independent woman. Why was she falling apart like this? They had never even been together. Why did her heart ache so much?
James's resolve wavered as he watched Harmony crumble before him. He felt a surge of annoyance. He had never encouraged her feelings, had, in fact, often been distant and even rude. Why did she have to like him? It made no sense.
And yet, seeing her tears, he couldn't deny the depth of her feelings.
He sighed, his tone softening. "Ms. Brown, I don't know what you see in me, but I can assure you, there's no future for us. There are plenty of good men out there. You need to broaden your horizons. I'm sure Jennifer wouldn't want this either. We shouldn't be meeting like this anymore. For the sake of your friendship, let it go."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Harmony's face turned ashen as his words echoed in her ears. She stood there, frozen, watching his retreating figure. It felt like a part of her was being ripped away, leaving behind a gaping hole.
Finally, she collapsed to the ground, burying her face in her hands, her sobs echoing in the stillness.
James didn't go far. He couldn't bring himself to leave her completely alone, especially knowing the snake venom still lingered in her system.
He pulled out his phone and called Edwin. "Get an ambulance here as quickly as possible," he instructed.
The hospital was nearby, and within ten minutes, the ambulance arrived. By then, Harmony was spent, her earlier fire extinguished, leaving behind a shell of a woman. The paramedics gently lifted her onto a stretcher and carried her towards the waiting vehicle.
James watched as the ambulance disappeared into the distance, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He rubbed his temples, trying to massage away the burgeoning headache. This was turning into a bigger mess than he had anticipated.
With another sigh, he turned and headed back to find Edwin and the others.
Meanwhile, in Lindwood City, at the Perry family estate, Asher paced the floor, his face a mask of fury. He had flown back from his business trip the moment he received news of Jared's beating.
The sight that greeted him upon his arrival sent a surge of rage through him. Jared lay in bed, his body a mass of bruises and cuts, barely clinging to life. Asher's face contorted in anger, his fists clenching until his knuckles turned white. He slammed his hand down on the table beside him, the force of the blow shattering the solid wood into splinters.
"Who dared to do this to my son?" he roared, his voice laced with venom. "I will have their head!"
Asher was extremely angry and terrifying. The dozen people present were so frightened by him that they trembled, not daring to speak.
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