Chapter 12 Destruction #2
Neil’s voice rose sharply. “James, are you out of your goddamn mind? What the fuck are you doing?”
James didn’t flinch. His jaw was tight, his face hard as stone. He stared straight at the house, fury burning in his eyes.
Neil grabbed his shoulder, shaking him. “James! This is the last fucking time I’m asking—what the hell are you doing? That’s her parents’ house! Are you insane?”
James’s eyes were flat, cold with something like triumph. “Doesn’t she want to disappear?” he said, voice low, like a blade. “Let me see how much she disappears now. Since she’s gotten more and more arrogant, let’s see how long she hides in that little hole of hers.”
Before Neil could reply, the crane lunged forward with a deafening crunch. The machine slammed into the front wall of the house. Bricks shattered, dust exploded into the air, and the wall collapsed in a cascade of mortar and stone.
William watched with a pale face as the crane driver drove deeper, slamming the jaw into the outer wall. The sound of splintering wood and collapsing plaster filled the night.
“James!” Neil shouted, grabbing his arm and shaking him. “You’re making the biggest fucking mistake! That’s her house! Even if the bank took it, it’s still hers in every way that matters! You think destroying something she loved will make her come back?”
James didn’t answer. His jaw clenched as he roughly shoved Neil’s hand off his shoulder, his eyes fixed on the crumbling walls. The crane roared again and slammed into another part of the house, crushing through another wall.
Then—suddenly—a woman’s voice pierced the chaos.
“Stop! Who told you to touch this house?!”
All three men turned. A figure came storming down the street, her voice trembling with fury. The crane paused mid-motion. The woman sprinted forward, planting herself between the machine and the house.
Neil blinked in disbelief. “Who—”
The headlights hit her face fully then, and James froze.
It wasn’t Mia.
It was Hazel Miller.
Her hair was loose, slightly messy, her eyes blazing with anger. She glared directly at James, stepping over broken bricks, her heels crunching against the rubble. She shoved him hard.
“Stay the fuck away from this place!” Hazel snapped. “Who gave you the right to destroy Mia’s house?!”
James’s eyes flickered over her face, recognizing her instantly. Brown hair, fierce eyes—Mia’s best friend. He had seen her once at the wedding.
“Long time, no see, Miss Miller,” James said, voice calm but empty, like he didn’t care about a single word leaving his mouth. “This isn’t your business. Tell Mia to come stop me herself if she wants it stopped. I’ve purchased this house. Whatever I do with it is none of your concern.”
Hazel’s nostrils flared.
“Where is she?” he demanded suddenly, his voice rising. “Where the fuck is Mia? I want to see her!”
Hazel’s lips curved into a bitter smile. “See her? Why?” she asked quietly. “You have no right to see her. You’re the reason she vanished in the first place!”
“I’m her husband,” James shot back at once, anger flaring. “I have every damn right!”
“Husband?” Hazel laughed bitterly. “You mean the man who left her living like a widow while still married? Didn’t she marry a ghost in a dead marriage?”
The words hit him like a slap. His entire body went rigid, hands curling into fists. His jaw clenched so tight that his temples throbbed. But Hazel didn’t stop.
She stepped closer, eyes burning with rage.
“She was destroyed because of you,” Hazel hissed.
“Your family humiliated her, your friends mocked her. Now she’s gone.
And here you are, trying to destroy the only thing she had left of her parents.
You failed her as a husband, James Sinclair.
Tell me—how much lower will you sink before you finally feel ashamed? ”
“Enough!” James roared. His voice thundered, echoing across the empty street.
Hazel didn’t even flinch.
Suspicion flooded James’s mind the moment Hazel appeared out of nowhere to stop the demolition. Her sudden appearance… her timing. She had to know where Mia was. She was stalling him—he could feel it. Mia must be nearby.
Mia had no other relatives, no close friends except Hazel—where else could she possibly go?
Of course, it all made sense now. Hazel was hiding her.
His eyes darted around the area frantically, scanning every corner, every shadow. His chest rose and fell with sharp breaths, his voice rising in fury.
“Mia!” he shouted. “Come out right now! Where the fuck are you? Do you think this is a joke? Haven’t you had enough of your little games?”
His voice echoed across the ruins, raw and furious. “Come out now!”
But nothing.
No sound. No sign of movement anywhere. The only noise was the distant hum of the crane’s engine.
Neil stepped closer, his tone calmer but tense. “James, you need to be more mindful of your actions right now,” he urged. “You’re acting in anger. You’ll regret this later. Just stop for a second—”
“Regret?” James yanked his arm free from Neil’s grip, teeth grinding together. “She gave me the divorce papers and ran off. And now she’s hiding from me?!” He turned back to the crane operator, fury snapping through his veins.
“Do it!” he barked.