Chapter 13 The Last Memory
The man hesitated only for a second, but one look at James’s burning eyes made him obey. The machine roared louder, its massive shovel ramming into the remaining structure. The sound of crumbling walls filled the air, bricks flying in every direction.
Hazel gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. “Stop! Stop it!” she screamed, but her voice was drowned out by the grinding metal and collapsing walls. Stones and dust exploded into the air, forcing her to duck and cover her head. Tears stung her eyes, not from sadness—but from fury. Helpless fury.
The crane finally stopped. The house, what had once been Mia’s parents’ home, was now nothing but a pile of rubble.
When it was finally over, silence fell. The air was heavy with dust and destruction.
Hazel stood trembling, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she glared at James with pure hatred. “Satisfied now?” she yelled, her voice trembling. “You’ve destroyed the last memory Mia had of her parents! Are you happy now?”
James didn’t answer. His face was blank, emotionless. But behind that calm mask, his eyes darted around restlessly, scanning every broken corner. His gaze swept over the debris again and again, his eyes desperate, his body tense, as if expecting Mia to suddenly appear from the dust.
When nothing happened, he exhaled sharply, frustration twisting his features. Then his expression hardened again.
Without warning, he turned away and barked, “William! Throw her in the car. Take her with us.”
“What?” Hazel snapped, taking a step back. “Don’t you dare—”
But William, following orders, moved fast. He grabbed Hazel’s wrist, trying to drag her toward the car. She fought back, kicking and twisting against his hold. “Let go of me, bastard!” she shouted, trying to free herself.
William’s grip only tightened. He forced her into the car despite her struggles, slamming the door shut. Neil climbed in next, his face pale and uneasy, but said nothing. James got in beside him, his jaw locked, eyes cold.
Once everyone was inside, William started the car. The engine revved, headlights cutting through the dusty night. He glanced at the rearview mirror, hesitant. “Mr. Graves… where to?”
James’s voice was like ice. “Back to Veilwind highway.”
No one spoke after that. The car cut through the night in tense silence, the city lights fading behind them.
After an hour of driving, they reached the location.
When the car finally stopped, Hazel threw the door open and stepped out, glaring at James. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” she shouted, voice echoing in the cold night air.
James stepped out too, walking toward her. “Do you recognize this place?”
Hazel frowned, her confusion mixing with anger. “Recognize? What the hell are you talking about? There’s nothing here but an empty road! What should I be recognizing in this dead, empty place?”
Neil came up beside James, lowering his voice. “You’ve been driving around for hours now, James. You need to breathe. Whatever this is—you need to calm down.”
But James didn’t listen. He turned sharply, went back to the car, and pulled out a tablet. His hands were shaking slightly as he opened a video and held the screen out toward Hazel. “Look at this,” he demanded. “Do you recognize this place now?”
The video played a recording of Mia walking by the very same road and then getting attacked.
Hazel’s eyes widened as she watched. Her hand flew to her mouth, trembling as her expression twisted in horror. “Oh my God…” she whispered.
The footage was unbearable to watch. The way Mia stumbled, the fear in her movements. Hazel’s heart clenched painfully.
Then, just as they were watching the screen, a beggar woman approached from the shadows. Her clothes were torn, her face dirty.
She squinted at the screen curiously. Then tilted her head, speaking suddenly. “You all know this woman too?”
The question froze everyone. James turned sharply, followed by Hazel and Neil.
Hazel stepped forward instantly. “You’ve seen her?” she demanded, voice trembling. “Where is she?”
The woman blinked, confused for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Yes, I’ve seen her. She was attacked by some men… she got hurt badly. There was a deep wound on her head. I called her husband for help.”
James’s heart stopped. “Yes,” he said quickly, stepping closer. “That was me. I’m her husband. I was the one who got the call that night.”
“You’re her husband? Then who was that man that night?
” The beggar’s expression changed instantly—from confusion to disgust. She took a step back, her eyes burning with contempt.
“I begged that bastard for money to take her to the hospital,” she snapped.
“Her head was bleeding so badly! You don’t look poor, so why didn’t you help her?
Why didn’t you send the money that night? ””
Hazel’s head whipped toward James, her eyes wide in shock. “Is that true?” she demanded. “You refused to give money for Mia’s treatment?”
James’s expression faltered. A flicker of guilt crossed his face, but before he could speak, Hazel’s furious voice cut in.
“Mia was hurt that badly—bleeding—and you couldn’t even send a bit of money? She was your wife for five years, for fuck’s sake! And you refused to give her some money to get to a damn hospital?!”
The beggar woman nodded, her voice trembling with anger and disbelief. “She even fainted,” she said shakily. “She could barely stand. Her condition was terrible. I only asked for money because even the emergency room needs payment first. I live on the streets—I had nothing to help her with.”
James opened his mouth, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t think it was real,” he admitted weakly. “I thought she was lying to get money for herself. I didn’t know she was actually hurt.”
Hazel’s anger exploded. “Even if it wasn’t real, what the fuck were you thinking?
Rejecting her when she did everything for you?
When she endured everything for your sake?
You couldn’t even spare a few thousand dollars after hearing she was injured?
!” Her voice cracked as she glared at him, eyes glistening with tears and fury.
“Mia did so much for you. She watched you take care of your mistress while ignoring your own wife! She gave up everything for you — her home, her peace — and you couldn’t even send her money to save her life?”
Her hand slammed against his chest, hard. “Are you even human, James Sinclair?!”
James stood frozen, his entire body stiff.
Her words hit him like bullets, ripping through his defenses and dragging him back into memories he’d already forgotten.
His mind flashed to last year—the day Kylie had returned to the country for a week.
She’d twisted her ankle on her way to the club to meet friends, and he had rushed to take her to the hospital.
That same day, Mia had called him.
“James, can you pick me up?” her voice had sounded weak. “I fell… and the doctor said it’s safe for me to leave, but I can’t go alone. Please, can you come get me?”
He had frowned and asked curtly, “How did you fall—”
Before he could finish, Kylie had winced beside him, murmuring, “James, it hurts so much…” clutching her leg.
Without thinking, he had said coldly into the phone, “I’m busy. Call the driver.” Then he hung up and shoved the phone into his pocket.
Moments later, he had lifted Kylie in his arms and carried her out of the hospital. But as he turned toward the exit, Mia had stepped out of one of the corridors. Their eyes met.
She had stood there frozen. Shocked.
But he had walked right past her as if she was a stranger, Kylie’s head resting against his chest, not sparing Mia even a glance.
Hazel snapped him back to the present, her voice trembling with fury. “Didn’t you say she gave you divorce papers before she disappeared? You wanted freedom, didn’t you? You got what you wanted! You can go live happily with your mistress now, so why the hell are you even searching for her?”
James’s face turned pale, all color draining from it. He tried to avoid her gaze, but her words kept echoing in his head.
Two hours later, William stopped the car in front of James’s mansion. The night was heavy, silent, and cold. The only sound was the soft hum of the car’s engine cooling down. James and Neil stepped out first, followed by William.
James’s eyes were dangerously dark as he turned to William. “If you can’t find her in this city, then look in another one. Dig her out and bring her to me.”
William nodded stiffly. “Yes, Mr. Sinclair.”
Without another word, James turned and strode toward the mansion, disappearing through the grand front doors.
William glanced at Neil and said quietly, “I can’t see why Mr. Sinclair isn’t more shocked by the incident with Miss Bennett. She was hurt so badly. He’s seemed disturbed since her disappearance, but this—her attack—doesn’t seem to have bothered him much.”
Neil exhaled deeply, sliding his hands into his pockets. “He’s still processing it,” he said in a low tone. “I don’t think he’s fully accepted what happened yet. When someone close to you suffers, the real pain comes much later—when the denial fades.”
***
William entered James’s office. The door was open, and a single light illuminated the room, even though it was very late at night.
It had been a week since William had resumed the search for Mia, but there was still no sign of her.
The smell of cigarettes hit him as he stepped inside.
He approached the desk, his eyes immediately caught the three overflowing ashtrays, burnt stubs scattered haphazardly across the mahogany desk, ashes clinging to the edges like.
James sat slouched in his chair, fingers tapping absently against the armrest. His gaze was distant, eyes unfocused, staring at nothing and everything all at once.
The moment James noticed William, his eyes snapped up. “Did you find Mia?” he asked sharply.
William shook his head. “No, Mr. Sinclair. I’m still trying.”