Chapter 14 My Lucky Charm #2
“She is not loyal to you,” Kylie pressed, sharp with jealousy. “She was clearly in it for money. Look how fast she moved on. She married another man the moment you divorced her. She left you so fast…”
Then her tone suddenly softened. Her cheek pressed against his back as she whispered, “But I promise, I will always be with you. You know I have always loved you. Let her go, James. That woman isn’t worth your time!”
Before she could say anything else, James grabbed both her hands—hard.
His fingers dug painfully into her wrists as he yanked them off his waist. Then, with a violent shove, he threw her back.
Kylie stumbled on her heels, legs wobbling, and fell onto the floor with a sharp gasp, her palms slapping the ground as she landed.
James’ eyes were bloodshot, his expression twisted with disbelief and rage.
“She’s not married to someone else!” he roared, voice echoing off the office walls. His chest heaved aggressively. “She would never marry anyone else. She’s my wife. MY. WIFE!”
His chest heaved as he shouted again, louder, rawer: “I don’t want anyone else! I just want Mia. I just want HER!”
He spun sharply toward the man who had delivered the information, stepping toward him so fast the man flinched.
“Give me her address!” James barked. “Where is she staying right now?!”
The man swallowed hard, shoulders tense, sweat gathering at his temples. He shook his head anxiously.
“Mr. Sinclair, a-as I said… I didn’t find her new address or any other information,” he said nervously. “The only thing I managed to find is that she has gotten married again… but I also managed to find her contact number. She has a new phone, a new number.”
He hurriedly pulled out another paper and handed it over with both hands.
James snatched it without even looking at the paper, and then stormed out of the office.
Outside the building, he practically stumbled to his car. His hands were shaking so hard he almost dropped the keys. Once inside, he slammed the door and gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
The moment the engine started, he sped off.
The car tore through the Manhattan streets like it had no brakes. His eyes were glazed, unfocused—barely seeing anything except the road smearing past him. His breathing was heavy, erratic. The world around him blurred—lights stretching, horns blaring, but he didn’t hear any of it.
All he saw was Mia.
All he felt was the ache ripping through his chest.
On the passenger seat, the folded paper with her new number lay untouched. Every time his gaze flicked toward it, his entire body trembled harder.
Anticipation. Rage. Fear. Something burning deep in his chest. Something he couldn't name.
‘The last time I saw her… she almost died. Those kidnappers tried to kill her… and me… And now she’s married again?’
His thoughts raced uncontrollably. His heart punched painfully against his ribs.
‘Did she get married right after she left me? Or did she marry after the kidnapping? Is she scared? Is she trying to protect herself? Did the kidnapping make her so afraid that she married someone else…? Did she marry that man because she thought he could give her protection?’
His throat tightened, his vision blurring.
The thought alone nearly tore him apart.
He hit the steering wheel hard with his fist, breath shaking.
His mind wasn’t stable. Thoughts kept crashing into each other, chasing themselves in circles that never ended. His heart raced so violently that it almost hurt, beating out of rhythm with his breathing.
‘Why would she get married to someone else?’ He couldn’t understand it.
“There is no way…” he muttered, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “She would never marry anyone after leaving me. Never.”
His breath shook.
“We were together for five years… she lived with me… she loved me. We were happy. We were perfect. She is my wife.” His voice cracked. “I gave her everything. No one can give her what I gave her.”
His chest constricted. “Didn’t she write in that album that she would celebrate Christmas with me?” His thoughts spiraled uncontrollably. His vision blurred. He blinked rapidly, chest rising and falling too fast, almost like panic.
The car suddenly jerked to a halt as he slammed the brakes at the side of the road. Tires screeched. His hands shook so badly he could barely control them, barely hold the wheel.
He dragged the small paper toward him again, staring at the number on it. His breath caught, stuck in his throat.
“Did you get scared because of that kidnapping?” he whispered hoarsely, brows pulling together, voice trembling. “Is that why you married some wild bastard?” His jaw clenched painfully. “No… no, there is no way you married someone else. You’re my wife!”
His chest heaved, his lungs burning with the fury he couldn’t release. He slammed his palm against the wheel.
“How could it all die… just like that?!” He repeated the words, voice sharp and jagged, the anger coursing through him like wildfire.
“Why the hell did you get married to someone else?! If you were scared, you should have come to me! I would’ve protected you.
I am your husband. I am the one who keeps you safe.
Why would you go to another man?! Why… why another man? ”
His chest burned—hot, tightening, furious.
He slammed his fists against the steering wheel, teeth gritted, eyes wet.
His breaths came in harsh, ragged gasps.
“She probably married him just to make me furious… to punish me… to make me chase her,” he growled under his breath.
“She couldn’t swallow her pride and come back home, so she married some random goddamn fucker.
” The thought burned like acid in his chest.
His teeth ground together as he fought to breathe. But then—
Her face flashed in his mind. Her voice. The way she stood in front of him that night, protecting him despite everything.
“She loves me. She’s stubborn, yes… but she loves me,” he whispered, his eyes softening for the first time since morning. “She even risked her life for me. She loves me. She’s just… stubborn.”
A deep, shattering breath left his lungs.
“She must be angry,” he muttered, rubbing his forehead as he tried to calm himself. “She never stayed mad at me for long in five years… she won’t now. I’ll make her understand and bring her back home.”
He swallowed hard, steadying himself.
Then he pulled out his phone. His fingers, still shaking, hovered for a moment, then typed out a message to the number on the paper.
***
On the other side of Manhattan, Mia sat on the plush couch in the Graves house. The soft hum of the TV filled the room. That’s when a faint ding made her glance at her phone.
She lowered the TV volume, leaned forward, and picked up her phone. A frown formed on her face when she saw it was a text from an unknown number.
Confused, she tapped it open.
The message made her blink twice.
“Mia, this is James. Are you alright? Are you still scared because of the incident last week?”
Her frown deepened, her thumb hovering over the screen.
James wasn’t the type to show concern for anyone so openly—especially not her.
And he certainly wasn’t the type to send texts. Especially to her.
Almost instantly, another message appeared:
“I’m sorry. It was my fault for not protecting our marriage… for not protecting you from that kidnapping. I want to take you out for dinner. Let’s go to your favorite steakhouse.”
Mia stared at the text, her brows knitting together. She read it again. And again. Just to make sure she wasn’t imagining things.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, confusion and irritation mixing into a storm behind her eyes.
The words on the text made her mood sour instantly.
She stared at the message with a weird expression, then tossed the phone aside.
‘What a jerk,’ she muttered under her breath.
“What’s the use of apologizing now when I’ve already made it clear that there's nothing between us now?’
But after a second, she picked up the phone again, staring at it in disbelief.
Her confusion deepened.
“How did he even find my number?” she whispered. “And why is he texting me when everything is already over?”
She sighed, exasperated, and typed back curtly: ‘No, thank you. I’m not interested.’
Footsteps echoed through the house, sharp and deliberate. Her heart jumped into her throat. She shot to her feet, instantly recognizing the familiar rhythm.
The sound grew closer. She quickly switched off the TV and rushed toward the door. The moment Alexander stormed in, she threw herself into his arms, clutching him tightly as if letting go would mean losing him all over again.
She tossed the phone aside once more.
Just as she leaned back, footsteps echoed through the house, and her heart leapt into her throat. She sprang to her feet, instantly recognizing the familiar rhythm.
She turned off the TV and hurried out of the living room. The footsteps grew closer, faster. The moment Alexander appeared, she ran into his arms, holding him tightly.
He caught her effortlessly, wrapping her in a protective embrace. His hands slid to her waist, holding her close, and then he gently cupped her face, meeting her eyes with a softness that melted her.
“Let’s go out for dinner tonight,” he said, his voice low and warm.
Mia blinked, startled yet happy. “Okay… where are we going?”
“A steakhouse,” he said, leaning down to kiss her softly on the lips as he spoke. Pulling back slightly, his gaze met hers, affectionate and warm. “You like steak, don’t you? Or would you prefer somewhere else?”
“The Hillside Steakhouse?” Mia asked, her eyes lighting up. “That’s my favorite, but it’s nearly impossible to get a reservation.”
“You don’t need to worry about that, Mrs. Graves,” Alexander said with a confident smile. “I’ll take care of it. Go get ready… or do you want to go like this?”
“I’ll get ready,” Mia said quickly, pulling herself from his embrace and rushing upstairs.