Chapter 21 I have Changed #2
“Would you be upset,” she asked softly, “if I go see him… just once?”
Alexander’s jaw tightened. He didn’t look pleased—not at all.
But he answered honestly. “If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you.” Then he added firmly, “But I’m going with you.”
Mia nodded.
***
When Mia arrived at the hospital Neil had sent her the address to, the atmosphere felt heavy the moment she stepped inside the room.
James lay unconscious on the bed, motionless, machines quietly beeping beside him.
Neil stood near the bedside, pacing back and forth restlessly. The moment he noticed Mia, he straightened and hurried toward her.
“Thank you for coming,” he said, his voice polite but strained.
She nodded once, her eyes drifting back to James. “When will he wake up?”
“I’m not sure,” Neil replied. “He hasn’t been responsive at all. The doctors gave him anesthesia so he could rest. He should wake up soon… maybe in a few minutes.”
Mia glanced around the room. “Where’s Mrs. Sinclair?” she asked. “And Ezra?”
Neil’s lips pressed into a tight line. “I informed them. Ezra said they’re busy handling business matters.”
Before Mia could respond, the door burst open.
Kylie rushed inside, holding a small bouquet of flowers. There was a bright smile on her face—as if she were entering a celebration instead of a hospital room.
Her steps abruptly halted when she saw Mia.
The flowers slipped from her hand and hit the floor.
Her expression twisted instantly, anger flaring violently across her face. “How dare you show up here?” Kylie snapped. “Aren’t you already married?”
Mia ignored her completely and turned away.
That only fueled Kylie’s rage.
Grinding her teeth, she marched forward and blocked Mia’s path. “What? Do you want to be his mistress now?” she shouted. “Get lost!”
She jabbed a finger toward Mia. “I’m going to marry James. So why the hell are you crawling back now?”
Enraged, Kylie grabbed Mia by the arm and shoved her hard toward the door.
Mia gasped, stumbling.
James jolted awake.
The moment his unfocused gaze cleared, it landed on Kylie pushing Mia. Pain tore through every inch of his body as he forced himself upright, but he didn’t stop. He staggered forward, fury driving him.
He staggered forward and caught Kylie’s wrists mid-motion, yanking her away from Mia with brutal force.
“Who the fuck gave you permission to touch her?” he roared, his eyes blazing as they burned straight through Kylie.
“James—” Kylie gasped, stumbling as she nearly lost her balance. She steadied herself and rushed toward him again, clinging desperately. “You’re awake? I was here the whole time. I stayed with you when you were unconscious.”
She smiled brightly, bending to pick up the fallen bouquet. “See? I even brought you flowers.”
James knocked it away without hesitation.
“Get out,” he snapped. “When did I ever ask you to stay? Leave. Now.”
His breathing was harsh and uneven. He could barely remain upright, pain ripping through him, yet the fury in his voice never wavered.
Then his knees buckled.
James collapsed with a groan, pain overwhelming him.
“James!” Neil rushed forward, catching him just in time and helping him back onto the bed. Doctors poured in moments later. After a tense examination, one of them straightened grimly.
“He just went into cardiac arrest not long ago,” the doctor said. “You cannot let him get agitated like this again. His condition is extremely unstable. He needs rest.”
“Yes, doctor,” Neil muttered, dragging a hand down his face in frustration.
As the doctors left, Neil turned to Mia. “Can you stay with him for a bit? I’ll go get his medicines.”
“I can’t,” Mia immediately shook her head. “Alexander is waiting outside—”
But Neil was already at the door, grabbing Kylie’s arm and dragging her along with him.
With a quiet sigh, Mia sat down and quickly sent Alexander a text.
‘I’m sorry this is taking longer. Neil went to get medicines. I’ll come out as soon as he’s back.’
The reply came instantly.
‘Alright. I’m right outside.’
The room fell quiet.
Nothing but the steady beeping of the monitor filled the space. Boredom slowly crept over her. Without realizing it, she rested her arm near James and let her head tilt forward. Her eyes closed.
She drifted off.
James woke to the sight of her.
Her head was bent toward him, lashes resting against her cheeks, breathing soft and steady. Something tender flickered in his eyes. Carefully, gently, he lifted his hand and brushed his fingers through her hair.
Mia stirred.
She gasped softly and sat up at once, startled. James also pushed himself upright, ignoring the pain.
Their eyes met.
“You were really sick,” Mia said quietly. “How are you feeling now?”
“I’m better,” James murmured. “Now that I’ve seen you.”
Her fingers twisted together in her lap. She took a slow breath. “Good. You’ll recover soon.”
“Thank you for coming,” James said, his gaze fixed on her face. “I was so happy to see you.”
Mia offered a faint smile. “Neil insisted. He wanted me to check on you—just once.”
She stood abruptly. “I should go now. I hope you recover quickly.”
She turned and started to leave.
Panic flashed across his face.
James swung his legs off the bed and rushed after her, grabbing her hand. Mia spun around, shocked to find him standing there, chest heaving, breathing hard.
“I won’t stop you anymore,” he said stiffly, his voice shaking despite his effort to control it. “I won’t stop you from doing anything. From coming to my office. I swear.”
His grip tightened as his voice broke. “Please… come back to me.”
Mia tried to pull free, but he tightened his grip and stepped closer, panic flooding his face.
“I’ll change everything,” he begged. “I’ll do whatever you want. In my life, everything will be the way you want it to be. Just… come back. Please.”
James didn’t let go. He continued to plead, voice breaking.
“I’ll transfer everything—my properties, my businesses, even our house, our cars.
Just think about it. Please.” His eyes were wide, pleading, his voice shaking with a mixture of desperation and heartbreak.
“Alexander… he’s not good enough for you!
Look at the rumors—he’s been attending parties with some random woman for years!
How could he marry you and claim he loves you more than me? ”
“Stop it!” Mia snapped, her voice hard and sharp. “You know nothing about him. What right do you have to badmouth him?”
Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the hospital room.
Mia crossed the hospital entrance and stepped onto the street.
Her gaze landed on Alexander on the other side of the road, leaning casually against his car, cigarette in hand.
The moment he saw her, he straightened and began to move toward her, but she raised her hand, signaling him to stay.
He clenched his fists, displeased, but obeyed.
Before she could step further, James appeared, blocking her path. His hand shot out and grabbed her arm, halting her in her tracks.
“James! You need to stop this,” Mia snapped, struggling against him.
“Mia… please,” James said, voice trembling. “Just… come back home. For a month, okay? I promise this time, everything will be different. You’ll see how much I’ve changed for you. I’ll show you how much I love you, how worthy I am of being your husband.”
Mia exhaled slowly, turning to face him with icy eyes. “And what about your family?” she asked, her voice steady and cutting. “The ones who’ve looked down on me? Will you abandon them if I come back? Will you live with me and never speak to your mother or your brother again?”
James froze, tension overtaking his features. He opened his mouth, but no words came.
Mia’s eyes grew cold. “See? This is why I can’t live with you.
This is not how I want to spend my life.
I cannot live with your silence. No matter how much you love me, no matter how many promises you make, you will always protect and love yourself first. Your peace, your choices.
And I understand—you have a soft spot for them in your heart.
Even when your family hurts you or me, you can’t hurt them. It will never change.”
She took a steadying breath, meeting his eyes. “James, I tried… I really tried to fall in love with you. But I never did. And I never will. You are not the man I thought you were, and I am no longer the woman you want me to become. I don’t care about you anymore.”
His grip on her hand tightened, eyes burning as the truth cut deeper than he could admit. But Mia yanked her hand free, wiping away the tears threatening to spill. Without another word, she turned and stormed off.
Neither of them noticed the pair of eyes burning on them. Kylie sat in James’s car, hands trembling on the steering wheel, staring at them with a mixture of envy, rage, and disbelief.
She had tried everything—every trick, every plan—to make James stay.
She had even drugged him once, hoping he would spend the night with her and feel responsible.
But he had chosen to cut his arm instead, bleeding out the effects of the drug rather than succumb to the desire.
And as if that weren’t insulting enough, he treated her like she didn’t exist, ignoring her completely.
Every word she spoke, every attempt to get his attention—it was all useless.
All he could think about was Mia… that damn woman.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, fury burning in every fiber of her being. She could barely breathe. Tears of rage streaked her cheeks, her teeth clenched tight. She only saw red.
Anger blazing, she slammed her foot on the accelerator.
The sound startled James. Turning his head, he saw the car racing toward Mia.
“Watch out!” he shouted—but it was too late.
With a lunge, James shoved her sharply. Mia flew forward, crashing onto the asphalt. The impact rattled her entire body. Behind her, the car tore past—but in a horrifying twist, it ran over James and kept racing.