Chapter 8
Of course my mother would care more about me than James, her brother with no blood relation.
For three years, I had debased myself, idolizing a worthless man.
Now divorced, I was finally free.
So I traveled abroad to clear my mind, and Noah came along.
He said he wanted to properly court me.
We spent six months visiting different countries.
During our travels, I discovered Noah was far better than James, and I learned that when you truly love someone, you can’t bear to see them struggle.
In the past, whenever we traveled, I had to plan everything while James just followed along with
minimal interest.
Noah was different. He would plan routes in advance, and whenever we reached a beautiful spot, he
would eagerly take photos of me.
Those six months allowed our feelings to grow stronger.
When we returned to the States, James showed up at my door the very next day.
He looked much more haggard than before.
That was inevitable. Without his status as a Sullivan family member, he could no longer work at our family company, and other companies wouldn’t hire him.
And once his money ran out, Sophia had dumped him.
Only then did James realize that Sophia’s refusal to marry him had nothing to do with her career–she simply wanted someone wealthier.
Her trip abroad hadn’t been for further education either.
A foreign billionaire had promised to marry her, so she’d flown to Monaco without hesitation.
15:18
Second Choice No More I Upgraded to a Loyal Pup
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Chapter 8
It turned out the billionaire was already married with a child. Sophia, still ambitious, willingly
became his mistress, hoping to replace his wife. When the wife discovered the affair, Sophia was
beaten up and forced to flee back to the States.
Just as she had chosen James for his money, she left him for the same reason when a richer man
appeared.
James finally realized I was the only one who had ever truly loved him.
“Emma, I’m sorry. I just realized I let go of someone incredible.”
“I’m not a Sullivan anymore–we don’t have that family connection to worry about. We don’t need to care about society’s judgment. We can be together openly now.”
“Emma, please take me back… I miss you so much. I miss your home–cooked meals, your unique
scent.”
He looked genuinely remorseful, with tears welling in his eyes.
Once, I would have felt sorry for him, would have found it hard to refuse.
But now, after experiencing death in my previous life, I felt nothing for him.
Life is your own–it shouldn’t revolve around someone else. That leads nowhere.
I stepped back from him and shook my head.
“James, you don’t miss me. You miss the comfortable life you had as a Sullivan.”
“If you married me again, your life would improve. Companies would hire you. You’d have money to spend. But I won’t be your stepping stone anymore.”
James’s body tensed. He rushed forward and grabbed my sleeve, desperately defending himself.
“That’s not true, Emma! I don’t think that way. I genuinely realized I love you.”
“Those three years made you an essential part of my life.”
Whether he was telling the truth or not didn’t matter.
His love had become a burden to me, something I no longer wanted or needed.
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Second Choice No More–1 Upgraded to a Loyal Pup
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Chapter 8
I closed the door in his face.
Since my mother had disowned him, we had changed all the electronic locks. After several error
beeps, there was silence.
James stood outside, and once he realized I wouldn’t open the door, he left, dejected.
But after that, James began appearing outside our house regularly.
Sometimes he would stand there all day. Other times, he would leave gifts and walk away.
Those gifts were all things I had wanted during our three years of marriage–things he had refused
to buy me then.
Back then, I couldn’t have them.
Now, I didn’t want them.
Everything I had once craved, I threw in the trash.
When James saw his discarded gifts, he stopped bringing them.
But I never expected that, in his desperation to reconcile, he would shamelessly approach my
mother.
Cecaud Cheico Mo Moro Iugraded to a Loval Dun
