Page 224 of The Sinner: James

He observes me as I push back my feelings, and then he slides next to me, turns onto his side, and props himself on his elbow, searching my eyes.

“So, why were you upset?” he asks.

My eyes dip to his lips before sliding to his chest.

I fill my mouth with champagne and swallow slowly.

“Were you in love with that man?” he asks, guarded, and cold.

I examine his eyes.

“He was.”

A knowing smile colors his gaze.

Tilting his head back, he takes a swig, his eyes locked with mine.

“How come you didn’t fall for him?”

“I’d been burned once, so I didn’t want a repeat,” I say.

Biting the inside of his cheek, he looks down for a second.

“So why all the drama?” he asks.

“I hate running into someone from the past when I’m with a client.”

A muscle pulses in his jaw as I gauge his reaction.

“I’m a big boy, aren’t I? And it’s not as if I found you at a nun convent… Something tells me it’s more than that,” he says, watching me over the rim of his glass. “What’s the man’s story?”

“You’ve seen half of it. He’s married. The other half is his business. He’s rich.”

“I had no doubt,” he says, his voice hollow. “What happened to him?”

“He moved to Hong Kong when his wife found out about me. I didn’t know about her until the end of our affair. Someone tipped her off, and she hired a PI, gathered some information, and started to blackmail him. She asked him to stop seeing me, and just to be sure, she also asked him to move away. Then, she threatened me. It all fizzled out after a while. As I said before, I never had the chance to meet her. Tonight, she rolled her eyes in disgust, spewing hatred toward me.”

“What did you expect?” he asks dryly.

“Nothing. It’s just that she reminded me of my sister and the vile emotions she had had for me that I’d never understood.”

“Is that why you almost cried?” he asks incredulously.

“No...” I say, looking away, tears welling up in my eyes. “It wasn’t because of her... It was because of us.”

* * *

JAMES

Tears stream down her face.Quiet, sad tears pulling at my heart’s strings.

“I didn’t want you to see me like this,” she says, looking down. “It was a low moment for me. I may not be a proud woman, but I’m a decent one. I try to be. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I didn’t want to be a dark chapter in so many people’s lives. I’ve had enough hatred at home and get plenty of it now. And the way things look right now, there is more to come,” she says before sobbing softly.

Something tightens in my chest.

I put my arm around her and pull her into my chest, her shoulders shaking as she sobs.

Gently, I stroke her hair, thoughts spinning in my head.

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