Page 93 of Dr. Damaged Protector

“Isn't she the one?”

“Yeah, I heard her saying she was going to get married.”

“Felicia said she saw her coming back with all her things.”

“Poor thing. And we were all so happy for her.”

I expected the comments, and they didn't hurt as much as I thought they would. I lived alone so I didn't really have family members to bother about. I would have visited Olivia, but she had returned to Chicago with her aunt for medical reasons.

I was worried and wanted to follow, but they said I shouldn't. Lucas warned that his father might be up to something. My other friends found it awkward talking to me: it seemed that my marriage had been canceled.

As I lay in bed, I pulled out my phone and started schooling for opportunities I could take part in. I had around a hundred thousand dollars from cash gifts James gave me. It was a lot more but I used most of it in acquiring a property for myself in Chicago where I stayed.

Olivia had mentioned returning everything. But if I did I'll be left penniless. I needed to find something. I got a notification from my trading account.

“Oh that's right, I forgot I had this,” I said as I opened the notification.

One of my clients wanted me to start trading and even sent me money for it and I just funded the account on a whim. He was a strange client. Didn't sleep with me, only called me over to spend time with him. We would watch movies together, he’d talk about his day, I'd cook and we'll call it a day. Still paid me the same rate without complaining.

“Maybe I could ask him to teach me how to trade,” I said.

That was one opportunity down, so I needed to find more.

Speaking of clients, James did not reach out to me. I know he didn't care that much, but at least a phone call apologizing wouldn't have been bad.

“But he's out of my life now,” I said with relief.

The moment I said that, I started having a bad feeling.

It felt like it was a premonition of something bad to come.

“What the hell…”

My phone started to ring, and the caller ID was none other than James.

“Hello?” I answered.

“You left,” he said in a heavy tone of disappointment, “I didn't like that.”

“That's because you weren't serious with our marriage,” I reminded him. “And you started doing things against my wish. Even went as far as trying to sleep with my best friend and then lied about it. There's only so much I can take.”

“I think you don't understand that you're not allowed to leave,” he said with a sinister tone, “not after everything I've done for you.”

“I just did,” I said, “and if it's about the things you've gotten me most of the things I bought are still back at your manor. l I'll return your money.”

“As if I'll take money that has been stained by the hands of a prostitute,” he scoffed.

“What happened to you, James?” I asked in disbelief, wondering if this was the same man I fell in love with.

“What do you mean what happened? I've always been like this,” he replied. “I’m supposed to be the one asking you what happened. Do you want to embarrass me? Do you have any idea how many people I've told about my remarriage?”

“Then if it bothers you that much why weren't you taking it seriously?” I asked.

“That shouldn't be your concern,” he replied. “The summary is, I want you back in Richmond.”

“And if I refuse?”

I got another notification. An email with the subject:Your little secrets.

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