Chapter 90

Mia

I watched James pick up his daughter and carry her to the door. Poor Aria, I thought, smiling with adoration. She must have been exhausted after a full day out at Disneyland. And now after we’d arrived home about two hours ago, showered and changed, she had fallen asleep at the dinner table.

With the room suddenly uncomfortably silent, I flicked my eyes to Sophie, who was sitting opposite me. I noted her gaze was glued on James the entire time as he was leaving the room. There was that something in the expression on her face that nagged at me—the way she smiled, the brightness of her eyes, and her flushed cheeks. What is it? I was sure it meant something personal…something deep.

Then it hit me. Oh. My. Gosh. Sophie is in love with James!

Instantly I felt sick to my stomach and my head began to swim. The delicious dinner I’d just had moments ago protested in my tummy, churning and threatening to come back out.

Oh God! What? Really?

I leaned forward and rested my forehead against my hand, my mind racing with the possibilities.

How had it not occurred to me before today that Sophie was in love with James? That she had the hots for him? That she was doing her best pining for him?

If my suspicion was correct, then it would certainly explain a lot of things, such as her behavior toward me. I had assumed she considered me her competitor. No! More like her rival, especially where James’ affection and heart were concerned.

“If you’re going to be sick, make sure you do it in your bathroom. Not here in the dining hall.” Sophie’s disapproving voice came my way. She sounded so high-and-mighty, per usual, as if she were a headmaster lecturing a naughty five-year-old schoolgirl.

Her condescending tone pissed me off. I raised my head with the intention to challenge her words. The moment I did so, I felt even dizzier. Shit!

“I’m not sick,” I said, my eyes intense on her. More lowly and to myself, I murmured, “Just shocked.”

So. Damn. Shocked.

God, the room was spinning too fast for my liking. I needed to calm down. I needed to breathe deeply and slowly.

Sophie snorted and said sarcastically, perhaps seeing how pale I was suddenly, “If you know you can’t handle those adventure rides, you shouldn’t pretend you can handle the height or the speed just so you can be with Mr. Maxwell or to please him. To me, you just look pathetic, desperate, and like a fucking doormat.”

I narrowed my eyes at her harsh words. “Doormat? I’m not a doormat,” I said firmly. Nor was I desperate. Not where James was concerned. At least I didn’t think so.

I continued. “And FYI, I handled the rides just fine, thank you very much, and I thoroughly enjoyed them too.”

Unlike her, holding back most of the time when those rides were offered on a golden platter. Well, that couldn’t be helped since her dress was way too expensive and revealing, which was inappropriate for any of those rides. If the high speed didn’t happen to haphazardly blow her skirt awry and expose her undoubtedly exquisite undergarments for the world to enjoy, which I was certain would excruciatingly embarrass her, then the fall from those extremely high coasters would.

She leaned back against her seat and said, “Really? Well then, congratulations.” Her tone was mocking. “I applaud you for doing pretty well, considering it’s your first time to Disneyland. I guess you’ve never been to any place like that before, so it’s only natural you’d act like a child who’s been given some candies for the first time.”

There, I’d been right. She did think my behavior at Disneyland was indeed juvenile.

Her words hurt. Yes, today had been my first time to Disneyland, and yes, I had acted like an excited child with Aria. But I couldn’t help myself. Aria’s enthusiasm had been infectious, and I had gotten caught up with her. I personally had thought we’d had a great day together. Well, maybe with the exception of Sophie, especially when she’d been wearing such a sour expression on her beautiful face during the majority of the wonderful day.

Suddenly I wondered if she was jealous Aria was having so much fun with James and me and the fact that the child seemed to prefer me over her.

I closed my eyes and calmed myself, dismissing her hurtful words from my mind. Once I was composed, I rose from my seat and walked away from the table.

Sophie snorted and said loudly so I could hear her, “Can’t even talk back. So fucking lame.”

That got on my nerves. Really, the woman didn’t know when to stop, did she?

At the door, I halted and said over my shoulder, “There’s no point in talking back to you, Sophie, because you’re condescending and think you’re better than everyone else. You’re annoying, especially with your ongoing barks of insult that feel like a broken radio. And you’re a bitch, and I don’t want to stoop to your level of jealousy and insecurity.”

I gave her a pleasant, fake smile before exiting the room completely.

As I headed along the corridor, I could feel her hot glare on my back. Any moment now, she’d hunt me down and murder me in rage. The dark thought made me want to look over my shoulder just in case the woman would really do that. After all, it would certainly be very unpleasant if I were to be attacked by Sophie. The woman would show me no mercy and would make sure I knew my place, which, according to her, I didn’t.

I hastily made my way toward the stairs, and it was only when I arrived at the second floor where my room was situated that I sighed in relief.

There I stopped at the landing and had a quick peek down the stairs. When I was sure I was alone and Sophie, or anyone else for that matter, hadn’t followed me, I smiled, congratulating myself for giving a pretty good one back to that bitch.

Honestly, I wasn’t used to standing up for myself where a woman opponent was concerned. I guessed this was because of my aunt, whose cold, domineering, and ruthless behavior had put a mark on me. And if I should meet any woman with similar characteristics, I’d involuntarily become subdued. Sophie definitely had some of my aunt’s characteristics. The woman was cold, condescending, domineering, and arrogant. That had been why standing up to her was a tad difficult for me, to say the least.

Now, however, I raised my head high and was determined to do my best to fight back. To stand up for myself. To defeat the demon, so to speak, because really, Sophie was a sort of reflection of my aunt, and my standing up to her was important, specifically for my self-esteem. It was an indication I had changed, that I had grown stronger. That I was no longer a weak girl who could only stand by while being verbally and physically abused.

Very sure I wasn’t being followed, I turned on my heel and then puff!

I jolted in surprise as I suddenly found myself being blocked. I stood there, staring at a masculine chest I precipitously found warmer and more enticing than I’d like it to be.

I raised my head and gazed up at the handsome man watching me with amusement.

“James!” I said softly. “You surprised me.”

James cocked his head to one side and smiled. “Were you checking to make sure you didn’t have a stalker?”

I blushed and glared at him. Really, this man. But of course, he had the bull by the horns right there. And it wasn’t just the thought of Sophie following me with the intention to murder me in rage because of our recent argument that got me caught up in apprehension. It was also the constant uneasy feelings I’d started having since our return to LA.

If my memories served me correctly, it had been since that day. More specifically, since I had stopped at the mall for my urgent toilet session soon after James and I had arrived in LA. It had been the feelings I was being followed and watched.

Ever since that day, now and again, I’d have this shiver down my spine, and the hairs along my arms and at the back of my neck would rise. Not to mention there was that sickly, anxious feeling that churned perpetually in the pit of my stomach. It was similar to when I had been living with Uncle Herbert. And once again, this morning when we’d been on our way to Disneyland.

But why were these feelings—fear and anxiety and the panicky, sickly emotions—suddenly emerging within me now? I thought I had buried those hateful feelings, locked away never to be seen again in the light of day when I left the man behind who had molested and hurt me and my brother.

Why?

Dismissing the dreadful thoughts from my mind, I composed myself and gave James my full attention.