Chapter 3
Cora’s laughter rang through the room like a crack of thunder—loud, unexpected, unsettling.
Immediately James and Emily stood frozen.
They exchanged glances, confused. Her laughter didn’t sound broken or hysterical, just like they thought.
It sounded amused. Confident. Dangerous.
When Cora finally stopped, she wiped a single tear from the corner of her eye—not from pain, but from the absurdity of it all.
"Fame?" she echoed, her lips twitching. "Money? You said I wouldn’t understand those things?"
She tilted her head, eyes burning into James like lasers.
"James... who do you think has been helping you all this while? Who do you think was behind your success?"
James’ brows furrowed. He stayed quiet.
Cora rolled forward slightly in her chair, her tone growing colder. "Do you really think you—you—were capable enough to climb so high on your own?"
James hesitated. His jaw tensed.