Chapter 43
James blinked. The arrogance on his face faltered, just a flicker. But Cora wasn’t done.
"I was blind. So blind," she muttered, almost to herself, but loud enough for him to hear. "Blinded by love. By stupid affection. You were my first love, James. We met in school. I believed in you. I saw your potential, your drive, your hunger. I thought it meant you’d become a good man. A man I could build a life with."
Her voice cracked slightly, but her eyes remained dry fierce.
"But you’re nothing more than trash now. A snake in a suit. A man who feeds on betrayal and manipulation. And I’m ashamed... not because I loved you but because I didn’t walk away sooner."
Upon hearing what Cora just said, James opened his mouth, probably to throw another insult, but Cora raised her hand.
"Don’t. I’m not finished."
She stepped forward, her heels clicking against the floor, standing right in front of him.
"You can throw around your threats. You can blackmail. Leak whatever you think you have. Lie to the press. Pretend you still matter. But one thing I promise you, James by the time I’m done with you..." her voice dipped low now, calm and lethal, "you will regret everything. You will regret ever betraying me. Ever thinking you could humiliate me. Ever believing you could break me."
She took a small step back and added, "You wanted war? Fine. But I’ll make sure you don’t even realize you’ve lost until it’s far too late."
Again James’ face contorted in a mixture of anger and disbelief. He started laughing a dry, bitter laugh. The laugh of a man who realized his power was slipping and couldn’t admit it.
"It’s funny," he sneered. "You don’t even understand what you’ve walked into, do you? Very soon... very soon, you’ll come begging. You’ll crawl back to me, on your knees, pleading for forgiveness. And I won’t even look at you. I’ll destroy your name. I’ll destroy your little business. I’ll make sure you can’t walk into a room without people whispering about you. I’ll make your life a living hell."