Chapter 123 I Give Up


    Maria, who had always been morous, now looked so different because of her torn and blood-


    soaked clothes. Even her whole body was covered in blood. She appeared in James'' sight in an


    awkward and embarrassing manner.


    Summer quickly unfastened her seat belt and got out of the car when she recognized Maria''s voice.


    James'' face looked so gloomy.


    "You really want to take my life, huh?" Maria said with a smirk.


    For James, her familiar smile was so dazzling at this moment that he couldn''t help but close his


    eyes for a second.


    He kept silent as he still med Lawrence for being able to predict the situation so urately.


    "If you really want my life, why don''t you take it by yourself? You know very well that I never turn


    down any request from you," Maria continued.


    James didn''t say anything. He just sat still in the car.


    Summer trembled with fear when she got a clear view of Maria. She was so shocked that she


    gasped and covered her agape mouth. When she finally came to her senses, she eximed,


    "Maria, what happened? You are bleeding. There''s so much blood!" She reached out her hands,


    wanting to help Maria. But she didn''t know which part of Maria''s body was safe to touch or hold.


    Blood was oozing from so many wounds in Maria''s body. Mariaughed out loud. Then with a trace


    of sadness and bitterness in her voice, she answered, "Why don''t you ask Mr. Xi about it? I''m sure


    no one else knows better than him."


    Summer''s gaze swept over James and Maria. But she didn''t dare to ask James.


    Feeling sorry for Maria, she asked again in a low voice, "Maria, does it hurt?"


    The unbearable pain seemed to have slowed down Maria''s mind.


    It took her a while to answer, "Yes. It hurts everywhere." Her voice sounded so weak that even


    Summer had a little difficulty hearing her words clearly.


    Her face was pale as a sheet, and her lips were bloodless. She slowly turned around and looked at


    James, who was still silent in the car. "I''m here to tell you that you''ve won. I give up."


    She then stepped back with a smile, her eyes gradually losing focus. Staring at James'' ruthless


    face, she felt like she was looking at someone else.


    James watched Maria slowly walking away from him with his own eyes. All of a sudden, he felt like


    he was losing her.


    Without hesitation, he opened the door, got off, and stood in front of her.


    "Really, James, I give up," Maria repeated. James could feel the sadness that emanated from her


    eyes.


    Maria turned around and was about to walk away.


    However, James grabbed her wrist to stop her.


    Feeling the warmth of his hand on her wrist, she sneered. She looked down and stared at his big


    hand. "I''m really not as cheap as you think."


    She didn''t have to tangle with him anymore. She could find other ways.


    The harsh sound of tires screeching the road resounded through the stillness of the night. Then, an


    off-road vehicle stopped not far away.


    It was Lawrence, who had been following Maria''s trace. Finally, he found her.


    He trotted over to them and called, "James! Maria!"


    For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, atst, James said in a low voice, "Let me take you to


    the hospital."


    But Maria shook off his hand and sneered, "No, thanks. Mr. Xi, how can I dare bother you?"


    "Maria..." Lawrence said. He was so anxious looking at Maria''s shaky figure. In his heart, he felt


    scared that something might happen to her.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Maria tried her best to maintain her poise as she walked towards Lawrence with a smile. She held


    his arm and said, "Honey, have you already told Mr. Xi that we are in love?"


    James thought that he misheard what Maria had said.


    With a face as cold as ice, he looked at Lawrence, silently asking for a confirmation. It was as if the


    moment Lawrence nodded to confirm, he would immediately tear Lawrence up.


    It took a while before Lawrence nodded. "Well, James, I was about to tell you earlier."


    "Mr. Xi, do you really think that I am dying to be with you? I''m sorry, but your best friend is way


    better than you. I am his girlfriend now," Maria mocked James. She then looked up at Lawrence and


    said, "Lawrence, let''s go."


    James lost his tongue from the shock. But Maria''s gentle voice reached his ears. The way she


    called Lawrence''s name pleasantly was simr to the way she called his name before.


    The shocking revtion made his heart skip a beat.


    Maria''s words brought goose bumps to Lawrence''s arms. But he didn''t show any expression on his


    face.


    Summer was also stunned. She didn''t expect to witness such a dramatic scene.


    Lawrence still wanted to say something more to James. But when he felt Maria''s gentle pinch, he


    kept his mouth shut. Anyway, he could talk to James some other time. What mattered the most now


    was for Maria to be taken to the hospital. He had to take her away as soon as possible.


    Maria was so proud of herself. Even if she admitted defeat on James, she was still able to do it


    arrogantly.


    The night was getting colder.


    James had witnessed with his own eyes how Lawrence picked up Maria and carried her in his arms


    towards the vehicle.


    Without saying goodbye, Lawrence turned to the driver''s seat, got in, and started the engine.


    The off-road vehicle made a U-turn and sped away.


    What James didn''t know was that Maria had already fainted before she could walk to the car. That


    was why Lawrence had to carry her in his arms.


    Summer started to feel the chilly wind blowing on her skin as well. But she just stood still, holding


    her breath and not daring to look at James. All of a sudden, she heard his voice that was as cold as


    the wind. "What did she say to you just now?"


    She took a deep breath before she answered, "Mr. Xi, I just asked her if it hurts. Then she said it


    hurts everywhere." A strangled sob escaped her lips when she finished her words.


    Then she couldn''t help adding, "Mr. Xi, no matter how much you hate Maria, you shouldn''t have


    done that. She is already living a hard life. Is it not enough?" She couldn''t continue as she was now


    choking with sobs.


    There was a pin-drop silence between them. Only the rustling of the leaves swaying with the wind


    could be heard. James stood in front of the car and looked ahead. After a long time, he ordered,


    "Pick me up on time tomorrow." He then turned and walked towards his vi alone.


    "Yes, Mr. Xi," Summer answered, watching his back.


    Lawrence went directly to the hospital. He didn''t leave until a doctor attended and treated Maria''s


    wounds.


    When she was transferred to a ward, he hired a nurse to take care of her while she was recovering.


    It was a peaceful and quiet night in H City. No one knew that Maria had almost lost her life tonight.


    Summer went to HL Group to work as usual the next day. But during her lunch break, she managed


    to call Maria.


    She was still on the phone when she got out of the elevator and returned to her desk. She was so


    engrossed in her conversation that she didn''t notice that her voice slightly raised. "How are you


    feeling now? Have you eaten lunch?"


    The sound of steady footsteps sounded behind Summer. Then it slowed down when it passed by


    her desk. But she was so focused on her phone call that she still didn''t notice.


    Maria might have answered her question on the other end of the line because Summer asked


    again, "Your wounds still hurt too much? Didn''t the doctor give you painkillers?" A colleague beside


    her tugged her sleeve.


    When Summer turned to look at her colleague, her colleague winked at her, hinting her to look


    back. It was only then that she noticed that James was standing behind her. She immediately


    covered her phone and greeted him in a low voice, "Hi, Mr. Xi!"


    James walked up to her and stood in front of her desk. With a darkened expression, he asked,


    "Who are you talking to?"


    "Ah..." Summer hesitated for a moment. But then, she decided to answer honestly, "Maria, Mr. Xi.


    I''m worried about her, but I don''t have time to visit her. I''m sorry, Mr. Xi. I''ll go back to work now."


    She then put her phone back to her ear and said quickly, "My lunch break is over. I have to go now.


    I''ll go visit you when I''m free. Take care!"


    Summer sat in front of herputer after hanging up. She continued with her work, trembling with


    fear.


    James stood there for a few seconds before he went back to his office without saying anything.


    The afternoon in HL Group was very busy. Summer was on her way to the finance department with


    some document when she saw Jamesing out of his office. Staring at her, he said, "Go with


    me."


    Summer looked at the document and said awkwardly, "But, Mr. Xi, the finance department wants


    this datasheet..." "Give it to Lorenzo," James interrupted. He then walked towards his private


    elevator at a fast pace without giving Summer another chance to retort.


    "Okay." Summer put the datasheet in front of Lorenzo and said, "Thank you, Lorenzo."


    Lorenzo raised his head, creasing his brows. He was speechless. Seeing that Summer had trotted


    away to catch up with James, he had no choice but to take over her work unconditionally.


    As soon as James got in the back seat of the ck Harkim and Summer in the driver''s seat, James


    ordered tly, "No. 1 Municipal Hospital, please."


    Summer immediately understood what he wanted to do, so she nodded with a smirk. "Okay, Mr. Xi."


    Thinking that James was going to visit Maria in the hospital rather than seeing anyone else, she


    seemed to see her bright future in HL Group.


    When they arrived at the hospital entrance, Summer asked deliberately, "Mr. Xi, since we are


    visiting a patient here, shall I buy some gifts?"


    James nced at her. He came here empty-handed. But then, he thought, ''It''s already an honor for


    Maria that Ie to see her. Why do I need to buy her gifts?'' So he answered, "No need." He


    remembered that Maria had been trying to convince him to invest in her newpany. He could


    just transfer the fund to her ountter. That would be his gift.


    "Okay." Summer shrugged. How could she dare to force her big boss?


    Before they got out of the car, she sent a message to Maria, informing Maria that they were heading


    to her ward. Maria was reading a document, leaning against the headboard when she received


    Summer''s message. After reading it, she immediately put the document away and sent a message


    to Lawrence. "Come here ASAP!"


    ￡


    Ophelia EKEfi