Chapter 239 Peggy
"When the police took me that night, they told me that it was for killing my own son. I went down to
the station and made a statement. Then I asked them who was suing me. Can you guess the
answer?
They said that it was none other than my ex-husband who had filed a case against me, and that I
was sentenced to five years in prison."
Maria''s expression remained neutral, and her gaze was steady as she looked up at James. Then
she smiled. "At that time, I felt like a barrage of arrows went through my body all at once."
He said nothing, but a muscle ticked at his jaw.
"I''d never expected you to hate me to that extend. You had practically killed me back then, you
know."
James opened his mouth to speak, but he ended up closing it again without uttering a single sound.
"To make matters worse, I had the so-called special treatment inside the prison. For the first three
months, not a day passed when I wasn''t bloody or ck and blue. All I''d ever eaten in there was
sloppy leftover. I''ve tried to kill myself, too, a lot of times. So many times. But I always failed. I
eventually realized that it wasn''t my time to die just yet, so I stopped courting death and face
torment head-on instead."
She had only known salvation when Norman had appeared.
"I''m telling you all these things now, but not for you to pity me. I don''t want your pity. But then, I
guess you won''t pity a woman anyway. You''ve always been cold like that. I just want you to know
that I got this far thanks to the hatred burning inside me. It gave me the strength and courage to
survive, to live every day as ites."
And it was true. Hatred brought her here.
Hatred for him.
James knew this, too.
"You say that you had nothing to do with it, but that won''t make me hate you any less. Why should
it, when during my lowest, you were on their side?"
"Why did you stille to me then?" he asked, his voice hoarse. He knew why, but he still wanted
to hear ite out of her lips.
"To use you, of course. After all, you have the power to make my revenge hurt twice as much with
half the effort on my part." And the perfect examples would be Ste, Ronald, and Jonathan.
In spite of it all, Maria recognized the deep affection for James that lingered in her. It was just that
she refused to acknowledge its existence. She had always turned a blind eye to the truth it
presented.
"I know you are aware of my intentions, so why are you asking me? When we are together, you
devour me for my beauty, and in return, I bask in the power you wield on my behalf. I''m sure your
purpose runs deeper than it looks, doesn''t it?
I will never let Alina or Judy get away with what they did to me. So if you n to protect them, I
suggest you find someone to dispose of me as soon as possible."
They stood under the streetlights, both unmoving forces of nature, and locked gazes for a moment.
Then Maria turned away and made to get inside her car.
"Let''s get you to the hospital first."
She opened her car door and paused to look at him.
"Thank you, but no."
Then she slid into the driver''s seat and started the engine, and drove away without sparing him
another nce.
In the Leopard Club
Ethan put a few bottles of liquor on the table. "Come on! Let''s get hammered."
James was slouched on the couch with his eyes closed. He ignored the other man and said
nothing. Ethan took the initiative to pop a bottle open and handed it to him. "Given your current
mood, I think it''s better for you to drink straight from the bottle."
James red at him silently. But he epted the bottle and clinked it with Ethan''s ss.
"Okay, so let me hazard a guess. Your being like this must have something to do with a woman, and
the only women in your life worth noting are Maria and Alina. Only Maria has the power to reduce
you too such a state."
Ethan was feeling smug about his smart deduction, but then he remembered one crucial thing. The
smile instantly disappeared from his face. "James, I heard that she was put to jail in the past. Is this
true?"
He had heard what had happened in the banquet. The news shocked him greatly.
"Mm." James never kept anything from Ethan. "She thinks I was behind all of it."
He heaved a defeated sigh. He had to admit that Maria wasn''t the only one responsible for Arthur''s
death. He had been just as liable—he had spent all his hours working, and had never made any
time for his wife, much less his son.
He had arranged for three million dors as alimony, but it turned out now that the money had never
reached
Maria.
Ethan spoke again. "Maria''s family disowned her, she lost her son, and your own family kicked her
out. Her husband not only forsook her, but also sent her to jail. No wonder she hates you.''1
James took a sip of his liquor. If it hadn''t been for the debacle at the banquet, Maria would never
have told him everything she had gone through in the past, would she?
"Well, what are you going to do now? Are you still going to marry Alina?"
"No," James answered shortly.
"When will you cancel the engagement?"
"Not right now. I can''t risk getting the wholepany in trouble for the sake of my private affairs."
Ethan nodded in agreement. "Maria is so pitiful."
James ignored him.
A momentter, his phone vibrated. It was Lawrence.
"James, I''ve confirmed that Maria indeed has a criminal record. She was sentenced to five years
and seven months for murder charges. She was apprehended one month after Arthur''s ident."
James took a deep breath, his eyes taking on a dangerous glint.
Lawrence continued with his report. ''''She served time at the women''s penitentiary for a year and
nine months, then somebody bailed her out."
Têxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.
"Who was it?"
"Norman Shen."
James fell silent again.
Maria drove to the hospital after she had parted with James. Her wound had been almost healed
just a day ago, but now her skin was red again.
She gritted her teeth as the nurse applied ayer of medicine on the wound. When the treatment
was over, she returned to her apartment.
Maria had grown used to James''pany, and now that she had beening home alone and
spending her days by herself, she couldn''t help feeling like something was missing.
It was quiet inside the apartment. Shey in the bed and forced herself to sleep.
Even so, it wasn''t until three in the morning when she finally drifted into oblivion.
Day broke, and her rm rang precisely at seven o''clock. Maria opened her eyes and got out of
bed.
She went through her usual routine-she washed, got dressed, applied makeup, and ate breakfast.
Before long she was putting on a ck coat and a brown scarf, and then she was walking out of the
apartment.
In the reception area of H City''s women''s penitentiary, Maria sat and waited quietly. Ten minutes
later, two people came into view.
One of them was a handcuffed woman, and the moment she caught sight of Maria, her eyes lit up.
"You heartless bitch! You finally came to see me!"
Maria smiled, thinking how this woman was still very beautiful though they had not seen each other
for quite a long time. The inmate sported a shaved head, and there were more fine lines on her face
now that she wasn''t wearing any makeup. "I''m sorry, Peggy," Maria said.
The woman sat opposite her, all casual and nonchnt. "You''re apologizing as soon as you see
me. What, are youing back? You promised me to live well after you were let out of prison."
Maria only gazed at her in silence.
Peggy looked her up and down before nodding in satisfaction. "Your face is fair and rosy, so much
more beautiful than when you were here. Your skin is glowing, too.
You must be living a happy life with your man, eh?" Maria rolled her eyes and sighed. "You''re still
the same as ever."
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