Tessa couldn’t help but think in despair, “Am I going to die here today?”

Suddenly, someone tugged the hood off Tessa’s head.

Unfortunately, she had spent far too long in the dark. The abrupt exposure to sunlight nearly sent Tessa to the ground due to dizziness. Her body swayed, and she struggled to steady herself to avoid falling.

“Ms. Yates, we meet again.” James looked at her with a hint of a smile on his face.

Tessa looked up to meet his gaze after regaining her composure and stiffened.

She had seen him in the past.

Jasmine had been in a bad mood that day. So, they had a meal at a restaurant and paid the bill once they were finished. That was when Tessa bumped into a pair of strangers.

The man had greeted her.

Tessa had assumed he was just a mutual friend and didn’t think much of it. Therefore, she genuinely didn’t expect to see that man here today.

Tessa swept her gaze over the area.

The two men who had abducted her yesterday were now standing with their heads lowered respectfully before this stranger.

That same stranger also had a group of followers standing behind him. It was obvious that he was the one calling the shots here. Coupled with the fact that someone had addressed him as James… Was he the one they were referring to?

This man had to be James!

Tessa instinctively stepped away from him out of fear, and her face turned slightly pale with fright.

This man right here was the one who wanted her dead. It was the same man who had nearly murdered her father!

She couldn’t cling to her ironclad composure in the face of such a madman.

“Are you afraid of me?” James’ beautiful eyes were filled with amusement.

James’ mother, Amara Fullerton, was once a famous beauty in the entertainment industry. Plus, Caleb was also a scion known for his good looks in Rivertown back in the day. James had inherited his parents’ good looks.

Nonetheless, he did resemble his mother more, with features so exquisite they could be described as seductive.

Before Tessa’s fateful encounter with James today, she had always imagined him to be a rugged, ferocious-looking man. So, she didn’t expect him to look like this. It definitely didn’t help that he booked so harmless when he smiled.

Tessa took a nervous gulp before saying, “You’ve made a mistake by capturing me. Stephen and I are as good as strangers now. You can’t possibly threaten him by keeping me hostage.”

James scoffed and stepped forward upon her retreat. Then, he looked straight into her eyes. “You’ll find out soon enough whether I’ve made the right move.”

James’ eyes remained fixed on hers

as his lips curled into a hint of a

smile. “You really are a one-of-a-kind

beauty, Ms. Yates. It’s no wonder

Stephen and Zachary have fallen

heads over heels for you.”

Tessa took another step away from him, suspicion flickering in her gaze. “You know Zachary as well?”

James shrugged nonchalantly and replied sarcastically, “Oh, he’s just a lackey I keep around for fun. He can be quite interesting.”

Tessa furrowed her brows upon hearing that. Based on his answer, Zachary was working for him.

It made sense now how Gomez Group managed to rise from the ashes. So, James was the one behind it all.

Still, how did they get in touch? Hadn’t James been abroad all this while?

Tessa lowered her eyes as she pondered over James and Zachary’s connection, not paying any mind to what James was saying.

James’ eyes flashed with impatience when he noticed she was distracted. “Hey, I’m talking to you.”

Tessa snapped back to reality, recalling James’ earlier words that she would find out soon enough. Her eyes filled with worry, and she hastily inquired, “Have you told Stephen about this?”

“Why? Are you worried about him?” James shot her a sidelong glance. “Didn’t you say you two are now strangers? Why are you still so worried about him?”

James shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled. “Are you afraid he’ll get himself killed?”

Tessa feigned composure, retorting, “I just don’t want a life on my conscience. Forget him. I don’t want anyone to risk their life for me.”

“Do you think I believe you?” James regarded her with amusement. “You two are quite the actors. Since your guys love acting so much, do put on a heartfelt performance later. Who knows? I might consider allowing Stephen to have the option of an open casket if I’m pleased by the show.”

Tessa couldn’t bear to hear such cruel words. A chill ran down her spine as the terror in her heart grew.

Although Stephen had hurt her deeply, she had resolved to have absolutely nothing to do with him. Nevertheless, that didn’t mean she could bear to see Stephen die before her eyes.

She wanted Stephen to live his life well, even if it meant never seeing him ever again.

However, if he truly lost his life while trying to save her, she knew she would live in the shadow of that guilt for the rest of her life.