James’s mom was never one to hold back.
She helped him to some meat and casually brought it up, “James, is it true Maria’s back?
And you made her your assistant?
That’s totally inappropriate.”
James shot a sharp look at Amelia, so cold that she nearly dropped her fork.
“Mrs.
Bennett, maybe we shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
I’m sure James has his reasons…” Amelia’s eyes were about to well up with tears as she looked at her.
“Anyone else could be your assistant, but not Maria,” James’s mom said firmly, eyes locked on him.
Her tone hardened.
“You’re about to get engaged to Amelia.
If people find out your ex-wife is your assistant, what will they think of her?”
Amelia sniffled quietly, trying to hold back her tears, clearly hurt.
James set down his fork.
For a second, the whole thing felt like a bad comedy.
He didn’t even bother with excuses, just muttered impatiently, “The engagement’s off—for now.”
With that, he stood up and walked off, leaving James’s mom and Amelia staring at each other, speechless.
Amelia wasn’t crying anymore.
She reached for James’s mom’s hand, anxious, “What do we do now?
James has never snapped at me like this before… Ever since Maria came back, he’s different.
What do I do?”
Ever since Maria left five years ago, James had turned into someone else.
Moody, always buried in work, never home, and barely speaking a word to either his mom or Amelia.
If James’s mom didn’t see by now he still had feelings for Maria, she’d be lying to herself.
She had sent people to look for Maria before, came up with nothing.
At the time, she actually felt relieved—thinking James would forget Maria with time and finally settle down with Amelia.
But now that Maria’s back, everything’s getting stirred up again.
Amelia picked up on the shift too.
She clung onto James’s mom even harder now, knowing she needed her help to make this marriage happen.
After all, if James’s mom could push for the divorce back then, maybe she could push for the wedding now. Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
“Don’t worry.
You’re the only daughter-in-law I recognize.
Maria is not stepping back into this house,” James’s mom said.
“I really think she came back to win James over again,” Amelia choked out, tears streaming.
“She’s totally trying to get his attention.
I want to get engaged as soon as possible, or I’ll just keep feeling uneasy.”
James’s mom patted her hand gently.
“You have my word.
I’m his mother, he’ll listen to me.”
That little bit of reassurance helped Amelia calm down a bit.
Meanwhile, Maria didn’t head home until she made sure James had already driven off.
As soon as she opened the door, Ethan and Ella ran up to her and threw themselves into her arms.
Isabella, who had been dozing on the couch, blinked awake at the noise and mumbled, “You’re home late.”
Maria picked up a kid in each arm.
“Had to work overtime.”
“Did you eat?”
Maria shook her head.
“I’ll go heat the food,” Isabella said as she picked up the two kids and squatted down.
“Mom’s been working all day, she’s super tired.
You two go play in your room for a bit so she can eat in peace, yeah?”
The kids scurried off to their room.
Maria gave Isabella a grateful smile before flopping onto the couch, eyes closed, exhaustion written all over her face.
Dinner was served quickly.
Once everything was set, Isabella called her over and sat beside her while she ate.
“First day back to work—how’d it go?”
“Just okay, I guess.” Maria spoke with her mouth full, barely slowing down between bites before glancing at Isabella.
“But James’s kinda different now.
Shockingly, he actually listened to my input.”
Isabella squinted, a sly smile forming.
“Don’t tell me the two of you are getting back together or something.”
“There was nothing to get back to,” Maria scoffed.
“He never liked me, not really.
Otherwise—”
“Otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to the divorce so fast.” Isabella shook her head.
But seriously, if you still have feelings for him, go get your man.
You turned down so many suitors abroad.
That’s gotta mean something.”
Maria lowered her eyes.
“He’s almost engaged.”
“Almost isn’t married.
Plus, you’ve got two kids with him.
That’s gotta count for something.”
Maria clicked her tongue softly, then looked off into the distance.
“They’re my kids, not his.
I’m not trying to get him back.
I just want a peaceful life with the kids.
That’s all I care about now.”
Isabella, being the more decisive one when it came to love, wasn’t impressed.
“You’re being difficult.”
“Difficult”—yeah, that word summed her up perfectly.
Maria hated how James had ended things so cleanly.
She hated how much he seemed into Amelia now.
But she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Seeing him with Amelia made her stomach twist with anger she couldn’t hide.
Isabella left after dinner, changing into one of Maria’s tight skirts before winking and saying she was off to chase “true love.” Maria just laughed and teased, “Your ‘true love’ only ever lasts a month.”
They were different people, with different ways of living.
Maria never judged Isabella for how she lived—actually, she kind of admired it.
She just wasn’t built that way herself.
After clearing the table and tidying the kitchen, she went to check on the kids.
They were flipping through a magazine when Ella suddenly pointed.
“Mom!
I’ve seen him before!”
Maria followed her daughter’s finger and froze for a second, then nodded.
“Yeah, you have.”
It was James in the photo, dressed in a black suit, lips curled awkwardly like he was trying to smile but didn’t quite get there.
He looked intense—almost cold.
The headline screamed, “CEO James—A Cold-Hearted Boss?” Below it, in fine print: “Rumored engagement with actress and childhood sweetheart Amelia?”
Maria’s eyes stopped on that line, her expression tightening as her lips pressed into a thin line.