Dying to Love You

Chapter 13 She Chose the Blade

　　James had been swamped with work lately. Tonight, he actually came home early for once. After dinner, he played a few rounds of chess with his father, Mr. Mitchell, when a servant suddenly rushed in, flustered. “Sir, I heard something weird in the room next to the temple.”

　　“What weird noise?” Mr. Mitchell frowned and turned to look at the servant.

　　“It sounded like... like someone fooling around,” the servant stammered, clearly nervous.

　　“What? Lucy, watch your mouth! Emily lives in that room now. Are you trying to smear her like that?” Mrs. Armstrong snapped.

　　“I swear I'm not lying, ma'am. That's really what I heard! If you don't believe me, go check it out!” Lucy looked close to tears.

　　James had been totally focused on his game, but the second he caught what she said, he shot up from his seat and dashed straight toward the backyard.

　　Grace and her mom exchanged a quick, knowing glance and followed right behind him with smug looks on their faces.

　　As they neared the room, harsh, heavy breathing filtered out, impossible to ignore. You didn't need to be a genius to know what was going on in there. James's eyes blazed with fury as he slammed his foot against the barely closed door and burst it open.

　　What they saw made everyone freeze—Emily was lying on the bed, clothes all messed up, while a completely naked, overweight man was on top of her.

　　Rage exploded in James's chest. He charged forward, yanked the man off Emily, and landed a solid punch to his face.

　　The guy screamed and fell to the floor, but James didn't stop. He started kicking and punching the man on the ground like a madman.

　　John Bennett groaned in pain as he rolled on the floor, beaten to a pulp.

　　Grace and her mom were stunned by how unhinged James had become. “Stop him! He's gonna kill someone!” Grace yelled at the servants.

　　A few of them jumped in to hold James back, but he still tried kicking the guy even while restrained.

　　On the bed, Emily finally opened her eyes. Seeing the room packed with people, she panicked and scrambled to fix her clothes, her hands trembling.

　　Mrs. Armstrong glared at John on the floor and shouted, “John, what the hell are you doing in Emily's room?!”

　　“She's the one who asked me to come,” John mumbled through a bloodied mouth, his whole body aching. James had beaten him so badly he could barely breathe, certain he'd cracked a few ribs.Holding back the pain, John recited what Mrs. Armstrong had coached him to say: "During dinner, Miss Carter told me to meet her at the prayer room tonight, said she had something private to talk about. We've done it so many times before, so when she called me tonight, I just went…”

　　Emily stared at the chubby man, shaking all over. “You… you're lying!”

　　“I'm not! I'm just a servant. If Miss Carter hadn't asked me to come, do you think I'd dare? I wouldn't have touched her even if I had a death wish. Miss, this is serious—don't deny it. We've done it plenty before. I know you've got a little red mole down there!”

　　Mrs. Armstrong let out a cold laugh. “This is what you call repentance? Moving into a prayer room to sin under Buddha's nose—really honors your family name, huh?”

　　“He's lying! I don't even know him… I…”

　　“Oh come on, Emily,” Grace chimed in coldly. “You used to be into wild hookups, prison didn't cure that habit, huh? Sleeping with a servant? That desperate?”

　　Emily trembled, her voice nearly breaking as she tried to defend herself. But James had already blown up when John mentioned that red mole. He stormed over, eyes flaming. “You slut! Have you no shame? That hard up for a man?”

　　“I didn't!”

　　“Oh, still denying it? You seduced me, then Alex, and now you've stooped to servants? You love men that much? Fine, I'll help you out!”

　　James's eyes were bloodshot. “Guards! She's all yours. Do whatever the hell you want with her. Don't stop until she's dead.”

　　Emily's eyes went wide in horror. He wasn't bluffing—he was dead serious. She watched the guards rush in like wolves. Her heart sank fast. She knew there was no way out. Falling into their hands would be a fate worse than death. If she was going to die anyway, there was nothing holding her back anymore.

　　Just as the guards grabbed her, she caught sight of the knife tucked at one guard's waist. Without hesitation, she snatched it and slashed her own throat.

　　Blood sprayed everywhere. James, already stepping out the door, heard a sharp scream behind him. When he turned around, the air was thick with a heavy mist of blood.