THE DISABLED HEIRESS, MY EX-HUSBAND WOULD PAY DEARLY.-Chapter 43

James blinked. The arrogance on his face faltered, just a flicker. But Cora wasn’t done.

"I was blind. So blind," she muttered, almost to herself, but loud enough for him to hear. "Blinded by love. By stupid affection. You were my first love, James. We met in school. I believed in you. I saw your potential, your drive, your hunger. I thought it meant you’d become a good man. A man I could build a life with."

Her voice cracked slightly, but her eyes remained dry fierce.

"But you’re nothing more than trash now. A snake in a suit. A man who feeds on betrayal and manipulation. And I’m ashamed... not because I loved you but because I didn’t walk away sooner."

Upon hearing what Cora just said, James opened his mouth, probably to throw another insult, but Cora raised her hand.

"Don’t. I’m not finished."

She stepped forward, her heels clicking against the floor, standing right in front of him.

"You can throw around your threats. You can blackmail. Leak whatever you think you have. Lie to the press. Pretend you still matter. But one thing I promise you, James by the time I’m done with you..." her voice dipped low now, calm and lethal, "you will regret everything. You will regret ever betraying me. Ever thinking you could humiliate me. Ever believing you could break me."

She took a small step back and added, "You wanted war? Fine. But I’ll make sure you don’t even realize you’ve lost until it’s far too late."

Again James’ face contorted in a mixture of anger and disbelief. He started laughing a dry, bitter laugh. The laugh of a man who realized his power was slipping and couldn’t admit it.

"It’s funny," he sneered. "You don’t even understand what you’ve walked into, do you? Very soon... very soon, you’ll come begging. You’ll crawl back to me, on your knees, pleading for forgiveness. And I won’t even look at you. I’ll destroy your name. I’ll destroy your little business. I’ll make sure you can’t walk into a room without people whispering about you. I’ll make your life a living hell."

Cora’s eyes narrowed.

"Do your worst," she said quietly, "but just know... I’m coming for you. Slowly. Silently. I’m going to finish you—and I’ll enjoy every second of it."

At that moment James’ eyes burned with fury. His hand shot up, rage consuming his face, ready to strike her right there in the middle of the restaurant.

But before his palm could reach her cheek A firm hand grabbed his wrist in mid-air.

At that moment, when Cora opened her eyes blinking against the heat of her own fear she was stunned. For a brief second, she thought the slap had landed, that pain was going to shoot across her face. That was why she had closed her eyes instinctively. But no pain came. No sharp sting. Just... silence.

And when her eyes finally adjusted and she looked ahead, there he was.

Oliver.

Standing directly in front of her, firm and still, with one hand wrapped tightly around James’ raised wrist. His grip was so tight that the veins in James’ arm were bulging, and his face twisted—not with anger alone anymore, but discomfort.

Cora was too stunned to speak. Her eyes widened. Her heart raced.

Oliver didn’t even glance at her. His eyes were locked on James like a hawk on prey.

James, on the other hand, let out a loud, disgusted groan. "I knew it," he spat. "I knew it! You’re unbelievable, Cora. Not even two days divorced and you’re already spreading your legs for someone you call brother?"

Cora flinched—not because his words hurt her anymore, but because the venom in them was just so... low.

James continued, "No wonder you were so desperate to leave me! You were already warming his bed, weren’t you? God, you’re pathetic. Shameless. You almost ruined me. If I hadn’t thrown you out when I did, your stain on my reputation would’ve buried me. But thank God, thank God I got rid of you just in time."

His voice was loud now, arrogant, as if he were performing for everyone who might be watching. But that performance ended abruptly.

Because Oliver still not saying a word tightened his grip.

Immediately a sharp hiss escaped James’ lips. "You—You’re hurting me, you bastard!"

Oliver’s voice was calm, low, and deadly.

"Shut the fuck up, James."

That single sentence carried more weight than all the noise James had made.

"You’ve done enough damage," Oliver continued, "You’ve broken her enough. But I’m standing here now. And I’ll be damned if I let you throw another insult at her."

Then, without warning, Oliver shoved James’ hand backward not a gentle push, but a shove so hard it made James stagger back, clutching his wrist.

"Ah—!" James winced, grabbing at his arm. "You—" He looked around, but no one came to his rescue. No one was on his side. All eyes outside the lounge had turned to the scene now unfolding. Murmurs rose, but no one intervened.

Cora, still shocked, finally breathed.

Oliver turned slightly to face her, gently brushing her arm with the back of his fingers in reassurance, but his eyes remained sharp, alert, and ready for more.

However James, holding his sore wrist, glared at them both with fire in his eyes.

At that moment, Oliver didn’t even spare James another glance. His jaw tightened, but his voice remained cold and calm.

"You’ve done enough, James," Oliver said sharply. "I’m warning you now this nonsense ends here. It shouldn’t happen again."

Then, without waiting for a reply, Oliver turned toward Cora, his voice softening a little. "Let’s go," he said. "It’s not worth it."

However Cora wanted to say something her lips parted slightly as if to unleash a final sting, one last verbal slap to put James in his place. But then... she stopped. She looked at James for a moment really looked at him. There was no strength in his anger, only desperation and fear disguised as arrogance. He was loud, yes, but powerless.

So, she nodded slowly, her lips pressed in a thin, determined line. She didn’t need to speak. She had already won.

She turned to leave with Oliver, her heels clicking gracefully on the marble floor.

But just before they reached the final exit, James couldn’t help himself. He shouted after them like a man grasping for his last shred of control.

"I see it now!" he yelled. "First it was Williams, and now you’re jumping on his younger brother! What’s wrong with you, Cora? How shameful can you be?! And you, Oliver—you’re the most disgraceful man I’ve ever seen in my entire life!"

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