A Vengeful Ex-Wife

Chapter 245 Get Sentenced Again

It was rather certain that Colby wouldn't be keeping his promises, and if Norman wouldn't take care of this for Maria either, she just might get sentenced to jail time again.

This was no longer amusing. Of course, she wasn't holding out any hope for James. She had no choice but to secure a way out here and now. "Give me a month. I'm still in there by then, I'm afraid I'm going to have to trouble you again."

"You don't believe in James?” he asked.

She said nothing.

It wasn't that she didn't trust James, just that she never knew what he was going to do next. She could never fully understand what went on in that man's head.

"All right, don't worry about it. I won't step in in this matter even if you beg me later." And just like that, Norman had effectively blocked her only way out.

She had always known of his capacity to be ruthless. And now she experienced it again.

Norman didn't explain himself. This was turning out to be a contest of sorts between Maria and James. Why should he meddle in their business? Wouldn't it be more fun if he just stood to the side and watch the fun unfold?

Besides, at the rate that things were going, it looked like James didn't even care about his own woman. Surely he couldn't be expecting Norman to swoop in and rescue her on his behalf, could he?

On the day that the police knocked on Maria's door, she gave Sandra a call. "Sandra, I need you to do me a favor."

Even if she had to stay locked up for a few years, there was no reason why she should halt her revenge on Alina.

At the HL Group

James was reviewing a batch of documents when his phone vibrated on his desk. The caller ID told him it was his grandfather. He swiped at the screen and tightened his lips in preparation for what was to come.

Before he could say anything, Augustine was already scolding him from the other end of the line. "Do you even see yourself as a man? Your wife has been put to jail and you don't do anything? I can't believe I have a grandson like you! What, now that you're all grown up, you think I can't do anything to you anymore, huh? You punk!"

James blinked twice, speechless. He had expected that this call would be because of Maria.

Augustine cussed him out some more before pausing, presumably having grown tired from his exertions. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Because it's disrespectful to interrupt you, Grandpa," James answered calmly.

"This punk! Don't think I believe you for a minute! When Jonathan Jiang was keeping himself busy extorting all that money, Maria wasn't even back in H City yet. How could she have been involved in the case? Are you even using your brain or not?"

"Grandpa, why should I concern myself when she is willing to take the blame for him?"

"Oh, so you would rather do nothing then? Maria is a fool to take the blame for someone else. But you have to do something to help her. You must be planning to use this opportunity to get rid of her for good and marry that good-for-nothing Alina Tang!"

For the second time in less than an hour, James was rendered speechless. 'What does any of this have to do with Alina?'

"All right, fine then. I don't want to keep discussing worthless things with you. Just tell me this—are you going to help Maria or not?"

"Nope."

Augustine's eyes almost popped out of their sockets at James' answer, and his breath caught in his throat. "Great! This is just great! You truly are my grandson after all! You got that stubborn side of yours from me, and I'm sure I did my part in teaching you to be ruthless, too. But I never taught you to be ruthless to your own wife! Ah, forget it! Why do I even bother? I'm better off treasuring my own wife."

He hung up the phone then, just as abruptly as he had called.

Well, as a matter of fact, it was Charlotte who had tapped on the end call button. She shot her husband a pointed look. "If I had only been listening and not watching the whole time, I would have fallen for your great acting skills."

Augustine snorted. "It's not often that I get a chance to scold that brat."

"Well, in any case, you've vented your anger now. All that remains is for us to wait and see what our grandson does next."

"You're right."

The truth was that they had never doubted James. They were certain that he would take action, it was just a matter of time.

It was only bad luck that Augustine had grown bored and impatient and wanted to usher his grandson forward.

Back at the office, James had barely put down his phone when Ethan burst through the door. "James, James! Maria has been arrested again!"

"Mm." He didn't appear at all affected by this piece of news.

"Well? Have you sent someone to get her out of there?"

"No.”

Ethan's heat sank, and he frowned. "Then how can you be here all calm and collected? Do you realize what's happening? Maria is going to get sentenced again."

'Again?'

That one word bore a heavy weight.

James' grip on his pen grew tighter. "I know," he said, his voice low.

"You know?" Ethan scoffed, unable to comprehend this man. "Are you sure you want to be this cruel?"

"Why, are you going to worry for her all the time?"

"Of course! I'm not like you. Ah, forget it. I'm staying out of this, I'm not her boyfriend anyway. That very man himself couldn't care less, so why should I lose sleep over it?"

James said nothing, wondering since when Maria had become his wife in people's eyes.

Ethan plopped on a chair and turned pensive. "I'm pretty sure Norman is going to make a move. Didn't he say he wanted to marry Maria? This would be the perfect opportunity for him to assert his intentions—saving her when she's in distress."

His commentary was met with silence, so he continued.

"I mean, if I were him, I would definitely grab this chance. Vulnerable people are quite easy to convince; it won't take much. And Maria is in a very fragile state at the moment, don't you agree? Just picture it. She stays locked up in prison for several days, and then Norman takes her out of her cage.

Besides, he has come to save her a handful of times already. She is bound to be moved. I would certainly want to marry my savior, if I were in her place."

James was glaring at him by this point.

"But I do understand your side of things. Your fiancee is Alina Tang, and no one else. You didn't even lift a finger when Ronald got arrested, so why should you make a move for the sake of your ex-wife? I won't be disturbing you anymore, please carry on with your work."

In Ethan's opinion, he had already said what he wanted to say, and the ball was now firmly in James' court. If the man still chose not to do anything, then there wasn't anything anyone could do to force him.

"Fuck off!"

James yelled, taking Ethan aback.

He snorted and rose from his seat, giving the massive CEO desk a couple of knocks before heading for the door. Ethan was already looking forward to the time when the mighty James Xi would have to woo Maria again.

Inside her detention room, Maria kept her eyes closed most of time, her head tilted back against the wall.

Perhaps she had grown accustomed to this place already; she no longer felt the fear and dread that had haunted her in the past.

Colby's lawyer had come again, urging her to sign the confession statement. She told the man she wanted to wait, since Colby had given his word that he would do everything-everything-in his power to keep her from getting jailed.

The lawyer could only eye her in disdain. 'What a stupid broad! She's just another significant girl now. Did she really expect Colby Zheng to do so much just to save her?'

The Tang family had learned of Maria's arrest, and the previous haze that had fogged their family now lifted. The Tang couple, in particular, were often sporting smiles these days.

Alina could not bring herself to share in their positive outlook, though, given that James had told her he would break off their engagement one day.

Days passed, and a dinner party was held for the big shots in H City. A lot of financial celebrities were in attendance, as well as several government officials.

Norman would normally pass up occasions like this, but he attended this time around, offering a rare sight to the rest of the guests.

When James arrived at the scene, Norman and Colby were in the middle of a discussion.

Of course, conversations halted when he came in, and everyone gave him their greetings.

After James sat down, Norman turned back to Colby to continue their talk. "Where were we, Mr. Zheng?"

"Maria Song," Colby said with a look of regret. "Tomorrow is her appointed deadline to sign her confession. I want to help her, I really do, but I just can't. This matter has escalated to disastrous proportions, and a lot of names were already dragged into the mud. I'm afraid my hands are tied."

"She has been in jail for a whole week now, right?" Despite his words and tone, Norman was smiling gently.

"I believe so. As the chairman of the company, I truly feel a huge sense of regret to lose a good business partner like her." "Don't blame yourself too much, Mr. Zheng. She will be sentenced to five years at most. You can make it up to her after she comes out. You know how women are; they'll do anything for money."

Colby nodded eagerly. "Of course I will make it up to her. I just can't help feeling the guilt." Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Norman's eyes took on a sharp edge. This man had the gall to act remorseful, but they both knew he had no intention whatsoever to do anything about his so-called guilt.