Beyond Love and Longing

When Wendy and Sean returned, it was already a week later.

The day they came back, James happened to be at home.

The sound of laughter and playful banter echoed as Sean planted a kiss on Wendy's face.

“Honey, I really like the wedding rings you chose.”

Under the crystal chandelier, the sparkling diamond ring radiated brilliantly.

“Oh, James is home too.”

Standing in the living room, Sean looked surprised.

After a brief hesitation, he pulled a box out of his bag. “James, I got you a gift as well. Look, I picked this out myself. Do you like it?”

James suddenly felt disgusted.

He and Wendy weren’t even officially divorced yet, but the shameless homewrecker dared to stride into his home with such audacity.

And now, he had the gall to act as though he were a master handing down rewards to a servant.

“No need, keep it for yourself,” James replied curtly, rejecting the gift as he turned and headed upstairs.

“Honey, is James mad at me?”

Wendy quickly coaxed him in a soft voice. “He’s just got that strange temper. Don’t mind him…”

Holding his vibrating phone, James quickened his pace, closing the door and taking a deep breath.

It was Carl calling.

“James, I’ve prepared the documents for the property and share transfers. All you need to do is sign them when the time comes…”

“Alright.”

James exhaled deeply and hung up.

“You should’ve returned those shares to Wendy a long time ago.”

Sean’s voice suddenly came from outside the door. At some point, he had been eavesdropping on the conversation.

“You’re incapable of giving Wendy a child. When you’re old, you’ll have to rely on my son. So, hand over the shares now and make a good impression. Maybe I’ll let my child give you a little more pocket money in the future.” He chuckled softly, leaning closer to James’s ear. “James, those who adapt to the times are wise.”

James sneered. “Save your provocations. Don’t waste your schemes on me. Stay calm and go be the groom.”

As James turned to leave, Sean’s gentle expression twisted into something strange.

The next moment, the sound of shattering glass rang out.

A powerful force shoved James suddenly.

“Ah—” A sharp scream sounded.

James tumbled down the stairs.

“Watch out!”

Hearing the commotion, Wendy rushed over from the side. Out of instinct, she pulled Sean to safety, holding him tightly.

Bang!

With a loud crash, James landed hard at the bottom of the staircase.

Blood gushed from his leg and arm, quickly soaking his clothes.

Lying on his back, James felt his vision go dark, the pain made it difficult to breathe.

“James!” Seeing James’s pitiful state, Wendy instinctively let go of Sean and called out to him. “Are you okay?”

Her face flashed with panic. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”

The pain in James’s leg was excruciating, and every movement was a struggle.

“Wendy, my leg hurts. Help me…”

He tried to speak but was interrupted by a choked sob.

“Wendy… I just wanted to give James a gift, but he tried to hit me with a vase… My face hurts so much. Do you think it’ll affect the wedding?”

Wendy’s eyes widened in shock, glaring at James with fury.

“James, are you insane? Sean is a livestreamer, and you tried to smash his face with a vase? I always thought you were just cold-blooded. I didn’t realize you were this vicious!”

Seeing Sean holding his head, pale-faced, Wendy’s anger boiled over. She stormed down the stairs and kicked James hard several times.

“You bastard! You can’t give me a child, and you won’t let anyone else give me one either! If something happens to Sean, you’re done for!”

One of her kicks landed squarely on James’s front, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood.

Wendy, however, turned a blind eye, gently helping Sean to his feet.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”

Before leaving, she paused at the door. “You’d better pray his head is okay.”

Even after the two disappeared out the door, James lay motionless at the bottom of the staircase.

He stared blankly at the dazzling crystal chandelier above, his eyes trembling slightly.

He wasn’t sure how long he remained there before tears began streaming freely from the corners of his eyes.