It's Your Turn To Cry and Beg, Dear Uncle
Chapter 70: A Blind Love

Chapter 70: A Blind Love

"Talk to me about what?"

A chill ran down her spine, and Mia felt her heart pounding as she heard that voice. Without needing to turn her head, Mia already knew exactly who it belonged to. After all, how many years had she harbored feelings for that man?

From the very first time she met James when Selene brought him home to work on a group project, Mia’s eyes had been glued to the tall and handsome figure. How he smiled sweetly, sometimes with a hint of mischief, how his voice softened whenever he spoke to her, and how James would gently pat her head whenever they met.

He had always greeted her warmly when they crossed paths.

"Hi, little Mia, we meet again," James had greeted with that handsome smile that never failed to make her blush.

"Are you having fun at school, little Mia?" James had asked one day when she came home to find him and his friends hanging out after their group project.

"You need to drink more milk, or you’ll always be a shorty, little Mia," James had teased when he had reached 172 cm in his second year of high school.

Mia never forgot a single one of those moments with James, even though they were ordinary memories and even when James was never hers to begin with.

Back then, all she cared about was having James by her side. And when the time came for him to become her brother-in-law, she would stop loving him.

But that day never came.

Instead, she learned that James and her older sister had broken up long ago. At the time, Mia had just been promoted at her job in the UK.

The moment she heard the news, Mia’s heart leapt in a mix of joy and nervousness as she was afraid that everything was merely a dream.

But it turned out that fate had really given her a chance with James. It turned out that her efforts and sincerity all this time hadn’t gone unnoticed by the universe.

She had even been willing to let James go if he truly loved Selene, but as it turned out, destiny had its own plans. That realization made Mia decide to resign from her job in the UK and immediately booked a flight to go home. She needed to confirm this information herself.

It turned out to be true. While accompanying her mother, Diane Parks, to a tea party with her socialite friends, Mia met Cressida, who mentioned struggling to find a suitable match for James because he was more focused on caring for his niece than on his own life.

Mia paid no mind to Cressida’s remarks about Kyra; her attention was entirely captured by the image of James smiling in a photo with Kyra.

Seeing the man she loved had grown into a mature man, far more handsome and accomplished than before, Mia couldn’t ignore the racing of her heart.

With a heart overflowing with love for James and a mind replaying their shared memories, how could Mia not recognize that voice in an instant?

If she allowed herself to exaggerate, she might even say she could recognize his footsteps if given just a little more time together.

Her green eyes stopped moving as they fell on the figure of a man walking toward the gazebo. It felt as though her entire body froze, and she found it hard to breathe. Even after more than six years apart, her heart still beat for James and no one else. At this moment, a harsh realization hit her.

Ah... it turns out I’ve always failed in relationships because deep down, I’m still in love with this man, Mia thought bitterly.

Even though she had let James go to be with her sister, her heart had remained in pain, and she unknowingly compared every man she dated to James. In the end, none of them could measure up to him—not even close.

"Welcome, Young Master James."

James nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on Kyra, who was wearing a white spaghetti-strap dress. Her pale, flawless skin glowed under the sunlight streaming through the gazebo’s glass roof, while her dark brown hair created a striking contrast that made her complexion appear even more radiant.

Kyra looked effortlessly beautiful today, but her appearance pricked at James’s nerves. He didn’t like how much of her skin was exposed.

In that moment, a detail from the mall incident yesterday resurfaced vividly in his mind. His little girl had worn a bodycon dress that accentuated her curves and long legs, something she had never worn before.

Now, that image was burned into his memory. A wave of discomfort swept over him, tightening his chest. He tugged at his tie roughly, loosening it in frustration.

Mia, noticing James’s movement, was startled, and her cheeks flushed. His exposed collarbones and the upper part of his broad chest became visible with two buttons undone. And this scene had her captivated by his undeniably sexy presence.

She wasn’t the only one. Gladys, who had also seen James’s arrival, was momentarily stunned. However, her awe quickly gave way to fear. After what James had done to Jack, her dread far outweighed everything else. She quickly averted her gaze.

Meanwhile, Kyra, who was the target of James’s intense gaze, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She turned to look at him and found those dark eyes fixed on her, filled with a passion that left her speechless.

As a writer, Kyra was anything but naive. If she could craft love-filled words and write romantic plots, wasn’t understanding men an essential skill she had mastered? Because of this, she could easily guess what James was thinking and exactly where his focus was at that moment.

Feeling nervous, Kyra shifted her gaze elsewhere, only to catch Mia’s heated stare directed at James. The woman’s expression looked mesmerized, her eyes unfocused as if she was intoxicated—yes, intoxicated by love.

Kyra pressed her lips together. It was such a cliché plot: two sisters in love with the same man. Her brows furrowed as a wave of discontentment surged in her heart, but she skillfully kept her expression under control.

For some reason, she didn’t want James to know what she was feeling right now. The thought of him realizing she was jealous felt like a blow to her pride. In the end, Kyra suppressed her displeasure, her expression turning cold and indifferent.

James raised an eyebrow and gently patted his girlfriend’s head as he stopped beside Kyra.

"What’s wrong with my little girl? Why does your face look off?" he asked, though his eyes had already shifted to the two women seated in front of him. His gaze narrowed as he slowly recognized who they were. A cold smile spread across his face.

"What business do you have here?" James asked, his tone probing. It was clear he was displeased, even sounding a little intimidating. "Earlier, I heard there was something you wanted to say to me?"

Gladys’s body trembled under James’s pressure. She quickly shook her head and responded hastily, "No! Nothing at all. I came here purely to see Kyra to clarify yesterday’s situation because it seems like there was a misunderstanding!"

Mia Parks snapped out of her reverie and looked at James with disbelief. Gone was his gentle gaze, his sweet smile, and the playful words he used to tease her. Now, his expression was nothing but hostile, as if he didn’t recognize her or Selene at all. Suddenly, Mia recalled James’ behavior toward her yesterday.

So it’s true... James ignored me on purpose yesterday?

At first, Mia had managed to calm herself, thinking James was simply angry over what happened to Kyra and didn’t have the time to pay attention to her—or that he hadn’t even noticed her presence because his anger had clouded his mind.

She had hoped to approach him again with her sister after everything settled down. But reality crushed her expectations. James hadn’t overlooked her; he had deliberately been hostile toward her.

"Misunderstanding?" James scoffed. "If that’s the case, why didn’t you deny it yesterday? Instead, you looked terrified. And your cousin here tried to defend you—doesn’t that confirm your guilt already?"

Gladys shook her head repeatedly. She was determined to deny it no matter what.

"I was too shocked yesterday because I didn’t expect my own best friend to stab me in the back. That’s why I couldn’t think clearly and ended up staying silent. But that doesn’t mean I’m admitting to being the perpetrator," Gladys replied, tears streaming down her face once again.

This time, however, the tears weren’t part of an act—they were entirely due to her fear. Even so, Kyra remained skeptical, as Gladys had lied far too many times before.

Meanwhile, Mia was preoccupied with entirely different thoughts and made no effort to assist her cousin. She seemed oblivious to Gladys’s plight, focusing all her attention on James instead.

James sighed in irritation and said impatiently, "Fine. You don’t need to explain any further. Right now, I will only believe in evidence. If you don’t have any proof that you’re not the culprit, then kindly leave."

Gladys grew even more frantic and tried to persuade James once more. "Do you still trust the evidence Hazel mentioned, Mr. James? If so, I must warn you to be careful because Hazel is cunning and might have been lying just to escape your grasp. After all, she’s already accused me, her supposed best friend."

James furrowed his brow, his irritation intensifying at the stubborn woman in front of him who refused to leave. "I already told you, I don’t care! I’ll handle this matter in my own way. If you’re truly innocent, Miss Swan, then you have nothing to fear because I’ll ensure justice is served. So..."

Before James could finish his sentence, Gladys interrupted him again. "In that case, let me help you, Mr. James. Consider it my way of atoning and proving my innocence! Please, at least give me a chance!"

As she said this, Gladys went so far as to kneel before James and Kyra. Kyra narrowed her eyes in disapproval. Whether Gladys was acting or not, her excessive behavior made everyone uncomfortable, seemingly forcing them to entertain her whims.

Before Kyra could reprimand her, Mia Parks stepped in first. "What are you talking about, Gladys? What could you possibly do to help Brother James? Hah... you’re still so childish and incapable of thinking things through."

Mia then turned to James. "Brother James, Gladys is my cousin, and her family is part of the Parks family. I hope you can show some consideration for our family, for the sake of our long-standing relationship. On her behalf, I’ll represent her and assist you."

The difference in Mia’s tone when addressing her cousin and James was glaringly obvious, as was the way she referred to him as "Brother James." Kyra suddenly felt nauseous, her expression darkening instantly. Naturally, James noticed his girlfriend’s mood shift and was equally displeased.

"Thank you, Miss Parks, but I don’t need that kind of help, or are you doubting the strength of the Snyders family?" James asked challengingly, his voice colder than ever.

Mia froze, her expression paling at James’s harsh response. This man had no regard for their past connection.

However, before the conversation could continue further, a servant approached the gazebo.

"Young Master James, the Master and Mistress have heard that Miss Parks is visiting and have invited everyone for lunch."