Chapter 15: The Past Resurfaces
Over the next few weeks, James worked tirelessly to prove his commitment. He introduced Lily to colleagues, invited her into his professional world, and kept her informed about Amanda's attempts to interfere.
Despite his efforts, Amanda wasn't backing down. One evening, as Lily and James prepared dinner together, his phone buzzed with an incoming call. He glanced at the screen and frowned.
"It's her," he said, showing Lily the caller ID.
"Answer it," she urged.
James hesitated before putting the call on speaker. "What do you want, Amanda?"
A sultry voice crackled through the line. "James, darling, you're making this so much harder than it needs to be. You know what I want."
"I'm not giving you money," James said firmly.
Amanda laughed, the sound cold and biting. "It's not just money. I want you to remember who you belong to. We had something real, James. Don't think you can just replace me."
Lily's stomach turned. She hadn't expected Amanda's words to cut so deeply, but they did.
"I've moved on," James said. "You need to do the same."
"Fine," Amanda said, her tone turning icy. "But don't say I didn't warn you when your perfect little life falls apart."
The call ended, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
"She's not going to stop," Lily said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"She will," James promised. "I'll make sure of it."