Page 46 of Surrendering to the Obsession

“You don’t need to worry about that, James,” she said. “Ask anyone. They already call me a widow. You should know that by now.”

James’s vision blurred for a moment, rage hitting him so hard it tightened every muscle in his body. His hands curled into fists at his sides as a memory pushed its way to the front of his mind, sharp enough to make his chest ache.

‘That woman—no wonder everyone at our parties calls her a married widow. Married to a name, not a man. Even though her husband is alive, there’s no one to care for her. A dead marriage… a widow married to a ghost of a husband.’

When James’s eyes lifted to Mia again, the shock settled in his chest.

She stood there so steady, so cold, sharp-tongued, unafraid—nothing like the woman he remembered. This version of her was new, unfamiliar… and it scared him. It thrilled him. And it infuriated him so deeply that his voice shook when he finally forced out the words.

“What is the meaning of all this?” he demanded, barely holding himself together. “Mia—what the hell is going on?”

Gavin stood beside James, hands tucked casually into his pockets, watching the chaos unfold with one eyebrow rising higher and higher. He looked maddeningly relaxed—cool, amused, almost entertained.

‘This bastard really lied to me,’ he thought, eyes drifting over Mia with undisguised shock. ‘His wife is this beautiful? This fiery? This is the “lifeless, boring woman” everyone talked about? Not even close.’

A slow, appreciative smirk tugged at his lips.

He stepped forward with the easy confidence of a man who’d never been rejected a day in his life. His shoulders wereloose, his smile charming, his eyes sparkling with interest. He extended his hand to Mia.

“Hi, Mia,” he drawled, voice warm, flirtation dripping off every syllable. “James is clearly not good enough for you. How about you and I—”

He didn’t get another word out.

James slapped Gavin’s hand away with such force thecrackechoed across the quiet parking area.

James rounded on him, jaw tight enough to break, eyes burning with a possessive fire that bordered on feral.

“Back. The fuck. Off,” he growled. “Leave. I need to talk to my wife.”

Gavin lifted both hands in surrender, though irritation flashed across his features. “Fine, fine. I’m going,” he muttered. But he still shot Mia one last amused, lingering glance before turning and strolling off like he owned the world.

The second Gavin disappeared around the corner, James spun back to Mia. The jealousy in his eyes was vicious—boiling, choking, barely contained.

“Mia,” he snapped, reaching for her hand again, “stop embarrassing me. Come home with me. We’ll talk there.”

Mia jerked her hand violently out of his grip, stepping back, spine straight, shoulders rigid. “I told you, I have no interest in—”

But she never finished.

It happened fast. Too fast.

Four men emerged from the shadows at once. The parking lot was nearly empty. Just Mia. James. No witnesses.

“James—” Mia started, panic spiking in her voice.

But a cloth slammed over her mouth.

A sharp, chemical sweetness hit her nose. Everything blurred instantly.

James lunged, shoving one man off, but another clamped a cloth over his face. He fought—violent, furious—but his limbs quickly weakened, his vision swimming.

Within seconds, both Mia and James collapsed. Limp, unconscious.

The kidnappers grabbed them by the arms, dragging their bodies toward a black van waiting in the shadows.

And within moments, the parking lot fell silent again. Empty. As if they had never been there.

***