James's POV
I stood frozen, hardly believing my eyes.
Sarah... got married?

That marriage certificate felt like it was burning my eyes.
How was this possible? We'd been apart less than a month, and she was already married?
"Look into this immediately!" I called my assistant. "Find out exactly when Sarah got married!"
I couldn't believe she could marry someone else so easily!
Afterward, I returned to Sarah's old apartment.
I'd been living there since she left.

Only here could I find any sense of peace anymore.
Lying on the couch, remembering our time together, my chest ached constantly.
Before, after business dinners, she would tenderly wipe my face and bring me hangover soup.
I took her kindness for granted back then, never appreciating what I had.

I forgot she was human too - that my coldness could hurt her.
Suddenly my phone rang - some old friends.
"James, come drink with us!"
"Yeah, it's been ages since we hung out."
Maybe hoping alcohol would numb my pain, I grabbed my keys and drove to the bar.
"Here, James, sit."
I sat among them, mechanically downing drinks, trying to forget the pain of losing Sarah.
The others exchanged glances before trying to comfort me.
"Come on, James, there are plenty of girls out there.”
"Yeah, Sarah's nothing special. You could get any girl you want."
The Williams family had announced Sarah and Daniel's engagement on their company website. Now everyone knew about their upcoming wedding.
"Let it go, James." One patted my back.
"She's damaged goods anyway. Daniel must be blind to want her."
"Right? She's just used goods. We'll find you some fresh young girls - way better than her!"
Rage surged through me as I smashed my bottle on the table. "What did you say?"
How dare they insult Sarah in front of me!
The bottle shattered, glass flying everywhere as people jumped back in fear.
"I don't want anyone but Sarah!
"Don't let me hear you talk about her like that again, or you'll regret it!"
Everyone fell silent, not daring to say another word.
As I drank myself into a stupor, I felt a gentle hand caress my face.
"James? Are you okay?"
My heart jumped as I grabbed her hand shakily. "Sarah? Is that you?"
Sarah used to pick me up no matter how late I drank.
The person stiffened. I forced my eyes to focus - it was Emma.
"James, you're drunk." She forced a smile. "Let me take you home."
"Get out!"
Anger surged through me - this woman was why Sarah left me!
"I don't need you. Get out!"
Emma's face flashed with embarrassment and anger, but she still reached for me gently. “It's okay, James. You're just drunk."
Suddenly, the door burst open as police officers streamed in.
"Emma Leonard? We suspect you're involved in a case of conspiracy to assault. Please come with us for questioning!"
Those words sobered me instantly.
I looked up in shock to see unmistakable panic on Emma's face.
"What assault case?" A terrible feeling crept over me. "Emma, what did you do?"
"Mr. Carter should know about this," the officer explained. "The night Miss Garnett was attacked."
"It was you?" I staggered back, thunderstruck.
"So that night, you really did hire people to hurt Sarah..."
Sarah hadn't lied to me - she was innocent all along!
Rage and regret flooded through me.
I could have gone back to help her that night, but I left her alone with those animals...
She tried to explain so many times, but I never believed her!
Before I knew it, I'd slapped Emma hard across the face. "You b*tch!"
"Have you lost your mind? Why would you do something like that!"
"Why?" Emma gave a cruel laugh. "Because I love you, of course!
"If it wasn't for that worthless Sarah, you would have been mine alone. She wouldn't have stolen you!"
I stared at her in disbelief. "You're completely insane!"
"Yes, I am crazy! And you made me this way!"
Emma screamed at me through tears, "And what about you? You're no better!"
"Sarah was with you for eight years, and you never cared about her. Now that she's getting married, you're desperately begging her to come back.
"Aren't you just as pathetic? You're just like me!"
The police led the hysterical Emma away as everyone watched in shock and disgust.
I collapsed onto the sofa, her words echoing in my mind until tears rolled down my cheeks.
Emma was right - I was just as responsible for hurting Sarah as she was.
But at least now, I could do something for her.
"Make sure she suffers," I called my lawyer. "I want Emma to experience every bit of pain she caused Sarah when she's in prison."