James's POV
"Sir," my bodyguard approached with a team. "Your parents want you home immediately."
The row of men behind him made it clear they'd drag me back if necessary.

Back home, my father greeted me by throwing a teacup. I dodged instinctively as it shattered against the wall.
"Ungrateful son!"
His finger trembled as he pointed at me. "Kneel!"
I knelt before him expressionless. Since childhood, his word had been law in our house.
Any hint of defiance would send him into a rage.
My knees ached, but not as much as my heart.

"What have you been doing? Neglecting the company, losing your mind over some woman. What have you become!"
Growing angrier, he raised his hand to slap me.
"Richard!" My mother, who'd been silent until now, rushed to shield me. "Talk to him if you must, but don't hit him!"
"You! You've spoiled him rotten!"

Dad glared at us both, his voice full of disappointment. "You've coddled him since childhood, and look at him now!"
"A grown man in his twenties, thinking only about romance!"
"Don't you know who the Williams are? Why provoke them?"
I pulled Mom aside, arguing back, "Daniel started it!"
"Everyone knows Sarah was mine! He deliberately pursued her - he's clearly targeting me!"
"You dare talk back!" He slammed the table. "What exactly was your relationship with that woman?"
"I..."
I realized miserably that Sarah and I were never even officially together.
When she wanted commitment, I'd dismissed her, thinking of Emma while looking down on Sarah's background.
Now that I wanted a real relationship with her, she no longer needed it.
"Just as I thought!" Dad sneered. "You think I don't know what you've been doing?"
"Eight years with her and nothing to show for it, wasting her youth!"
"Now she's getting married, and suddenly you're causing trouble."
"How did the Carter family produce such a fool!"
I hung my head, unable to defend myself against his accusations.
"I know... I was wrong."
"But I've learned my lesson. I know who I truly love now!"
"If you just give me more time..."
If I persist, Sarah will come back to me!
"Dream on!" He waved his hand, and several security guards immediately positioned themselves behind me.
"All you do is waste time on romance. How can I trust you with Carter Corp like this?"
"From today, you'll go to work like a normal office worker. You're only allowed at the office or home, nowhere else!"
"You can't do this!"
I jumped up, years of suppressed frustration from being controlled finally exploding.
"It's always been like this - you making decisions for me without considering my feelings!"
"I've had enough! Carter Corp means nothing to me. I'd give it all up to have Sarah back!"
"Getting rebellious, are you?" Dad glared at me. "Remember, you're not my only child!
"Plenty of others are waiting to take your position!
"If you don't behave, you'll never see this Sarah again!
"What?" I froze. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said." He stood up. "If you want to see that woman again, you'll do as I say."
"James, listen to your father," Mom pleaded. "You're the heir to Carter Corp. How can you act so recklessly?"
I swallowed my anger and nodded reluctantly.
"Fine. I understand."
From that day on, my life became a straight line between the office and home.
To ensure I focused on work, Dad assigned two guards to follow me everywhere.
I could only follow Sarah's life through social media during work breaks.
She closed another deal today, she had hotpot with colleagues...
Each photo brought both joy and pain.
Her life was peaceful and happy - without me in it.
I could only instruct my assistant to study her preferences and send her weekly gifts.
Sometimes a designer bag she'd wanted, sometimes fresh flowers.
But two weeks later, I found all the gifts untouched on my desk.
"What's going on?" I called my assistant. "Weren't these supposed to be delivered to Sarah?"
"Mr. Carter," he looked uncomfortable. "Miss Garnett rejected all the gifts. Some... she just threw away..."
"Is that so?" I smiled bitterly, unable to hide my heartache.
Sarah, do you hate me that much?
"Sir, what about these items..."
"Throw them away," I waved tiredly, watching as thousands of dollars worth of gifts went into garbage bags.
"If she doesn't want them, what's the point?"