CHAPTER 105: RECAP II
Present day:
James opened up, explaining everything that had happened between him and Paris.
This was about a year and a few months—almost three years—after I arrived in the U.S. I found Antonio a few months after I got there, and we developed this injection together. It was fortunate that Antonio had some knowledge of medicine; he had studied a bit with his mentor before the man died mysteriously.
I was still just a lost kid, trying to find my footing in a new country. I had never been with a woman before and had no one to guide or advise me. That's where Paris came in.
She wasn't just the woman I had saved; she became my best friend, my girlfriend, my light. She taught me everything I needed to know about relationships. She was practically my everything—the reason I wanted to survive.
Because of her, I put my plans for revenge against my father on hold. But the strangest part was that we didn't get together immediately. She disappeared from my life for a few months, only to reappear later. I couldn't explain it, so I just went with the flow.
Then, on that fateful day—four years and a few months later—Jared brought me the pictures and video recordings of her. I couldn't believe she was capable of such things.
When I first met her, she was so sunny and sweet, like a breath of fresh air after a lifetime of suffocation. I wanted it all to be a lie. In fact, I needed it to be a lie. But then she admitted she had a hand in my mother's death.
Even now, I'm not sure if I believe her. She claimed she'd been using me all along, that everything between us was just a ruse. But none of that matters anymore. Thanks to Jared and you guys, I avoided falling into a bottomless pit—a dark abyss I might never have escaped from.
"And now you have Diana too" Jared reminded softly. James sighed but did not respond.
"I also realized the power only comes out when I'm really—**really**—angry. Today was the third time it happened."
"And the injection Antonio gave you?" Harry asked.
"Just tranquilizers. I can only control the power if I manage my emotions or get knocked out. Otherwise, everyone around me is in grave danger. I haven't used it since she left. I've tried my hardest to avoid getting angry, but today… when I thought someone might be watching Diana to hurt her because of my carelessness, I lost control. The thought of her being in danger—it was unbearable."
Victor, sitting nearby, shook his head in disbelief. "So all that really happened between you two, huh?"
Henry turned to Jared. "And you knew about this?"
Jared shook his head, unsure how to respond.
"You shouldn't have kept this from us, James," Jerry added quietly. "No wonder you've been so distant with Diana."
James sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, guys. Keeping it from you wasn't intentional. After what happened, I just couldn't bring myself to talk about it. I was ashamed. I let a woman nearly stab me to death because I was stupidly in love with her".
"I felt so foolish—so stupid—that even after everything she did, I was willing to take her back. But when she admitted she killed my mom just to get to me… I couldn't even react. I couldn't believe that the woman I loved so deeply would betray me like that."
"Well what did she mean by she had been using you all this time and it was all a ruse?" Harry questioned.
"I don't know Harry", James answered honestly. "And now, seeing as she might be no more, i don't think I ever will".
Jerry looked at his friend fondly. "You really have been through quite an ordeal huh"
"Well, despite going through quite an ordeal, he was also really stupid," Jared chimed in. "I showed you all the red flags, but you ignored them. She even aborted four babies while she was with you, and you were still ready to take her back," Jared said, pain etched on his face as he recalled his brother's reaction when he had broken the news. At the time, James had acted like Jared was the enemy, trying to destroy his relationship with his beloved.
"So, if she hadn't killed your mom, are you saying you would have taken her back?" Henry asked, his face incredulous.
"Henry, she meant that much to him. You know better than anyone the role Paris played in his life before he came back," Victor defended. "And besides, Jared, it was love. Haven't you heard it's hard to reason with someone in love? They have to see things for themselves before they can believe it".
"But for what it's worth, I don't think Paris could have killed your mother on her own," Jerry added. "If Jared caught her, it means she must have been sloppy. She probably could have had help—from both inside and outside. And the person who helped her from the outside might also be the same one who helped that other woman plant the camera in your wife's hospital room".
"That makes sense," Victor agreed, patting Jerry on the shoulder. "You don't have all those titles for nothing".
"Or maybe she wanted to get caught," Henry reasoned. "I mean, you heard her. She said it was all a ruse, and she didn't even show a hint of remorse."
"Well, that woman is a real devil in the making," Harry commented, shuddering at the thought.
"Paris can wait for now," Jared said, refocusing the group. "We'll deal with her later. Let's concentrate on the present."