Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

Chapter 1034

"I thought we're done? I told you not to come see me anymore." Esther remembered what he said to her, her tone filled with anger.

James paid little heed to her words, his gaze piercing as if he was trying to see through her. "Can you explain what happened online?"

Esther immediately understood what Pearl meant. She scoffed and tidied up her dress. "That's just publicity. What does it have to do with me?"

"Are you saying you weren't crying over him?" James's sharp mind saw through her facade. "You were crying over me, weren't you?" His smirk was subtle but knowing.

Esther felt uneasy at being found out but attempted to deny it. "How could it be about you?"

James raised his eyebrows. "Then give me a logical explanation."

"It has nothing to do with you," Esther admitted defeat. "Fine, the publicity team was right. I was crying over Mobius. He was my ex, and he meant a lot to me… Obviously, I was upset about his passing."

She didn't anticipate how this confession would affect James. Without a word, he turned to the director. "Pause the shoot. I need to talk to her."

Esther panicked. "I'm fine. There's nothing to discuss."

"If you want to stay on the show, you'll come with me," James threatened, leveraging her job against her, a tactic Esther hadn't anticipated. Reluctantly, she followed him out.

Outside, the wind made Esther shiver. Her thin dress offered little protection, and in the cold, she sneezed. "Achoo!"

Seeing her discomfort, James took off his coat and wrapped it around her.

"I don't want your coat," Esther protested, removing it, but immediately regretted it as the cold air hit her.

She awkwardly put the coat back on, and James looked amused.

Rubbing her hands together, Esther glared. "Why did you come here? Is it just because of that?"

"Yes," James replied, causing her discomfort with his quick admission.

Esther was at a loss for words. "I already told you it's because of him."

James forced her next to the railing, his gaze intense. "Are you sure you didn't say that to annoy me?" This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.

In the past, Esther might have broken down and apologized, but not today. Summoning her courage, she pushed him away.