James hit the record button again. "Vivian," he said calmly, "the contrast between Harbour Crescent and Pine Mist Ind was too much for you. You couldn''t sit still anymore, could you?"

Vivian chuckled. "Mr. Chancer, what makes you so sure it was me?"

He didn''t hesitate. "In the entire East Coast, who else would go to such lengths to dig up dirt on Sarah-and choose this exact moment to try to destroy her? I can''t think of anyone else but you."

Vivianughed softly. "Trying to get me to confess, Mr. Chancer?"

James paused, then gave a wry smile and switched off the recording. "You''re sharp, I''ll give you that."

"Enough with the nonsense," Vivian snapped. "I didn''t call to chat. I''m offering you a deal."

"A deal?" he echoed.

Vivian''s voice took on a teasing lilt. "I know Sarah''s biggest secret. It''s something Zachary has gone to great lengths to keep buried. Because he knows-once Sarah finds out—she''ll cut him offpletely. That''s why he''s always so guarded around me. He''s afraid I''ll be the one to tell her."

James''s eyes narrowed, hiding his shock. What secret? He''d known Sarah for years. They''d been married, divorced... Their marriage onlysted three years, but still he thought she''d never hidden anything from him.

"What kind of secret?" he asked cautiously.

Vivian''s tone turned sharp. "Let''s make a deal. With this secret, you''d have the power to destroy both of them. And all I want in return is a small favor."

"What kind of favor?" James asked, frowning.

"I have a friend who seems to have gone missing on Pine Mist Ind. I haven''t been able to reach him. I want you to find out what happened. And more importantly want this Christmas party to fail. Don''t let me down, Mr. Chancer."  s

James didn''t respond right away.

Then, his voice cut through the line-cold and firm.

"I''m not interested."

"What?" Vivian''s voice spiked.

She was offering him something that could tear Sarah and Zachary apart-and he said no?

"Are you insane? This could break them up instantly. It''s the perfect chance. You still love Sarah, don''t you? How could you just let this slip by?" Vivian''s voice was now sharp with disbelief.

James let out a bitterugh. "That''s exactly why I''m saying no. I do love her. And that''s why I''d never do anything that would hurt her. Whatever this secret is, if it''s to shatter her

powerful enough chary bound

rtionship with its

to hurt her deeply. She''s been

nning this party for months. I

won''t ruin something she''s worked so hard for. Vivian, maybe you''ve never thought of this, but sometimes choosing not to hurt someone... is the only way to save yourself."  s

"Pathetic," Vivian hissed. "No matter

what you do, she''ll never know. She''llfnc4f1 Follow current nov?ls on F?ndNovel/fnc4f1

still treat you like some annoying

afterthought James, are you really going to be the tragic fool who loves her in silence forever? Do you

seriously think that makes you noble?"  s

James froze.

When it came to Sarah... yes, he really was that fool.

He''d never loved anyone like this before. When he closed his eyes, she was all

he saw. When he opened them—still her.