Page 43 of Surrendering to the Obsession

It was a text from Gavin, the friend he had hung up on moments ago.

James tapped the screen. The image loaded.

His breath stopped.

It was Mia. And Kylie.

His heartbeat thundered against his ribs, each beat harder than the last.

So Kylie wasn’t lying. Mia really was at Max Mall.

His fingers clenched around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. The accelerator sank beneath his foot as panic shot through his veins.

How the hell was she here?

He had men watching the entire city. He had ordered an intense search. Yet she had slipped past everything and appearedjust like that, out of nowhere. Walking around like she hadn’t vanished into thin air for days.

James’s breath turned ragged; his mind spun. He pressed the accelerator harder, weaving through traffic with reckless speed. Cars honked, brakes screeched behind him, but he didn’t stop.

Within minutes, he skidded into Max Mall’s entrance, tires screeching so loud heads turned.

James barely remembered shutting the car door. He was already running.

Gavin uncrossed his arms, eyes lighting up with amusement as James sprinted toward him. With a leisurely step, he slid right into James’s path and slapped a hand onto his shoulder.

“You got here fast,” Gavin said with a grin. “Since you ignored my call, I figured you weren’t coming.”

“I didn’t come here for Kylie,” James snapped, brushing his hand off. His voice was tight, shaking with urgency. His eyes swept the area—entrances, exits, corridors—every second Mia wasn’t in sight felt like a noose tightening around him.

Gavin slung a lazy arm around James’s shoulders. “Yeah, yeah, totally believable.” He waved dismissively. “Anyway, I just met a very cool woman a few minutes ago. Honest to God—love at first sight. Gorgeous. Fierce. And she absolutely destroyed your annoying girlfriend.”

James’s jaw locked. Hard.

“Where is Kylie?” he ground out.

“Nearby,” Gavin said with a shrug. “Probably changing clothes. The ones she was wearing got torn clean off by that woman.” His expression softened, lower lip tipping forward as if admiring the memory. “God, she looked incredible while doing it too.”

A muscle in James’s cheek twitched violently.

He moved toward the edge of the parking lot, positioning himself near a car, posture stiff, eyes glued to the mall’s entrance.

He wasn’t going to let Mia slip away again.

Gavin watched him with raised brows. “By the way,” he said casually, “what’s the deal with your wife? You’re still married, right? Got Kylie on the side or something?” He snorted. “It’s been years and I’ve never met the woman. She must be very… interesting for you to stay married that long.”

A flash of displeasure—and jealousy—crossed James’s face before he replied, “Nothing special. Just an average wife. As a wife should be.”

Gavin snorted so loudly a couple of people turned to look.

“Right,” he drawled. “Your mother chose her, didn’t she?” He threw his head back and laughed, the sound loud and careless. “What a shame. Imagine being stuck in an arranged marriage with some boring, lifeless woman. Years wasted.” He shook his head dramatically. “If it were me, I’d lose my mind. Thank God you’re divorced now. At least now you can finally live. Planning to settle with Kylie?”

James didn’t answer.

He didn’t even hear the question.

His head was turning, eyes darting across the entrance, over each passing face, scanning every corner with frantic, barely controlled desperation.

Then—