Chapter 347 - 351: Strategic Alliance

Words : 1813 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 347: Chapter 351: Strategic Alliance"Family..." James Brown sighed softly. Emily Lopez giggled and said, "Hey brother-in-law, you’ve already gone through with it and even got the marriage license with sis. How can you still not feel like you’re family?" James Brown gave a bitter smile and replied, "Emily, I won’t lie to you. I truly don’t have that kind of feeling with your sister. Even now, I don’t feel married, nor do I see your sister as my wife. Suddenly becoming family like this, I’m really not comfortable with it." Emily Lopez turned her head and leaned her chin on James’s shoulder, her breath, with a faint fragrance, blowing on James’s face, carrying a warm scent, and she said with a smile, "Husband and wife, right? Just get intimate, and you’ll get used to each other." At this point, Emily Lopez had a strange smile on her face, but because she was so close to James’s face, he felt embarrassed to turn his head to face her, so he did not see that odd smile. James could feel the sweet scent of breath from Emily, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit intoxicated. Being with Emily always gave him a sense of guilt, but it was this guilt that often excited men the most, and James was no exception. However, he still shook his head, using it as an excuse to move his face a little further away and said, "It’s not that easy. Sigh, I always feel like I’m being pushed into this, marrying your sister in such a muddle, and even becoming intimate with her." "Come on, brother-in-law, can you stop being so conflicted? Even with all that, you’re still married to my sister, right? So why not open your heart and get along with her?" "I know that would be the best, but... I’m just not ready emotionally, you know. I still have my first love, and there’s Emma. I don’t even know how to explain to them right now." "What’s so hard to explain? Let me handle it for you. When it comes to feelings, you’ve got to be decisive, just cut the Gordian knot. A short pain is better than prolonged agony." James had thought of this too, but he could never cut ties with Emma no matter what. Emma, that gentle girl, had already sacrificed so much for him. Even if he couldn’t truly marry her, he at least should take care of her for the rest of her life. As for Melody Yoody, his first love, she was not someone who would admit defeat easily. Even if James was married, she would definitely not let go that easily, and how could James possibly harden his heart against her? Those beautiful memories from high school, her unwavering affection for him. Emily Lopez then said with a cheeky grin, "Alright, alright, I know you’re in a tough spot. Just take your time. Eventually, you’ll feel that my sister is the best match for you. And who else has such a great little aunt like me? It’s a buy-one-get-one-free deal for you. You’re making a killing." James turned his head to look at Emily Lopez, who was winking at him with a mischievous smile, making his heart flutter. Emily had grown too close to him these days, it really did feel like a buy-one-get-one-free situation. The thought of being with the twins made James’s heart stir; it was indeed very tempting. "Ahem..." James coughed twice and said, "Emily, let’s not joke about this anymore. I need to go out now; there are some things I need to do." "I’ll go with you," Emily Lopez clung tighter to James’s arm. "That’s... not very convenient." Emily Lopez let go of James’s arm and pouted, saying, "Cut it out, you’re just going to see your old flames, aren’t you? Go on then, go. I’m not that petty, and don’t worry, I won’t tell my sister." James quickly slipped out of Gina Lopez’s house, though it seemed like this place was also his home now. But once outside, he felt that he really shouldn’t be going anywhere else. At that time, Gina Lopez was in the office, seriously catching up on work she had missed in the past two days. When she finished her tasks and allowed herself a moment of relaxation, she couldn’t help but think about her relationship with James. Due to her mother’s illness, she married James without a second thought. However, who would have known that the illness was a sham, all just to get her to marry James? This made her feel very uncomfortable, as if she couldn’t marry anyone else unless she forced James to marry her. Gina found this very hard to accept. She admitted that she now had feelings for James, but certainly not to the extent that she wouldn’t marry anyone else. She didn’t want a marriage like this. But last night, she even became intimate with James, which genuinely tangled her feelings. She pretended to not care when talking to James, but her heart truly did. She had given her virginity to James without even feeling anything. If she were to divorce James and find another man to marry, she would feel equally uncomfortable. Spend a lifetime with James? Gina Lopez wasn’t sure if that was what she should do. "What’s wrong?" A hand rested on Gina’s shoulder, and she jerked her head up, only to see Sunny Nguyen, which made her smile apologetically and say, "I was thinking about something and didn’t notice you coming in." Sunny spoke softly, "You were so engrossed in your thoughts. I knocked, but you didn’t hear me. I came in and called you a few times, but you didn’t respond. Is there something troubling you? Can you talk to me about it?" Gina hesitated for a moment before getting up and pulling Sunny to the sofa. She started with a wry smile, "I really don’t know what is the best thing to do now." "Is it about James?" Sunny immediately asked with a smiling face. "Yes." Gina’s face turned red as she bit her lip and said, "My mom isn’t really sick. She lied to James and me, just so we would get married." Sunny Nguyen suddenly widened her eyes, then chuckled and said, "Your mom really is set on James, to even resort to such a method." "I have no idea why they think so highly of this guy, I just can’t see what’s so good about him." Gina Lopez sounded somewhat exasperated. "Hehe, if James were no good, why on earth would you have ever wanted to marry him?" "Back then it was for my sister, okay? Who knew this girl was deliberately provoking me, just to make me end up with James?" "Ha... Sandra really is amusing, having a sister like her should really make you feel blessed." "But now that I am married to James, I really can’t get used to it." "What, James doesn’t agree? He wants to divorce you now?" "Ah... if it weren’t for last night, I guess... we would have really divorced." "What happened last night?" Sunny guessed what had happened, but still asked. Gina’s face flushed with embarrassment, but Sunny was now her confidante who she shared everything with, and keeping this bottled up inside was truly unbearable. She had to talk to someone about it or she might go crazy, so she said with a red face, "Last night everyone was quite happy, then we drank a bit too much, and the result... we foolishly... got intimate." Sunny immediately chuckled and said, "As expected, now that the marriage is settled and the deed is done, you two should just live happily." After opening up, Gina also became more forthright. Since Sunny always used to do that sort of thing with James Brown, nobody would laugh at anyone. She said, "I don’t know how to face him, I really don’t understand what he’s thinking. Sunny, could you ask him for me?" "Me ask him?" Sunny pointed to her own nose and said, "Why should I get involved in you two lovebirds’ affairs?" Gina quickly grabbed Sunny’s hand, pleading, "Haven’t you promised me that even if I married James Brown, you wouldn’t leave me? Invite him over to your place tonight, then you can ask him properly. I think he might tell you." "You’re married to James now, and you still want... James... to come over to mine?" Sunny widened her eyes in surprise. Though they had talked about this before, Gina was unmarried at that time, and as someone with experience, Sunny always thought Gina was joking, or if it was a genuine offer at that time, certainly after getting married, her thoughts would have changed. Yet, who would have guessed Gina would still want her to be with James Brown now? Sunny couldn’t believe her own ears. Gina nodded again and again, "Yes, yes, a promise is a promise. And as your sister, if you’re with him, you can help me. Plus, I know he’s still not cut ties with someone else, so I really need help. Otherwise, by myself, I truly have no confidence at all." "Haven’t you always been confident? Why do you lack confidence now?" Sunny looked at Gina in surprise. Gina gave a wry smile and said, "Managing the company, I’m full of confidence. But when it comes to love, marriage, I just don’t have any confidence at all. The main thing is, I don’t even know what to do now." "But... you know what happens if James comes to my place, right?" Gina spat at Sunny, "I’m not an idiot, how could I not know?" Sёarᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sunny looked into Gina’s eyes and slowly said, "And you’re really okay with that? James is your husband now, it’s not like before." Gina paused for a moment, then thought carefully and replied, "If it were someone else, I might feel uncomfortable, but with you... I really don’t feel that way." At that moment, Sunny felt an inexplicable joy. She had no illusions about marrying James Brown, and had thought about leading an independent life, but she was quite enamored with James. As a woman who had been married before, she understood that after marriage, a man typically calms down, and her relationship with James would probably have to cease. But now that James was married, and Gina, James Brown’s wife, was actually offering for her to be with him, wouldn’t their relationship become completely legitimate, leaving her with no more guilt? "Sister Sunny, are you going to help me or not?" Gina pushed further. Sunny finally smiled and nodded her head. This was such a good deal, how could she refuse?

Chapter 347 - 351: Strategic Alliance

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