4.

Emily POV

James froze, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Divorce? Why?"

I smiled.

"James, I told you on our wedding day - if you ever wrong me, we're getting divorced."

James grabbed my hand forcefully, his voice urgent:

"I won't divorce you. Don't even think about it for the rest of your life!"

"Emily, they're just three kids. You can have more in the future, but Xanthe can't have children anymore. I just want to make it up to her. I haven't wronged you!"

I looked at him quietly, saying nothing more.

I knew some people just can't be reasoned with. All my arguments and accusations would only seem like unreasonable tantrums to him.

"Emily, rest and recover in the hospital these next few days. I'll stay and take care of you, okay?"

Seeing my silence, James thought I'd given in.

He raised his hand to touch my face, his voice gentle.

But less than half an hour later, James - who had promised to stay by my side - left because of a phone call.

I knew it was from Xanthe.

My heart no longer stirred because of him. I just turned over and closed my eyes to sleep.

But soon after, James suddenly rushed back, his eyes bloodshot:

"Emily, the children are missing. Did you hide them to get revenge on me?"

The children are missing?

My heart tightened suddenly. Ignoring my injuries, I tried to run out, but James grabbed my arm and pulled me back:

"I'm talking to you, Emily. Where did you have someone hide the children?"

I tensed up and shouted at him:

"I don't know! I've been in the hospital the whole time. I haven't even touched my phone!"

James laughed coldly, suspicion still in his eyes:

"If not you, then who? The butler said when he went to pick them up from school today, the teacher said a strange woman had already taken them! Who else would do this besides you?"

"James, they're my children. No matter how much I hate you two, I would never hurt them. If you have any sense left, go to the police instead of arguing with me here!"

The determination in my eyes made James pause. He let go of my wrist:

"It better not be you. If anything happens to them, I will never forgive you."

He quickly walked out, and I immediately got up to follow.

Just as we left the hospital, a call came from an unknown number:

"If you want to save your children, bring one million dollars in cash. Come alone, don't call the police, don't tell anyone, or you'll be collecting their bodies."

I froze, immediately checking my phone balance.

But most of my funds had been transferred overseas. No matter how I tried, I was still short by a hundred thousand dollars.

I called James, but he didn't answer.

I crouched against the wall, trembling with fear, terrified I'd receive bad news any second.

Just then, my hand accidentally touched something hard in my small bag - the jade pendant my mother left me.

I suddenly came to my senses. This was our family heirloom - lustrous jade with exquisite craftsmanship. It had to be worth more than a hundred thousand dollars!

I trembled as I took out the jade pendant.

This was the only thing my mother left me, but right now lives were at stake. I couldn't hesitate.

I gritted my teeth and headed to the address sent to my phone with the jade pendant.

Fortunately, the kidnappers kept their word. Watching the two children rush into my arms, warmth flooded my heart:

"It's okay now, it's okay, my darlings, I'm here..."

I patted their backs to comfort them when Xanthe's crying and James's cold voice came from behind:

"Emily, the children really are with you."

I turned around, explaining urgently:

"It's not like that. They were kidnapped. I just ransomed them back..."

Before I could finish, Aiden in my arms suddenly pushed me away hard, crying his heart out:

"It was this bad person! She worked with the kidnappers to take us away! She said if she hadn't heard your footsteps, she would have sold us and killed us!"