James Wallace stared at the message from Alex Morgan on his phone, his face a mask of incredulity and simmering anger. It was as if Alex had summoned the audacity of a phoenix, rising from the ashes of their past to ask for help. James's jaw tightened as he replayed the message in his mind. How dare Alex, after everything that had happened?
The best thing Emma ever did was dump that sorry excuse for a husband, James thought vehemently. The divorce had been a painful but necessary step, and seeing Alex now, rich and seemingly content, only deepened his resentment. James had always felt a protective loyalty toward his sister, and Alex’s neglect and subsequent betrayal had been unforgivable in his eyes. Now, the man who had shattered their family had the gall to come crawling back, seeking assistance.
James's thoughts wandered back to the accident that had put Alex in a wheelchair. The irony wasn’t lost on him: here was Alex, who had spent years ignoring his responsibilities, now reliant on the very people he had once taken for granted. It was almost poetic that his newfound fortune came with such a significant personal cost. Alex's misfortune, while somewhat satisfying, had also stirred old frustrations within James. He could not deny that Alex's misfortune had caused Emma and Samantha to worry, a situation that irked James further.
Though James begrudgingly admitted that "Mother AI" had been a groundbreaking invention—an achievement he would never publicly acknowledge—it only fueled his anger that Alex had benefited from it. That success was his own, and the fact that Alex had parlayed it into a lucrative fortune felt like a bitter irony. It was as if Alex’s inability to appreciate the magnitude of what he had been given was compounded by his inability to remain humble or responsible.
The thought of Alex being wealthy, with no visible consequences for his past mistakes, was almost unbearable. James found himself wishing that some ruthless thug would come along and relieve Alex of his newfound wealth. But, his mother’s stern disapproval and a sense of family duty held him back. Even though he wanted nothing more than to see Alex face some form of retribution, he could not abandon his niece, Samantha, despite the growing distance between them.
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James couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy as he thought of Samantha spending more time with her father. The notion that she might prefer Alex’s company over his was a bitter pill to swallow. Yet, James knew he couldn’t let any harm come to them. Despite his resentment, he had to balance his personal vendetta with his responsibilities as an uncle.
With a sigh of resignation, James decided he would help Alex, but not without a touch of his own brand of retribution. If he had to assist in finding a bodyguard for Alex, he would ensure that the bodyguard wasn’t just any ordinary protector. He had a particular retired veteran in mind—an individual known for his grueling training methods and relentless commitment to discipline.
James’s lips curved into a smirk as he envisioned the scenario. The veteran, with his no-nonsense attitude and a penchant for pushing people beyond their limits, was perfect for the job. Not only would this man provide Alex with the protection he required, but he would also give him a taste of the most demanding training imaginable. The training would be so rigorous that it would make Alex’s past challenges seem like a walk in the park.
This will be the training from hell, James thought with a dark chuckle. Let’s see how he handles that.
James picked up the phone and began arranging the details. The veteran would be the ideal choice to make Alex's new life as challenging as possible. While he had to play the role of the supportive uncle, James was determined to ensure that Alex’s fresh start came with a healthy dose of difficulty. If anyone was going to make Alex’s life complicated, James decided, it might as well be him.
As he finalized the arrangements, James felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. He knew that this was his way of getting back at Alex, a small measure of justice for the years of neglect and heartbreak he had caused. It wasn’t much, but it was something. In the end, James hoped that this effort would at least make Alex’s journey a little less smooth, and perhaps, just a little bit more karmic.