Chapter 23

                                    

                                          
That sliver of hope however, was overtaken by a massive wave of pain in James' chest. He began to fall back to the nearest couch available. "James, are you all right?" Samantha asked. "Yeah. *winces in pain* I'm fine. I will be fine. I just need to lie down for a few minutes." James answered, though he knew very well that, that was a huge lie. 
For the past few weeks, James had been having this pain in his chest. He kept brushing it aside, convincing himself that it would away, however it had only gotten worse. 
"Ok then, though you could just call in sick today, I'm sure chief will understand." Samantha said. "I've already missed too many days of work this year, and I've just begun making up for them by taking night shifts. 
I'll be just fine for work in a few minutes I just need to *clutches chest while scrunching his face in pain* collect myself *large exhale*" James said. 
"Ok then, whatever you say." Samantha said while getting herself a cup of coffee. That was a the doorbell rang, and this time James went to answer it with an annoyed look on his face, thinking that the grouchy old man had come back. 
Though, once he opened the door, he saw an out-of-breath guy in a suit and tie that looked to so glad to see James. It was none other than Net. James could feel his heart beating right out of his chest. Though the first thing that Net said was "Has my Dad come by yet?". 
That annoyed look on James' face came back once again when he answered "Oh, you mean a more grumpy, elderly looking version of you with two buff bodyguards wearing fancy attire and driving around in a limo? Yup, he's stopped by already.". 
Net couldn't help but let out a slight chuckle. "Yeah, that's the one.". They both let out a large sigh when James asked "Aren't you going to come in?". "I thought you'd be angry at me. I mean, I haven't reached out to you in almost half a year." Net answered. 
"I never said I wasn't mad at. Those past six months, I felt betrayed as you kinda gave me false hope." Hearing this made Net's expression turn gloomy. "But, it's too early in the morning to have press arrive here because you're at my doorstep, so I might as well just let you in." James finished saying, looking annoyed once again. 
The same guy that left me high and dry for half a year is now now in my house, once again, and I'm not even that mad about it. Why don't I just let him deal with his own dilemma and leave him high and dry for a few months. Love can be such a bitch sometimes. James thought to himself. 
And so, Net went inside the house and began explaining himself while James went on his morning routine and heard Net out. He did still have work anyways, even if he really should not go today. Net began explaining how he was treated by the people around him after being discharged from the hospital. 
He went to talk about how his phone was being monitored like he was a so his parents would know exactly who he was calling at all times. Then went to explain how James' phone number was deleted from his contacts by his fiancée, to which she found his backup (a piece of paper written with James' phone number on it) and ripped it apart. 
How his parents, fiancée, and fiancée's parents would keep him off his phone as much as possible by distracting him with wedding preparations, so he really was not able to call James even if he tried. The more James heard Net out, the more James felt sorry for him. 
After Net fully explained himself, he finished by saying "I'm so, so sorry if you ever felt betrayed, hurt, or even forgotten over these past six months, but I just wanted you to know that it wasn't entirely my fault. Could I have tried to  find a away to contact you? Yeah, possibly. But I just wanted to let you know why that was. In reality, I had missed you so much, sometimes too much and I was just counting the days to the wedding so that I could run away and see you again. And now that day has come."