**Chapter 9: James's Obsession**

James couldn't shake off the image of Amalia Vale from his mind. Her light green eyes, her dirty blonde hair, and her small waist had left an indelible mark on his psyche. He had never felt this way about anyone before, and it unsettled him. As he walked through the dark corridors of his father's estate, James couldn't help but think of Amalia. He had been tasked with capturing her, with bringing her to his father as a bargaining chip. But the more he thought about it, the more he felt a pang of guilt. James had always been driven by his duty to his father and his family's legacy. But now, he wasn't so sure. He had seen the way Amalia fought, the way she protected the papers with her life. He had seen the fear in her eyes, and the determination. And he had kicked her. Hard. The memory made James wince. He had never been one to show mercy, but there was something about Amalia that made him feel like he was crossing a line. As he entered his father's study, James found Lucien pacing behind his desk. "James, my son," Lucien said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I have a plan to capture Amalia Vale once and for all." James raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Father?" Lucien smiled. "We will use her brother, Lorenzo, as bait. He is a traitor, after all. And once we have Amalia, we will use her to lure Elias into a trap." James felt a surge of excitement. This was it, his chance to capture Amalia and prove himself to his father. But as he looked into Lucien's eyes, he saw something that made him pause. It was a glint of obsession, of fixation. And James realized that his father was not just driven by a desire for power, but by a desire to hurt Elias and his daughter. James pushed the thought aside. He was a villain, after all. He had been raised to be ruthless and cunning. But as he looked at his father, he felt a pang of doubt. Was he really willing to do whatever it took to capture Amalia? And what would happen to her once he did? As James left his father's study, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was walking a thin line between loyalty and obsession. He was driven by a desire to prove himself, but also by a growing attraction to Amalia. And he had no idea what the consequences would be. James's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his guards approaching. "My lord, we have received a report that Amalia Vale has been spotted in the nearby village," one of them said. James's heart skipped a beat. This was it, his chance to capture Amalia and prove himself to his father. But as he turned to leave, he felt a pang of doubt. What would happen to Amalia once he captured her? And would he be able to control his own desires? The questions swirled in his mind as he set out to capture Amalia, driven by a growing obsession that threatened to consume him.