Chapter 4
After getting into the car, William leaned back in the black leather seat and crossed his legs. The extended cabin was spacious, leaving plenty of room between them.
The silence was heavy. Scarlet wasn’t sure if they had talked about their divorce in the study, so she sat quietly for a while before turning to ask him, “Did your mother say anything to you?”
William glanced at her apathetically. “What was she supposed to say?”
So Justine hadn’t brought it up. Scarlet laced her fingers and hesitated for a few seconds before saying, “There’s only one month left before—”
Before she could finish, his phone rang. He shifted his gaze away from her and answered the call.
Scarlet had no idea who it was. His responses were brief. His gaze shifted to the window, his profile cold and distant.
After ending the call, he told the driver to pull over. As soon as the car rolled to a stop, he said flatly, “Get out. I have something to take care of. Someone will come pick you up later.”
Instinctively, she asked, “Where are you going at this hour?”
William lifted his gaze when he heard that. His unreadable gaze swept across her face, and the corner of his lips curled slightly. “That’s none of your business, Mrs. Cooper.”
His words were like a bucket of icy water emptied all over her, chilling her to the bone. Her fingers curled slightly. Without another word, she opened the car door and got out.
The luxury car sped away before her eyes. The empty road was soon swallowed by darkness, broken only by distant streetlights casting a dull yellow glow.
Scarlet was still far from the city, in the middle of nowhere. The wind picked up, rustling through the trees.
She had forgotten her scarf. The cold wind slipped into her collar, through the gaps in her sweater, and into her bones. In the end, she called for a ride and went home.
When she arrived home, Ruth was already back. She hurried over with slippers, peering over Scarlet’s shoulder. “Did Mr. Cooper not come back with you, Mrs. Cooper?”
“Yeah.” Scarlet changed her shoes and was about to go upstairs when something occurred to her. She led Ruth to the room where the cats were kept and explained how to take care of them.
The room was full of cat supplies—automatic feeders, litter boxes, and a tall cat tree. Ruth looked around in awe. “Does Mr. Cooper know you’re keeping this many cats? Won’t he be upset?”
“Make sure you close the door and don’t let the cats run out,” Scarlet reminded. “I don’t care if he’s upset. No one gets to be happy all the time in the adult world.”
Scarlet used to be easygoing. Wondering if she was still holding a grudge over what happened last time, Ruth fell silent.
William didn’t come home that night. He didn’t come home in the days that followed either. If Scarlet hadn’t seen him in the news every day, she might have wondered if he’d accidentally died somewhere.
William had only been back in the country for a few days when he caused a stir in the financial world. Everyone was speculating about the reason behind the Wellton Street rising star’s return.
“Bova Capital’s Return Redefines the Local Investment Banking Game”.
“Arthur Cooper Is Set to Step Down as CEO of Heritage Bank. William Cooper’s Return Sparks Succession Questions”.
Even the younger staff in Scarlet’s department gossiped about it at lunchtime.
“So this is Mr. William. He’s both handsome and successful. God, I’m in love!”
Clementine Simpson chimed in, “You’re too late. He’s been married for ages.”
“Seriously? He got married that young?”
“Of course I’m serious. I’ve seen him in person. He looks way better in real life.
“His wedding was grand. How do you not know this?” Clementine spoke as if she knew William well.
Scarlet looked up at her. Both of them had joined the same hospital and department in the same year, yet Clementine had never liked her.
Scarlet had still been in graduate school when she married William. She had no family on her side, and the only person there for her was Lucy.
“I bet you’ve never seen that iconic photo, have you?” Clementine continued. “I’m talking about the photo from the wedding, when they were exchanging rings. The bride was behind this misty veil. Their side profile and the atmosphere were just perfect. Here, let me find it for you!”
Clementine dug the photo out from an old news article. The group chatted nonstop.
“I can’t really see her face, but judging from the bone structure, I can tell she’s a total beauty!”
“I really want to know who she is.”
“Doesn’t this side profile kind of look like you, Dr. Benson?”
Scarlet replied with a poker face, “You must be seeing things.”
“Yeah, right.” Clementine rolled her eyes. “As if she’s that lucky. Marrying into wealth? In her dreams!”
Scarlet’s expression remained stoic. “How do you know I’m not that lucky?”
Clementine was about to argue when a nurse slapped her thigh. “Dr. Benson would have no problems marrying into wealth with her looks and skills!”
Clementine scoffed. “It’s been two years. Have you ever seen her husband? If she really married into money, wouldn’t she show him off?”
“That’s true. When are you bringing your husband around for us to meet, Dr. Benson?”
Scarlet set her cutlery down and wiped her mouth. “I married a ghost. I’m afraid he’ll scare you if I bring him here.” Right after saying that, she picked up her tray and walked away, leaving a row of stunned faces.
…
That evening, when Scarlet returned home from work, Ruth had prepared an elaborate feast. The table was full of dishes, though many of them were things Scarlet didn’t like.
Scarlet asked her to cook less next time. Yet, she argued, “Even if you don’t eat it, Mr. Cooper will.”
“He can’t finish 12 dishes by himself.”
Scarlet was gentle by nature. If someone showed her even a little kindness, she would return it tenfold.
She disliked conflict. As long as they didn’t cross the line, she rarely made things difficult for anyone. However, once she shut someone out, it was almost impossible to let them back in.
“I don’t need you to pinch pennies, but I don’t want you to be wasteful either.”
Ruth muttered under her breath, “I’m spending Mr. Cooper’s money, and I’m cooking for him. How is that a waste?”
Scarlet ate leisurely. “My ears are fine. If you want to complain, do it farther away.”
Ruth fell silent.
William still wasn’t home when Scarlet finished dinner. Ruth glanced at the door several times before asking, “Aren’t you going to call Mr. Cooper? It’s been days. Is he not coming home tonight either?”
Scarlet rebutted, “If you miss him that much, why don’t you call him yourself?”
Ruth appeared awkward. “That’s not what I meant…”
Just then, a car pulled into the yard.
Ruth lit up. “It’s probably Mr. Cooper!” Then, she hurriedly opened the door.
Scarlet looked over.
Ruth opened the door and found Lester standing outside with a cardboard box in his arms. From a distance, he said to Scarlet, “These are the things you left in the car the other day, Mrs. Cooper. Mr. Cooper asked me to bring it back.”
“Leave them there.”
Then, Lester set the box down and turned to leave.
“Where has he been staying these past few days?” Scarlet asked.
End of the Contract,Start of His Obsession
Join Our WhatsApp Channel For Fast Update Or More Novels: 
Join Our WhatsApp Channel For Fast Update Or More Novels: