Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Scarlet put down the cat toy and stood up.
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William was standing in the living room, glancing at his watch. He caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye and raised a brow. “Why are you always acting out lately? Do I really have to come home and invite you personally?”
“You didn’t have to come back at all,” Scarlet said.
William ignored the jab. Noticing a stray cat hair on her clothes, he frowned and handed her a box.
“You have 20 minutes. Go upstairs and change,” he instructed.
Scarlet didn’t take the box. She turned on the faucet and began slowly rinsing her hands. “I already said I’m not going.”
William seemed to have plenty of patience to burn today. “Do you want me to help you change?”
Scarlet gritted her teeth and turned to face him. “Is there even a point in us showing up together? Who are we even putting on a show for?”
William’s gaze turned cold. “You think I’m here to play house with you?”
Scarlet opened her mouth to argue, but William cut her off with a mocking smile, saying, “Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t have the time. No matter how much you hate it, you’re still my wife. Attending these events is basic social etiquette.”
He tossed the dress onto the couch and ordered, “Do your job.”
He was right. She really was overthinking things. He didn’t have the heart or the interest to play the happy husband. He only wanted her there because she was his lawful wife, and her absence would be an insult to the host.
Scarlet picked up the dress and went upstairs.
While they were on the way to the Thompson residence, Scarlet stared out of the window without saying a word to William.
William eventually shifted his gaze toward her. He had picked out the dress himself. It had a pale blue gradient washing over the smooth white silk fabric, making the dress look elegant and effortlessly beautiful.
The dress was cinched at the waist before flowing down in soft pleats. It perfectly suited her graceful demeanor.
William’s eyes slowly traced the lines of her body. “Is the dress a bit big on you?”
Scarlet’s hands tightened on her lap.
The dress was a little loose. She wondered whose measurements he had actually been remembering when he bought it. She kept the back of her head toward him and ignored the question.
“You’ve certainly grown a temper over the last two years,” William said. He didn’t sound angry, his tone lazy and casual. ” Who taught you to give me the cold shoulder?”
Scarlet turned around. “When have I ever given you the cold shoulder?”
She didn’t even dare. Besides, he wasn’t around almost all the time. Where would she even find the time to give him an attitude?”
Scarlet had never been the type to throw a tantrum. When she was angry, she just knitted her brows and stared. She probably thought she looked intimidating, but to anyone else, she looked utterly harmless.
Like right now.
William let out a soft laugh, seemingly in the mood to tease her. “Fine. You’re always glad to see me. Happy?”
X CLOSE
Chapter 9
practiced smile, looking every bit the trained professional.
John Thompson was over 80 years old, but the birth of his great-grandson had him looking radiant and full of life.
William led Scarlet over to greet him. John let out a hearty chuckle as soon as he saw them. “I knew you were back the moment a couple of bottles went missing from my wine cellar.”
“Don’t go blaming me,” William said. “I don’t do the dirty work.”
“No, you just make that brat Shaun do it for you.”
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Shaun, standing nearby, looked offended. “Grandpa, I’m your grandson. Don’t you feel embarrassed saying that out loud?”
John glared at him. “You’re the one who should be embarrassed!”
Shaun shrugged. “At least I’m not an idiot.”
John ignored him and turned back to William. He’d watched William grow up. William was practically like a grandson to him. He patted William on the shoulder. “Have you finally decided to come home for good?”
William gave him a roguish grin. “I kept dreaming that you missed me, so I had to hurry back and ease your suffering.”
John beamed and raised his hand as if to strike William, but only playfully tapped his arm. “You little brat! You really have the nerve to tease me.”
Scarlet stood quietly to the side. Aside from her initial greeting, she hadn’t said a word.
John turned his attention her way and said warmly, “I haven’t seen you in a while, Scarlet. You’re getting more beautiful every time I see you.”
Scarlet offered a polite smile.
Perhaps because the family had just welcomed a new member, John’s mind was stuck on one topic. “You and William have been married for almost three years now, haven’t you? When are you two planning on having a baby?”
Scarlet’s smile froze.
Everyone in their circle knew the marriage was a cold one. For a couple that lived separately, parenthood wasn’t even on the
map.
The atmosphere grew noticeably tense. “We haven’t really discussed it yet,” Scarlet said, trying to be vague.
John wasn’t buying it. “Well, start discussing it! You two have such good genes. It’d be a crime not to have a child. Don’t you think you owe me that much?”
Scarlet didn’t think this had anything to do with him.
Shaun chimed in with a scoff, “Grandpa, even Aunt Justine isn’t nagging them. Why are you so worked up? It’s none of your business.”
“Who says Justine isn’t worried? Look at her! She’s been hovering over that baby all day. She looks like she’s ready to kidnap the kid and take him home.”
The group looked in the direction John was pointing. Not far away, Justine was indeed cradling John’s great-grandson with a doting smile on her face.
John turned back to Scarlet. “See? Your mother-in-law is practically begging for a grandchild. Hurry up and give her one.” Scarlet was at a loss for words. She shot a pleading look at William, but he just stood there with an indifferent look on his face. He had no intention of helping her out of this.
Scarlet gritted her teeth and said, “Actually, I don’t have any problem with having kids.”
The room went dead silent. Every head snapped toward William.
William raised an eyebrow. Under the weight of John’s concerned stare, he asked, “Are you implying that the problem is with me?”
Chapter 9
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Scarlet gritted her teeth and said, “Actually, I don’t have any problem with having kids.”
The room went dead silent. Every head snapped toward William.
William raised an eyebrow. Under the weight of John’s concerned stare, he asked, “Are you implying that the problem is with me?”
“It’s not my place to give the details. You should probably explain it to Mr. Thompson Senior yourself,” Scarlet said.
With that, she lifted the hem of her dress and walked away.
A heavy silence settled over the room. No one knew what to say. Even John was speechless.
William watched as Scarlet slipped away. She had the nerve to glance over her shoulder once, but the moment their eyes met, she spun back around and walked even faster.
William let out a frustrated laugh.
Shaun looked like he’d been hit by lightning. The idea that William might have performance issues in the bedroom was harder for Shaun to process than if he’d had them himself. He stared at William’s lower body in pure, wide-eyed shock.
William… are you…”
William reached out and shoved Shaun’s jaw shut. “Shut up. Don’t make me hit you.”
End of the Contract,Start of His Obsession
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