Chapter 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Blair froze after being rejected so publicly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet caught a flicker of humiliation across her face. The latter must have felt embarrassed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet\u2019s lips curled into a mocking smirk. She was reminded of the times she had been in that exact position.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She remembered the time when William hadn\u2019t come home for days. She had tracked him down at a dinner party, only to hear him tell the room with a cold, casual smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can\u2019t marry the one I want, I might as well settle for a replacement, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was William. He could sweep one off their feet until they felt like theyy were walking on air, only to stab them in the heart without a second thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet\u2019s chest tightened. She picked up a glass and looked at Lucy. \u201cPour me some.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucy filled her glass immediately. \u201cHow is it? Good, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The liquor was smooth with a rich, lingering aftertaste. Scarlet nodded. \u201cYou really do get what you pay for.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucy poured her another glass and threw an arm around her shoulder. \u201cDrink up! Alcohol is the only cure for a heavy heart.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you only this happy because you love to drink?\u201d Scarlet asked curiously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo way,\u201d Lucy said, tossing her hair. \u201cI\u2019m clearly this happy because I\u2019m an idiot.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet laughed. \u201cAt least you\u2019re self-aware.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Scarlet hadn\u2019t expected the drink to hit her quite hard. She didn\u2019t even know when she\u2019d passed out or where she\u2019d ended up. She just had a vague memory of drinking with Lucy before the world went black.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she finally woke up, her 7.00 am alarm was blaring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her body felt heavy and sluggish from the hangover. Too exhausted to move, she blindly reached out to find her phone. An arm reached over her and silenced the alarm before she could touch it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet realized she was wrapped in a warm, solid embrace. Half-asleep, she looked up and saw a sharp, masculine jawline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was William. She couldn\u2019t help but wonder if this was a dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In her daze, she hugged him tighter and buried her face in his chest. His chest was broad and warm, the muscles firm and real. The vividness of the sensation finally caused her drowsiness to fade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She opened her eyes and stared at his throat momentarily before looking up. Her blurry eyes met William\u2019s deep, dark gaze. He was watching her with an unreadable expression. \u201cComfortable?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet snapped awake, realizing that she had been clinging to him. She figured it must have been the alcohol making her body act on instinct. The cozy feeling vanished instantly. She let go of his waist and backed away, muttering an apology,\u201d Sorry about that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re being very polite now. Last night, you were clinging to me so hard I couldn\u2019t push you off. You can\u2019t hold your liquor, yet you still tried to drink. Do you even know how you got home?\u201d William said, glancing at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet could easily imagine the look of disgust he must have had on his face the night before. She gripped the blanket. \u201cI was drunk. I didn\u2019t mean to cling to you. If I were being a nuisance, you should have just left me with Lucy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour friend was even more wasted than you were. Or did you want me to leave you at the bar for some creep to take home?\u201d William scoffed as he got out of bed and headed for the bathroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet checked her phone only to realize her alarm had been going off for a while. She was almost late for work. She rushed through her morning routine, threw on her clothes, and bolted out the door without even thinking about breakfast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She made it to the hospital with a minute to spare and immediately dove into the shift change with the night shift doctors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the time she finished her rounds and grabbed a coffee from the vending machine, it was already mid-morning. That was when it hit her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d forgotten to bring up the divorce again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had finally met William, but between being drunk last night and the rush this morning, that matter had completely slipped her mind. She tapped her forehead in frustration and took a moment to call Lucy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucy sounded half-asleep. \u201cHello?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy do you sound so weak?\u201d Scarlet asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t even get me started. I don\u2019t know which jerk brought me home last night, but they just dumped me at my front door and left. I spent the entire night sleeping on the floor!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucy lived in a building with tight security and private elevator access. It was safe, but she\u2019d woken up with a killing backache, and she was pretty sure she was coming down with a cold. She pounded on her couch in a rage. \u201cIf I ever find out who that scumbag was, I\u2019m going to kill him!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet stayed quiet. She had a strong suspicion the scumbag was William, but she just offered a few sympathetic words before ending the call.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over at Bova Capital\u2019s new office, Shaun had dropped by for a tour and to grab lunch with William.\u00a0<\/p>\n
William walked out of a conference room, followed by a line of executives in sharp suits. He caught sight of Shaun playing games on the couch and gave a quick nod. Shaun immediately shut his phone off and ran over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she get home okay last night?\u201d William asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t remind me.\u201d just thinking about it made Shaun\u2019s blood boil.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Last night, after Scarlet and Lucy had knocked back a few too many, William had taken Scarlet and ordered Shaun to deal with Lucy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shaun hadn\u2019t realized a woman could be that heavy, or that much of a nightmare when drunk. She\u2019d puked in his car halfway home, and then he\u2019d had to practically drag her upstairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When he asked for her keys, she\u2019d guarded her bag like a hawk, screaming about being robbed and threatening to call the cops while kicking the life out of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at what she did to me.\u201d Shaun rolled up his pant leg to reveal several nasty purple bruises on his shins.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The nearby executives couldn\u2019t help but chuckle. \u201cI bet you\u2019ve never been treated like that before, Mr. Thompson.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how Scarlet ended up with such a bratty friend,\u201d Shaun grumbled. Then he added, \u201cAt least Scarlet is a graceful\u00a0<\/p>\n
drunk.\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
William leaned back, his gaze lazy. \u201cWho told you she was graceful?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shaun blinked. \u201cDid she hit you, too?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The executives froze, exchanging looks as if wondering if they should excuse themselves before things got too personal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the sudden silence, William said casually, \u201cNot exactly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Shaun relaxed, too. \u201cI was going to say, she seems so quiet-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe took advantage of me,\u201d William interrupted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both Shaun and the executives were speechless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Scarlet finished her shift that evening, she was surprised to see William\u2019s Bentley parked at the hospital entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a second, she thought William had actually made time to see her. But when she got in the car, it was empty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is he?\u201d she asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Cooper has a full schedule this afternoon, but he asked me to pick you up,\u201d the driver, Lester, said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are we going?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Thompson Senior has a newborn great-grandson. It\u2019s the one-month celebration today, and Mr. Cooper wants you to accompany him.\u201d Lester glanced in the rearview mirror. \u201cThe dress has already been ordered. Should we go for the fitting now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
William hadn\u2019t taken Scarlet to a private social gathering in ages. He only ever needed her for events like this, where they had to play the part of the happy couple for the public.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In reality, everyone knew he barely spent a night at home. It was all a performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Scarlet felt tired of this routine. She\u2019d worked a full shift and was drained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to go,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had always been compliant before, so Lester was surprised by her refusal. He tried to explain the stakes. \u201cThe\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thompsons and the Coopers go back generations, and Mr. Cooper and Mr. Thompson grew up together. If you don\u2019t show up\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that have to do with me?\u201d Scarlet asked. \u201cJust take me home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lester looked panicked. \u201cI don\u2019t know how I am supposed to explain this to Mr. Cooper.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet didn\u2019t bother. She opened the door, got out of the car, and hailed a cab herself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she got home, she changed her clothes and went to the cat room to play. She was just settling in when the housekeeper, Ruth, came in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Cooper is back,\u201d she said. \u201cHe wants you in the living room. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapter 8\u00a0 Chapter 8\u00a0 1\/3\u00a0 Blair froze after being rejected so publicly.\u00a0 Scarlet caught a flicker of humiliation across her […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-end-of-the-contractstart-of-his-obsession"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}