Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, I really don\u2019t recall meeting you,\u201d Scarlet said honestly. \u201cAnd given your current condition, it\u2019s a bit hard to recognize anyone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cXyla,\u201d Lilly chided. \u201cThis is Dr. Benson. She\u2019s the one who saved your eye. Watch your attitude.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xyla scoffed. \u201cFine. Thanks, I guess.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet felt the tension in the room. \u201cYou seem to have a problem with me. Did I do anything to offend you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot personally. But I thought I\u2019d made more of an impression. Do you remember Shaun\u2019s birthday party two years ago? You showed up uninvited, looking for your husband. I asked him a question that night,\u201d Xyla said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet\u2019s fingers curled when she heard this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked him why he suddenly married you when things were going so well with Nicole. Do you remember what he said? Or do you need a reminder?\u201d Xyla looked at her with a mocking glint.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How could Scarlet possibly forget?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back then, before William moved to Nevaia, he had suddenly turned cold toward her. He hadn\u2019t come home for weeks. Scarlet had no idea what was wrong and couldn\u2019t get a hold of him. She knew he would be at Shaun\u2019s party, so even though she wasn\u2019t invited and hated those kinds of events, she had swallowed her pride and asked Shaun for the address.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had finished work late that night. By the time she arrived, the group was already several rounds deep. William was leaning back on a leather couch, looking bored and holding a glass of scotch as they played Truth or Dare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The bottle had spun to him, and he chose Truth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLame,\u201d Shaun groaned. \u201cI had a great Dare ready for you. Fine, Truth it is.\u201d He leaned in with a wicked grin. \u201cOut of all your girlfriends, who was your favorite?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet had just walked through the door. She wasn\u2019t sure if William saw her or not. He just leaned back, smiled lazily, and said two words, \u201cMy ex.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet froze when she heard those words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Most people thought Nicole was William\u2019s first love, but she wasn\u2019t. Scarlet had gone to the same high school as him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was a freshman when he was a senior. She had watched him date one girlfriend after another, never seeming to care much for any of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Women threw themselves at him constantly, but he was picky. He only dated the beautiful ones. He was charming, but\u00a0<\/p>\n
heartless at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He and Nicole had grown up together, but they didn\u2019t start dating until they were in college. Nicole was the last person he dated before he married Scarlet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone in that room knew he meant Nicole. The place erupted in cheers, everyone teasing him about still being hung up on\u00a0<\/p>\n
her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet watched him. He had that same casual, careless smile on his face. He didn\u2019t deny a word of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In that moment, she knew he had seen her. He knew she was standing right there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, a woman asked him, \u201cWilliam, you and Nicole were so good together. Why did you suddenly marry someone else?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet felt like she was pinned to the floor. There was a sharp ringing in her ears, but William\u2019s cold, indifferent voice cut through it with perfect clarity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
He replied, \u201cIf I can\u2019t marry the one I want, I might as well settle for a replacement, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was like being on a beach, enjoying the sun in a beautiful dress, only to be suddenly dropped into the middle of the freezing wilderness. Her blood ran cold at that very moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her dignity was crushed in front of everyone. The mockery and pity in their eyes had stung ever since. That was the day she became the biggest joke in their social circle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How could she ever forget?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet shoved her hands into her coat pockets, trying to look unbothered. She knew that if she didn\u2019t keep up the act, people would see through her unfazed act.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy aren\u2019t you and William divorced?\u201d Xyla asked sarcastically. \u201cI really don\u2019t get you. Why cling to a man who doesn\u2019t love you? Don\u2019t you have any self-respect?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe aren\u2019t divorced. So what?\u201d Scarlet\u2019s voice was flat, devoid of emotion. \u201cNicole isn\u2019t in a rush, so why are you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, Scarlet turned to leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Losing her temper, Xyla shouted at her back, \u201cI\u2019m not in a rush! Your pathetic life is none of my business. I just can\u2019t stand that you stole Nicole\u2019s life!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNicole and William were childhood sweethearts! If they hadn\u2019t broken up and you hadn\u2019t taken advantage of the situation, you never would have had a chance to marry him!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may be the Coopers\u2019 adopted daughter, but everyone knows that you\u2019re just someone who lives with the housekeepers. You\u2019re nothing compared to Nicole!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet stopped in her tracks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The scars from two years of judgmental stares and sleepless nights were suddenly ripped open again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cXyla!\u201d Lilly snapped, her usually gentle face darkening. \u201cHow dare you speak to Dr. Benson like that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, she turned to Scarlet with an apologetic look. \u201cDr. Benson, please. She\u2019s been spoiled since she was young. She\u2019s got a big mouth and a bad temper. Please don\u2019t take it to heart.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d Scarlet said softly. \u201cShe\u2019s only telling the truth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned back to face Xyla. Inside her pockets, her hands were clenched so tight that her knuckles went white, but her face\u00a0<\/p>\n
remained calm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019ve already stolen him, haven\u2019t I? What are you going to do about it? Besides, it\u2019s not like William is some grand prize. He\u2019s just a heartless scumbag who can\u2019t keep his hands to himself. If Nicole wants him that badly, she can try and take him back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xyla opened her mouth to snap back, but her gaze shifted to the doorway. Her expression instantly crumbled into a mix of shock and guilt. \u201cWilliam?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet\u2019s heart hammered against her ribs as she turned around.\u00a0<\/p>\n
William stood in the doorway, holding a shopping bag. There was no telling how long he\u2019d been standing there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was dressed in a charcoal-gray suit, and the cool tones only seemed to emphasize the iciness of his expression. His gaze was completely indifferent as it landed on Scarlet. Even with the faint smirk on his lips, there wasn\u2019t a trace of warmth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAm I interrupting? You really should check around before talking behind someone\u2019s back. It\u2019s a bit awkward to be caught, isn\u2019t it?\u201d he mocked lightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d Scarlet asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a feeling someone would be speaking ill of me today,\u201d William said. \u201cI want to hear exactly how my dear wife describes me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet wanted to explain herself, but she realized there was nothing to explain. William was indeed a heartless scumbag.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWas I wrong?\u201d Scarlet challenged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
William let out a short, cynical laugh. \u201cNo, you\u2019re exactly right. It must have been such a burden to be the wife of a scumbag\u00a0<\/p>\n
like me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlet clenched her fists in her pockets until her fingers went numb. \u201cI\u2019m glad you know it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two of them stood there, both appearing perfectly calm on the surface, yet the tension between them was tight. William\u2019s presence was far too striking for a hospital, drawing constant stares from the medical staff and patients passing through the corridor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xyla shrank back into her hospital bed, all her previous arrogance gone. Feeling responsible for her daughter\u2019s outburst, Lilly tried to step in apologetically. \u201cXyla was just talking nonsense, please don\u2019t-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe certainly has a big mouth,\u201d William interrupted coldly. \u201cFor the sake of you and your husband, I\u2019ll let it slide this time. But if this happens again, I won\u2019t mind stepping in to teach her some manners.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A chill ran down Xyla\u2019s spine, and she quietly pulled the covers up to hide her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
William checked his watch. He gave Scarlet one last look before walking out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the hospital entrance, Lester saw William stride out of the building. He quickly hopped out to open the car door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
William sat in the back and tossed the shopping bag aside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sensing that he was upset, Lester asked carefully, \u201cIsn\u2019t that coat for Mrs. Cooper? The temperature is dropping fast. The weather report said a storm is coming today-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
William crossed his legs and spat coldly, \u201cLet her freeze.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0 1\/3\u00a0 Chapter 14\u00a0 \u201cSorry, I really don\u2019t recall meeting you,\u201d Scarlet said honestly. \u201cAnd given your current condition, […]<\/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-122","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\/122","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=122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}