Chapter 202: It’s All My Fault
“What? Weren’t you married to him? How the fuck did you marry someone who won’t even listen to you then, Eve?”
“Well, I was blinded by love then. I know you know exactly what that’s like, Scarlett.” Eve said, scoffing at Scarlett’s high-minded advice.
“What about your mother’s first boyfriend? Could he help you?” Scarlett asked.
“Him? If I ask him for help, my mother will kill me!” Eve said angrily. Something occurred to her, and she said, “Do you know how long Vivian was sentenced for?”
“How long?” Scarlett asked.
“Ten years!” Eve said happily.
“Okay,” she said.
“That’s it?” Eve was surprised.
“What else do you want me to say? She lost, but I was not as happy as I thought. There is no real winner here.” Scarlett said sadly. As a result, Vivian made Scarlett get a divorce from Francis at the cost of ten years in prison. It looked like Scarlett had won at last. But in truth, Vivian had achieved her purpose.
“Do you know what happened to Claire after that? You are a well-informed gal, do you know about what happened?” Scarlett asked.
“Claire? I don’t know about that. But I can make a call to ask around.” Eve said.
“Forget it. I’m just lucky that David hasn’t come out of the woodwork to bother me.” Scarlett said.
Eve pointed out sharply, “I’m telling you, you’d better not be softened this time. Whatever happened to her is not your fault, she brought it on herself.”
“I know that. I’m not that stupid…”
” I gotta hang up now. It looks like Damon’s car is downstairs. Thanks for nothing, by the way.”
Staring at the phone, Scarlett felt a bitter smile spread on her face. She realized that perhaps Eve and she were facing quite the same problem.
Scarlett put her ear to the door and tried to listen carefully to what was going outside, but she could hear nothing. She opened the door just a crack and, to her surprise, met Francis’s piercing gaze.
“Don’t be sneaky! Just come out!” he said.
Scarlett stuck her tongue out at him cheekily and rushed to sit down on the couch.
“About our divorce…” Francis said.
Before he finished, Scarlett sat up straight and just interrupted, “I know. I promise you I will keep it a secret if that’s what you want.”
Francis felt a migraine come on to him. When he saw Scarlett’s delicate features, he felt pained. She was so beautiful, and yet he had managed to hurt her so much. He would rather that she stayed out of his sight.
All of a sudden, Carlos just sat up and rubbed his sleeping eyes with his fat hand and took a look around the room.
“Oh, my sweetheart, you are awake?” Scarlett said, rushing off to Carlos.
Carlos took a look at his parents and then lay down to sleep again.
“What was that all about?” Scarlett looked at Francis, confused.
“He is just afraid that you will abandon him again. He was just getting up to check that you’re still around.”
When Scarlett heard that, she felt guilty again. She tucked her son in carefully and then curled up on his little bed quietly. She patted him on the back gently.
“It’s all mommy’s fault, my sweetheart. I’m so sorry. Mommy is so sorry.” she whispered.
Francis left the two of them alone. He returned his focus to his documents, but there was an unmistakable smile curving up the corners of his mouth. Slowly, he found himself in a good mood.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
***
Scarlett wanted Francis to stay in the hospital for at least three months. She was convinced that that was the period of time it would take for him to recover completely.
But Francis thought the suggestion was ridiculous.
“Three months?” Francis raised his eyebrows and asked.
Standing in front of Francis, Scarlett just said, “For the sake of your son and I, you must take good care of yourself. I don’t want to be scared to death by you again…”
Francis scoffed.
“I have asked my professor if I can take a month off my studies, and he said it’s fine since I’m ahead in finishing up my thesis anyway. And I will take care of you this month,” she said.
“But you want me to stay here for three months?” he asked, incredulous.
“Well, you’re going to have at least two months of physical therapy. I trust you can handle that yourself.” Scarlett said, shuffling her feet. She looked uncomfortable.
Francis grew angry at the suggestion. Did Scarlett think he was so weak that it would take him that long to return to premium health? Scarlett, noticing Francis’s temper rising with every moment, wished desperately for a place she could go to escape his wrath.
From that day onwards, Francis seemed to be angry all the time. There was nothing that could lift his spirits– not even the sight of Scarlett and his adorable little son. He refused to smile no matter what.
On account of her stellar track record, Scarlett’s professor allowed Scarlett to complete her thesis through consultations over email and video conferencing. While Scarlett’s studies continued on without any major hiccups, however, Francis grew more and more unpredictable. Some days he would smile warmly at staff and treat them with the utmost respect, and on others, he would give them the cold shoulder. When it came to Scarlett, he was perpetually indifferent. He barely met her eyes and wouldn’t even exchange pleasantries with her anymore.
“I really can’t stand the look he gives me,” Scarlett complained to Eve on the phone.
“Does it feel like he’s throwing knives at you just with his gaze?” Eve asked.
“Yeah, that’s exactly it,” Scarlett confirmed.
“Damn it, Scarlett, we have to figure out a way to deal with these two stubborn men. We can’t keep living like this, can we? We have to do something to get out of these wretched situations we’ve found ourselves in. I’ve had enough. I’m pissed off beyond belief.” Eve said angrily, who had been stuck in a tiny room for many days now. Damon had forbidden her from going anywhere, so she was going stir crazy.