Scarlett's POV:
Charles had just taken a shower, and his fresh, minty fragrance enveloped me.
The pleasant smell coming off his skin was rendering my mind in shambles.
He rubbed his nose against my neck.
Every time he touched me, I felt like my bloodstream turned into white water.
The excitement was getting more and more difficult for me to hide.
He suckled on my neck and then ran his teeth gently on it.
As I heaved a nervous breath, he buried his face on my shoulder, and I felt him smile.
"What the hell are you doing, Charles? Why are you treating me like this? We shouldn't be playing
these kinds of games."
I covered my face to hide my shame.
It was so typical of him to treat me like some plaything.
When we were younger, he used to pull pranks on me and make me cry on Halloween and April Fools'
Day, and then he would laugh in a low voice as he did now.
What on earth was so damn funny? I did not get it at all.
"All right.I'm sorry.I won't make fun of you anymore.Please stop crying.Your aggrieved look is already
driving me insane."
Charles wiped away the tears from my eyes and then lowered his head to kiss my chin and cheek.
‘'Oh, please, stop"
I begged in my heart.I covered my face again.I wanted to start sobbing, but I held it in.
Why was he being like this? Did he not know that he was just leading me on with such sweet and
gentle actions? Seeing that I was about to start crying again, Charles stopped kissing me and then
leaned against the door with me in his arms.
He twirled my hair in his finger like he was so fascinated by it.
"If you really want to have sex, then just go to Rita and stop pestering me." I wiped my tears and tried
to get rid of Charles.
"Rita is not in good health.It's not appropriate "
Charles replied seriously and kissed my hair
"But it's okay to do it with me? You're really lowering my opinion of you.Have you no shame? Sleeping
with two people at the same time is disgusting."
I cast a cold glance at Charles.
I felt so wronged.
He was really making me feel cheap.
Did I not have some self-respect? Did he think that I was a streetwalker who would take off my clothes
and open my legs for 20 dollars? Charles did not say anything more.
He just hugged me in silence.
After a long time, I heard him sigh.
"You win, Scarlett.Now, you can either go to bed upstairs alone or stay here with me."
He loosened his grip.
I immediately pushed him away, ran to the bedroom without looking back, and locked the door.I leaned
against the door and took many deep breaths.
My heart was racing like crazy.
While I was in his arms earlier, giving in crossed my mind many times.
A small part of me wanted to be with him, but it was not strong enough to overpower the part of me that
desperately wanted to break away.
After finally calming down and sorting out my thoughts, I went to bed.
I had made up my mind.
As soon as we finalized our divorce, I would leave here and cut off all my connections to the city.
The next day, I woke up to the morning sunshine on my face.
I slid out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up.
Charles did not bother me the entire night.
He slept on the sofa in the living room like a real gentleman.
The sun shone on his handsome face.
It would have been a perfect, dreamy scene if not for the cigarette butts that were scattered all over the
coffee table and the floor.
When did he become so reliant on cigarettes? When we were in high school, he was a model student
who kept his grades up and played sports.
I was a little stunned.
I seemed to have missed a lot of things in the three years that we were apart.
I supposed he was upset because he could not stay with his beloved Rita, or maybe he regretted
marrying me and wasting three years of his life.
I lowered my eyes and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Charles.
After cleaning up, I left.
I had to go home and get some work done on my program's script.
As soon as I got home, I received a call from Charles.
"The breakfast was delicious.Thank you."
His voice was a little hoarse.
It seemed that he had just woken up.
"You're welcome.Thank you for letting me stay the night." I expressed my gratitude.
Although he did force me to spend the night in his place at first, I was still thankful that I did not have to
stay in my house that still smelled toxic because of the paint.
"We don't have to be strangers to each other, Scarlett.I remember that you're not like this before."
Charles did not sound good to me.
I could picture him sitting on the sofa with a lit cigarette in his mouth and frowning.
"Well, a lot has changed, Charles.We're not exactly on good terms.We're getting a divorce.If we were
good, we wouldn't be breaking up in the first place."
Charles's remark hit a nerve, and I found myself too annoyed to deal with him.
We used to quarrel a lot in high school, and when we grew up, we did not really exert that much effort
to become close to each other.
Truth be told, Charles and I were like parallel lines that would never meet.
It was only because of my childish persistence and infatuation in the past that things had become so
difficult and complicated.
"I hired someone to get rid of the paint and clean your house.She will arrive around ten o'clock,"
Charles replied in a defeated tone.
He obviously sensed the displeasure in my voice and decided to change the subject.
"You didn't have to do that, but I appreciate it,"
I thanked him politely.
After telling Charles that I had to go and get ready for work, I hung up.
When I was about to enter my house, I saw a familiar figure standing in the corridor.
It was of a tall man clad in all black.
It was Abner.
He turned around and saw me standing not far away.
I approached him.
"Where have you been, Scarlett?"
"What are you doing here?"
I was surprised to see him at my place this early.
"I heard from Nina that someone trashed your place with paint.I decided to swing by to make sure
you're all right.I brought you breakfast."
Abner touched his nose and handed me a small brown paper bag and a paper cup.
Whatever was in the cup, it had gone cold.
Abner must have been waiting for a long time.
"Thank you, Abner.You didn't have to come here.You could've just called or texted.My place is out of
the way from your house and the station."
I knew that Abner meant well, and truthfully, I felt a little sad for drawing a line in the sand between us.I
could not give him what he wanted.
At least not now.
He was a young, wealthy, and accomplished man.
There were so many girls in and out of the station who admired him, and he deserved better than me.
"It's fine.I'm just worried about you.I rang the doorbell several times, but no one answered.I thought you
had already gone to work.Do you need me to help you clean up your place?"
Abner forced a smile and looked at me.
"No, thanks.I can manage.I just need to buy some special cleaning tools.My house is still a raging
mess, and I don't want you going in there and messing up your clothes or something," I answered
awkwardly.
"Did you stay in a hotel last night?" Abner asked tentatively.
I had a feeling that he already knew the answer.
He just wanted to hear it from me.
"No, I slept at Charles's house last night," I said frankly.
I did not see the point of hiding it from him.
Abner fell silent.
I watched as jealousy, disappointment, and helplessness took turns twisting his handsome features.
It broke my heart a little.
"Thank you for bringing me breakfast.I have to go get ready for work."
I dodged Abner's gaze.
We were colleagues and friends.
I did not want to mess up the already flimsy relationship we had.
"Aren't you guys getting divorced? Or are you getting back together?"
Abner asked from behind me as I tried to open my front door.
"Charles and I are over.We just haven't gotten around to finalizing the divorce."
Charles had never been in love with me.
I was the only one between us who wanted us to be together.
"You two have been at this for a long time now.Don't you think the delay is already getting ridiculous?"
Abner pressed.
"It's just because of some family issues.Charles's family doesn't want us to divorce.We're taking care of
it."
"Don't you think Charles is only making that an excuse? He's rich and powerful.If he wants to divorce
his wife, even God won't be able to stop him.Scarlett, have you ever thought that maybe Charles
doesn't want to divorce you?"
Abner went straight to the point.
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