Scarlett's POV:
Nate had not stopped pestering me, which was so annoying.
There was even a point where I suspected that he was following me.I stared at him coldly.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here.I'm meeting a friend at this restaurant."
He seemed to have read my mind from the way I looked at him.He immediately held up his hands in
surrender and explained.He was undressing me with his eyes again, and it filled me with disgust.
"Really? What a coincidence."
"Sweetie, have you thought about what I proposed last time? If you agree right now, I'll have ten million
dollars wired to your account immediately," Nate said smugly.
I stood my ground.
Even if he gave me everything he had, it would never be enough to pay for my freedom and dignity.
Nate reached out and attempted to grab my wrist.
I dodged his advance.
"Mr.Lively, as an elder, you should conduct yourself appropriately, and I don't think you're doing that by
trying to touch me without my consent."
After that, I turned around and walked toward the parking lot to look for Nina.
But Nate did not heed my warning.
He caught up with me, grabbed my shoulder, and turned me around.
Then, he dragged me toward a big tree shading one secluded area of the parking lot.
Even if he was significantly older than I was, he was still stronger, and the more I struggled to break
free, the tighter he held on.
"Let go of me, Nate! This is harassment! I'll call the police!"
"All this resisting is useless, Scarlett, and you know it.Give in now, or suffer the consequences,"
Nate scoffed.
Before I could respond, I heard a familiar pleasing voice.
"Good evening, Mr.Lively.Is there a problem here?"
Spencer said as he walked toward us.
Nate was stunned to see Spencer.
He obviously was not expecting anyone to come over and interrupt him as he tried to manhandle me.
He let go of me and faced Spencer.
I took the opportunity to rush over to Spencer's side.
"Are you all right? Did he hurt you?"
Spencer looked at me with worried eyes, which I deeply appreciated.
I shook my head.
Spencer turned to look at Nate, raised his chin, and said, "We haven't seen each other in a while,
Mr.Lively.I see you're as energetic as ever."
"I'm flattered."
Nate curled his lips in an amused smile.
He did not seem to be threatened by Spencer's presence at all.
"Charles and I just grabbed dinner nearby.What are the odds of us running into you?"
Spencer continued to talk casually, but as soon as he mentioned Charles, Nate's face changed.
"Well, fate is indeed a funny thing.I'm meeting a friend for dinner, too.I should get going.You two have a
good night.See you around," Nate said by way of goodbye, forced a smile, and started walking away.
Spencer and I just stared after him.
"That man is trouble, Scarlett.You should stay away from him," Spencer said when Nate was out of
earshot.
He shook his head and shoved his hands into his pockets.
I nodded my reply.
That was when I realized that I was shaking a bit.
That encounter with Nate truly scared me.
"I will.Thank you."
"Spencer? Hey! What are you doing here?"
At this time, Nina pulled over beside us and rolled down the passenger-side window.She was overjoyed
to see Spencer.
"I had dinner with a friend at a nearby restaurant.I heard the food there was amazing."
Spencer also smiled at the sight of Nina.
That was when I started feeling a little uncomfortable.
Since Spencer was here, it meant that Charles was also...
Before I could finish that thought, Charles showed up.
He walked over to us with a facial expression as cold as the night.
"Let's go, Spencer."
Spencer pursed his lips and whispered in my ear, "You should go and comfort him, Scarlett.He won't
say it, but I can tell that he's pretty upset.When you and Nina were talking earlier about speeding up a
divorce, we overheard your conversation.Charles has been in a foul mood since."
"That's not my problem, Spencer.He's the one who asked me for a divorce, and I've had it with his
delaying tactics.He's the one who's leaving me with no choice,"
I backfired without hesitation.Then, I got into Nina's car without looking at Charles.
Seeing me get in the car, Nina immediately shifted to drive.
As she drove away and watched Spencer and Charles through her rearview mirror, I fastened my
seatbelt and shoved the thought of Charles out of my mind.
Charles's POV:
Scarlett left just like that.She acted as if she did not even notice that I was there.She did not even look
in my general direction.
I felt heartbroken.I did not expect that she was capable of treating me that way.
At the restaurant, she even said that she would cheat on me to get our divorce finalized as quickly as
possible.
"They're gone, Charles.Let's go,"
Spencer shrugged.
I did not say anything and just stood there.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you.Nate was here earlier and bothering Scarlett.I arrived just in time to
rescue her from that dirty old man.I mean, I get it if he's attracted to her because she's beautiful and all,
but he looks at her like she's a piece of meat.I don't like it.You should watch out for that geezer,"
Spencer explained, breaking the long silence.
I whipped my head toward him and stared at him with wide eyes.I could not believe such a thing
happened just now.
But why did Scarlett not tell me? I suddenly remembered that one time when Nate sent a driver to bring
Scarlett a gift.
I balled my hands into fists as rage threatened to burn a hole through my chest.
How could she keep me in the dark about Nate? Did she not tell me because she did not believe that I
would help her? My heart suddenly felt so heavy that I started gasping for air.
"What's wrong? Are you okay, buddy?"
Spencer asked, patting me on the shoulder.
"I need a drink,"
I blurted out.I did not like drinking, but now I felt like alcohol was the only thing that could numb my
pain.
"Really? Sweet.Me, too.Let's go,"
Spencer snickered.
When we arrived at the bar, we sat at the counter and told the bartender to keep the drinks flowing.
"What on earth does Nate want with Scarlett anyway?"
I shook my glass, watched the liquor swirl inside, and then gulped it down.
"Oh, please.You know what every man wants with Scarlett.She's magnificent."
Spencer ordered a glass of martini and sipped it leisurely.
"Yes, but...I bet he has an ulterior motive."
I downed another glass and began to feel dizzy.
"Well, whether or not that old man has some scheme up his sleeve, you still have to keep an eye on
Scarlett.Or just sleep with her already to make your marriage official, whichever is easier for you."
It might be the alcohol taking over my better judgment, but to me, Spencer had begun spewing
nonsense once again.
We drank a lot and almost closed up shop ourselves.
By the end of the night, my mind was left a wasteland of Scarlett's images and memories.
I took a taxi and told the driver to go to Gardner Street.
Soon, I arrived at Scarlett's house.
I dragged my feet to her front door, careful not to bump into anything and then pass out.
I entered the password to her door and had to budge it open with my entire body.
My vision was spinning, but I managed to make my way through the darkness and into Scarlett's
bedroom.
I found her lying there on her side with her back to me and covered with a blanket.I climbed into bed
beside her and laid on my back.
All I could think about was wanting to sleep with her.
After a few moments, I felt her stir beside me.
And then there was a small scream, and then her bedside lamp went on.
"Charles? What the hell are you doing in my bed? Oh, my God, you reek of alcohol!"
Scarlett's voice rang in my ears.
Panicked as she was, she still sounded enchanting to me.
I rolled to my side and brushed my thumb over her cheek.
My movement forced her to lie on her back.
"Don't leave me, Scarlett," I murmured.
"You should go home or go to Rita."
She tried to back away from my touch.
I felt unhappy.
"No.I don't want to go home or go to Rita.I want to be with you."
Before she could protest again, I pressed my body onto hers and silenced her with a hungry kiss.
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