Scarlett’s POV:
By the time we started to go down the mountain, it was already quite dark, and feeling tired, I could not
help but yawn as I walked down.Charles stood in front of me and bent over. I was confused.
“Aren’t you tired? Come, let me carry you.” His voice laced with the cool breeze echoed in my ears.
I looked at his broad back, feeling a little hesitant, when he continued, “Do you want me to carry you on
my back or would you like me to hold you in my arms? Take your pick.”
After hesitating for a while, I glanced at the passers-by subconsciously, and climbed on his back.
Feeling the warmth of his broad back, I felt an unprecedented sense of security, and unconsciously
wrapped my arms around his neck.
As soon as I got home, I slumped to the sofa, stretching my legs to the armrests. My calf muscles felt
sore from the hiking, and I felt like I had overexerted myself.
“What’s wrong? Why are you so tired?” Christine asked with concern when she saw that my legs were
shaking.
“I am fine, Grandma. I probably feel weak because I haven’t walked this far in a long time,” I tried to
comfort her, seeing that she was worried.
“How long did you make her walk? I am going to teach you a lesson today, you brat!” Christine said to
Charles.
“I only took her hiking to help her relax.”
Lowering his head, Charles could not even bring himself to look at her.
“That’s bullshit! Are you out of your mind? Why can’t you just take her out for shopping? Why did you
have to climb the mountain?” Alice also yelled at Charles angrily.
“I’m sorry. It is my fault.” Charles rarely ever admitted his mistakes.
However, I couldn’t bear to see him being scolded. “Grandma, I’m fine. I’m just a little tired.”
“Don’t speak up for him. He is an adult, but still he doesn’t know how to take care of you at all,”
Christine said angrily, glaring at Charles
“Let me massage your legs.”
Saying that, Charles began to massage my legs before I could even say anything. “I’m alright…”
Although I felt a little awkward, it was undeniable that his massage felt amazing. He used moderate
pressure on my legs to make me feel comfortable. But all of a sudden, he stopped. With a frown, I
looked at him, confused.
“Sorry, I forgot that you’re on your period,” Charles said in a remorseful tone.
“Scarlett is on her period?” Alice asked.
My heart skipped a beat, but I soon regained my composure. “Yes, I’m on my period.”
Alice seemed to be too disappointed to even say anything and just sighed.
And I couldn’t bear to see her so depressed. However, I could not understand one thing. I was clearly
putting on an act, and even Charles could not see through it. How could she know?
All of a sudden, I remembered that I had vomited on our flight back home, and perhaps, that was the
reason she seemed so suspicious.
“I thought that you were…” Alice murmured with regret in her eyes. I pretended like I did not hear her at
all and stayed silent.
After the elders left, Charles asked, “What does Mom mean by that? What’s going on with you?”
In a fit of panic, I could not help but shake my head. Without asking more questions, Charles bowed
down and continued to massage my legs until dinner was ready.
“I asked you all to come here to discuss about the wedding.”
While we were having dinner, Michael, who was sitting in the host seat, spoke up in a serious voice.
“I think that it would be best if we made it the first of next month. That way, we will have enough time to
prepare for it, and it won’t delay Scarlett’s training program abroad,” Alice said excitedly.
“I agree. By then, the weather will be much warmer, and Scarlett won’t feel cold in her wedding dress,”
Christine echoed.
“I also think that it’s a great idea. Let’s ask the event planners to handle it. They will do it quickly and
efficiently,” Lawrence also said.
When I heard that, I looked at Charles in confusion.
“Scarlett, don’t go abroad now. You can continue your training after the wedding,” Alice said, holding
my hand.
“I don’t want to get married. To be honest, I don’t want a wedding ceremony with Charles,” I blurted out,
looking at them while I stood up from my seat.
As soon as they heard that, they looked at me with disappointment in their eyes. Charles was also
stunned as he did not expect me to refuse him so brazenly.
“Scarlett, you…” Christine paused and sighed helplessly.
Everyone then fell silent. Charles withdrew his gaze, and said indifferently, “Let’s eat first.”
The originally enthusiastic crowd now ate with a grim look in their eyes.
Christine suddenly banged her fists on the table, which shocked us.
“I said that the wedding must be held!” she said in a cold voice and with a tough attitude.
“Grandma…” I called out to her subconsciously, but she looked away with a snort.
“Scarlett, it’s just a wedding, which should have been held three years ago. Do you really not want it?”
Alice tried her best to persuade me.
“Mom, Charles and I… We…” I looked at her awkwardly, wanting to tell her that I was going to divorce
Charles sooner or later, but when I saw how eager she was, I could not bring myself to say it.
“Scarlett, is something about Charles making you feel uncomfortable? Just tell me, and I will educate
him.” Lawrence persuaded me next.
I turned to Charles, hoping that he would say something, but he lowered his head and continued to
drink.
“There is nothing wrong with him. I just don’t want to…” I said in a low voice, hanging my head.
“Let’s eat first.” Michael also sighed with disappointment.
After dinner, Alice asked me and Charles to stay the night. I looked at Charles pleadingly while I was in
the room with him.
“Please help me tell Grandma that the wedding…”
“What do you want me to tell her?” Charles glanced at me and pretended like he was confused.
Just when I was about to say something, he added, “I also want this wedding…”
“What did you say?” I looked at him in disbelief.
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