Scarlett's POV:
I tried going back to sleep. But before I could completely drift off, my phone rang.
I clicked my tongue. Who could possibly call me this early in the day? I didn't want to answer, so I
grabbed the quilt and pulled it over my head.
But my phone kept ringing. It seemed that whoever was calling didn't intend to give up.
I groaned and reached for my phone on the bedside table. The call was coming from Vivian.
"Hey, Scarlett. I heard that you're back. Let's have drinks tonight. I have something to tell you."
"I can't tonight, Vivian. I have something to deal with. How about tomorrow night?"
"That works for me. And maybe there will be a good show for us to watch."
"All right then. See you."
After hanging up with Vivian, I couldn't fall asleep anymore, so I decided to just get up and wash up.
While I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom, the heavenly smell of breakfast wafted in from the
kitchen. As a response, my stomach grumbled.
After I finished up, I went to the kitchen to see how Charles was doing. He was still cooking when I
arrived. He was in boxer shorts and a white shirt, but he still looked regal. Sometimes, his
handsomeness still caught me off-guard.
I sauntered into the kitchen, sat at the counter, and watched him cook.
Charles's dishes didn't exactly look exquisite, but given the choice, I would pick his food over those
from fancy restaurants. Every time I saw him cooking, I felt like my heart was being engulfed by a
sense of comforting warmth.
Charles turned around and stared at me for a few moments. Then, he waved his hand and said, "Come
here."
I blinked. "What?"
"Come over here," Charles repeated.
I stood up and strode toward him. I looked at the hamburger with bacon and egg and the blueberry
waffle that he made, and my mouth instantly watered. I said with admiration, "Wow, honey. The food
looks amazing. I didn't know you knew how to make these."
"It's not that hard. I just followed the recipe." He smiled proudly at me.
"So why am I standing here?"
"Hug me."
"Why? You're cooking. If I hug you, I'll restrict your room for movement." I eyed him carefully and tilted
my head to the side.
"Just hug me, Scarlett," Charles ordered in a low voice, trying to sound like a domineering entity. To
me, he just sounded like a spoiled little boy.
"Fine." I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist. He smelled faintly of perfume
laced with a bit of tobacco.
Charles tore open a package of oatmeal and continued to cook.
I held him and, after a few moments, moved my hand to his chest.
"Scarlett!" Charles stopped what he was doing and turned to warn me, "Do you want your breakfast
ruined?"
I saw annoyance and desire mingle in his eyes. Thinking about how he exhausted me in bed last night,
I immediately withdrew my hand.
"Keep your arms around my waist," Charles barked.
When he turned back to what he was doing, I stuck my tongue out at him and then embraced him from
behind again.
Charles could be
so bossy sometimes, but I couldn't help humoring his overbearing manner. For some reason, I found a
bit of tenderness in it.
"See? You want to hold me. You just can't admit it." His teasing smile made me blush.
Charles's POV:
After breakfast, I dressed up and went straight to work.
I wanted to spend more time with Scarlett, but Amy kept calling me.
"Sir, Mr. Patel has been waiting for you in your office for a long time." Amy looked at me carefully.
I nodded and pushed the door open. Spencer turned his head to me and said, "What's with the face,
man? I thought Scarlett was home. Why do you look worse than me?"
He disturbed my time with Scarlett and still had the gall to comment on my appearance. Typical
Spencer.
"What do you want, Spencer?"
"I'm probably going to get married soon." I whipped my head at him. He looked hesitant.
"Okay. You don't look too thrilled about it, though."
"I don't know, Charles. I've been feeling left out lately. I mean, you have Scarlett and a kid, and David
has a fiancee. I'm the only one who's still single. Don't you think that's a little unfair?"
"So you're going to find someone to marry just so you don't feel left out?" I stared at him. My intuition
told me that he was not going to marry Vivian.
"Why don't you ask me who I'm going to marry?"
"Spencer, I'll be happy for you no matter who you marry. Just make sure that you don't regret making
such a big decision hastily. Scarlett and I have been through a lot of difficulties in the past. Believe me.
I know the mess jumping the gun brings about," I warned him seriously.
"But you two eventually got together, and everything turned out okay, didn't it?"
"It did, but I still feel that something has changed."
"What do you mean?" Spencer looked at me in confusion.
"Scarlett used to stick to me like glue. Now, I don't feel such strong love from her anymore." I touched
the ring on my finger, lost in thought.
"Charles, Scarlett loves you very much. We all know that. I think this is just in your head."
"Since she found out that I refused her father when he came to me for help, a gap sprang out between
us. Since then, she has rarely asked me for help with anything. I don't like the idea of her not needing
me."
I felt upset. So I quickly opened my desk drawer, took out my cigarette case, and fished out a cigarette.
I grabbed my lighter and lit up. I took a long, deliberate drag until my throat and lungs were filled with
smoke. As I exhaled, I felt awash with a little sense of calm, but I still didn't feel better.
"Among the three of us, you've always been the happiest one. David and I are so envious of you,"
Spencer sighed, walked toward me, and patted me on the shoulder.
After taking a few more drags, I crushed my cigarette on the ashtray on my desk. I turned to Spencer
and said, "Heed my advice, Spencer. Sometimes, regret is like a snake in the grass that sneaks up on
you when you least expect it. So look carefully and think twice before venturing into a new pasture."
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