Scarlett's POV:
As soon as I left the studio, I heard a female voice call my name.
"Scarlett, I didn't expect you to be so capable!"
I turned around and the person I found made my jaw drop.
Fiona, one of my colleagues, was walking toward me, her high heels clicking against the floor.
"Stop pretending to be innocent.You're having an affair with Rita's man.Poor Rita."
Fiona raised her voice by several notches.
She stood in front of me like a hungry lioness that was about to scratch my face off with her claws and
then gut me.
She and I were just ordinary colleagues.
We were not friends or in good terms in any way.
Ever since we met, I had always felt like she hated me, and that feeling had been supported by her
behavior toward me.
When she heard the rumors going around, she was one of the first people to mock me with them.
It was ridiculous that she and everybody else thought I was Charles's mistress.
"I'm not having an affair with anyone, Fiona.I'm not desperate, and I have some self-respect.I would
never date a married man just so that I wouldn't be single,"
I retorted, holding my head high.
After that, I walked away.I had more important things to do than engage in pointless arguments with
judgmental people.
Just as I was preparing for my next interview, Nina trotted over to me, her anxious voice filling my ears.
"Scarlett! Have you read the news?"
She waved her phone at me.
"They're saying that you stole Rita's husband! Oh, my God! I can't believe that woman is slandering
you for publicity! It's such a desperate and pathetic move!"
Nina was so angry that I could see smoke coming out of her ears, but I had gotten used to it.
"I thought she was supposed to be critically ill.How does she have the energy to go around and make a
scene all the time? Is she just pretending to be sick so that she can get attention?"
Nina surmised in a low voice.
Although I was a little stunned by her question, I just shook my head.
"She's sick, Nina.And if she wasn't, she wouldn't be able to hide it from Charles."
"Scarlett! Why do you trust Charles so much?"
Nina looked at me in disbelief.
"Because I know him well."
I had never doubted Charles's love for Rita.
"Well, I still think that Rita is hiding something.You should look into her.Just because you trust Charles
doesn't mean you have to trust Rita, too."
Nina kept shaking her head and looking at me as if I was being a colossal idiot.
I just nodded perfunctorily.I did not have the time to think about the matter.I had work to do.
Time quickly passed.
Finally, it was time to get off work.
As soon as I walked out of the building, I saw Burton driving toward me.
"Mrs.Moore asked me to pick you up and drive you to the family villa."
I got in the car and instantly felt nervous.
There was a good chance that Charles would be at the villa as well, and I did not want to face him.
I did not care about what the news said about me, but Charles would not let it go easily.
Burton drove all the way to the villa.
When we arrived, I got out of the car and looked around.
I heaved a sigh of relief after confirming that Charles's car was nowhere to be found.
When I entered the house, I found everyone waiting for me in the living room.
Christine was the one to approach me first and gave me a hug.
"My dear Scarlett, are you okay? Just ignore those good-for-nothing tabloids.They have nothing better
to write about than attention seekers like Rita."
I was surprised to hear Christine bring up the news before I did.I flashed her a weak smile and helped
her to the sofa.
Before I could reply to her, I heard the front door swing open.
"Grandma."
Hearing Charles's voice made my heart leap to my throat.
Christine pressed her lips together in a thin line and eyed her grandson with so much disappointment in
her face.
Seeing that look on Christine's face and recalling what the news said about me, I felt dejected.
I just sat beside Christine in silence.
"What have you done, Scarlett? Why did you force Rita to kneel down like that?"
Charles asked impatiently, which upset me.
"I didn't force her to do anything.She knelt down herself to get people's sympathy.It was all an act, and
only idiots like you believed it," I backfired.
"Charles! Do you have to talk to Scarlett like that as soon as you set foot in the house?"
Alice glared at Charles.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the living room became cold and strained.
"Alas...Things couldn't go on like this.Charles, Scarlett, I think it's better if you two get a divorce."
Christine finally broke the long silence.
I whipped my head at her and looked at her with wide eyes.
The first time Charles and I told Christine that we were getting a divorce, she got so furious that she fell
ill and got hospitalized.
But now, it seemed like she was finally giving us her blessing.
And I knew that she was only doing it for my sake.
I wrinkled my nose as a pang of guilt pierced my heart like a wooden stake.
"What do you think, Michael?"
Christine turned to ask Michael who was watering some flowers in one corner of the living room.
"I'll allow it as long as it's okay with Scarlett.Scarlett, have you found another man to spend your life
with?"
Michael left his flowers at once, trotted over to me, and sat beside me.
"I think Spencer is a great guy,"
I lied through my teeth.
"He most definitely is not! He's a playboy!"
Michael protested immediately.
"Grandpa, Charles thinks that Spencer and I are a perfect match.In fact, he has been trying to set us
up," I said lightly.
All I wanted was to divorce Charles and make him disappear from my life as soon as I could.
Lying about Spencer's track record with women was a small price to pay for that.
All of a sudden, everyone turned to look at Charles.
"Yes.I think Spencer will be good for Scarlett," Charles agreed.
"I beg your pardon?"
Michael almost sprang to his feet.
"I don't mean to judge your friend, Charles.But I think we all know what kind of a man Spencer really
is.You can't do this to Scarlett,"
Alice muttered, rolling her eyes at her son.
"I think David is more reliable.We have discussed before that he is a good young man,"
Lawrence, who had been silent since I arrived, suddenly suggested, He darted his gaze at me, and I
saw a shadow of guilt in his eyes.
I did not expect him to vouch for David.
So they had thought about fixing me up with David? But why was Charles pushing Spencer? I chanced
a glance at Charles, but he averted his eyes.
Charles's POV:
I did not expect that my lies would be exposed.
"Very well.Charles, come to the study with me."
Grandpa looked at me sternly and went upstairs.
Keeping my eyes away from Scarlett, I followed him in silence.
As soon as I entered the study, Grandpa turned to me.
"Go on.What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I don't want to divorce Scarlett, Grandpa.I want to take good care of her," I answered seriously.
At present, that was the only truth I could tell.
"Then sever your ties with Rita.You should announce to the public thal you've been married to Scarlett
for three years now."
Grandpa spoke without looking at me.
Instead, he began rummaging in one of his desk drawers.I had nothing to say to his last remark.
I had promised to marry Rita and give her a perfect wedding.
My silence apparently irritated Grandpa.
He was probably thinking that I was trying to arrive at a situation wherein I could be with Scarlett and
Rita at the same time.
"You really disappoint me, Charles.Take your marriage certificate.Don't use me and your grandmother
as an excuse anymore."
After saying that, Grandpa pushed me out of his study and slammed the door behind me.
I went downstairs with our marriage certificate in hand and my mind in shambles.
"Charles, you've got the marriage certificate, haven't you?"
I was surprised to find Scarlett waiting for me at the bottom of the staircase.
Instinctively, I shoved our marriage certificate in my back pocket.
She looked at me expectantly with her big, charming eyes, and my heart ached.
Why was she so eager to get rid of me? I did not answer her.
Seeing that I did not say anything, Scarlett grabbed my wrist, shoved me into the bathroom, and shut
the door.
"Have you got our marriage certificate or not?" she asked in a low voice.
"No." I shook my head.
"Why else would Grandpa talk to you in the study? Don't lie to me."
"If you don't believe me, you can frisk me," I replied in a provocative tone.
As I expected, a muscle flickered in Scarlett's jaw.
She was annoyed, but she still reached out with trembling hands to search me.
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