Scarlett's POV:
After we had our breakfast, Charles drove me to work.
Soon, we arrived at the TV station, but just when I was about to get off the car, he stopped me.
"I want to stay at your house tonight."
"Okay," I agreed without hesitation.
"You agree?" Charles seemed surprised.
"You'd better not ask again, or I might change my mind."
"Why are you being so cooperative all of a sudden? Did my kiss really satisfy you that much?"
Instead of answering him, I gave him a punch as I got off the car and left without looking back.I didn't
want to think about why I was willing to compromise.
Perhaps, it was because of what he said to me earlier in the morning, or perhaps, it was because the
photo of our kiss was now made public.I really could not tell which one was it.
The moment I stepped out of the elevator, I ran into Nina.
She gave me a wink.
"Scarlett, Mr.Lively is waiting for you in the reception room."
Upon hearing that, I was really annoyed as I did not expect Nate to come to me again.
After saying goodbye to her, I walked into the reception room.
Since I did not know what tricks he had up his sleeve this time, I figured that I had to be vigilant.
Nate greeted me as soon as I entered the reception room.
With a smile on his lips, he took out the exact gift box that I had thrown at his driver's face earlier that
morning.
"This is a gift for you.I hope you accept it, Scarlett."
Shaking my head, I replied coldly, "Mr.Lively, there is no need for you to give me such things, or
anything for that matter.After all, we have nothing to do with each other."
However, Nate smiled as he opened the box and showed it to me.
Inside the box was a beautiful diamond.
"I remember that when you were a child, you used to like such shiny things."
I thought of the shiny brooches that my father had given me while he was still alive, and I
subconsciously nodded with a smile.
"Scarlett, do you know how stunning you look when you smile?"
With the diamond in his hand, Nate walked towards me to grab my hand.
"Stay away from me!"
I roared and took a few steps back.
However, Nate continued to approach me without giving up.
"Mr.Nate Lively, please behave yourself!"
As I uttered those words, I kept telling myself to stay calm.
I passed by the table and walked towards the door.I decided that if he continued to approach me
against my wishes, then I would just leave.
"Honey, you are such a greedy one! You don't like this diamond because you feel that it is too small to
catch your eye, don't you?"
Nate asked, faking a brilliant smile.
"Mr.Lively, oh, you think I have no idea what's going on here? You just want me to leave Charles.In fact,
I know that you're not interested in me at all!"
I also gave him my best fake cold smile.I would be a joke if I had not read his mind yet.
His attempts to make me his mistress were actually an effort to clear out the obstacle for his daughter.
If I had agreed, then it would only ruin my own reputation and Rita would end up with Charles.
That way, he would be killing two birds with one stone.
‘'What a good plan! It's no wonder he was able to defeat my dad!'’
"No, no.you're very beautiful, indeed, Scarlett, and you really fascinate me."
"You might be speaking the truth here, but I don't find you attractive at all, Mr.Lively," I said coldly.
"I know that you like Charles, but there's just no way for you to be with him."
Nate's smile vanished as he said those words.
While we both were in a stalemate, someone knocked on the door.
I opened the door at once.Nina and Abner were outside.
"The meeting is about to begin, so it's time for us to go now, Scarlett,"
Nina said to me as she dragged me out of the reception room while giving a polite smile to Nate.
I could tell that the meeting was just an excuse to get me away from Nate.
We came to Abner's office to talk so that Nate would not be able to see through our made-up story.
Since I was able to get rid of him with their help, I heaved a sigh of relief and kept thanking them.
"Did he do something bad to you?" Abner asked with concern.
I told them that Nate gifted me a diamond.
"Oh my God! He is such a despicable man! Are you going to tell Charles about it?" Nina asked with a
worried expression.
I shook my head.I didn't want Charles to know about it.
"But if Charles doesn't interfere, then Nate will only keep making trouble for you, right?"
There was a hint of anxiousness in Nina's voice as she held my hand.
"I won't let others do such a thing to me."
I smiled to comfort them.
In fact, I soon realized that I had underestimated Rita and Nate's resolve to break my relationship with
Charles.
That noon, when I walked out of the studio, Rita approached me.
"Can you go out with me if you're not too busy, Scarlett dear?"
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Rita gave me a pitiful glance as she held my hand.
After thinking for a moment, I agreed.
There were two reasons for that.
One was that I did not want to irritate her, and the other was that I wanted to see what she was trying to
pull off this time.
I thought that she was going to take me to someplace fancy to show off.
But she did not.
She drove to a familiar road.
I was stunned when I looked out of the window.
Rita was taking me to the house where I had lived many years ago.
"How do you feel, Scarlett? It's still the same here, isn't it?"
After getting out of the car, Rita took a graceful stroll inside the community and turned back to look at
me.
She gave me a sweet smile, which would enchant any man, but I was not one.
I stared at the old buildings and the house I had lived in, lost in thought.
My father had jumped down from there.
The place carried a lot of happy memories of my family.
But Dad and Mom were gone now, leaving me alone.
The house was also taken away because of my father's case.
An emptiness engulfed my heart as I thought about it.
"Don't just stand there, Scarlett.Let's go and have lunch.I promise that you're going to love the place I
am going to take you to."
A while later, Rita walked to me and held my arm gently, as though we were friends.
Seeing that, I could not help but doubt the credibility of her words.
I was obviously not expecting her to take me to a restaurant that my family used to go to when I was a
kid.
After getting off the car, countless memories flooded my mind as I looked at the restaurant, which was
just like how I remembered it to be.
Leaving her behind, I walked in and found that even the restaurant's decor was the same.I felt as
though I had traveled back in time.
However, Rita didn't care about my neglect at all.
When I heard her laughter, I figured that she had entered the restaurant as well.
She seemed to be greeting everyone loudly, as if she was afraid that I might not hear her.
I didn't really care what she was talking about, so I deliberately avoided her as I walked to the corner of
the restaurant to look at some old paintings.
"Oh my God! Look who is here!"
All of a sudden, I heard a loud voice coming from behind me.
I turned around and found a middle-aged man, who was talking to Rita, looked at me with a smile.I was
in a trance for a second before I recognized him.
‘'Isn't he Victor, the owner of this place?’'
I had always like him and respected him.
He had shown me great hospitality in the past, and his wife, Sherry, had also cared for me.
"Scarlett, I haven't seen you in a long time! Hold on a minute, I'll be right back!"
Saying that, Victor walked to a room behind the counter.
"I am sure he is going to find Sherry.”
Whenever Charles brings me to this place, Sherry keeps talking about you.
Although I never asked her, Rita felt like she needed to explain it to me.
In other words, she was implying that Charles often brought her to the restaurant.
‘'Does she really think that I care?’' I ignored her.
Soon, Sherry showed up and gave me a big hug.
I hadn't seen her for so many years, so I held her hand and looked at her carefully.
She was still as beautiful, gentle, and enthusiastic as I remembered her to be.
We sat in a table and talked about how much we missed each other.
After a while, Victor and Sherry said that they would like us to stay for lunch.
I didn't want to bother them, but Rita agreed to stay before I could politely refuse them.
Seeing her innocent expression, I frowned as I forced myself to keep calm.
Once the food was served, Rita and I were let alone at the table as the couple had to take care other
guests in the restaurant.
"Scarlett, you know what? I'm going to marry Charles!"
Rita held my hand and added briskly, "And I want you to be my bridesmaid."
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