William's POV:
The four of us sat at the table in awkward silence.
Finally, I decided to chase away the tension in the air and picked up my glass.
"Scarlett, I was impressed by your professionalism and performance in the interview last time.I watched
the program, and I was very satisfied with it.Here's to you.Before Scarlett could raise her glass”
Charles interjected.
"Scarlett hasn't been drinking lately.But I'll drink on her behalf."
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Scarlett.
Somehow, I felt that there was something off and unnatural about her today.
I shrugged and emptied my wine glass.I took a glance at Rita again.
She seemed restless, and her face was pale.
Feeling sorry for her, I could not help saying, "Charles, maybe you and I should exchange seats so that
you could keep a closer eye on Rita."
"No."
"Yes."
Charles and Scarlett answered at the same time.
It was Charles who did not agree to my suggestion.
He narrowed his eyes at me as if telling me to mind my own business.
I cleared my throat, smiled awkwardly, and said nothing.
At this time, Rita raised her hand and put it over her chest.
A muscle flickered in her jaw, and she furrowed her brows.
The look of pain on her face was terrible to watch.
I instantly got nervous.
"Rita? What's wrong? Are you okay? Do you need a doctor?"
Rita pushed away my hand and bit her bloodless lip.
She flashed Charles a pitiful look.
"Charles, can you take me to the hospital? I don't feel well."
Seeing Rita beg like that made my heart ache.
She did not have to beg anyone to take care of her.She was a wonderful person.
She deserved to be taken care of.
I was extremely disappointed by Charles's attitude toward Rita, but I was in no position to tell him off
about it.
Ignoring Rita's sincere request, Charles rose from his seat and stepped out to make a phone call.
When he returned to the table, he started serving Scarlett food as if nothing happened.
I was confused by everyone's behavior.
Less than ten minutes later, a strong-looking, well-built man stormed in.
He was panting, and beads of sweat covered his forehead.
He looked like he ran all the way here.
He looked more like Rita's fiance than Charles did.
Rita's facial expression changed from pained to unhappy when she saw the newcomer.
She lowered her head as the man approached our table, and before he could say anything, Rita
snapped, "I'm fine.You can leave now."
Then, she started to eat without even looking at him.
Suddenly, she retched.
I was startled.
"Rita, are you really okay? Maybe we should take you to the hospital.”
Rita shook her head and retched again.Then, she rushed to the bathroom.The brawny man followed
her.Charles, Scarlett, and I were left at the table.
I refilled my glass with wine, took a sip, and carefully calculated the next words that I was going to say.I
finally went with, "Rita's pregnant, isn't she?"
Not even a shadow of a reaction passed over Charles's face.I could not decide if that was impressive
or wildly insensitive.
"You should go check on Rita, Charles,"
Scarlett urged, but she looked a little disappointed.
"Even you think the baby in Rita's belly is mine?"
Charles muttered.
Lowering her head, Scarlett replied, "Isn't it yours?"
Charles scoffed and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
I eyed the two of them carefully for a few moments and then asked Charles, "So what's your
relationship with Rita?"
"Rita and I have no relationship," Charles answered.
There was a trace of anger in his tone.
Intrigued by his reaction, I prodded, "Okay.How about you and Scarlett? What are you to each other?
And that man who just walked in and Rita.What's up with them? And aren't you supposed to marry
Rita, Charles?"
"No," Charles said through gritted teeth.
I stared at him with wide eyes.
Did he just say that he was not going to marry Rita? Then why was the news filled with stories about
them being engaged?
"Charles! How could you say that? You just got Rita pregnant, and now you're not only denying that
you're the father but also saying that you're not going to marry her? Are you really this heartless?"
Scarlett stood up and started yelling angrily at Charles.
Charles just sat there in silence, but it was obvious that he was trying ta rein in his emotions.
After a few moments, he rose and walked out.
After Charles left, Scarlett slumped onto her seat and heaved a frustrated sigh.
Her lips were pressed together in a thin line as if she was keeping herself from bursting into tears.
"Scarlett, are you all right?" I asked with concern, vaguely realizing the relationship between her and
Charles.
"I'm fine, William, but I have to go.I'm sorry," Scarlett said by way of goodbye, forced a smile, and then
left.
After she left, I went to the bathroom to find Rita.I was worried about her.
As I approached the bathroom, I overheard two people arguing.
"I will have an abortion."
I heard through the closed door.
It was Rita.
Her voice sounded a little strained.
I was about to come in when I heard a man's voice.
"Rita, this is also my child.You can't make this decision without my agreement.If you don't want our
baby, then I will raise it on my own.Just don't abort it."
Scarlett's POV:
I called Charles twice after leaving the restaurant, but he did not answer.I did not understand why he
just left me like that at the restaurant.
Thinking of the way he kissed me and the fact that Rita was pregnant, I felt like my head was going to
explode.
When I got home, Charles was not there.
I waited and waited until I could not sit still anymore.
So I went out and made my way to the tennis courts.
Maybe I would find him there.
It was Sunday, and the tennis courts were teeming with people who were looking to work out.
But I easily spotted Charles among the crowd.
He was playing with Spencer.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry, but I can't let you in.Mr.Moore instructed me to not let anyone bother him while he
was playing."
One of the staff stopped me at the entrance.
"Let me in.I need to talk to him."
I tried to force myself in, but the staff member stood like a brick wall in my way and fulfilled his duty.
"Charles! You and I need to talk right now!"
I yelled angrily.
Spencer turned his head toward my direction, stopped playing, and walked over to me.He nodded to
the staff, and then I was let in.
"Hey, Scarlett.What's wrong? You look upset."
"I need to talk to Charles, Spencer.This has to stop.I want a divorce right now," I said firmly.
"Well, not today.Charles is in a really bad mood, and you know there's just no talking to him when he's
irate, " Spencer replied.
"Rita's pregnant,"
I blurted out.
Charles and Rita were having a baby, and I had no business now more than ever coming between
them.
It was time to wise up and leave.
"And you think it's Charles's? Have you asked him if the baby is his? Scarlett, do you even know
Charles at all? Do you really think he'll betray you like that?"
It was obvious that Spencer did not believe that Rita's child could be Charles's.
Before I could retort, he pressed, "Charles is in love with you, and the last thing he wants to do is get
Rita pregnant.He'll never hurt you like that."
I turned a deaf ear to Spencer's words because if I allowed them to settle in my mind, I would make
another round of mindless decisions.
Enough was enough.
I needed to get divorced and leave Los Angeles forever.
"Charles's time has been divided between me and Rita.Now that Rita's pregnant, it just proves that
Charles has chosen her.It's time for me to go."
I paused and took a deep breath.
"If Charles doesn't agree to our divorce, I'll tell Michael and Christine that Rita is pregnant with his
child."
After I tried and failed to speak to him at the tennis courts, I did not see Charles for the next few days.
He was like an eel in my grasp, slipping away whenever I got my hands on him.
But since I had made up my mind to divorce him, I would not give up.I would not stop until his signature
was on the divorce papers.
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