Charles's POV:
I could see Scarlett from where I was standing.
"Honey!" she called.I knew that tone so well that I almost blurted my usual response out loud.
But the call wasn't for me anymore.It was now for the man whose arm she grabbed with one hand
while holding a beautiful gift box in the other.
She was not calling me.She was calling William.
In the blink of an eye, I felt empty inside.
For a moment, I considered rushing up to Scarlett and asking her if she had really forgotten me.I hadn't
seen her in a long time.
She had lost a lot of weight.Her hair was tied up in a ponytail with a white silk ribbon.
The ribbon was intertwined with her dark hair in a loose braid that sat atop her shoulders.
Under her curly eyelashes, her beautiful eyes shone as brightly as stars against a midnight sky.My
heart skipped a beat.
"What are you going to buy? Let me come with you," Scarlett said.
She seemed to be very happy as shown by the tender smile on her face and the sweet timbre of her
voice.
William took her hand, returned her smile, and said, "I'm going to buy some essentials for couples if
you know what I mean."
The intimacy between them was like vinegar to my tongue.
Scarlett burst into laughter, suddenly realizing what William meant.She playfully smacked him in the
chest and muttered, "You are so naughty."
If she hadn't said that, I would've forgotten one thing.
A long time ago, I hugged her and said something similar, and she said the same words in the same
flirtatious tone.
Hearing her speak that way to another man, I felt like a huge invisible hand just clamped around my
throat.
William giggled with her and then towed her to the store he wanted to visit.
Scarlett was still limping a little.
It was obvious that she hadn't fully recovered from her injury.
Their bodies were so close that it made me ball my hands into fists and look away.
I couldn't watch another second of their romantic bliss.I didn't expect that a myriad of feelings would
attack me this way upon seeing Scarlett again a year after our separation.I couldn't decide how I truly
feel at the moment.
Everything was just welling up inside me all at once.
It took all my physical strength to fight my urge to grab her and take her home.I knew I didn't deserve
her.
Her gentle smile and kind heart no longer belonged to me.
Did she really lose her memory? I thought it was possible.
Otherwise, how could she take William as her husband? But when I saw her in that news segment, she
behaved normally.
Also, when I talked to Tracy the other day, I could tell that she was hiding something from me.I allowed
myself to get lost in my reverie.
"Hi, sir.How may I help you today?" a sales clerk approached me and asked.
"No, thanks.I'm fine," I said quickly and took another look in Scarlett and William's direction.
I took a deep breath and decided to follow them.
Scarlett's POV:
William took me to a lingerie store that had an ambiance that resembled a cozy coffee shop.
Pretty mini crystal chandeliers lined the ceiling and scattered warm yellow light all over the place,
making the products look enticing.
I looked around and saw all kinds of beautiful, sexy, and daring underwear.
"Pick the ones you like, honey.I'll buy them, and then you can show them to me at home," William
whispered in my ear.
"What?"
"You heard me.Go shop."
I grabbed a shopping trolley from nearby and started checking out the store's stuff.
For some certain reason, I couldn't help looking outside.
"Are you ready?" William asked, walking up to me.
"I think so," I answered, whipping my head back to him.
He was smiling mischievously at me.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you sure you want to show me these?"
I quickly looked down and found that the items in my trolley were several extremely sexy bras and
nightgowns.I swallowed, and my face instantly flushed like a cooked shrimp.I felt like my parents just
caught me watching porn in my room.I was so embarrassed that I prayed for the floor to split and
swallow me.
Looking at the sales clerk who was watching me with an ambiguous grin, I said in a trembling voice, "I'll
take these, please."
"You have excellent taste, miss.These are our best- selling lingerie," the sales clerk beamed, took over
the shopping trolley, and led me to the checkout counter.
After paying the bill, I felt someone hold me from behind.
I turned my head and caught a glimpse of William's smiling face.
We were so close together, and it made me feel a lot of confusing emotions.
"Are your new lingerie paid for?"
"Yes," I nodded.
"Good.Then let's go home.I want to see you in them," William whispered.
"Stop it.We're in a public place,"
I murmured, glancing at the sales clerk who was watching us but pretending she wasn't.
"So what? Am I not allowed to be sweet to my wife in a public place?"William challenged and didn't let
go of me.I could feel his hot breath on my neck, but my heartbeat kept its steady pace."Okay.I hope
you're ready to perform when we get home," I said, turned around, and flashed William a crooked
smile."Ready to perform?"
William backfired, paused for a moment, and added, "You know damn well that I'm always ready."
All of a sudden, scenes that should've been blurry images in my brain flashed through my mind in high
definition.I shook my head, and they disappeared in an instant.
The next moment, I wasn't in the mood anymore to act all lovey-dovey with William.
"I just gave birth to twins.You're going to have to hold your horses, Mr.Always Ready."
"But I've already held my horses for months," William whined, still enjoying the acting.
The sales clerk packed my purchases in a glossy paper bag, handed it to me, and commented with
admiration, "You two are so sweet.Actually, you only need to wait forty days after delivery to resume
your sex life."
"But I had a Cesarean section."
"Oh? Well, in that case, you should take at least three months to fully recover."
Looking at the concerned and gossipy expression on the sales clerk's face, I could only think about
leaving the store as soon as I could.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of the conversation.
William whipped his head at me and complained, "Three months? I still have a month left to suffer?"
"Don't talk nonsense.We're done here.Let's go,"
I snapped and nudged William to leave.
"My wife is a shy person,"
William smiled at the sales clerk, put his hand on the small of my back, and walked me out of the
lingerie shop.
"What are we having for dinner tonight?"
I changed the subject on purpose.
"Do I have the final say?"
William looked down at me with a smile on his face.
"Fine.I'll allow it."
"Really? I can decide?"
"Sure."
"Will you be my woman?"
"Okay."
As soon as I finished speaking, I suddenly realized what just happened.
"William!"
He tricked me! I tried to break away from his arms, but he just held on more tightly.
William laughed.
"You already said yes.No backing out now.You have to keep your word."
I snapped at him, "Stop messing around!"
"I'm not messing around.Why? Don't you want to be my woman?" As he spoke, he lowered his head
and attempted to kiss me.I suppressed the impulse to push him away.Instead, I just turned away.
"I already told you.This is a public place.Let's just go home first."
William's face turned a little gloomy, but he quickly pulled himself together.
"Very well.I'm really looking forward to tonight."
Not long after we walked out of the shop, William suddenly swept me off my feet and carried me in his
arms.I was So Startled that I almost full-on screamed.
Good thing I was able to cover my mouth.
"What are you doing? Put me down."
"You're not yet fully healed.You can't be on your feet for too long,"
William said, refusing to set me down.
Feeling helpless, I wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered, "That's enough.You can stop
acting now."
William didn't say a word.
He just smiled and continued to walk out of the mall with me in his arms.
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