“Jackson, I know you got engaged to my
sister for my safety. I want to tell you
something…‘
11
“Jackson… I like you, I really, really like you!”
Seeing Jessica, his beloved, confessing her
feelings, should have moved him deeply, but
surprisingly, he felt no overwhelming emotion.
He simply held her in his arms.
Back at his villa, Jackson tossed and turned
in bed. He closed his eyes, and my face
appeared.
When we first met, my eyes seemed to hold
the entire galaxy, even he, accustomed to
beautiful women, had been momentarily
captivated.
Later, when I deliberately seduced him, he felt
the pull, yet maintained his composure.
He’d been moved by my unconcealed
affection more than once, but then he’d
remember it was a betrayal of his feelings for
Jessica. He’d try to ease his guilt with
expensive gifts.
Hearing I was marrying into the Hayes family
earlier that day, his heart felt like it was being
squeezed, nearly causing him to lose his
composure.
“Scarlett…”
“Scarlett…”
He murmured in his half–sleep.
The shadowy figure at the door froze.
“Jackson…”
Jackson sat up abruptly, his eyes hazy as he
followed the sound.
“Scarlett! Is that you?”
“They said you’re marrying into the Hayes
family. I don’t believe it…”
He rushed towards the figure at the door,
embracing it, but upon seeing the face, he
slowly released his grip.
He sighed deeply.
“Jessica, it’s you…”
Jessica’s face was pale, her lip bitten, tears
welling up.
“Jackson… my sister is already married to the
Hayes family…”
“Jackson, Dad said you always liked me, not
my sister, right?”
Jackson was speechless.
Yes, he’d always liked Jessica, the girl who
had warmed his heart for over a decade. But
why couldn’t he give her a definitive answer?
Jessica, receiving no reply, made a decision.
She removed her nightgown and hugged him.
“Jackson, I can do what my sister did!”
“My sister is promiscuous, sleeping around,
but I’m still pure. Jackson, please hug me.”
Jackson frowned and pushed her away.
Mentioning me infuriated him.
“Enough, Jessica!”
“I haven’t agreed to break off the
engagement. Scarlett is still my fiancée, you
have no right to slander her!”
He grabbed his coat and keys and rushed out.
He realized he couldn’t stand hearing anyone
badmouth me.
He floored the gas pedal, but the wind
couldn’t calm him
He sat in the car all night.
The next morning, he realized he’d been too
harsh on Jessica.
He instructed his assistant, Peter, to prepare
gifts as usual, to apologize.
“Miss Jessica left early, apparently for coffee
with friends. She looked rather distraught…”
Jackson felt a pang of sympathy.
He loaded his car with bags and clothes and
went to the café where Jessica was meeting
her friends, but outside the private room, he
overheard her friend’s words.
“Jessica, Jackson is so good to you, we’re all
envious. He’s never treated Scarlett like that.
He was probably just in a bad mood
yesterday, why are you so upset?”
“Yeah, at the party, you deliberately attracted
that drunk guy, and Jackson protected you
without hesitation. Scarlett got injured, and
even had to give you a blood transfusion. It
Г
shows how little he cares about her.”
“And last time you went to her house to
provoke her, you were scared by her dog, and
Jackson had it gutted that night, all because
you made up a story that Scarlett hit you. He
had her tied up and slapped 999 times! I
watched the video several times; those guys
were brutal!”
“And at the bar, when you were attacked,
Jackson left Scarlett and protected you. He’s
used Scarlett as a shield for you…”
The women recounted the details, but
Jessica’s distress didn’t lessen.
“Stop… although Jackson said he likes me,
but yesterday… when he defended Scarlett…”
“You know Jackson thought I was the one
who bandaged his wound when he was a kid.
If he finds out it was that bitch, Scarlett, he
won’t care about me anymore!”
“Scarlett! It’s all her fault. She had everything
く
since she was little, and I have to take
everything from her…”
Before she finished, the door burst open.
Jessica was about to yell but saw Jackson’s
dark expression and panicked.
“Jackson! When did you get here!”
Jackson ignored her, staring at her, sending
shivers down her spine.
“You said Scarlett was the one who bandaged
my wound as a child!”
“It wasn’t me!”
“Jessica! You’ve deceived me all these years.
Good, very good!”
Jessica had never seen him like this; terrified,
she reached for his sleeve.
“Jackson… what I said wasn’t true…”
“I was upset last night, so I spoke without
thinking…”
Jackson wouldn’t listen to her lies. He
brushed her hand away.
<
“Call the airport, I’m going to the Hayes
family to bring Scarlett back!”
He sped to the airport. Thinking of Jessica’s
words, he felt a deep ache.
He couldn’t believe I was the girl he’d vowed
to protect years ago, yet had suffered so
much under his nose.
He had casually discarded my affection! He
had even inflicted the greatest pain and
hardship on me.
He made a decision. He would bring me back,
no matter the cost.
“Scarlett, the auction is about to start.”
A warm hand rested on my shoulder. I turned
to see my fiancé, Ethan Hayes, a handsome
man, unfortunately blinded in an accident six
months ago.
After the attack, the Hayes family had sent a
helicopter for me. The wound wasn’t fatal,
and I was healed after two weeks.
く
I remembered our first meeting. I was
changing my own bandages but spilled
medicine everywhere. He’d caught me before
I fell.
“Why didn’t you call a nurse?”
His voice was gentle, like him. I blushed.
“It was late, I didn’t want to bother anyone…”
I pulled the blanket higher, and he chuckled
softly.
“Don’t worry, I can’t see…”
“Let me do it.”
He took the cotton swab and carefully applied
medicine to my back.
The coolness on my back was strangely
sensual. Every night after that, Ethan was
there.
I even felt like marrying him wasn’t so bad. He
was courteous and caring.
Our wedding was in ten days, and everything
was prepared, but he insisted on finding the
<
perfect jewelry.
An auction was happening in Chicago. He
was waiting for me.
I linked my arm through his, whispering in his
ear.
“Ethan, you’re going to be broke today…”
Ethan blushed. He couldn’t see, but his eyes
were certain.
“Scarlett likes it, it’s worth it.”
Since my mother’s death, no one had said
that to me.
The auction was filled with wealthy people.
Even Ethan’s generosity couldn’t secure the
pink diamond I wanted.
I intended to use it for a necklace like my
mother’s, but I didn’t want Ethan to
antagonize anyone.
