Chapter 118

Chapter 118

The deep autumn chill cut through Long Island Estate, but the master bedroom was warm with the heat turned up high.

Since the night Scarlett came back from Alex's apartment, Brandon's attitude had changed in ways anyone could see.

He became extremely restrained and gentle. He stopped forcing her, picked her up and dropped her off on time every day, and would even bring her a cup of warm milk when she stayed up late reading medical journals.

This quiet, steady care was like slowly heating water — it gradually melted the ice Scarlett had built around her heart.

One night, Scarlett jolted awake from a nightmare.

Brandon pulled her into his arms right away. He didn't cross any lines — just gently patted her back with his large hand and murmured soft words to calm her down.

In that moment, Scarlett noticed the red in his eyes, and the tension she'd been holding suddenly let go.

She reached out on her own and grabbed the front of his pajamas.

That small gesture became a kind of silent permission.

Brandon's breath caught. Then he leaned down and kissed her.

No violence, no taking — just pure tenderness and restraint.

They came together on the wide leather bed, and in that desperate closeness, Scarlett closed her eyes and chose to trust him one more time.

Afterward, Brandon held her from behind, his chin resting in the curve of her shoulder.

"Lettie." His voice was low and rough, soft with satisfaction. "Let's start over. Once you're fully healed, we'll have another child. What do you say?"

Scarlett lay against him, listening to his steady heartbeat, andsaid yes.

That weekend, Brandon took Scarlett to the Robinson Villa for afternoon tea with Sophia.

They had just reached the living room when they saw Elizabeth standing in the doorway.

She'd lost a lot of weight. She wore a thin white dress and held several boxes of expensive supplements. Her eyes were red, and she looked fragile and pitiful.

When she saw Brandon walk in with his arm around Scarlett, a flash of jealousy crossed her eyes — then she quickly replaced it with a wounded expression and stepped forward.

"Brandon." Elizabeth's voice broke. "My mom is in prison. I've been alone in my apartment and I'm scared. I just came to see Mrs. Sophia Robinson..."

Brandon stopped walking. The hand around Scarlett's waist didn't loosen one bit.

"You're not welcome here." Brandon's voice was ice cold. He cut right through her act without mercy. "I don't care what you're after. Don't show up in front of Scarlett again. If I catch you pulling any more tricks, I'll make sure you can't stay in Imperial City."

Elizabeth went pale, staring at him in disbelief.

Brandon didn't spare her another glance. He kept his arm around Scarlett and walked straight into the living room.

Elizabeth stood there alone, her nails digging hard into her palms.

She watched their close figures walk away, and hatred spread through her like a weed she couldn't pull out.

A few days later, the Robinson Villa dining room was bright with light.

The long oak table was covered with a full spread for dinner.

Brandon sat beside Scarlett and naturally reached for her plate, placing carefully deboned cod into her bowl — practiced and thoughtful.

Sophia sat at the head of the table. Watching the two of them finally look like a real married couple, she nodded with quiet satisfaction.

The mood was warm and easy — until a jarring ringtone broke the calm.

Brandon glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing slightly. It was Haven Healthcare Hospital.

He answered. The voice on the other end was urgent. Brandon's expression shifted instantly.

He hung up, held the phone in his hand, and turned to look at Scarlett. There was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, and worry he couldn't quite hide.

"What's wrong?" Scarlett set down her fork, her voice steady.

"Something happened to Elizabeth." Brandon's voice was tight. "She cut her wrists in her apartment. She's in the emergency room now — severe blood loss. It's serious."

The dining room went quiet. Sophia's face darkened and she was about to say something, but Scarlett spoke first.

"Go." Scarlett looked him in the eye. "It's a matter of life and death. Go check on her."

Brandon held her gaze for a long moment. Something like gratitude passed through his eyes.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back as soon as I'm done."

Then he grabbed his coat and left quickly.

Scarlett waited in the master bedroom until deep into the night.

The antique clock on the wall pointed to two in the morning. Outside the window, the first snow of winter had begun to fall over Imperial City.

Then came the sound of quick footsteps in the hallway.

The bedroom door was pushed open hard. Brandon walked in carrying the cold air and a sharp smell of antiseptic. There were even a few dark red bloodstains on his coat.

Scarlett stood up from the sofa. She was about to ask what happened when Brandon walked straight toward her and grabbed her wrist.

"Scarlett, come with me to the hospital." His voice was urgent — almost like an order that left no room for argument.

Scarlett froze. "Why would I go to the hospital?"

"Elizabeth lost too much blood. The hospital's RH-negative supply is critically low, and there's no time to get more from another city." Brandon stared at her, his eyes full of desperation. "You're the same blood type. You're the only one who can save her. It's just a blood draw. I promise it won't hurt you."

It was as if the heat in the hallway had stopped working.

Scarlett went cold all over. Her blood felt like it was running backward.

She stared at this man in front of her — his face tight with urgency — and her mind suddenly flashed through the past few days. His careful attention to her every need. The warm milk he brought her. The nutritious meals he made sure she ate on time. The tenderness in his voice when he talked about having another child.

Now she understood.

All that care, all that gentleness, all those small compromises — none of it was about starting over.

He had been keeping her healthy so she'd be ready to give fresh blood to the woman he truly cared about, whenever it was needed.

She wasn't his wife. She was Elizabeth's personal blood supply.

It felt like an invisible hand had reached into her chest and crushed her heart. The pain made it almost impossible to breathe.

Scarlett yanked her wrist free and stepped back.

"Brandon." She looked at him, and every last trace of warmth drained from her eyes — even the final flicker of hope turned to ash. "You want me to give blood to the person who killed my child?"

Brandon's brow tightened. He stepped forward, trying to explain. "Scarlett, this isn't the time to let your feelings get in the way! She's dying! Whatever happened before — this is a human life! I'll bring you straight back after the blood draw!"

"Let my feelings get in the way?" Scarlett almost laughed at how absurd it was. Her eyes burned red, but she refused to let a single tear fall. "What does it matter to me whether she lives or dies? I'd be glad to see her in hell right now!"

"Scarlett! When did you become so heartless?" Brandon was furious at her reaction. With Elizabeth's life on the line, his judgment had completely broken down. He reached for her again. "Come with me!"

"Don't touch me!" Scarlett grabbed the crystal glass from the table and hurled it at the floor near his feet.

The sound of it shattering cut through the silence of the bedroom like a blade.