Chapter 291 What Did You Promise Him

Chapter 291 What Did You Promise Him

Scarlett's face instantly flushed red. She bit her lip, pushed back her chair and stood up.

"I'm going to the restroom."

She quickly walked out.

Daniel raised his hand to touch the corner of his lip, looking at the faint trace of blood on his fingertip. He didn't explain. Instead smiled and also stood up.

"She's not feeling well, I'll go check on her. Please, everyone enjoy your meal."

After they left one after another, Ingrid looked at Theron.

"Theron, you saw it yourself. Even though they're separated, they still have that married couple chemistry. Stop being the bad guy. You're standing up for Mrs. Wilson, but she probably finds you annoying and doesn't appreciate it at all!"

Theron's expression didn't change at all. He just took a small sip of wine and said.

"She won't."

Scarlett wasn't that kind of person, and Daniel should know how much gossip and hurt Scarlett had endured behind the scenes.

If Daniel couldn't even handle this much, he didn't deserve to pursue Scarlett.

Ingrid snorted softly, "How do you know she won't? Theron, when did you two become so close? I had no idea."

Theron poured Ingrid a glass of fresh juice. "Just eat your food."

Ingrid looked playful. "I'm only doing this because I care about you, like you, and don't want you to get hurt! Otherwise who would bother! Grandpa, look at Theron!"

She complained to Steven, who smiled and said.

"Theron, Scarlett is wonderful, but I think their marriage isn't quite over yet."

Ingrid immediately nodded. "See, even Grandpa says so. Theron, instead of focusing on a woman who already has feelings for someone else, why don't you pay more attention to me? I'm pretty too."

Ingrid propped her chin on her hand, staring straight at Theron and blinking.

Theron just glanced at her and said helplessly, "I've been looking at your face since we were kids. No matter how much I look at you, I only see you as my sister!"

Ingrid protested, "But I heard that Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Wilson used to be family too."

"It's different, Ingrid, stop it!" Theron shook his head firmly.

Scarlett only came to The Wilson Mansion when she was eight. Even if Daniel treated Scarlett like a sister back then, he knew very well she wasn't his real sister.

But how could Theron and Ingrid be the same?

He was adopted by Sophia and given the Howard surname before Ingrid was even born. In Howard's heart, Ingrid had been like a real sister from birth.

So no matter how much Ingrid confessed her feelings, he just thought she was being childish.

They had absolutely no chance together.

Ingrid's eyes reddened, and she clenched her fists. "There's no difference, you're too much!"

She pushed back her chair and ran out.

Theron shook his head but didn't chase after her.

Steven also sighed but said anything.

Theron wasn't blood-related to the Howard family. If he could be with Ingrid, they as elders would be happy to see it.

After all, Steven had watched Theron grow up. He was absolutely responsible and reliable, with unquestionable character.

But Theron clearly had no romantic feelings for Ingrid, and that couldn't be forced.

Steven would never use the kindness of raising him to pressure Theron emotionally. That would only harm both Theron and Ingrid.

"Steven, why isn't Sophia back yet?"

Maeve, however, kept glancing toward the door. When she still didn't see Scarlett return, she grew anxious again.

Steven peeled a shrimp and put it in Maeve's bowl. "Here, eat your food. If Sophia still doesn't come back, I'll go out with you to find her."

Maeve quickly began eating. Steven turned Theron.

"Theron, tell me more about Scarlett. She and our family seem to get along very well."

Theron actually didn't know everything about Scarlett. After all, he had never conducted a full investigation into her background.
What he knew came from the things he had paid attention to out of personal interest..

He briefly told Steven about Scarlett's background. Steven's face showed sympathy and compassion.

"She's also a child who's had a hard life. Take care of her when you can."

Perhaps because they clicked, Steven couldn't bear to see Scarlett suffer. He'd help however he could.

Daniel rushed out after her. He waited outside the restroom for a long time, but never saw Scarlett come out.

Instead, Steven, seeing that everyone was taking so long to return, sent Theron out to find them.

When Theron saw Scarlett, she was standing under a tree looking up at two small birds.

"My mother was the late Ms. Howard's assistant and good friend. During a site inspection, there was an accident, and my mother died protecting Ms. Howard."

A voice suddenly came from beside her. Scarlett turned her head, looking at Theron with slight surprise.

He looked down at her, and Scarlett realized he was explaining his relationship with the Howard family.

"I see. You must have been young then too?"

"Yes, I was from a single-parent family, not yet five years old. Ms. Howard brought me back to the Howard family. To prevent me from being looked down on, she changed my surname to Howard and had me call her aunt. She was already pregnant with Ingrid at the time, but she treated me like her own. After she passed away, Grandpa and Grandma also treated me no differently from their own grandchildren, and I only see Ingrid as my sister."

By the end of what he said, Scarlett realized that Theron wasn't explaining his background, but his relationship with Ingrid.

So that's how it was.

Thinking about it, Scarlett understood. If Theron really was raised by the Howard family from childhood as Ingrid's fiancé, why would they have him change his surname to Howard?

They let Theron change his surname to Howard because they saw him as their own child. If he was being raised as Ingrid's fiancé, they wouldn't have changed his surname.

But Theron really didn't need to explain all this to Scarlett.

Scarlett's eyes flickered, her lashes trembling rapidly. "Actually I..."

Before she could finish, Theron smiled and said.

"Actually you still love him, and forgiving him is just a matter of time. You want to subtly reject me again, right?"

Scarlett froze, not expecting him to be so direct, and felt embarrassed at having her thoughts seen through.

She was at a loss for words. After a long pause, she said.

"Is it that obvious?"

Theron raised an eyebrow, sounding somewhat helpless. "Because you really, truly never give anyone else even a bit of hope."

Scarlett fell silent.

His slightly accusing tone made Scarlett feel a bit ashamed, not knowing how to respond.

But Theron's eyes also seemed to carry a bit of playful teasing between friends, which was very relaxing.

During this time, Scarlett had also been struggling and conflicted. She had no one to talk to about her feelings, and didn't dare tell Sarah.

Sarah had been so badly hurt at the wedding because of her. What right did she have to forgive Daniel and continue being with him?

But the heart always refuses to be controlled.

"If I forgive him, wouldn't that be pretty pathetic and look down on myself?" Scarlett laughed self-mockingly.

Theron thought for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.

"Forgiveness takes more courage than leaving. Why would anyone look down on that? Matters of the heart are something only you can truly know. There's no such thing as pathetic or not pathetic.

If you forgive him, it only means the warmth and feelings he gave you are enough to offset the hurt he caused you."

Scarlett didn't know if that was true, but images flashed before her eyes - the snowman she saw when she opened the window in Aquilonia, the scene of Daniel appearing in the freezing snow.

And how well he took care of James, how he smiled like a fool when he saw Bunny during her prenatal checkup, and how Daniel nervously protected her when John appeared...

And Daniel saying they were saving each other, that if someone had to have a first love, no one could be earlier than her.

Scarlett had already let go of her expectations for love and stopped hoping.

But somehow, she started looking forward to the fresh start Daniel talked about. If they really could start over, would there be a different ending?

"Thank you, Theron, you..."

Scarlett looked up at Theron. Her eyes were clearer and more at ease, no longer so conflicted and heavy.

But before she could finish, Theron raised his hand to stop her.

"Let me guess - are you about to tell me I'm a good person?

Never mind, I don't accept empty compliments. How about you agree to one practical request instead?"

"What?" Scarlett was amused by his reaction and tone.

But Theron's smile faded slightly, and he said in a clear voice.

"If he hurts you again, give me a chance. How about it?"

Scarlett froze. Theron clicked his tongue.

"Is it that you have no confidence in him, or am I just that unlikeable?"

With Theron putting it that way, Scarlett couldn't help but smile.

"Okay." She agreed with a slight smile.

"Okay what? What did you just agree to!"

Just as Scarlett's voice fell, Daniel's familiar deep voice came from not far away.