Chapter 31

Scarlet's POV.

“So the news of our fight went directly to your family? It was between us, right? So why did you tell them? You are really something.” I am getting angry again.

Since I got married, the level of my anger has risen uncontrollably. I can't seem to control myself and end up speaking whatever comes to my mind.

“I told no one about our fight. You don't know, but dad adores you way too much, to the point he can't see you in trouble. He asked about you at the dinner table, and I said that you haven't come back from work yet. So he assumed that someone was bullying you. He was even going so far as to file a missing report case.” Raymond explained the situation to me.

“Why does dad love me so much? Do I remind him of someone he adored too much in the past?” I asked curiously.

He gave me a confused look. “Scar, not everyone in the world that loves you has ill motives. Sometimes people genuinely love you without expecting anything in return.” He said, caressing my cheek.

“I have been raised in a setting where trust was equal to zero. I have been betrayed all my life; love never came to me without a price. So there's no way I can trust anyone.” I replied.

In front of this person, I kept explaining myself at every point, as if his misunderstanding me would be the biggest loss.

While I applied ointment to his back, my heart kept hurting. Although it's him who's injured, I am the one feeling all the pain.

“You have given me a chance to prove my love to you. So please don't you ever think of giving up in the middle.” He looked dead serious.

I took his hand and matched his thumb to mine. “I give you my words. I will not back off no matter what happens or how dangerous the situation arises.”

His lips formed into a charming smile when he heard me. There's something magical about his smile. It just wants you to protect it.

After I finished applying ointment to his injuries, I politely asked him to put the shirt back on and then proceeded to read the same book again, which I picked up just out of boredom.

The start of my Sunday was quite chaotic and full of twists and turns, but right now it's peaceful, and I am enjoying myself. The burden on my shoulders has disappeared; I don't know how.

Just when I thought things couldn't go any more south, I once again got reminded that my life was f*cked up.

My phone started buzzing like crazy. At first, I ignored picking up the call, but it just won't stop buzzing. The psycho on the other side keeps calling me nonstop.

Raymond is in front of me, so how can I even think of picking up this call in front of him? Of course, I can't. So the only option left for me is to be secretive about it.

I took the phone and walked into the bathroom. I turned on the shower and sat on the couch. “Why are you calling me nonstop? If I am not picking up the call, just take the hint and stop calling me. But you...like an idiot, keep making me look suspicious in my husband's eyes.” I scolded him.

But it brought no use to me, because the person with whom I was dealing was no better than Satan. Ryan is like a ticking time bomb; you can't imagine when it will blast and bring ruin to your whole life.

“Scarlet, are you mad at me? Are you scolding me right now, the love of your life?” His voice suddenly became scary, as if he was ready for another threat.

“What...what are you saying, my love? How can I ever get mad at you or scold you? You are the love of my life, and I am forever grateful you came back to me.” I spoke in a babyish tone, trying to tell him that I didn't mean what I said earlier and that he shouldn't take my words seriously.

I am scared of Ryan; his whole existence is a threat to me. Every time I try to take him lightly, the universe hints me not to, or else something horrible might happen.

I still remembered what he told me. If I refuse to cooperate with him and return to him, he will kill Raymond, the husband of mine, on the papers and in public, and he will make me a widow.

“So you are not mad at me?” He repeated.

“Yes, my love! I am angry or mad at you. See how happy I am to hear your voice. I was just trying to tell you to not call me on repeated mode if I don't pick up your call once. You see, my husband was in front of me earlier. When he saw that someone was calling me, and I was not picking up, he gave me a doubtful look.” I fake explained myself.

What I said wasn't entirely wrong; there was ten percent truth in it.

“Alright! I got you.” He returned to his normal side again.

He gave me a sigh of relief by becoming normal again. But why did he call me?

“So why did you call me?” I asked.

“It's Sunday today.” He replied.

And now I am confused. I know it's Sunday, but what about it? Did he only call me to tell me that it's Sunday?

“Don't you remember where we used to go every Sunday? You used to take me to fancy restaurants on the weekend, feed me well, and make me special.” He reminded.

Now I remember. But how did I forget about this Sunday obsession?

When I was dating Ryan, I used to take him to fancy restaurants and feed him expensive and delicious food. Yes, I was poor back then since I used to spend all my money on the hospital bill. But I used to work extra shifts just to save tons of money to spend on my lover. It was my blood and sweat that I wasted on him.

But it's all in the past now. How silly I was in the past. I spent my fortune on such a loose man. How come I started liking this bastard? Just what did I see in him?

I return to the present and then force a smile on my face. “So you want us to spend this Sunday just like we used to spend it in the past?” I asked him.

“Yes, I want us to spend this Sunday just like our usual. It's been such a long time since I had something delicious and expensive. So where should we meet? On our regular meeting place?” He sounded excited.

“No! No more of that regular place. Let's meet somewhere else today. Or... I can just send you the restaurant address directly, and you just come there immediately. What do you say? It will save us so much time.” I said in a convincing tone.

“I have no problem. Until you find a restaurant, I should groom myself to look my best. You should also dress modestly. Don't come there looking like a nerd; it's embarrassing.” He... insulted me in the end?

I had the desire to slap him and asked him how the hell did he say that after making me pay for everything. The one who eats everything in the restaurant is him; he even licks the plate completely to not waste anything. And I spent not a single penny. The one who paid was always me.

To ensure he feels completely comfortable with me, I sacrifice all my needs and wants, just earning for my mother and him only. I don't regret spending on my mother, but I regret completing this jerk's wishes instead of mine. If only I spent all that money on myself, I would have been a lot happier.

“Alright then, I will see you at the location after I send you one.” I hung up the phone in him and searched for the cheapest restaurant.

“Since you want to eat delicious food, I will let you eat something really special.” I locked the deal and sent him the address. And I even restricted him from seeing the reviews of the restaurant.

I turned off the shower and came out of the bathroom. Raymond looked my way but once again focused on his thing.

“Our family will eat outside tonight,” said Raymond.

What? Eat outside? Just why now?

“I won't be able to join you all today. I have an appointment tonight, so you can just go without me.” I refused to go since I had somewhere else to be tonight.

“You have a work-related appointment even on Sundays?” He asked suspiciously.

“It's not work-related. I have a friend I am meeting tonight. So unfortunately, I won't be able to join you or our family.” I replied.

“Alright then, enjoy your date.” He wished me and then went downstairs.

Since Ryan told me to not dress like a nerd, I needed to dress something special that would make the ground beneath him disappear.

I have dressed up nicely, and now I am standing in front of the restaurant, waiting for him. Just kidding, I have dressed up like how I wanted to and am now waiting in the car a little far from the restaurant, watching Ryan look at the time again and again.

He was calling me continuously, as if he was on a mad spree.

I didn't pick up his calls intentionally; I waited and waited in the car to see that frustrated look on his face, and I got confirmation that he was angry enough to throw his phone on the wall. I got out of the car and walked to him.

“Ryan, so you are here. I was looking for you everywhere. I am sorry, I am too late.” I said to him while huffing.

I stood in front of him, and now all I could see was his jaw-dropping on the ground completely, his eye socket almost out as he had no words to say. Do I really look that breathtaking?

“You...what are you wearing?”