Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Brandon's eyes were shut tight, his brow furrowed, his face flushed an unhealthy shade of red as he breathed heavily.

Elizabeth's heart pounded wildly.

Scarlett had left. Brandon was at his most vulnerable right now, when he needed comfort the most.

She walked over in her heels, shrugged off her coat and tossed it carelessly onto the sofa, revealing the flimsy camisole dress underneath.

"Brandon..." Elizabeth softened her voice, kneeling beside him as she deliberately pressed her warm body against his arm.

She reached out, eagerly working at the buttons of his shirt, trying to take advantage of the situation.

Just as her hand slipped inside against his warm chest, the living room's overhead lights suddenly blazed on.

"Ms. Perez, what are you doing!" Ursa stood in the doorway holding a bowl of hangover soup, her shocked cry ringing out at the scene before her.

Several servants on night duty rushed over at the sound, staring with varied expressions at Elizabeth, disheveled and straddling Brandon.

Elizabeth jerked her hand back as if electrocuted, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson.

To be caught red-handed by a group of servants doing something so shameless—she was so mortified she wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

She frantically grabbed her coat from the sofa to cover herself, scrambling to her feet in complete disarray.

Ursa ignored her, hurrying to Brandon's side.

The moment she touched his arm, Ursa was startled by the scorching temperature.

"Call the doctor! Mr. Robinson has a high fever!" Ursa shouted urgently.

Brandon showed no response to the commotion around him. His eyes remained tightly shut, pain etched between his brows, completely unconscious.

In a private room at Haven Healthcare Hospital, the sharp smell of disinfectant hung in the air.

Brandon opened his eyes, the weakness that followed his broken fever washing over him.

At his bedside, Elizabeth held a cup of warm water, her face full of concern.

"Brandon, you're finally awake." Elizabeth's voice was soft and sweet as she reached out to check his forehead.

Brandon turned his head away, his eyes cold as ice.

"Who told you to come?" His voice was hoarse, laced with undisguised disgust.

Elizabeth's hand froze, her eyes instantly reddening.

"You had a fever all night. I was worried about you..." She bit her lower lip, then steeled herself, "Brandon, Scarlett has already moved out. She doesn't care if you live or die. Just divorce her. Back in Luminous City, if I hadn't pushed you out of the way, you'd be dead. I ruined my leg for you. Isn't it only right that you marry me?"

Leveraging a debt for her own gain.

Looking at that pitiful face before him, Brandon felt nothing but revulsion.

Sophia's warning echoed in his ears, the truth about the Luminous City car accident becoming clearer.

"Marry you?" Brandon let out a cold laugh, mockery filling his eyes. "Elizabeth, aren't you overestimating yourself?"

He pushed himself up to sit, his gaze sharp as a blade. "I kept you in Imperial City, gave you a comfortable life, solely because of that life-saving favor. But gratitude isn't love. The person I love, from beginning to end, has only ever been Scarlett."

"Love her?" Elizabeth's face went deathly pale, jealousy twisting her expression. "She doesn't even want to look at you! She's living with Alex now!"

"Shut up!" Brandon roared furiously, his chest heaving. "Get out! Don't ever let me see you again."

"Brandon..." Elizabeth tried to play the victim and plead.

"Security!" Brandon pressed the call button without mercy.

Two bodyguards pushed through the door, directly grabbing Elizabeth and forcibly dragging her out of the room.

The room fell quiet. Brandon yanked the IV needle from the back of his hand and threw off the covers to get out of bed.

He had to find Scarlett.

An outdoor café near Central Park on the Upper East Side.

Winter sunlight streamed down on the patio umbrellas.

Scarlett wore a beige coat, cradling a hot coffee in her hands as she chatted with Alex across from her.

A faint smile played at the corners of her mouth, her whole demeanor relaxed and vibrant.

A black Maybach sat parked at the corner.

Brandon sat inside the car, staring fixedly at the scene.

Jealousy gnawed at his sanity like a venomous snake.

She gave him nothing but cold looks and wariness, yet she smiled so brightly at Alex.

He pushed open the car door and strode over with long, determined steps.

"Scarlett." Brandon's face was cold as he grabbed Scarlett's wrist and pulled her up from her seat.

A few drops of coffee spilled onto the table.

Scarlett recognized who it was, her expression instantly turning cold as she forcefully shook off his hand.

"What are you losing it over now?" Scarlett stepped back, disgust filling her eyes. "Brandon, did you have someone following me?"

She'd only moved out a few days ago, and he'd already tracked down her whereabouts with pinpoint accuracy.

"I didn't have you followed. I just wanted to see you." Brandon suppressed the anger in his chest, his gaze sweeping over Alex beside her, his voice harsh. "Come back with me. Stop hanging around with people who have ulterior motives."

Alex stood up, positioning himself in front of Scarlett, his tone gentle but unyielding. "Mr. Robinson, Scarlett is free now. Who she sees and where she goes is none of your business."

"Get lost." Murderous intent churned in Brandon's eyes.

"You're the one who should leave." Scarlett's voice was icy. She tugged at Alex's sleeve, looking at Brandon. "Brandon, stop showing up in front of me like some stalker. It's disgusting."

Alex glanced at Scarlett, murmured "I'll wait for you in the car," then turned and walked toward his vehicle at the curb, leaving them space.

Only the two of them remained on the street.

As the cold wind blew past, Brandon looked at Scarlett's indifferent face, his lofty pride completely shattered.

He stepped forward, softening his voice with an unprecedented humility.

"Lettie, I was wrong." Brandon's voice was hoarse, his eyes slightly red. "I sent Elizabeth away. I swear, I'll never let her appear in front of you again, never let her cause you even the slightest hurt."

Scarlett watched him quietly, as if observing a poorly acted performance.

"Come home with me, okay?" Brandon tried to take her hand, his eyes full of pleading. "I know losing the baby broke your heart. As long as you come back, we can start over. We can have another child. I'll give him the best of everything in the world..."

"Enough." Scarlett pulled her hand back, cutting him off without mercy.

Have another child? How could he speak of life so carelessly?

"Brandon, a dead child can't come back, just like a dead heart can't be warmed again." Scarlett's eyes were hollow, completely devoid of emotion. "Your promises, your devotion—they're worthless to me. Sign the divorce papers. That's the only thing you can do for me."

Brandon froze in place.

That irredeemable sense of despair was like an airtight net, strangling his throat and suffocating him.

Just as the two stood locked in this standoff, the sharp screech of tires tearing against pavement shattered the street's tranquility.

A black sedan suddenly veered out of control, jumping the curb and charging straight toward Scarlett like a crazed beast.

"Watch out!"