Chapter 115 Hurt Her Heart
"You still haven't answered me, who is that man?" Ambrose's voice was clear and sharp, tinged with hostility.
Scarlett sensed the hostility, and seeing she couldn't push him away, knew that if she didn't answer, he'd keep her here all night. So she told him.
"My senior from school."
He lifted his head from her neck. In the dim light, his narrow eyes glowed green like a wolf eyeing struggling prey, looking as if he might pounce and tear her apart at any moment.
"Just a senior?"
His tone revealed no emotion, but from the micro-expressions on his face, she could tell he was on the edge of rage.
Scarlett felt annoyed. Why should he get to appear and disappear from her home whenever he pleased? He could go on blind dates, but when she had drinks with a male friend, he questioned their relationship?
"What else did you think - a blind date?"
Unable to control her anger, she blurted out the words about blind dates.
The moment "blind date" came out, Ambrose went still. The green glow in his eyes gradually softened in the dim light. A few seconds later, he lowered his head, forehead to forehead, pressing closer with deliberate playfulness.
"Did Hayden tell you I went on a blind date? Are you jealous?"
Actually, as soon as the words left her mouth, Scarlett realized she'd spoken too hastily. Now hearing the smugness in Ambrose's voice, she quickly explained.
"You're reading too much into it. I just don't like being interrogated like this."
After speaking, she pushed against him again, really disliking the intimate forehead-to-forehead position. But instead of moving him, her hand was caught by his strong palm and pressed back against the wall.
"If that's not it, why didn't you answer my calls? Why did you come here to drink?"
They were pressed so close there was barely any gap. Scarlett clearly smelled the sharp scent of alcohol and thought coldly - wasn't he here drinking too?
She said icily, "I didn't hear any phone ringing, and besides, drinking with people is my freedom."
The hostility that had just subsided in Ambrose surged back up. He was so angry his tongue swept across his teeth. He wanted to lose his temper, but worried that, like last time, his words would hurt her. For a moment, he didn't know what to do with her.
At the peak of his anger, he lowered his head and fiercely sealed her lips.
It happened too fast. By the time Scarlett realized what was happening, she was already being kissed. His intensity made it seem like he wanted to kiss her to death. She couldn't move and could only make muffled sounds.
Ambrose ignored her muffled protests, venting his anger through the kiss. Only when he'd kissed away his anger did he release her.
As soon as he let go, Scarlett gasped for air as someone pulled her from drowning.
Was he trying to kill her?
These past few days, she'd been suppressing her anger, and because of his actions today, the grievance in her heart suddenly magnified. Her nose stung, and tears silently streamed down her face.
When the tears fell, Ambrose was stunned. All his anger evaporated.
Even when Scarlett was angry before, she'd at most ignore him - she'd never cried. Now she was crying, silently crying, as if she'd suffered some terrible injustice.
He quickly released her and frantically tried to wipe the tears from her face, but Scarlett turned her head away, not letting him touch her.
He could only pull her into his arms. Scarlett's whole body rejected him. "Don't touch me."
"Okay, it's my fault." Ambrose's arms held her tightly, not letting go. Seeing she couldn't push him away, Scarlett bit her lip and stopped struggling, just raising her hand to wipe her tears.
People were coming and going here. Though passersby wouldn't deliberately stop to watch, they'd still glance over. Ambrose didn't like being watched, so he walked away with her in his arms.
He went up to a private room on the second floor, settled her on the sofa, poured her a glass of water, and handed it to her.
Scarlett was using tissues to wipe the tears from her face and didn't take it. Ambrose set the water on the table and sat down beside her.
By now, Scarlett's emotions had gradually stabilized, and she began to feel annoyed with herself. Why had she cried just now?
Who knew how he'd make fun of her for this later? After thinking it over, she took a deep breath, tossed the crumpled tissue into the trash, and said.
"The alcohol just hit me earlier. I got confused for a moment and didn't control my emotions well. Don't take it to heart."
"My friend is still downstairs, so I'll be going."
With that, Scarlett stood up, looking like she was about to leave. Ambrose raised his hand and grabbed her wrist, his clear eyes staring straight at her.
"Let's talk."
Scarlett didn't look at him, just said coldly.
"If there's something to discuss, let's talk about it when we get back!"
Ambrose didn't let go. Instead, he stood up and said to himself, "Can't you see how wronged I am?"
Scarlett looked up. Those eyes that had just shed tears and were still moist now held a hint of sarcasm as she looked at him.
"You're wronged? You have the nerve to say that I don't even have the nerve to listen."
"I called you, and you didn't answer. I was worried something had happened to you and rushed over to find you. And what do you do? You're here with another man, heads together, laughing and chatting, having a great time, completely forgetting about me. And I didn't even dare approach you, afraid you'd get angry and give me the cold shoulder again."
Every word from Ambrose was an accusation, as if she were some heartless woman.
Scarlett took a deep breath, suppressing her urge to explode, and said, "I was just chatting with my senior and classmates. How does it sound so terrible coming from you?"
"That's the truth. If you don't believe me, I'll show you the video I recorded later."
He actually recorded it? What was he thinking?
Scarlett had lost her temper by this point. Seeing this, Ambrose pulled her hand, furrowed his brow, and sighed.
"I've been busy all day, so tired my back is killing me. Then tonight I had to watch you laughing and chatting with another man, and I couldn't even show myself. Tell me, aren't I more wronged?"
As he finished speaking, Ambrose reached out to hug her. Scarlett pushed against him, not wanting to be held. Seeing this, Ambrose didn't force her but sat down on the sofa, pounding his lower back as he did.
Scarlett watched him, not knowing what to say for a moment, just standing there staring at him. After a while, she muttered.
"Stop playing pitiful in front of me. Just now, you didn't seem tired or like your back was hurting."
Ambrose sprawled on the sofa, eyes locked on her. "Even a dead person could be angered enough to jump out of their grave. My back straightened up from anger."
Scarlett raised her hand to her forehead. "I was just chatting with my senior. How did that make you angry?"
Ambrose immediately launched into his grievances. "This whole time, you've not only been ignoring me, but you wanted to cut ties completely. Then you turn around and chat enthusiastically with another man, acting like you're about to dump me for someone new."
Scarlett was so choked up that she couldn't say anything to refute him.
She had indeed thought about dumping him tonight, but she hadn't thought about finding someone new.
Seeing she didn't refute him, Ambrose's heart skipped a beat. Did she really want to cut ties with him?
Because of that man?
No, she'd said she wasn't planning to start a new relationship so soon.
Then it must be because of what he said that day, it hurt her?
And tonight, when she suddenly cried, that was the cry of someone deeply hurt. He had hurt her heart.
Thinking this, Ambrose couldn't stay calm anymore. He stood up again, stepped forward, and pulled Scarlett into his arms.
"What I said that day - I know no apology can make up for hurting you. Hit me to let off some steam."