Chapter 13 He Chose That Woman
Wesley was in his office, frantically dealing with a phone call from a partner wanting to terminate their contract. After finishing the call, he heard Scarlett's accusatory question and impatiently slammed down the folder in his hand.
"How would I know about that? Go ask my mother yourself. I don't have time to deal with your issues."
Despite Wesley's natural expression showing no signs of lying, Scarlett didn't believe him for a second. She leaned forward, placing both hands on his desk, her eyes flashing dangerously.
"Your mother taking Yara will only infuriate me. Want to bet? I could make one call, and by tomorrow, the Ross Group will be blacklisted by Ambrose."
Her intimidating demeanor was something Wesley had never witnessed before. He paused, silently weighing how much power her words actually carried.
Scarlett wasn't about to give him time to think. She laid out her terms.
"If you want your company to return to normal, accept my conditions. Your behind-the-scenes maneuvers are useless unless you want mutual destruction."
"Before the end of business today, I want to see my Yara. If I don't, I promise the Ross Group will become the first company in Silverlight City to be blacklisted into bankruptcy."
In the past, Wesley wouldn't have taken her words seriously, but with all the recent upheavals, he couldn't afford to dismiss her threat.
So when Scarlett turned to leave, he pushed back his chair and pursued her, grabbing her wrist at the doorway.
Scarlett reacted as if something filthy had touched her, yanking her arm away forcefully, stepping back, and looking at him with disgust.
"Don't touch me."
Wesley clenched his jaw in displeasure, his expression murderous.
"Who are you to be disgusted by me? You're more tainted than I am."
Scarlett regarded him coldly. "I may be tainted, but you're filthy. Revolting."
Her calm expression and measured tone were more devastating than any shouting could have been.
Wesley's gaze turned sinister, emanating dangerous energy as he grabbed her chin. "Filthy?" He snarled.
"Those women were pure and clean before they were with me. What about you? Were you innocent before any man touched you?"
Scarlett's face darkened. She raised her hand to slap Wesley's face, but he caught it mid-air as he continued his accusations.
"Scarlett, you pushed me to this. We could have been happy. You ruined everything. You made me endure four years of humiliation, and now you want to walk away and take everything from me. How can you be so cruel?"
Every word was an accusation.
Scarlett had grown numb to hearing comments like that, but her heart still ached. More than anything, she was exhausted and tired of living day after day circling around the same stain on their relationship.
She lowered her head, concealing the shadows in her eyes. When she spoke, her voice was as detached as still water.
"A marriage built on schemes will never be happy. Wesley, stop trying to push all the blame onto me. I won't accept it."
Wesley slowly released her hand. "There was no scheme at the beginning. When I said I married you because of your status, it was said in anger—anger over your betrayal. During these four years, when have you ever been warm toward me? When have you ever cared about me? I couldn't accept that. I didn't want you to feel good."
Scarlett hesitated, momentarily unable to free herself from his grip. Her thoughts were jumbled. How much of Wesley's words were true, and how much false?
Or was he just saying this to pacify her?
"I don't want a divorce either," Wesley added.
Scarlett raised her head in disbelief, her gaze cold as she looked into his eyes. Wesley's handsome eyes burned with the same intensity they had in college.
She froze for a moment, then blinked once, feeling the tension on her wrist. She shook off his grip, stepping back until her back touched the door. The coolness penetrated her clothes and seeped into her body, instantly clearing her mind.
In the past, she might have believed him, but after everything that had happened, he had no credibility with her anymore.
Wesley's sudden change of heart was nothing more than an attempt to stabilize the situation.
She saw through it and decided to call him out.
Scarlett's red lips moved. "You're planning to marry into the Powell family, yet you lie about not wanting a divorce. Do you think I'm that stupid?"
"It's not what you think between her and me. She has feelings for me, but I haven't promised her anything. That child—I also told that mistress to get rid of it." Wesley looked at her with seemingly sincere eyes.
As he finished speaking, a knock came at the door, diverting Scarlett's thoughts. She turned and pulled the door open to find the Powell family's daughter, Delta Powell, standing there.
Delta was startled to see Scarlett for a few seconds, then noticed Wesley behind her. Her brows furrowed slightly in apparent displeasure.
"Wesley, what are you two doing standing here?" She asked.
Wesley's gaze moved past Scarlett to Delta's face, his expression impassive as he replied, "Discussing some business matters."
Delta's disbelieving eyes shifted from Wesley to Scarlett. Scarlett met her gaze calmly. Perhaps because she was too composed, revealing no unusual signs, Delta finally retracted her scrutinizing gaze and said in the tone of a mistress of the house.
"Why are you discussing business at the doorway?"
"Just giving some instructions," Wesley said, then tried to dismiss Scarlett. "You can go now."
Scarlett had walked in on Wesley with other mistresses more than once. She had always retreated, privately nursing her hurt feelings. But today, she didn't want to be like that anymore.
He had just claimed he didn't want a divorce and had no intentions toward Delta. Well, she would give him a chance to prove it.
So she stepped aside, making way for Delta to enter first. Seeing this, Delta immediately became haughty.
"So you're Scarlett?" Delta stopped in front of her after entering the office, looking down at her.
Scarlett met her gaze without responding verbally, merely nodding in acknowledgment. This annoyed Delta, who immediately resorted to sarcasm.
"I see why you're being blacklisted. You don't even know how to greet people properly."
Scarlett's expression remained calm as she replied, "I don't have a habit of greeting strangers."
Delta's temperament couldn't tolerate any disrespect, especially from a woman who was more attractive than herself. She immediately turned to Wesley to complain.
"Wesley, why haven't you fired this employee with no manners? She's almost brought down the company."
Suddenly dragged into the conversation, Wesley glared darkly at Scarlett before barking, "Get out now."
Scarlett looked at him coldly, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of her lips. Wesley understood exactly what that smile meant.
She was mocking him for lying earlier. So he added another sentence in an attempt to appease her.
"Whatever it is, we'll discuss it later."
"Mr. Ross, I've made myself clear. Make your decision quickly—it will be too late if you delay," she said. Then she looked at Delta. "You can fire me once you become the CEO's wife."
With that, she walked out of the office with her back straight.
"You—" Delta was furious and was about to charge after her, but Wesley held her back with a reassuring hand.
"Don't be angry. I'll deal with her."
"Fire her immediately. I don't want to see her here," Delta fumed, looking at Wesley. "She's caused so much trouble; the company can't afford to keep her."
Wesley's words faintly reached Scarlett's ears, and the smile on her lips grew colder than before.
The intensity in his eyes earlier, the heartfelt words—it was all just to keep her in check.
Fortunately, she hadn't believed him.