Chapter 136 Parting Unhappily
What Felix said, Ambrose understood perfectly well, but when it came to what he had to do, no amount of pressure from anyone would make him back down even a little.
"Ambrose, when did you start having feelings for Ms. Mellon?" Felix suddenly asked the question that had been bothering him.
Ambrose's hand resting on the car window trembled slightly, ash falling from his cigarette. His thin lips let out a light snort: "What, you switching careers to become a paparazzi now?"
Felix didn't mind, shooting back sarcastically, "Even if you don't tell me, I can pretty much guess. You haven't had any women around you all these years, and as soon as you came back, you set your sights on her. You're not the love-at-first-sight type, so she must be the one you've had in your heart all along."
Ambrose narrowed his eyes. In the darkness, light shone through the slits, very bright. His thin lips let out a muffled laugh: "Forget being a lawyer, go be a fortune teller. You'd definitely make more money than as a lawyer."
"So it is true. Interview question - how does it feel to have your dream come true?"
His slender fingers held the cigarette butt near the corner of his lips. His lips gripped the cigarette as he took a deep drag, then after exhaling a puff of smoke, he lazily and casually asked back: "Heaven - ever tried it?"
Felix fell silent.
Ambrose was just showing off, mocking him for not having a girlfriend, wasn't he!
"You'd really be something if your dreams came true every day. Tonight, I bet you'll be sleeping in a cold bed."
How excessive. Ambrose felt a pang in his chest. Tonight he really would be sleeping in a cold bed. His hand pinched the cigarette from the corner of his lips and leaned forward to stub it out in the ashtray on the center console.
"At least I know what that feels like."
The two chatted for a few more lines before ending the call.
Ambrose got out of the car, aired out the smoke smell, then went upstairs. Pushing the door open, he saw Rhea tidying up the living room, greeted her, changed his shoes, and walked toward his bedroom.
After showering, he also went to check on the two children, finally stopping at Scarlett's bedroom door. He reached out to knock, but remembering what she said about needing to cool down, he ultimately held back his hand and returned to his room.
He lay in bed and sent her a message.
"Asleep yet?"
There was no reply from the other end. Ambrose didn't send another message, giving her time to cool down. They'd talk tomorrow.
Scarlett didn't sleep well all night. She woke up early in the morning, standing in the bathroom, looking at her face in the mirror, seeing the faint dark circles under her eyes. She sighed.
This couldn't go on. She had to make a decision.
As she walked out of her bedroom, she saw two little ones at the door, looking up at her.
"Mommy, good morning." Last night, Scarlett came home late, and Yara had gone to sleep without seeing her, so she ran to find her first thing in the morning.
Scarlett crouched down and pulled Yara into her arms.
"Good morning."
"Scarlett, good morning." Hayden also walked over and greeted her with a smile, just like usual.
Scarlett paused for a few seconds, then lifted her eyelids to look at him. Her heart kept telling her not to be friendly to him, but seeing those eyes full of warmth and joy, she still couldn't bring herself to give him a cold face. She just responded flatly.
"Good morning."
Hayden froze for a moment, vaguely sensing something was off. He stared at her sensitively, "Scarlett, didn't you sleep well?"
Scarlett could only nod, "A little."
"Then don't go to work, stay home and rest properly." Hayden said with concern.
"Mommy, you didn't sleep well again?" Yara looked up at her.
Just then, Ambrose's bedroom door opened, and he walked out in his pajamas, seeing the group of one adult and two children in the hallway.
Ever since Yara found out that Ambrose was sleeping in Scarlett's room, she'd been upset. Though she hadn't kicked him out, she wasn't as close to him as before either.
So now, she didn't greet him. Her big watery eyes glanced at him, but Hayden beside her called out.
"Daddy, good morning."
"Daddy, Scarlett didn't sleep well last night. I told her to rest at home today."
Ambrose's gaze fell on Scarlett as he replied to Hayden, "I know. You and Yara go have breakfast."
Scarlett didn't look at him. She released Yara from her arms and said.
"Go have breakfast!"
Yara sneaked another glance at Ambrose, then lifted her little head and went with Hayden to find Rhea.
The atmosphere immediately turned cold. Ambrose leaned against the doorframe, staring at her, "Didn't sleep well last night?"
Scarlett met his gaze, ice-cold, "Do you think I could sleep well?"
Ambrose nodded, "This is indeed too sudden for you, but Octavia won't affect us at all. She just wants to see Hayden, that's all."
Scarlett shook her head, "It doesn't affect you, but it affects me. I can't take care of my enemy's child."
Ambrose's expression changed immediately.
"What do you mean?" Ambrose asked.
Scarlett bit her lip, thought for a moment, and said: "Hayden has no speech problems anymore. I've done what I promised you. There's no need for the child to keep living here."
Ambrose narrowed his eyes, his long eyes covered with a layer of frost, but worried she might overthink, he closed his eyes and said: "I just said, whether Octavia is in Silverlight City or not, nothing will change."
"But I won't take care of my enemy's child. I'm not a saint. Even though the child is innocent, I can't help but take it out on him. Please try to see things from my perspective."
Scarlett's expression was serious, her words leaving no room for negotiation.
"In the next couple of days, take Hayden back with you!" With those words, Scarlett turned and walked away.
Ambrose stepped forward to catch up, grabbing her. When she turned around, he said: "I understand how you feel, but he's so attached to you. You hold more weight with him than I do. How am I supposed to tell him to leave here?"
"That's your problem." Scarlett's expression didn't change.
"I can't act the same as before. While I can still control my emotions, take him away soon, don't let him get hurt."
Ambrose was frustrated, his tongue harshly sweeping across his gums, "It has to be this way?"
She nodded: "It has to be this way."
The two parted on bad terms, but during breakfast, Scarlett still managed her emotions. Though there was a smile on her face, she was noticeably colder toward Hayden.
Hayden was a very sensitive child. He noticed that Scarlett had barely looked at him all morning. Though she still spoke to him the same way, she was clearly less warm.
When Ambrose was driving them to school, Hayden asked.
"Daddy, Scarlett is acting a bit strange."
Ambrose asked knowingly: "Strange how?"
"She didn't look at me as much as usual this morning, and she seemed a bit cold." Hayden said thoughtfully.
"Maybe mommy didn't sleep well last night and doesn't have energy." Yara chimed in from the side.
Ambrose agreed: "That's possible."
Hayden thought that was possible, and his heart didn't feel as heavy anymore. "Daddy, have Rhea make some royal jelly for Scarlett later, then she'll have more energy."
"Okay."
After agreeing, Ambrose thought for a few seconds, then probed indirectly: "Hayden, your mom is back and wants you to go stay with her for a while."