Chapter 40 Seduced Someone, Want to Deny It
Ambrose leaned back in his chair, legs stretched out in front of him, hands resting loosely on his thighs. That sharp edge he usually carried softened into something almost approachable—dangerous and lazy all at once.
His narrow eyes slid toward her, glinting with mischief.
"You want us together that badly?"
Scarlett's face fell flat. "Mr. Boleyn, I'm not in the mood for games."
He huffed out a laugh. "Idiot."
"I just warned Wesley to keep his family in check. You're under my protection now."
"What?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Scarlett's hand curled into a fist on top of the thin hospital blanket. Ambrose caught the movement, his lips quirking. "Am I your dirty little secret?"
"What gives you the right to protect me?" She met his gaze head-on, dead serious.
The teasing drained from Ambrose's expression. He cut straight to the point.
"Old family ties."
A beat passed. Then he added, "I'm doing this on your father's behalf."
Nothing romantic. Just one powerful family helping another. Clean. Smart. Perfect.
Scarlett released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Her eyes softened when she looked at him. "Wesley bought it?"
Ambrose nodded. "I dropped a few hints—said your dad knows exactly what Wesley pulled, including some of his less... honorable intentions. He ate it up."
"He already agreed. The Ross family won't come after you anymore. Just wait for the divorce papers to come through."
Watching Ambrose's easy confidence, how could Scarlett doubt him? Nobody challenged Ambrose Boleyn. Nobody dared.
Plus, this explanation covered that photograph perfectly.
It even made Owen look influential. Wesley feared power more than anything—even if he resented it, he wouldn't dare make moves behind the scenes now.
She could finally breathe.
"Still, Wesley's ambitious as hell. Don't let him pull one over on you." Ambrose's warning sounded casual, but his eyes stayed sharp.
Scarlett lifted her gaze, and something about her expression made his breath catch. Her eyes were liquid and luminous, like moonlight caught on water—clear enough to drown in.
His Adam's apple bobbed. "Want to thank me?"
Scarlett blinked quickly. Maybe she did, but now that he'd called her out so easily, she wasn't about to admit it.
"It's a transaction. Thanks doesn't factor in."
He laughed softly. Then, with perfect seriousness, "You seduce me, then want to deny it."
The air between them turned thick with something unspoken.
Whatever gratitude Scarlett had felt evaporated. She pressed her lips together, her voice sharp and cold.
"Mr. Boleyn, we're not close enough for that kind of joke."
Ambrose watched her freeze over again, and his smile turned lazy. Amused.
"Can't even take a joke like that, Scarlett? How are you going to work with me?"
Her tone stayed perfectly serious. "Then remember—I don't find these jokes funny. So don't make them."
Ambrose went silent.
Seeing her so stern, he didn't push. Just moved on like nothing happened. "How long are you staying here?"
Scarlett's expression eased, thinking he'd finally listened. "Probably two days."
Ambrose didn't press for details. Instead, they shifted to discussing the gallery design project. They talked for a while, until nine-thirty rolled around and he finally stood to leave.
Scarlett planned to stay in the hospital for two days, then check out on the third.
But on the second afternoon, Yara's preschool called.
The teacher explained that some parents had complained to the director, demanding Yara be expelled—all because Opal had caused a scene at the school entrance.
"So you're calling to kick Yara out?"
"We don't have a choice. Some parents are making a huge fuss. To calm things down, we need to... temporarily ask Yara to stay home. Once everything blows over, we'll see about having her come back."
"'We'll see'? So basically, Yara's not welcome anymore."
"Schools are supposed to educate children, not become weapons for petty grudges. What a shame for your institution."
Scarlett hung up and curled into herself, arms wrapped around her knees, head buried low.
The thing she'd feared most had finally happened.
Her mess had spilled onto Yara. Her baby was so small—how was she supposed to get through this?
Too worried to stay put, Scarlett left the hospital that afternoon to pick up Yara.
When she arrived at the preschool, clusters of parents pointed and whispered. She didn't need to guess what they were saying—probably calling her a homewrecker, a slut.
Scarlett ignored them and waited.
"Ms. Mellon." Kai approached, offering a polite greeting.
Scarlett turned and gave him a small nod. "Hello."
"Mr. Boleyn mentioned you were in the hospital these past couple days. Everything okay now?" Kai's concern seemed genuine.
Scarlett didn't understand why Ambrose would share something like that, but she kept her expression neutral and smiled. "I'm fine now."
They exchanged pleasantries until the school doors opened. A stream of adorable kids poured out, led by their teachers, all giggles and sticky hands.
Parents collected their children and hurried off. Only Scarlett remained, because a teacher had asked her to wait.
Once most of the kids had left, the teacher finally appeared with Yara, carrying a bag of the girl's belongings.
"I packed up everything Yara had at school. Here you go."
Scarlett's face stayed blank as she took the bag. She didn't say a word to the teacher, but she did crouch down to Yara's level.
"Say goodbye to your teacher, sweetie."
Yara stared at the teacher with wide eyes but didn't speak. Scarlett noticed the shift in her daughter's mood immediately.
"Yara, what's wrong?"
"Mommy, she didn't let me eat lunch today. I don't want to say goodbye to her."
Blood roared in Scarlett's ears. Her head snapped toward the teacher. "You didn't let her eat?"
The teacher's face went pale, eyes darting around. "No, I—she ate. She just wasn't behaving during lunch, so I took her plate away."
Scarlett rose slowly to her feet, trembling all over. Her voice came out like a whip crack.
"So you didn't let her finish. Right?"
"I paid good money to send Yara here, and this is how you treat her?"
"She also called me a little bitch." Yara's small voice added, wobbling with hurt.
Scarlett went cold. Her blood turned to ice. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out at first—just her lips shaking. Finally, she forced out the words.
"Is that what a teacher should say to a child?"
Off to the side, Kai was still there because Hayden hadn't wanted to leave yet. He'd witnessed the whole thing. Quickly, he pulled out his phone and called Ambrose.
"I never said that." The teacher's voice turned defensive. She glared at Yara.
"Yara, you can't lie and accuse your teacher like this. Just because I disciplined you doesn't mean you can make up stories about me."
The teacher started scrambling, even trying to pin the blame on a four-year-old.
"I'm not lying. She did say it. Hayden heard her too." Yara's voice stayed firm, no fear in her eyes.
Hayden stood beside Yara. When everyone turned to look at him, he nodded solemnly.
"What do you have to say now?" Scarlett's eyes burned red, her fists clenched tight.