Chapter 100: Him and Her, Just Like That
The cool sensation suddenly brought Scarlett back to her senses.
She opened her eyes and frantically pushed at Daniel on top of her.
Daniel sensed her resistance, released her, and lifted his head.
Scarlett's face flushed red as she turned her head away, breathing rapidly, letting out a soft whimper.
"Don't."
Daniel froze, his Adam's apple bobbing. Using almost all his self-control, he rolled off her and got up. He unzipped his athletic jacket and walked over to the window.
Scarlett silently sat up, awkwardly straightening her disheveled clothes and hair.
She kept her head down, trying to calm herself.
Daniel's voice came from behind her, "Your hair's still wet. Come here."
Scarlett turned to see he had returned to normal. He had plugged in a hair dryer and was gesturing for her to come over.
Scarlett's hair wasn't dry yet, so she stood up and walked over.
"I can do it myself."
But Daniel pressed down on her shoulders, making her sit on the bed.
He pressed the button, and warm air blew across her scalp.
Scarlett sat properly, feeling his fingers gently running through her hair.
Scarlett had beautiful hair—smooth, straight, and thick. Daniel seemed reluctant to stop, drying it for quite a while.
When he finally turned off the dryer, Scarlett suddenly looked up and said.
"That day, you also gave me an orange candy. Do you remember?"
Daniel put away the hair dryer. "Which day?"
"Fourteen years ago, the day you carried me back to The Wilson Mansion."
Daniel thought for a moment, but while he remembered carrying her back that day, the details had long become blurry.
Seeing his expression, Scarlett knew he had forgotten. She said.
"That day I almost died at John's hands. After barely escaping death, everything looked blood-red to me, and my mouth was full of the taste of blood. You carried me back and called the family doctor, but I wouldn't let the doctor near me. So you stuck an orange candy in my mouth. I still remember what you said."
A faint smile appeared on Scarlett's lips. "You said, 'Have a candy and it won't hurt anymore. Is it sweet? Let the doctor check you, and I'll reward you with a whole jar of candies like this, okay? There are other flavors too. Does Scarlett want to try them?'"
Hearing this, Daniel seemed to have a vague memory of it.
He found it somewhat amusing, his thin lips curving slightly. "So I won you over with just one candy back then?"
Scarlett nodded with a smile, then lowered her eyes, hiding her surging emotions.
He didn't know that was the first time she'd had candy in two years, since being abandoned by Reid and Thora when she was six.
That candy was from him.
After that day, she was a child who had candy again. It was like a ray of light had shone into her world.
The next day, Daniel really did give her a jar of colorful candies, all fruit-flavored.
But all these years, Scarlett's favorite had always been orange-flavored candy, and she'd never forgotten the taste of that candy that night.
"Yeah, that's the only trick you've known all these years!" Scarlett made a face at Daniel.
Daniel clicked his tongue. He looked at her, his deep eyes showing a rare smile that made him look very gentle.
"Making fun of me? But facts prove that this one trick works on you."
Scarlett's ears turned a bit red as she lowered her head.
Sitting there, she looked especially soft and gentle.
Daniel leaned down slightly, cupping her small face in his hands and lifting her head.
"All grown up and still need candy to be coaxed. Are you shy?"
Scarlett's cheeks felt warm, a bit embarrassed.
But Daniel suddenly said, "Back then, one candy got me a little sister. Now can one candy make you be Mrs. Wilson again?"
Scarlett's hands resting on the edge of the bed suddenly clenched.
Her breathing became unsteady for a moment. Looking at Daniel's eyes that had lost their smile and now held a more aggressive intensity, she gently but firmly shook her head and smiled.
"But I've grown up now. I'm not that easy to fool anymore. Stop teasing."
She reached out and pushed away Daniel's large hands cupping her face, stood up and said.
"I'm going to call Grandma. I have work this afternoon, and you probably do too."
She quickly walked toward the door. Earlier, Daniel had placed her phone on the low cabinet by the entrance.
She didn't dare look at Daniel's expression behind her. Her heart was a bit chaotic. She couldn't tell if she was hoping he would pull her back and say something to make her stay.
Or if she was more afraid—afraid that if he tried to keep her, she wouldn't be able to resist softening and turning back.
But in the end, she had overestimated her importance to him. By the time she finished her call, Daniel hadn't said another word.
That question he'd just asked was probably just casual.
As soon as Scarlett hung up, Magnolia had Tyne come open the door.
"Mrs. Wilson is waiting downstairs," Tyne said.
Scarlett went downstairs with Daniel. When Magnolia saw them coming down together, her eyes immediately looked them both over.
Seeing their expressions, Magnolia felt uneasy.
This didn't look like they'd made up at all?
"Daniel, I told you to properly coax your wife. Did you coax her? Did you apologize properly?"
Magnolia frowned angrily and waved at Scarlett.
Scarlett walked over and sat beside her, holding Magnolia's hand.
"Grandma, Daniel did coax me and apologize. I've already forgiven him. Besides, that day Daniel didn't intentionally refuse to save me. I really don't blame him anymore."
"So have you two made up?"
Magnolia looked at them both again.
Could it be they had made up but were just too embarrassed to show it?
Scarlett glanced at Daniel. Daniel's expression was cold as he sat down on a single sofa nearby.
He said to Magnolia, "Grandma, don't worry about our business. Even if we divorce, she'll still be the Wilson family's girl."
Daniel's words felt like something was violently tugging at Scarlett's heart.
Her nose stung and she almost shed tears.
She had been so determined to divorce before because she wanted to return to the position of being his sister.
Now she had finally gotten her wish—she should be happy, but what spread through her heart was more bitterness.
Yet her face broke into a smile as she nodded. "That's right, Grandma."
"What divorce! Why do you still want to divorce when everything's fine? I don't agree! Don't even think about it!" Magnolia said angrily.
Scarlett quickly tried to calm Magnolia down, saying, "Grandma, Daniel and I have discussed this. We both think divorce is better, and we hope you can respect our decision."
Daniel looked at the light, hopeful smile on Scarlett's face. A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes, and the knuckles of his hand pressing on the wooden armrest of the sofa protruded slightly from the force.
"No way! Daniel, say something! Scarlett's still young and impulsive, but you? Are you going to act foolish with her and make me angry?"
Magnolia glared at Daniel in fury. Daniel glanced at Scarlett again.
He saw Scarlett looking back, seeming a bit nervous, probably afraid he'd change his mind again and block her path to freedom.
Even with Magnolia so upset, Scarlett hadn't softened or backed down at all. Her determination to divorce couldn't be changed.
Since the Wilson family and being his wife had become shackles imprisoning Scarlett, preventing her from smiling freely, what was the point of forcing it again and again?
He said in a low voice, "Grandma, she's not a child anymore. She knows what she's doing, and no one can stop her. I have an important meeting this afternoon, so I'm heading back to the office."
"You bastard! We haven't finished talking, come back here!"
Magnolia slapped the sofa in anger, but Daniel didn't turn back.
His tall figure quickly disappeared into the entrance hall, his retreating back radiating coldness and impatience.
Scarlett lowered her lashes, but her right hand clenched the candies in her pocket.
Between her and him, it had begun with a candy many years ago.
Now it was ending with these few candies. Perhaps that could be considered coming full circle.
Let it be this way.