Chapter 173 How Can You Deceive Her Like This
Scarlett watched their figures walking side by side, and for a moment, the scene felt strangely familiar.
She seemed to see again that night of their wedding anniversary, when Daniel accompanied Alice to the hospital.
How similar it was.
A heavy wave of sadness and exhaustion swept over her, and Scarlett's fingertips trembled as she gripped her phone.
She stared at Daniel but didn't walk toward him. Instead, she hid behind a nearby tree.
Daniel clearly sensed the incoming call. He took out his phone and swiped his finger across the screen.
Daniel's deep, familiar voice came through Scarlett's ear at just the right moment.
"Why didn't you answer the phone just now?"
Daniel asked, without using any form of address.
Was he with Waverly and didn't know what to call her?
Scarlett couldn't help but wonder.
She gripped her phone tightly and asked him, "Daniel, where are you? Why didn't you come home for lunch?"
Scarlett thought, if Daniel could honestly tell her he was with Waverly, then he had nothing to hide, and she wouldn't believe Alice's lies.
She would walk out, properly meet Waverly, and get clear answers.
But if Daniel continued to hide it...
Scarlett didn't even have time to think about what Daniel's hiding would mean or how she should respond before Daniel's cold voice came through.
"I was busy at lunch. About to have a meeting. What's wrong?"
Scarlett looked at the tall figure in the distance walking with Waverly.
Waverly was looking down at her phone. When going down the steps, Daniel naturally reached out and steadied Waverly.
Waverly looked up and smiled at Daniel. "Thank you."
Waverly's voice came through the phone into Scarlett's ear.
Scarlett couldn't watch anymore. She turned around, her voice dry.
"Daniel, is someone with you?"
"Did you eat the special desserts from Seasonal Delights that I had delivered home at lunch?"
Daniel answered casually, not mentioning Waverly's identity at all, let alone explaining.
He asked about the Seasonal Delights pastries, clearly changing the subject.
Scarlett knew that cheating men could always lie so smoothly.
Their hearts seemed able to split into many pieces—keeping their mistresses company while not forgetting to care for their wives at home.
Those casual expressions of concern were the best way to cover up lies, and wives would foolishly believe their husbands were really just busy with work.
But Scarlett never knew that Daniel couldn't escape this pattern either!
How could he deceive and trick her like this!
Perhaps not hearing her response, Daniel continued.
"That day I personally went to Seasonal Delights to buy you pastries, but in the end you never got to taste them. Today I had Tom buy them. If you like them, I'll get more next time."
Scarlett's breathing grew heavy. Last time when Daniel went to Seasonal Delights to buy her pastries, Wren stabbed him on his way out, and the pastries were ruined.
Was he bringing this up now to make her feel touched?
"So, the Seasonal Delights pastries are your apology gift for standing me up?"
He was with Waverly, using a box of pastries to brush her off.
Should she be grateful that he still remembered there was a Scarlett waiting for him at home?
"You can think of it that way if you want. I have a meeting soon, gotta go. Be good at home."
There was even a hint of amusement in Daniel's voice. To Scarlett's ears, it only felt mocking.
Daniel hung up. Scarlett turned around, gripping her phone.
In her view, Daniel and Waverly's figures had long disappeared.
Scarlett sat down on a nearby bench, tilting her head back to keep tears from falling.
But some suppressed, broken sounds still slowly escaped from her throat.
Meanwhile, at the hospital parking lot.
When Daniel ended the call, he had already walked to the car. The driver opened the back door.
Daniel turned to Waverly and said, "I'm counting on you for the hospital matters."
Waverly nodded with a gentle smile. "I've noted down everything you said. Don't worry."
Daniel didn't say much more and got in the car.
Tom was already prepared inside, handing Daniel a tablet. "We've discussed three emergency plans. Please make the final decision."
Scarlett sat on the bench for a very long time. Finally, she took out that business card and called Theron.
"Mr. Howard? This is Scarlett. About the dance company—I've thought it through. I want to give it a try."
On the other end, Theron raised his eyebrows slightly, his voice showing some surprise.
"Ms. Lewis is more decisive than I expected."
From Scarlett's appearance earlier, she had clearly suffered a setback in her relationship and was feeling defeated.
At the best age of her life, she had chosen to give up her career and future to marry that man.
Clearly, she loved that man very much.
Theron could easily guess that she had spent four years wearing herself down in that relationship and marriage. Four years was enough time to break a woman.
Many women would probably never be able to stand up again and would choose to continue being kept.
When Theron gave her that business card, he actually wasn't optimistic about Scarlett.
"Your offer still stands, right?"
"Of course. Tomorrow at ten in the morning, Shadow City Grand Theater. I'll introduce Ms. Lewis to the dance company's artistic director, Ms. Jade Marie. Ms. Lewis should be prepared."
"Okay, thank you." Scarlett let out a soft breath and continued, "However, I can only stay with the dance company for three or four months at most. To be honest with you, Mr. Howard, I passed Ms. Mae's interview. After the baby is born next year, I need to go abroad to study. Is that still okay?"
Before, Scarlett was anxious to go abroad because she was worried Daniel would discover her pregnancy.
Now that the baby had been discovered, Scarlett naturally wasn't in such a rush to leave.
Vivienne's world tour wouldn't end until next year. Scarlett didn't want to waste the time before then.
If Scarlett could join the dance company for a while, it would enhance her resume and earn some money for future living expenses and tuition.
"Talk to Jade tomorrow. If she agrees, there's no problem."
After hanging up with Theron, Scarlett placed her hand on her belly and spoke softly, "Bunny, I'm sorry. I neglected you. You were angry with me, so you scared me, right? Don't worry. I'll become strong and capable. I promise I'll never let my emotions get out of control again and hurt you because of anyone or anything. Forgive me this once, Bunny. And please be good too, and give me strength, okay?"
That evening, Scarlett went to bed very early, and when she lay down, Daniel still hadn't come home.
Scarlett didn't know if he would come back at all that night.
She lay in bed, closed her eyes, but couldn't help imagining Daniel and Waverly embracing freely at Phoenix Hill Villa.
Scarlett thought she wouldn't be able to sleep, but unexpectedly, she drifted off without realizing it.
Until Scarlett, half-asleep, felt the bed behind her sink slightly. A pair of arms gently wrapped around her waist from behind, carefully holding her.
Scarlett suddenly became fully awake, but she lay still without moving.
"Did I wake you?"
The body in his arms suddenly stiffened.
How could Daniel not notice?
Daniel's voice came from behind Scarlett's ear, low and husky and familiar.
His lips still carried some moisture from his recent shower, gently kissing behind her ear as he said softly, "I came home late. Go to sleep."
Scarlett opened her eyes. There was no sleepiness left in them, only cold clarity.
She asked, "Where were you?"
Daniel held her tighter, his voice low and steady. "Nowhere special. I was injured a few days ago, so work piled up. It took longer to handle."
A bitter smile pulled at Scarlett's lips.
She wanted to believe him, but trust—once cracked—allowed dark suspicions to crawl through the gaps and take over her entire heart.
She suddenly broke free from Daniel's arms and turned to face him.
In the darkness, she gazed at Daniel's stern face and slowly spoke, "I heard something ridiculous today. I don't know if it's true..."