Chapter 4 Daniel Has Azoospermia?
Scarlett choked, coughing until her eyes watered.
From the look on her face, anyone would think she was hiding something. Daniel's gaze sharpened, his voice cutting through the air. "Talk."
She set her water glass down with deliberate care. "Tell me—am I suddenly capable of immaculate conception, or are you gifted enough to father a child without even touching me? Which time was it that your so-called precautions failed?"
Her tone slid from cool to biting, edged with frustration.
Daniel's mouth curved in a humorless smile. "Still quick with your tongue."
But he didn't push further. Maybe he already believed she wasn't pregnant.
He lowered himself onto one knee beside the bed, his hand closing firmly around her ankle as he flipped open the medical kit.
Scarlett stayed still. She knew better than to fight him—he was immovable when he'd made up his mind.
As a husband, he didn't love her. But once, as an older brother, he had been her shelter.
He lifted her right foot onto his knee, steadying her ankle bone. Tweezers dipped in iodine caught the light as he began to clean the wound.
Even in this, he was precise, unhurried—carrying himself with the same quiet authority that had always set him apart.
Her eyes stayed on him, and for a heartbeat she was back in another time—fourteen years ago—when he'd carried her home, blood soaking her clothes, refusing to let any doctor near her.
That night, he had crouched at her bedside just like this, tending her injuries with the kind of patience that made her believe she was safe.
"Don't be afraid, Scarlett. I'll protect you. I won't let this happen again."
They hadn't shared that kind of closeness in years.
The cold distance of the last four years said enough—he didn't love her.
Daniel tied off the gauze, reached into the kit, and tossed something onto the bed.
"Test."
A pregnancy test.
Scarlett pressed her lips together. "I haven't eaten since the afternoon. My stomach's just off."
"Test," he repeated, cutting her off.
He was afraid. He'd never wanted her pregnant before, and now that Alice was back, the idea was unthinkable.
Scarlett picked up the test and walked to the bathroom, her steps heavy.
Five minutes later, she came back and handed it to him.
"One line. Not pregnant. Happy now?"
Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Daniel glanced at the test, his tone cool. "Better that way."
Sleeping with her had probably been nothing but an unwanted obligation. A pregnancy would have been worse.
Even if she had been pregnant, he wouldn't have wanted the child.
"I'll be in the study. Think hard about what you've done." He turned and left.
Scarlett's gaze fell to the test in the trash. Her legs weakened, and she sank onto the bed.
Morning light spilled across the room when Scarlett woke.
She shifted, her ear brushing the pillow, and felt something small and hard. Her fingers found the earring.
In front of the mirror, she studied it—a gardenia-shaped diamond setting with two pale pink pearls in the center.
It had come back to her.
Her emotions tangled in her chest.
Her phone rang. She spotted her bag—it had been returned as well.
Sarah's voice came through the line. "Scarlett, are you okay?"
"What happened?"
"Check the trending list. I'll send it."
A notification pinged. Scarlett opened it.
#Daniel Returns with Beautiful Artist Alice
The headline suggested Daniel had traveled abroad with Alice's parents, hinting at an engagement.
In the photo, Daniel and Alice walked with a middle-aged couple. The woman, stylish in sunglasses and seated in a wheelchair, was being pushed by Daniel. Alice walked close beside him. To anyone looking, they could have passed for a family.
But Scarlett knew better. They weren't Reid and Thora—they were Benjamin White and Ella Garcia, Daniel's godfather and godmother.
The internet didn't know that, and the comments were already calling for a "wedding of the century."
"So many people don't know the truth. And 'beautiful artist'? Please. Clearly they've never met a real one."
Alice played the violin. Reid and Thora had thrown money at her, booking solo performances overseas.
Sarah was still fuming when Scarlett closed the page, letting her vent.
"Anyone can rent a hall if they've got the cash. Only outsiders would call her the next great violinist. She bought two million followers and thinks she's a star. You've got five or six million real ones—shouldn't you be the one bragging?"
Scarlett smiled faintly, removing the earring. "If Daniel likes that kind of woman, there's nothing I can do. I'm done playing along."
"What do you mean, done?"
"I'm divorcing him. I'll stay with you for a few days."
Sarah knew what Daniel meant to her. She'd once thought Scarlett would rather see the world burn than leave him.
The shock made Sarah drop her phone.
Scarlett said nothing.
After breakfast, Scarlett went into the study.
She printed the divorce papers, then gathered her resume, performance videos, awards, and recent dance practice logs, sending them to Ramon to submit.
Leaving the study, she packed a few clothes. Sarah arrived to pick her up.
Scarlett took one last look at the villa in the morning light. Her throat tightened.
Sarah squeezed her hand. "He's not worth what you're doing for him. You deserve someone better."
Scarlett said softly, "Fine. I'll let go."
Her phone buzzed—a text from an unknown number. At a red light, Sarah glanced at it and frowned.
"Laura? Isn't that Alice's agent? What does she want?"
"She wants to book a piece."
"For Alice? Offering a million dollars?"
Scarlett nodded and promptly blocked the number.
Sarah laughed. "With Alice's skill? Please."
Scarlett dropped her luggage at Sarah's apartment and took a cab to the Star Group.
The Wilson Group, a century-old empire, was showing its age. Eight years ago, Daniel had split off the Star Group, injecting it with new life.
Under his leadership, the Star Group had surged ahead, leaving the Wilson Group far behind.
The Wilson Group was now in the hands of Daniel's father, Andrew Wilson. But its future still depended on Daniel.
A year ago, Magnolia had placed Scarlett in the Star Group's executive office as a junior clerk, hoping she and Daniel would grow closer.
The office was lively today—Lyra Cole, the secretary, was leaving due to pregnancy and handing out candy.
Scarlett congratulated her and returned to her desk to draft her resignation.
Lyra noticed. "Scarlett, are you pregnant too?"
Heads turned—beauty always drew attention.
When Scarlett first joined, her looks had attracted plenty of admirers. Daniel had once seen her desk buried in roses and hadn't spoken to her for days.
She'd eventually announced she was married, which stopped the advances—though no one knew she was married to Daniel.
"No. I'm leaving for other reasons."
"So when do you plan to have kids? You're still young."
"I'd like to. The sooner the better… but it hasn't happened."
Lyra's eyes widened. "Your husband can't…?"
"It's not that. He's perfectly capable—just all output, no results."
Lyra gasped. "So he's infertile? And has bad breath? Scarlett, you should cut your losses."
Months ago, Lyra had seen a couple kissing in the parking lot and asked if it was Scarlett's husband. Scarlett had said she and her husband had never kissed. Somehow, that had started a rumor about her husband's bad breath.
Now Lyra had added infertility to the mix.
Scarlett imagined Daniel's aristocratic face paired with that image and couldn't help laughing.
"Nothing to do at work?" A cold voice cut in.
She turned to see Daniel, expression like thunder. Her smile froze.
It was Tom Green who had spoken, but he glanced nervously at Daniel, sweat beading on his forehead.
Lyra paled—Daniel's presence was exactly like the man they'd just been mocking.
Scarlett, worried Lyra might panic, stepped forward. But Daniel spoke first.
"Give her a farewell bonus. Consider it me sharing in the good news."
He gave the order to Tom. Lyra, relieved, thanked him profusely. The tension broke, but Daniel's gaze locked on Scarlett.
"Ms. Lewis, inside."
He walked into his office.
"Mr. Wilson's as charming as ever," Lyra teased. "You're gorgeous, Scarlett. Dump that infertile husband and go for him."
"Scarlett can't. She's been working with him for almost a year. If he was interested, it would've happened by now."
"You haven't seen the news? He's already paired up with Ms. Brown."
"Must be love. Maybe they're planning kids."
Scarlett almost laughed. Strangers' throwaway comments sometimes came closest to the truth.
She had known him for twenty-two years—since she was three days old and had peed on him in the hospital.
If he didn't love her by now, he never would.
She printed the resignation and walked into his office.
Daniel sat behind his desk, reading. He didn't look up as she approached, his tone cool.
"This is your idea of reflection?"
Without a word, Scarlett placed two documents in front of him.
One was the divorce agreement. The other, her resignation.
"Mr. Wilson, please sign them both. Thank you."