Chapter 94 He Threw the Wedding Ring in Front of Her
He never used to wear it before, but now that their marriage was coming to an end, he suddenly kept the wedding ring on his finger all the time.
Thinking about how Daniel had been living at Regal Estate, their marital home, during this period, Scarlett's heart couldn't help but tremble, as if a stone had been suddenly dropped into it.
But Daniel abruptly pulled his hand back, glanced at her coldly, and said.
"Don't read too much into it. I just forgot to take it off."
Scarlett's unsettled heart instantly froze at his words.
She forced her lips into a stiff smile and said, "Then let me take it off for you."
As she spoke, she reached for Daniel's hand again, but Daniel frowned, "I'm driving. Stop bothering me."
Looking at Daniel's cold profile, Scarlett remembered the first time Daniel had put on the wedding ring.
By then they had already been officially married for over three months. He had just returned from abroad, and that evening while he was in his study, she had excitedly gone to find him with the ring.
"Daniel, guess what I'm holding?"
She held the ring box behind her back.
Daniel's eyes stayed on his documents, his attitude cold.
"No idea."
Scarlett walked up to him, "Just take a guess."
Daniel frowned, "Scarlett, I'm busy. Get out."
"Okay." She felt hurt inside, but refused to leave. Instead, she knelt on one knee beside him, looking up with a smile and couldn't help but reveal what was behind her back.
"Silly Daniel, it's our wedding rings! Let me put it on you to see if it fits, okay?"
She opened the box and took out the ring, trying to grab Daniel's hand.
But Daniel suddenly raised his hand and said firmly, "I have a video conference coming up. Leave now."
She felt wronged and embarrassed, but still wouldn't give up. She hugged his leg and stubbornly insisted.
"I'll leave once you put it on. Otherwise, I'll stay here all night and make sure you can't have your video conference!"
He was probably so annoyed by her pestering that he let her put the ring on him.
She became happy, quickly kissed Daniel on the cheek, and ran out of the study cheerfully.
That night she lay in bed, staring at the wedding ring on her own hand with a silly smile, and even had a beautiful dream about their wedding ceremony where they put rings on each other's fingers and solemnly recited their marriage vows.
But the next morning, she found he had taken the ring off again. After that, he would only wear it when visiting Magnolia at The Wilson Mansion.
Back then, her heart was warm and she was brave. Even when Daniel refused, she would pester him relentlessly until he put on the wedding ring.
But now, her heart had grown cold, and she needed to gather courage for a long time just to ask him why he was still wearing the ring.
She didn't want to see him wearing this wedding ring anymore. It bothered her for some reason.
Scarlett stared at Daniel stubbornly and said, "I'll be quick, I promise I won't interfere with your driving. Besides, I was the one who forced you to wear this ring before, so now I'll take it off myself. At least that way we'll have come full circle."
Just then, the traffic light turned red.
Daniel stopped the car, and Scarlett smiled.
"Looks like even fate agrees."
She reached for Daniel's hand, but Daniel pulled away.
Scarlett was slightly stunned and looked at him in confusion.
Daniel stared back at her, "You really don't want me wearing it that badly?"
Scarlett nodded slightly. A fierce look rose in Daniel's deep eyes. Daniel let out a cold laugh, "Fine."
He took off the ring himself, but the next second, he rolled down the car window, turned around, and threw the ring out forcefully.
"Daniel! You..."
Seeing his action, Scarlett's heart jumped. She almost instinctively leaned toward his side of the car and reached her hand out the window, as if trying to catch something.
Daniel turned back and grabbed Scarlett's wrist.
He pulled hard, suddenly closing the distance between them.
He stared at her up close, "Wasn't it bothering you? I threw it away, so why are you getting worked up?"
Under Daniel's cold, unblinking stare, Scarlett's heart tightened into a knot.
Her throat felt dry, as if stuffed with cotton that was slowly absorbing water, becoming rough and painful, making it hard to breathe.
After a moment, she shrugged with a smile, "That men's ring may not have a huge diamond, but it was still pretty expensive. Even if you're not wearing it anymore, you didn't have to throw it away."
Daniel sneered, "If you feel bad about it, you can get out now and go find it."
For a moment, Scarlett really wanted to open the door and get out. She grabbed at her pants with her other hand, forcing herself to resist that pathetic impulse, and shook her head.
"As long as you don't feel bad about it."
Looking at her seemingly indifferent expression, Daniel gave a self-mocking curl of his lips and let go of her hand.
Scarlett slowly sat back. Daniel also coldly withdrew his gaze and said, "What would I feel bad about? I'll just buy a better one when I remarry."
Scarlett's heart was pricked, not too lightly but not too heavily. She nodded and said nothing more.
For the rest of the drive, neither of them spoke again.
When Daniel's car reached the entrance of her residential complex, Scarlett finally spoke.
"You don't need to go in. I can get out by the roadside. Thanks for helping me out today and giving me a ride home."
Daniel didn't respond but slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road.
Scarlett reached for the door handle when Daniel's voice came from behind her. He asked.
"How's the thirty million dollars coming along?"
Scarlett turned back, "One month, with nineteen days left. I remember our agreement."
"Good. Get out!"
Scarlett opened the door and got out. The car didn't pause for a moment and drove off immediately.
Scarlett stood by the roadside watching the car drive farther and farther away, then after a long while, she finally walked toward the complex.
The next day, while Scarlett was helping Bruce and the others adjust their dance moves, she received a call—Elliot's condition had relapsed and he was hospitalized.
Scarlett was extremely anxious and rushed to the hospital. She couldn't see Elliot, but she did see Blair waiting outside the hospital room.
Blair looked at Scarlett with her arms crossed, "You got here so fast, at least you have some conscience. I can see you do have some real feelings for Elliot."
Scarlett walked up, "How is Elliot's condition? Did it really relapse, or is this just a trick to get me here?"
Blair's eyes turned cold, "I would never curse my own son!"
Scarlett thought that made sense. She looked worried.
"Let me go in and see Elliot."
She was about to push open the hospital room door when Blair pressed down on her hand and said, "Elliot just had an injection and fell asleep. Don't go in and disturb him. Come with me to talk."
Blair walked toward the emergency stairwell first. Scarlett looked through the window into the hospital room and indeed saw Elliot lying in bed with his eyes closed, sleeping. Only then did she turn and follow.
Scarlett entered the stairwell, and Blair got straight to the point.
"I heard from Alice that you and Daniel have already signed divorce papers. Is that true?"
Scarlett nodded, "Yes, we signed them."
"You have to pay Daniel back thirty million dollars before the agreement takes effect?"
Scarlett had shown the agreement to Alice back then in order to get the contract with Zenith Enterprises Group.
Alice had obviously told Blair about it. Scarlett nodded again, "That's right."
Blair sneered inwardly. This wasn't Daniel wanting a divorce at all.
Thirty million dollars was nothing to Daniel. If he really wanted a divorce, why would he make a fuss about this thirty million dollars?
He was just dragging it out because he thought Scarlett couldn't possibly come up with thirty million dollars.
But Blair knew her own son well. Since Daniel had signed the agreement, if Scarlett really came up with the thirty million dollars, his pride would make him keep his word even if he regretted it to the point of coughing up blood.
There would be no turning back then.
And what Blair needed to do now was help Scarlett get that thirty million dollars as soon as possible.
Give them a push and cut off their way back for good.