Chapter 97 How Could I Not Care About You
The slimmer Daniel appeared even more calm and composed, steady and unruffled.
It was the same face she'd looked at for years, the Daniel she was determined to push out of her heart, yet every time she saw him, her heartstrings were pulled.
Scarlett attributed this flutter to the tragedy of being attracted to good looks.
Just as she was forcing herself to look away, she suddenly heard a splash.
Scarlett jumped. She'd just noticed that Magnolia had gone toward the pool.
Could Magnolia have accidentally fallen in? Scarlett was about to rush toward the pool when Tyne appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her.
"Mrs. Scarlett Wilson, please stay calm. Mrs. Magnolia Wilson doesn't want you going out there."
At that moment, Magnolia's alarmed voice rang out from the pool area.
"Quick! Someone! Help!"
Daniel had clearly heard the commotion too.
When Scarlett turned to look toward the pool again, Daniel's tall figure had already rushed over and was pulling at Magnolia.
"Grandma, what happened?"
"Scarlett! Scarlett got drunk and fell in, what do we do? Daniel, you... Daniel!"
Magnolia looked panicked, her body swaying. Before she could finish speaking, a dark shadow flashed before her eyes as Daniel dove into the pool, plunging into the water.
Scarlett's position was slightly elevated, giving her a clear view of the pool area. She stared in disbelief.
Then she saw Magnolia turn to look her way and wave at Scarlett, who had poked her head out, signaling her to hide better.
Scarlett fell silent.
When Magnolia said she would prove it to her, Scarlett hadn't understood how she planned to do that.
Well, now Scarlett knew.
"When it comes to punishing Mr. Daniel Wilson, it has to be Mrs. Magnolia Wilson," Tyne said, pulling Scarlett along, clearly enjoying the drama.
Scarlett was speechless. "Grandma really is something."
"Mrs. Scarlett Wilson, hide quickly, don't let Mr. Daniel Wilson see you."
Seeing Daniel emerge from the water in the pool, Tyne quickly pulled Scarlett down to crouch.
Through the gaps, Scarlett could still vaguely see what was happening at the pool.
Daniel clearly hadn't found anyone. As soon as he surfaced, Magnolia pointed to the other side of the pool.
"Daniel, over there, search over there!"
"My Scarlett! I shouldn't have let you drink!"
"Why haven't you found her yet? Scarlett, if something happens to you, how can I go on living!"
Magnolia seemed to be using all her acting skills here. Every time Daniel came up from the water, Magnolia would cry out in distress.
Scarlett had been letting Magnolia carry on, but watching Daniel dive down to search again and again, her expression gradually became quiet and complicated.
It was early winter now, and the pool water was very cold.
Daniel hadn't done any warm-up before jumping in, and he'd even forgotten to take off his coat.
Scarlett frowned. She couldn't watch anymore. She shook off Tyne and walked quickly toward the pool.
"Scarlett, didn't I tell you to hide? Why did you come out? Quick, go hide, I'll deal with him for you!"
Magnolia wasn't happy to see Scarlett coming over.
Scarlett held Magnolia's hand. "Grandma, I saw everything! Please get Daniel out, if Daniel gets a cramp..."
"Worried already? You're the softest-hearted one in our family!"
Magnolia tapped Scarlett's forehead helplessly, then turned and said, "Did you hear that? See how much your wife cares about you? Hurry up and get out."
Scarlett's spine stiffened slightly. She turned to look and saw that Daniel had somehow swum over to this side and was staring at her from the water.
Their eyes met. Daniel braced his hands on the pool edge and suddenly pulled himself out of the water, like a swift beast emerging from the depths of a cold, dark pool.
He was soaking wet, water constantly dripping from his short hair and face. His coat hung heavily on him, dripping large amounts of cold water.
His handsome face seemed to be soaked in ice, glowing with a cold, pale light, but his eyes were calm and still, staring straight at Scarlett.
Scarlett felt her spine tingle under his gaze and shrank her shoulders.
Magnolia raised her hand to touch her nose, pulled Scarlett behind her, and huffed.
"You brought this on yourself! You know very well how you ended up with everyone against you! And this was all my idea, so stop scaring Scarlett with those looks!"
Scarlett lowered her head, thinking that "everyone against him" was a bit much, but even though it wasn't her idea, she did feel a bit guilty now.
Daniel said nothing, looked away, and walked toward the villa.
Magnolia pushed Scarlett. "Scarlett, did I go too far? Maybe you should go check on him for me?"
Scarlett fell silent.
Although she thought Magnolia had been a bit wrong just now, Magnolia had done all this for her sake.
She had some responsibility too. Worried that Daniel might actually get sick from what Magnolia did, Scarlett hesitated, then nodded and quickly followed.
Daniel walked fast. By the time Scarlett caught up inside the villa, Daniel had already gone upstairs, leaving a trail of water behind.
Scarlett followed all the way to the bedroom, heard sounds from the bathroom, and ran over, pushing the door open and anxiously explaining.
"Are you okay? Just now, that..."
She hadn't expected to push the door open and see Daniel throwing his coat on the floor, his thin cashmere sweater half-off, revealing his firm abs.
She quickly closed her eyes. "I'll go out first!"
She had just turned around when her arm was grabbed, and she let out a scream.
The next second, Scarlett had been pulled into the bathroom by Daniel and pressed against the wall.
Scarlett's back touched the cold tile wall, and in front of her was Daniel's equally wet and cold body. His large hand gripped one side of her waist, the coolness seeping through her skin.
Scarlett's chin was also pinched by his two long, strong but ice-cold fingers and lifted up.
"Having fun?"
Water was still dripping from Daniel's hair, drop by drop falling on Scarlett's eyelids and nose. Scarlett didn't quite dare to look at Daniel's sharp eyes so close to her.
She blinked and instinctively began to explain anxiously.
"We weren't trying to trick you on purpose, don't misunderstand! Grandma somehow found out about me falling in the water at The Brown Mansion before, and about our divorce. Grandma thought I was heartbroken and wanted a divorce because you saved Alice instead of me when I fell in, so she..."
As Scarlett spoke, she realized these words seemed to be shifting all the blame to Magnolia, so she closed her mouth.
Scarlett took a deep breath and finally looked up at Daniel.
"I'm sorry, I apologize."
Daniel's eyes still held a chill. He didn't let go of Scarlett's chin.
"So were you heartbroken?"
Scarlett pressed her lips together. How could she not be heartbroken?
Even now, thinking of the scene underwater that day, every moment was still as clear as if it were yesterday.
The water that day was also like now, terribly cold.
But Scarlett pulled up the corners of her mouth and smiled slightly.
"It's all in the past. Anyway, I only told Grandma that I wanted a divorce because I felt you didn't care about me, only about Alice's safety. But Grandma was stubborn and misunderstood you, insisting you still cared about me and wanted to prove it to me. I didn't expect Grandma would prove it this way..."
Scarlett didn't finish because Daniel suddenly lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead.
The kiss was too soft and too sudden, as if filled with endless tenderness.
Scarlett froze, completely stunned.
Wasn't he angry? Why did he suddenly kiss her?
While she was confused, she heard Daniel's voice, hoarse, saying:
"Scarlett, Grandma isn't stubborn, and she didn't misunderstand me."
Scarlett stood there dazed, her expression wooden as she looked at Daniel, but her fingertips trembled involuntarily and pressed against the wall.
What did Daniel mean by that?
With her heartbeat somewhat uncertain, Daniel pressed his forehead against hers and gently rubbed it. He seemed to sigh.
"Silly girl, I do care. How could I not care about you?"