Chapter 10 No Divorce, For Now
The warmth in his gaze, the tenderness in each gesture, the lingering tone that brushed against her ears like a lover's murmur—this was everything Scarlett had ever longed for, even in her dreams.
Her mouth felt parched, her nerves tight and tangled. It was as if her heart had been lowered into a basin of warm water, the heat soaking into her veins, sending waves of tingling comfort she couldn't resist.
But happiness like this was fragile, unreal—like bubbles slipping through her fingers, vanishing into mist before she could hold them.
She bit her lower lip, resisting, struggling, afraid to speak. Afraid that whatever lay ahead for her would be nothing short of irreversible ruin.
Magnolia noticed and gave Daniel a light smack.
"All your fault! Never home, neglecting Scarlett… You need to promise that from now on you'll come home every day and live well with her. Otherwise, you don't deserve her forgiveness."
Scarlett's fingers tangled together, knotted tight. She finally lifted her gaze to Daniel.
Would he agree?
Daniel's thin lips curved faintly. "Yes, yes, whatever you say."
Magnolia nodded in satisfaction, turning her attention to Scarlett. "Scarlett?"
Daniel's eyes followed, locking on Scarlett's face.
Her nose stung, her heart swelled painfully. She couldn't bring herself to refuse. These were the two people she loved most in the world.
Her lashes lowered, eyes shimmering, and she gave a small nod. "Alright."
Magnolia beamed, taking Scarlett's hand and placing it in Daniel's.
"Good. Now I can rest easy… I'll be waiting for the day your child is born."
Leaving Magnolia's room, Scarlett walked into the hall where servants moved back and forth. She tried to pull her hand free from Daniel's grasp.
He didn't let go. She looked up at him.
"Tonight you'll stay at the Wilson Mansion. Tomorrow I'll help you move everything back to Regal Estate."
Since she had agreed to Magnolia's request, Scarlett decided to give it another try.
She nodded. "Alright."
She felt as though she had slipped back into the role of the obedient Scarlett she used to be. Daniel's eyes deepened, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze before finally releasing it.
His gaze made her heart race. She tried to steady herself. "I'm going to check the kitchen."
"Go ahead."
Scarlett hurried into the kitchen. When dinner was ready, she stepped back out.
Daniel and Andrew were upstairs in the study. Magnolia asked her to go call them.
Scarlett reached the study door, lifted her hand to knock, but noticed it wasn't fully closed. Andrew's commanding voice drifted out.
"The Star Group's most important thirty-billion-dollar project is launching this year. Your personal image is tied directly to the company's. This is no time for market instability. You can spoil Alice all you want in private, but divorce is not a good idea right now. Once this period passes, you can do whatever you want."
"I know. Leave it alone."
Scarlett froze in the doorway, listening to Daniel's cool, detached voice.
He didn't explain anything about Alice. He didn't deny what Andrew had said.
So this was why he refused to divorce her, why he worked so hard to keep her—just for the Star Group's image. And she had been foolish enough to believe otherwise.
Her limbs went weak. She turned and walked away.
In the span of thirty minutes, she felt her heart shatter and reassemble, only to be shattered again—lifted high, then thrown down, broken into jagged pieces.
Scarlett braced herself against the wall, breathing hard until she could calm down. When she finally looked around, she realized she was standing outside William's room.
Four years ago, William had set his sights on becoming a professional race car driver. The Wilson family had opposed it, so he left the country and never returned.
The room had been locked ever since. Now the door stood slightly open.
Scarlett stepped in, puzzled, and at that moment her phone rang. Ramon's name flashed on the screen. She answered.
"Scarlett, good news! Your resume made it through. Ms. Mae will personally interview you next month during her tour."
Scarlett hadn't expected news so soon. She jumped to her feet.
"Really? That's amazing!"
She spun in excitement, not noticing the shadow standing outside the door until it startled her into a gasp.
"I've got something to deal with. I'll call you back," she said quickly.
She hung up and turned—straight into Daniel's chest, hard enough to make her nose sting.
"You're standing that close without a sound? What are you doing?"
Daniel took a step forward. Scarlett backed away until her spine pressed against the wall.
He raised his arm, trapping her against the doorway, a cold sneer curling his lips.
"In the dark, who are you standing here thinking about?"
Scarlett stared at him, noting how the warmth he'd shown in Magnolia's room had vanished, replaced by ice. She thought of what she'd just overheard and let out a bitter laugh.
Of course she was a fool, to keep holding on to hope.
Her expression hardened. "I was on the phone with Ramon. You heard me."
"Did I?" His voice was steeped in frost.
"Don't stand so close," she said, her breath coming fast.
Daniel thought of that night when she'd been in the car with Ramon, pressed close. Instead of stepping back, he bent his long leg, pressing it against her, pinning her completely between the wall and his body.
"Don't like me close? Who would you rather be close to—Ramon, the self-righteous gentleman?"
As a man himself, Daniel knew exactly what Ramon was thinking.
His handsome face was shadowed with cold. Scarlett thought he was being ridiculous.
"Ramon called to tell me James's condition is stable," she said.
She didn't dare let Daniel know she was secretly preparing to study abroad.
He hadn't agreed to divorce. Studying abroad was even less possible.
But she had made up her mind. She wouldn't be swayed again.
Daniel's eyes darkened. "Want to grab a mirror and take a look at how guilty you look right now?"
He knew her too well—right down to the way she lied.
The best lies were a blend of truth and falsehood. Scarlett said, "Ramon also mentioned that a medical institute overseas has opened, specializing in waking patients from comas. They could take James."
The meaning was clear.
Daniel gave a cold laugh. "I'll arrange another doctor for James."
It wasn't a discussion—it was a decision. He ended the topic, opened the door, and stepped out.
Scarlett grabbed his arm in desperation.
"Ramon and I already talked it over! We're getting divorced. I don't want to trouble you anymore."
"Not trouble me, but trouble him? What's between you two? And have you already forgotten what you just promised?"
Scarlett gave a sharp laugh. "That was for your grandmother's benefit. With a man like you, if I don't divorce you, I'll end up dead from the stress."
"Scarlett! Say that again!" Daniel's face darkened, as if he might strangle her.
Scarlett's heart went cold. She stomped hard on his foot.
While he flinched, she slipped past him.
At the dining table, Daniel sat down beside Scarlett, his face still dark. Magnolia frowned at him.
"Who are you scowling at? Serve Scarlett some soup."
"Grandmother, she doesn't want to trouble me," Daniel said, glancing at Scarlett with a raised brow. "Right, Mrs. Wilson?"
His words drew everyone's eyes to her. Scarlett didn't dare let him serve her.
She stood. "I'll serve Grandmother instead. I made her favorite mushroom soup—it's delicious."
"You're always the most thoughtful," Blair said with a mocking edge.
In the past, Scarlett would have carefully served everyone at the table, trying to please Blair. But tonight she didn't even glance at her and sat down.
Blair's voice sharpened. "Looks like we parents don't deserve any soup."
Magnolia glared at her. "If you want soup, serve yourself."
Blair started to retort, but Andrew cut in. "Eat."
Blair fell silent, though her expression soured further.
Magnolia wasn't finished. A slow, humorless smile tugged at her lips as her eyes cut toward Daniel. "You should count yourself lucky… Scarlett's the only woman who'd ever take you. Without her, you'd spend the rest of your life alone—no wife, no children, nothing."
Daniel wondered how things had gone wrong so quickly—how Scarlett had gone from mollified to angry again. Magnolia looked exasperated.
Blair bristled at Magnolia's words. "Mother, that's unfair. There are plenty of women out there who'd marry Daniel."
Magnolia's tone hardened. "Scarlett's been with me since she was little. No woman out there could compare. She's my lifesaver."
Scarlett had been five when Kennedy brought her to visit. Magnolia had collapsed from a heart condition in the empty conservatory, the heavy wooden door accidentally locked. Scarlett had pounded on the door and screamed until help came, saving Magnolia's life.
Later, they discovered her delicate hands were swollen and her voice nearly gone from shouting.
Because of that, when James was desperate, he dared to bring Scarlett to the Wilson family to beg for help.
Only later did Scarlett learn Magnolia hadn't been home that night—it had been Daniel's decision to keep her.
"Mother, that's ancient history. And remember, it was the WilsonWilliam family who took her in and raised her. You can't keep playing favorites. Whether a couple can have children depends on the woman's health. I've spent the past two years finding specialists for Scarlett, but she refuses to cooperate. This isn't Daniel's fault."
Magnolia's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing to slits. "With the right man, even barren ground can bear fruit… The problem is Daniel. Tyne, bring him the soup we prepared."
Daniel hadn't expected the conversation to circle back and hit him.
The brown broth was placed before him, its smell far from pleasant.
"Grandmother, maybe skip the tonic soup?"
Magnolia smiled and took Scarlett's hand. "That's for Scarlett to decide."
Scarlett looked at Daniel, meeting his eyes—eyes that held a glint of amusement.