Chapter 121 Daniel Stayed Over
"Don't like her."
Daniel grabbed Elliot by the collar and lifted him up completely, saying impatiently.
Did Elliot think they were elementary school kids? Still talking about liking or not liking?
The entanglement between him and Scarlett ran too deep to be explained by a simple "like" or "don't like."
"Daniel, you're hopeless!"
Elliot buried his face in Daniel's abdomen, grunted, then pushed Daniel away and ran toward Scarlett in the distance.
"Scarlett, you should divorce him and like other people. Liking one person is too exhausting—you need to like dozens of people."
Scarlett reached out to catch Elliot as he ran over, crouched down, and patted the dust off his clothes.
She discreetly pressed her hand against her chest—it didn't hurt, but felt somehow empty.
She smiled at Elliot. "Okay, I'll try. I'll try liking all different types."
Daniel turned around and walked over, looking down at Scarlett.
"If liking one person is exhausting, liking dozens will only be more exhausting."
Scarlett stood up and smiled with raised eyebrows.
"That's hard to say. Maybe I have great potential to be a bad girl who loves everyone."
Scarlett took Elliot's hand and started walking. Elliot rolled his eyes dramatically at Daniel.
Elliot was speechless about Daniel.
Daniel walked over and opened the back car door for them, looking at Scarlett.
"It's too late. I'll drive you back."
He was still driving that same car. Thinking about how Alice had also sat in this car made Scarlett feel disgusted.
Scarlett shook her head. "Elliot needs rest. If you drive me first and then take him back, it'll be too late. Don't bother—I can easily call a ride."
But Daniel's expression darkened slightly as he insisted.
"Get in! There's no way I'm leaving you here this late."
Scarlett pursed her lips, thinking to herself that it wouldn't be the first time he'd left her.
Last time, when she was perfectly fine at home, he'd carried her out the door and made her get out of the car barefoot.
"Scarlett, I'm not going back! I want to stay with you tonight!"
Elliot hugged Scarlett's waist and refused to let go, rubbing his head against her and acting cute.
He'd grown fast—he already reached up to Scarlett's chest.
Daniel's handsome face darkened. He grabbed the back of Elliot's neck, pulled him away, and threw him directly into the back seat.
Elliot scrambled up, shouting indignantly.
"Daniel! Are you a devil?"
"Boys shouldn't act cute!" Daniel said sternly, slamming the car door shut.
But Elliot slid down the window and stuck his head out.
"Daniel, you just don't get it. Boys who act cute have the best lives. Scarlett, Scarlett, let me go back with you!"
Elliot pouted, gripping the car window, looking very aggrieved.
Scarlett remembered holding Elliot just now—though he'd grown taller, he felt light and thin, his clothes hanging loose on him.
Elliot must have suffered so much from being sick during this time. Scarlett also thought about how she'd be going abroad in a couple of days, not knowing when she'd see Elliot again.
She nodded. "Sit back down quickly and don't catch a draft. I promise."
"See that!" Elliot said triumphantly to Daniel, closing the window.
Daniel chuckled, taking Scarlett's arm and leading her toward the passenger seat. "It's late. Let him lie down in the back and sleep."
Scarlett nodded and got into the passenger seat.
On the road, Elliot must have been truly tired—he lay quietly in the back and fell asleep.
Scarlett asked Daniel softly, "Elliot's condition..."
"A specialized medical team has been assembled. It's still under control for now. New medication is being developed, but progress is slow."
Daniel spoke calmly, but his slightly tense jawline made Scarlett's heart sink.
She turned to look at Elliot.
Daniel turned his head and caught sight of Scarlett's eyes glistening with moisture, filled with worry and heartache.
Daniel suddenly felt jealous. He used to be the most important person she cared about.
But now it seemed like everyone was more important to Scarlett than him.
"When my wound wouldn't heal before, I didn't see you this worried."
The thought came out of Daniel's mouth. Scarlett laughed coldly and looked at Daniel.
"How dare you bring that up? Good thing I didn't worry, or I would've been an idiot!"
Besides, it wasn't that she hadn't worried. She'd been concerned those few days, only to find out Daniel and Tom had been deceiving her.
Daniel looked at Scarlett's cold little face, his grip on the steering wheel tightening, but he laughed softly.
"Really don't care?"
Scarlett glanced at him, meeting his half-smiling eyes, her heart involuntarily tightening.
But her answer was firm. "No!"
She would only suspect he was lying to her again.
Daniel felt like an invisible arrow had struck his chest. He scoffed lightly and said.
"Great. I raised you for nothing."
Scarlett had been scolded by him before for being ungrateful. The meaning was similar, but somehow it carried an inexplicable sense of intimate indulgence.
Tonight's Daniel seemed a bit different.
Her ears felt itchy. She felt a bit flustered, pretended to yawn, then closed her eyes.
"I'm so tired. I'll sleep for a bit."
Daniel didn't respond. After a moment, he glanced at Scarlett's tightly closed eyes and slightly trembling lashes, his thin lips curving slightly.
When they arrived downstairs.
Daniel leaned in and carried Elliot out. Scarlett went ahead to lead the way and settled Elliot on her bed.
"Okay, you should go now. Just send someone to pick up Elliot tomorrow morning."
Scarlett immediately tried to send him away, not even offering Daniel a drink of water.
Daniel's gaze swept across the small bedroom, settling on two large boxes and a suitcase in the corner.
"Already packing?" he asked.
Elliot turned over on the bed. Scarlett, worried about waking him, gestured for Daniel to talk in the living room.
She closed the bedroom door and turned to say, "I'm slowly sorting things out."
Thinking about her imminent departure, Daniel's eyes grew somber.
Daniel turned and walked over, actually sitting down on the sofa.
Scarlett frowned. "I didn't ask you to sit."
"I'm thirsty. Getting me a glass of water isn't too much to ask, is it?"
Scarlett gritted her teeth, turned around, ran to get Daniel water, handed it to him, and said, "Drink it quickly."
Daniel took it and frowned. "It's cold?"
Scarlett reached to take the glass back. "Forget it if you won't drink it."
Daniel clicked his tongue but didn't let go. "I'll drink it."
Daniel took a sip of water but then said, "I'm staying tonight."
Scarlett hadn't expected him to push his luck. She immediately said coldly.
"No way. Drink your water and leave!"
Even though Sarah was at the film set tonight and wouldn't be back, Scarlett couldn't possibly let Daniel stay over.
They'd just registered their divorce!
Daniel took another leisurely sip of water, set the glass on the coffee table, leaned back against the sofa, loosened his tie, and crossed his long legs.
"I wasn't asking your opinion."
Scarlett laughed in frustration. "Mr. Wilson, before you give orders, please note—this isn't the Star Group, and it's not the Wilson Mansion either."
Daniel nodded. "But this is Shadow City, and in Shadow City, I make the rules."
Scarlett was speechless.
In Shadow City, he really did make the rules. Even if Scarlett called the police, they wouldn't dare make Daniel leave.
Scarlett felt helpless. A flash of amusement crossed Daniel's eyes before he said.
"Elliot's condition is unstable. He could have a fever or nosebleed at any time. If he has an episode in the middle of the night, you won't be able to get him to the hospital quickly by yourself."
Scarlett thought about the situation Daniel described, her expression conflicted and hesitant.
Daniel stood up. "Forget it. I'll sleep in the car. Come down and get me if anything happens."
He walked toward the entrance, his tall figure quickly reaching the doorway.
He seemed genuinely concerned only about Elliot, with no other intentions.
But it was already winter, and the car would be freezing at night. Daniel was only wearing a suit.
If he ran the air conditioning in the car, it would be even more dangerous.
Scarlett also thought about the video Elliot had sent her before, and how Daniel had defended her today. She bit her lip and spoke.
"Fine, whatever. But I don't have a bed for you. If you're willing to make do with the sofa..."
"That works."
Before she finished speaking, Daniel turned and headed for the sofa, casually taking off his suit jacket and tossing it aside.
He looked relaxed and at ease, as if he were in his own home.
Scarlett fell silent.
She had the feeling she'd just been tricked by him.