Chapter 157 Daniel's Sixteen-Year Search for a Woman
Scarlett looked at Sarah, who waved her hand in front of her nose.
"Why do I smell romance in the air? Go ahead and answer it."
Scarlett picked up the call.
"Why aren't you back yet?"
Daniel sounded a bit impatient, his voice low and deep. Through the phone, it came across slightly hoarse with a grainy quality that brushed past Scarlett's ear.
"I'm at the coffee shop talking with Sarah. I'll be back soon. Why don't you get some rest?" Scarlett felt a bit embarrassed and glanced at Sarah across from her.
Sarah deliberately raised her voice.
"We've barely said a few words and someone's already checking in. Fine, I'm leaving. But Mr. Wilson, if you don't treat Scarlett right this time, I'll go hang a protest banner outside the Star Group building!"
Sarah waved at Scarlett and got up to leave, moving quite swiftly.
Scarlett also left the coffee shop. "Sarah's just being dramatic. Don't be mad. I'm already out and heading back now."
Daniel made a sound of acknowledgment. "It's good that she looks out for you like that. Otherwise, just for helping you escape from Shadow City, if it were anyone else, they could try and see what happens!"
Hearing the lingering anger and displeasure in his voice about her escape, Scarlett let out a soft hum.
"Good thing you didn't actually do anything to Sarah, or I wouldn't forgive you easily either!"
Scarlett hung up and walked toward the hospital.
Unexpectedly, Scarlett ran into Alice and Laura again at the hospital entrance.
Alice was clearly being ganged up on by Natalia and two others. They were pulling at Alice, constantly pestering her.
After Natalia said something, Alice's expression changed. She turned and reached out to Laura.
Laura pulled out a bank card. Alice took it and handed it to Natalia, and only then did Natalia and the others leave.
Scarlett looked thoughtful. Last time Natalia let something slip, Scarlett learned that Alice had been giving Natalia money all along.
But Alice could barely protect herself now, yet she was still giving Natalia money.
Given Alice's selfish nature, it all seemed strange.
Scarlett thought for a moment, then walked over. Alice spotted her and came over angrily, raising her hand to slap Scarlett.
"Scarlett, you bitch!"
Scarlett grabbed her wrist and sneered, "Your lies have been exposed and now you're embarrassed and angry?"
Alice's chest heaved as she gritted her teeth.
She yanked her hand back forcefully, took a breath, and said:
"You must have just seen your family too, right? They're so seriously injured and have no money for treatment. You're Natalia's biological child, yet you avoid them. Isn't that inappropriate?"
Scarlett smiled. "But you're here, aren't you? Ms. Brown is so kind and generous, why not be more generous with them?"
"Scarlett, don't you think you're being too cold-hearted? You're now the lady of the Wilson family, carrying the Wilson family's child, yet you're watching your relatives struggle without money for treatment? If word gets out, it won't look good for your reputation."
Alice was fed up. Daniel had publicly exposed her lies and withdrawn the Brown family's later-stage investment. Now she was being hounded by Natalia and the others.
Those useless people, scared by Daniel's threats, were too afraid to ask Scarlett for money.
Alice didn't want to give money, but Natalia had dirt on her.
Damn it!
Scarlett nodded. "My reputation's already bad anyway. But you've always cared about your reputation, so you can support them for life. I don't mind spreading word of your good deeds."
"You!" Alice clenched her fists in anger.
Scarlett looked at her. Clearly, Alice wasn't giving Natalia and the others money out of old affection.
Alice was being blackmailed by them?
Scarlett continued, "Don't feel wronged. Between the two of us, Natalia cares more about you. Why is that?"
Alice's eyes showed a flash of panic, which she quickly concealed.
"Of course it's because I respect Natalia more and still see her as the mother who raised me. And you? After living as a socialite in the Brown family, you looked down on her after returning to the Lewis family!"
Scarlett caught that flash of panic in Alice's eyes.
Scarlett's heart sank. Could there really be something going on here?
She raised an eyebrow. "I really don't see her as my mother. I'd rather have no mother than one who doesn't care if her daughter lives or dies."
That time Scarlett was nearly beaten to death by John, she clearly saw Natalia come home through the crack in the door.
Scarlett reached out to Natalia for help, but Natalia covered her mouth in fear, bent down to take off her high heels, and snuck away.
From that moment, Scarlett considered herself motherless.
Scarlett started to walk away, but Alice, looking at her retreating figure, suddenly called out loudly:
"Scarlett, don't be so smug! You think you've won? Daniel only kept you around because of the baby you're carrying! He's counting on that child to save his brother Elliot's life.
You think Daniel loves you? If I'm not mistaken, before he knew you were pregnant, he had already registered for divorce and told you to leave Shadow City as soon as possible, right?"
Some things Scarlett knew in her own heart were one thing.
But hearing someone else say them out loud was surprisingly painful.
"Get divorced and leave the country, and don't come back."
The words Daniel had said echoed in Scarlett's ears once again.
Scarlett bit her tongue, using the pain to ignore the discomfort in her heart.
Scarlett didn't want Alice to control her emotions. She smiled and said, "Say what you want. I'll show you how loving we are."
Scarlett turned to leave, but Alice suddenly rushed up, grabbed Scarlett's arm, and said in a venomous yet triumphant tone:
"Scarlett, you're so naive! Yes, I lied to you, lied to everyone. I'm really not Daniel's first love! But that doesn't mean your dear Daniel doesn't have a woman he deeply loves!
I think there's something Daniel definitely hasn't told you. He's keeping a woman at Phoenix Hill Villa, a woman he's been searching for sixteen years! All these years, you've just been a substitute! Idiot, you're a joke!"
Scarlett's steps came to an abrupt halt, her heart sinking.
Seeing Scarlett freeze, Alice smiled triumphantly.
In this world, Scarlett was the one who least deserved happiness!
Scarlett was just a fake socialite who stole her six carefree childhood years and then enjoyed the Wilson family's wealth and status for so many years because of her grandmother Kennedy's old connections.
And Scarlett still dreamed of getting Daniel's love? Dream on!
Scarlett turned around, but her face didn't show the tears Alice expected.
Scarlett looked at Alice with calm pity.
"You think your words still have any credibility? My husband is keeping a woman? And he's been searching for her for sixteen years, using me as a substitute? You've been watching too many TV dramas. You really can make stuff up!"
This wasn't the result Alice wanted. Her expression grew anxious.
"No! This time I'm absolutely not lying! Phoenix Hill Villa is very close to here. If you don't believe me, you can go see for yourself!"
Phoenix Hill Villa was one of the properties Magnolia had selected from the Wilson family's many holdings when Scarlett and Daniel got married.
Magnolia had taken Scarlett to view them one by one, letting Scarlett choose one to renovate and furnish as their marital home.
In the end, Scarlett chose Phoenix Hill Villa and Regal Estate because Phoenix Hill Villa was close to the Wilson family's private hospital.
It was convenient for Scarlett to visit James, while Regal Estate was close to the Star Group. Both houses were decorated by Scarlett herself, and she liked them both, but she ultimately chose Regal Estate.
Because Scarlett couldn't bear to have Daniel spend an extra ten minutes commuting to work each day.
But Phoenix Hill Villa was still their other marital home, though they'd never lived there.
Scarlett absolutely didn't believe Daniel would keep any woman there.
Even if Daniel really wanted to keep a mistress, he wouldn't arrange it at Phoenix Hill Villa.
"No matter what you say, I won't believe you anymore."
Scarlett walked up to Alice and reached out to smooth Alice's hair.
"Alice, being unable to stand others' happiness is a serious psychological disorder. I sincerely suggest you see a therapist.
You should spend more time caring about yourself. Look at your hair—it's all messy and unhealthy. You must be using too much mental energy scheming, so the nutrition can't keep up. I really feel sorry for you."
Alice was furious. She quickly stepped back, frantically fixing her hair, glaring at Scarlett through gritted teeth.
"Scarlett, the baby in my belly—why does Daniel avoid talking about it? Because this child is closely related to the woman Daniel deeply loves! Daniel doesn't dare tell you! You don't believe me now, but you'll regret it sooner or later!"
After Alice finished speaking, she pushed past Scarlett and left with Laura.