Chapter 89 I Can
The villa was pitch black, without a single glimmer of light.
If Scarlett hadn't seen Daniel's car enter Regal Estate with her own eyes, she would have thought the house was empty.
Thinking Daniel might have gone straight upstairs to his room to rest, Scarlett didn't turn on the lights and felt her way upstairs in the dark. But just as she stepped onto the stairs, a slightly hoarse voice suddenly rang out.
"Where are you going?"
Scarlett let out a scream of fright. Gripping the handrail, she looked in the direction of the voice and spotted a dark figure on the sofa.
It was Daniel.
She caught her breath and frowned.
"In the middle of the night, what are you doing lying there? And not turning on the lights—you scared me !"
He clearly knew she had come in, but he didn't make a sound. He had to wait until now to speak up—obviously trying to scare her on purpose.
Scarlett walked over and turned on the floor lamp by the sofa area.
The dim yellow light illuminated Daniel leaning back on the sofa. He opened his eyes slightly, his gaze cold and clear, showing no sign of sleepiness.
"This is my house. I can be wherever I want, and if I don't want to turn on the lights, I won't. Unlike some people who barge into someone else's house in the middle of the night and then blame others for it."
Scarlett felt a sting from his words "someone else's house"—it didn't hurt much, but it made her feel vaguely uncomfortable.
But he wasn't wrong. This wasn't her home anymore. She apologized, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come uninvited. It's just..."
Daniel's expression grew colder as he cut her off.
"Since you know that, then get out!"
Scarlett's whole body stiffened. She gripped her phone tightly, its edge pressing into her palm until it felt slightly numb. She stood there without moving.
"Are you not feeling well? Did the alcohol make you sick? How about I make you a bowl of noodles? Or does your head hurt? Let me massage it for you."
She put her phone and bag aside and reached out her hand.
She remembered that Daniel often got headaches from drinking. She was here to ask for a favor, so even if his attitude was bad, she had to put up with it.
Dignity and all that—it wasn't as important as Sarah.
But before her hand could touch Daniel's forehead, Daniel raised his hand to block it.
Daniel's features were stern as he said coldly, "I don't need anyone to take care of me. Keep your fake sympathy to yourself!"
Scarlett fell silent.
She quietly withdrew her hand and stopped trying to ease into the conversation, getting straight to the point.
"About tonight, Sarah was arrested by Alton and they won't allow bail. Could you please..."
"No! Get out."
Daniel cut Scarlett off, his expression icy as he closed his eyes, looking completely fed up.
Scarlett's breathing tightened. "Can't you help me? Sarah got dragged into this because of me."
Daniel suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze cold. "Scarlett, you were the one who refused to be my wife no matter what. You were the one who wanted to pay back the thirty million dollars and cut ties with the Wilson family, to never see me again. Why should I make things difficult for my own good friend for someone like you who's nothing to me?"
Scarlett's face turned very upset She knew before coming in that it wouldn't be easy, but facing his coldness directly still made her feel hurt and lost.
Seeing her eyes redden, Daniel stood up to leave.
Scarlett instinctively grabbed Daniel's wrist. Daniel shook her off, and Scarlett fell back onto the sofa.
As he was about to step away, she said in a trembling voice, "Didn't you want to have sex? I... I can do it."
Daniel's steps halted. He turned back to look down at Scarlett.
His figure was backlit, the dim yellow light behind him. Scarlett couldn't see Daniel's face clearly, but she felt his gaze piercing her like an ice pick.
But she had no other options. She remembered how strong Daniel's physical reaction had been at the hotel, and how he had taken such a long cold shower.
Probably besides this, she had nothing else to offer, nothing else to negotiate with.
Her hands trembling, she unbuttoned her shirt, took off her top, unzipped her pants, removed...
As her pants fell to the floor, she became even more flustered and confused, mainly because Daniel hadn't responded at all. His cold, detached attitude made Scarlett feel even more humiliated.
"Take it off, keep going." Daniel's voice was like an icy blade.
Scarlett couldn't continue. She hugged herself, her face turning from upset to flushed red.
Under the dim yellow light, Scarlett's face was flushed, her eyes also burning red, her lashes trembling constantly.
Her skin was flawless and smooth, her arms wrapped around herself, shivering.
Her posture was pitiful, and looking down from above, her curves were exposed—awkward yet alluring.
Emotions churned in Daniel's eyes. Scarlett suddenly lost all her courage. Just as she couldn't control herself and bent down to pick up her pants, Daniel suddenly moved closer, his large hand gripping Scarlett's fragrant shoulder.
Scarlett jumped in fright. She looked up to see Daniel, and long hair flashed before her eyes.
Daniel pulled her around to face away from him, making her kneel on the sofa.
They had never tried this position before. Scarlett couldn't see Daniel, but she could feel his suppressed anger.
She completely lost control of her emotions, tears falling freely, while Daniel's voice was cold and cruel, completely different from the warmth of his palm.
"Didn't you want to have sex? You undressed yourself, so what are you hiding from now? Do you know how men treat women who show up at their door in the middle of the night?"
Scarlett felt no tenderness at all, only fear and humiliation.
She shook her head, her voice breaking.
"Don't... not here..."
Scarlett suddenly realized that the villa's servants were actually around, and if they heard noise from the main building, they might come to check.
But her plea only earned a cold snort from Daniel. Watching her tremble under his palm, he suddenly asked.
"Whose men were the bodyguards you brought to the winery today?"
Scarlett's attention was all on his roaming hands. Sweat broke out on her forehead as she answered him instinctively.
"Ramon's!"
Those bodyguards were borrowed from Ramon by Scarlett. Ramon had wanted to come along too, but Scarlett insisted it wasn't necessary. If she had known, she should have gone by herself. No matter how much Sarah couldn't shake her off, she shouldn't have brought Sarah along.
Behind Scarlett came Daniel's even colder voice.
"This afternoon, did you strip naked and beg him to touch you and help you like this too?"
Scarlett's whole body froze, as if plunged into an icy abyss.
She stared blankly at the sofa beneath her. This sofa was one she had personally selected, in bright, warm orange tones. The throw pillows on it were patterns she had designed herself and had custom made.
She used to fantasize about cuddling warmly with Daniel on the sofa, watching shows together and feeding each other snacks.
She would also fantasize about some embarrassing scenes, hugging and kissing, but never this kind of humiliation.
The more she had looked forward to it before, the colder and more unbearable it felt now.
Scarlett suddenly struggled hard, tears falling silently.
"Daniel, you bastard! Let go! Tonight I was desperate and confused! I shouldn't have come to you, I...!"
Before she could finish her angry words, Daniel flipped her over and sealed her lips.
Scarlett shook her head and struggled, raising her hand to hit or scratch him, but Daniel interlaced his fingers with hers and pinned them on the sofa.
He knelt over her, kissing her more deeply.
Scarlett leaned back on the sofa, her long hair scattered across the back of the chair. Unable to break free, she could only let him take what he wanted.
In the quiet, dim living room, things got more and more out of hand, until Scarlett's phone on the coffee table suddenly rang.
Daniel seemed to be brought back to his senses by the ringtone. He lifted his head, his Adam's apple bobbing.
Scarlett turned her head away, eyes closed, tears rolling down again. Under the soft light, several tear tracks reflected the light, particularly clear.
Daniel looked down, his voice hoarse and mocking, "You're the one who showed up in the middle of the night wanting to degrade yourself, and you still have the nerve to cry!"