Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Then what’s the point of marriage, if not for companionship?”
Kenji countered, “Don’t you know? You are destined to be my good luck charm.”
Scarlette was taken aback; she truly didn’t know.
With a blunt honesty that bordered on ruthlessness, Kenji revealed the truth.
Scarlette was stunned. Young and still grappling with the complexities of her emotions, her thoughts were an open book.
“Do you… do you feel even a flicker of affection for me?” she blurted out.
Kenji felt a pang in his chest seeing her like that. He couldn’t resist offering a measure of comfort.
“I do.”
While Scarlette wasn’t entirely satisfied with his response, she accepted it. She craved attention and yearned to stand out, but she wouldn’t force others to reciprocate her feelings.
“But I can’t accept a marriage built on such a pragmatic foundation,” Scarlette declared firmly.
“It feels like I’m merely a good luck talisman to you. Besides, you’re not my ideal partner. Even if I were to impulsively marry you now, your personality would cast a long shadow over my life. You’re far too domineering. I prefer someone who would shower me with affection.”
Kenji already had a contingency plan.
“We don’t have to live together, except for occasional visits to my parents.”
His sole objective was marriage. Whether they were compatible or could build a harmonious union mattered little to him. Scarlette remained resolute.
“I still find the proposition unacceptable.”
The thought of being shackled to him, even in a limited capacity, was abhorrent to her.
Kenji’s brow furrowed, his gaze hardening as he observed this rare display of serious resolve from Scarlette. His patience was beginning to wear thin.
“This is our destiny,” he declared.
“Either you compromise, or I will. I will not coerce you, but we shall see who emerges victorious.”
Scarlette was baffled by his cryptic statement. In any case, a sense of resistance welled up within her. At her age, she was a whirlwind of emotions, impulsive and headstrong. If something displeased her, she simply rejected it.
From that day forward, Scarlette deliberately avoided Kenji.
Kenji, in turn, showed no signs of pursuing her further. Since she wished to distance herself, he would give her the space. He redirected his focus to his work.
Without the constant pressure of his presence, Scarlette felt a newfound sense of freedom. She relished the opportunity to spend time with her friends and even began experimenting with makeup. In a classroom, she admired her reflection on her phone, captivated by her own beauty.
Suddenly, a familiar face appeared on the screen.
Scarlette quickly turned around, only to find Kenji standing behind her. It had been some time since their last encounter. His features were undeniably striking, even to her, who found him somewhat disagreeable. She quickly tucked her phone away and asked, “What brings you here?”
Kenji held a stack of documents in his hand.
“I’m here to teach,” he replied.
Scarlette remembered his position as a professor at the university.
“But you accepted this position to be closer to me. We’ve already talked things through. Your presence here is no longer necessary.”
Kenji’s gaze remained impassive.
“We’ve spoken, but the matter remains unresolved. I haven’t abandoned my pursuit of our marriage.”
“But I’ve made my decision,” she countered.
“Why waste your emotions on a futile endeavor?”
“Why rush? Nothing is set in stone,” he countered, his gaze lingering on her lips. He gently brushed his fingers against her lips.
“This shade of lipstick is rather dramatic for you.”
Scarlette pursed her lips.
“I thought so too. That’s why I was studying my reflection so intently. I’ll opt for a lighter shade next time.”
Kenji withdrew his hand.
“Have you missed me lately?”
Scarlette’s heart skipped a beat. She blinked her charming eyes.
“And you? Have you missed me?”
Kenji replied, “A little.”
“Well, I haven’t missed you,” Scarlette said with a playful huff.
Kenji smirked.
“Very well. I must confess, I have missed you considerably.”
Scarlette finally allowed a genuine smile to grace her lips.
“Then I suppose I’ve missed you slightly.”
Kenji observed her expression, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
“When, precisely, did you miss me?”
Scarlette, with a mischievous glint in her own eyes, replied, “The other day, while camping with my friends, I noticed the physiques of some of my male classmates. None of them could compare to yours.”
Kenji found himself inexplicably pleased by her admission.
“Do you have any plans for this evening?” he inquired.
Scarlette pondered for a moment.
“Not for now.”
“Then I suggest you join me at my residence.”
“For what purpose?” she questioned.
“For entertainment,” he replied, his gaze lingering on her.
Kenji put on his spectacles and proceeded to the platform to start the class.
The weather in Warrington had taken a peculiar turn lately. Though summer had officially bid farewell, its harsh temperament lingered stubbornly in the air. Hurricane warnings blanketed the city tonight, their urgent messages impossible to ignore.
After finishing classes early, Kenji took Scarlette out for dinner. They sat in the restaurant as nature unleashed its fury outside. Winds howled like ancient beasts, and chaotic rain transformed the world beyond the windows into an apocalyptic scene.
While others scurried along the streets seeking shelter, Scarlette’s eyes sparkled with an unusual request. She wanted to visit the summit of Warrington’s tallest building to witness the churning sea.
With gentle concern, Kenji removed his coat and wrapped it snugly around her frame. The generous fabric engulfed her slender figure, making her appear even more delicate than usual.
A hint of amusement played across his lips as he gazed down at her.
“What’s that smile about?” Scarlette asked, puzzlement crossing her features.
“You look like a perfectly wrapped burrito,” he mused.
Scarlette giggled, cupping her rosy cheeks as she blinked playfully.
“Do I look adorably cute?”
“Not quite. Your head’s popping out like a corn kernel from the burrito.”
“Did you hear my request earlier?” she asked, squirming in his arms with mock annoyance.
“Aren’t we headed there now?”
“Humph, that’s more like it.”
Her fascination with extreme weather mirrored Kenji’s own unexpected preference. These intense conditions brought him a peculiar sense of peace, doubling his efficiency in their midst. In the building’s uppermost room, Kenji arranged his easel, settling cross-legged on the floor to blend his paints. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, torrential rain drenched the city, yet they remained in their own peaceful bubble.
Scarlette nestled on his lap, playfully experimenting with the palette. Her creative exploration left both her own colors and Kenji’s carefully mixed hues in cheerful disarray.
Kenji observed the chaos without a trace of irritation, simply starting fresh with his mixing.
“Why aren’t you angry?” Scarlette inquired, genuine curiosity in her voice.
“Shouldn’t you be pleased that I’m not?” Kenji countered.
“But if you’re not mad, then what was the point of me messing around for so long?”
Today, Kenji worked as if in a meditative state, his brush moving across the canvas in peaceful, uninterrupted strokes. The hurricane-whipped sea outside came alive beneath his hands, each wave and shadow captured with breathtaking realism.
“How is it that you excel at everything?” Scarlette marveled sincerely.
“It’s within anyone’s capabilities, except perhaps yours,” Kenji replied with a shrug.
Scarlette responded with an exaggerated eye roll.
Scarlette’s mother’s artistic talent had once inspired Scarlette to pursue painting herself, but the rigorous demands of mastering the craft eventually led her to abandon the endeavor.