Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“I’m…”
The words caught in his throat, as stubborn as Scarlette’s had been that night.
“I’m sorry, Dad” lingered on his tongue, but pride kept them trapped behind clenched teeth.
Ellis’ features shifted subtly.
“You’re what?”
Kenji’s jaw worked silently, his ego still wrestling with humility. Later, after being dismissed from the study, Kenji found Jaida hovering near the doorway. Drawing himself up, he managed a weak smile.
“Dad forgave me.”
“I watched him show you the door,” Jaida replied dryly.
Days blurred into nights as Kenji battled his inner demons, finally surrendering to the reasonable decision-he would give it a try with Scarlette.
The irony wasn’t lost on Kenji. Crawling back to propose after shattering their engagement would require more courage than he’d ever needed. But this was his mess to untangle.
Resolution crystallized into action as Kenji boarded a flight to Warrington, determined to lay his heart bare before Scarlette.
This time, he left himself no room for retreat, making his first move at Scarlette’s prestigious institution.
Warrington’s most elite academy stood apart-a sanctuary where three percent were true academic prodigies and the remainder were offspring of the elite.
With calculated precision, Kenji maneuvered himself into a professor’s position. For a twenty-one-year-old to claim such a prestigious role raised more than a few eyebrows among the ivy-covered walls. Yet, money, he knew, could dissolve ninety-nine percent of life’s complications. His family name, like a master key, smoothly unlocked the final door.
From his secured vantage point in the caf?’s window seat, Kenji’s fingers found Scarlette’s number.
“Let’s discuss our engagement again,” he stated, each word measured and deliberate.
Scarlette’s response came in digital silence-a disconnected call and a blocked number.
Kenji stared at his darkened screen, drawing a slow breath through clenched teeth. What was he doing, chasing after a headstrong girl? With her absence confirmed, lingering seemed pointless.
But as Kenji rose to leave, fate played its hand-Scarlette appeared across the bustling street, and beside her stood what appeared to be her former boyfriend.
One eyebrow arched as Kenji’s fingers danced across his phone, connecting with his contact in Banta.
“I need some private information,” he murmured into the receiver.
Across the divide, Scarlette stood like a statue, arms crossed, her patience wearing thin as she waited for her driver. Her irritation was clearly directed at her companion, Zayden.
Since Scarlette’s return to Warrington, Zayden had become her shadow, his daily apologies falling on deaf ears.
Clutching an ice cream cone, Zayden latched onto Scarlette’s arm with brazen familiarity.
“Scarlette, nothing happened between me and that woman, I swear. Still pure as snow, and I’ve sanitized everything. Can’t you forgive me? I’m begging you, Scarlette.”
Scarlette’s features twisted with revulsion as she glared at his grip.
“Remove your hand. Now.”
In his hasty retreat, the ice cream left a sticky trail across her designer clothes. Seizing this opportunity, he wrapped his arms around her, attempting to rekindle their connection with his practiced charm. The crack of her palm against his cheek shattered the afternoon quiet.
Zayden’s hand flew to his face, stunned disbelief etched in his features. Days of groveling had stripped him of dignity, and now, humiliated in public, rage consumed him. His fingers dug into Scarlette’s arm like talons.
“All this drama over one kiss? Aren’t you being ridiculous?”
In a blur of motion, Zayden found himself airborne, landing unceremoniously three meters away.
“How dare you?” he shouted angrily, before recognition dawned in his widening eyes.
Kenji towered over the scene, his composed demeanor more terrifying than any display of rage. A dangerous smile played at his lips.
“Ah, my reputation precedes me.”
Color drained from Zayden’s face as he scrambled away, pride forgotten in his haste to escape.
Kenji’s gaze shifted to Scarlette, who maintained her icy facade.
“Don’t bother with thanks.”
Scarlette’s expression remained an enigmatic mask.
“Nobody asked for your help.”
Scarlette dismissed Zayden as any threat. Still, she acknowledged that Kenji had good intentions when he intervened. She felt a bit remorseful for her earlier sharpness. Why had she reacted so sharply? But then, remembering Kenji’s previous exasperating behaviors, Scarlette gritted her teeth. She fixed Kenji with a stern glare.
Kenji, one hand in his pocket, observed her with a poker face. Her face went through three different expressions in less than a second.
“Are you rehearsing for a play?”
Scarlette retorted, “I majored in handling men, particularly troublesome ones like you.”
Kenji let out a laugh. To him, she seemed childlike, almost unintentionally coquettish, even as she hurled insults. Her expression reminded him of that naughty dream he had, where she was delighted to the point of squirming coquettishly beneath him.
As the fragments of that dream resurfaced, Kenji’s smile faded, and he looked away.
Oblivious to his thoughts, Scarlette asked, “Why bring up our broken engagement all of a sudden? What’s left to be discussed?”
Kenji declared, “I think we should reengage.”
Scarlette was dumbfounded. After staring at him in disbelief for a few moments, she seemed to grasp the reason behind his proposal. Her expression then relaxed. With a sigh of resignation, she said, “I suspected as much.”
Kenji, taken aback, asked, “Oh?”
“It makes sense. My charm is irresistible to anyone. It’s only natural you’re captivated by me.”
At her response, Kenji was left at a loss for words.
Scarlette added confidently, “But seriously, falling for me is not good for you. I’m quite fickle, often finding new interests. Even if your advances move me one day, I might be interested in someone else tomorrow. So, I suggest you let go of the idea.”
Kenji responded coldly, “You’re overthinking things. Even if you were the last woman on earth, I wouldn’t pick you. The marriage proposal serves other purposes for me.”
Scarlette clicked her tongue.
“Look at you, getting all shy and now speaking words you don’t mean.”
Kenji retorted, “Have you ever had your brain examined? It seems to be full of ridiculous thoughts.”
Scarlette managed a strained smile and said, “You should stay back, or I might not be able to hold back from hitting you.”
Just then, the Ward family’s driver arrived.
Scarlette ceased her bantering with Kenji.
“You should return to Banta. I’m not going to marry you.”
With that, she climbed into the car. The driver acknowledged Kenji with a respectful nod before driving away.
The driver asked, “Miss Ward, did Mr. Reed come all the way to Banta to see you? It’s quite late. Why not invite him over for dinner?”
Scarlette responded with a frown, “Why bother? Isn’t Kenji just an annoying guy?”
The driver was at a loss for words. They continued toward the Ward estate.
No sooner had Scarlette arrived home than Kenji’s car entered the Ward family’s garage. Kenji had previously informed Scarlette’s parents of his visit, so when Caden and Alicia came out to greet him, everything seemed cordial and harmonious.
Scarlette was taken aback. Was Kenji serious about the reengagement? In the presence of the elders, Kenji adopted a composed and respectful manner, reminiscent of how he had behaved the day they called off their engagement, leaving no cause for complaint..
While Kenji and Caden conversed in the living room, Alicia took Scarlette aside for a private talk. Scarlette craned her neck to pick up fragments of their conversation but couldn’t, her anxiety rising.
“Mom, I’m not interested in a marriage alliance with Kenji.”
Alicia naturally respected Scarlette’s feelings. However, considering Kenji’s status as a Reed, she suggested, “You might not want to marry, but don’t shut Kenji out completely. Since he’s fond of you and wants to woo you, why not let him try? Let things unfold naturally.”
Scarlette shook her head and protested, “I don’t want him to chase after me.”
Alicia chuckled.
“What’s the issue? Why do you suddenly dislike him so much?”
Scarlette bit her lip, struggling with her feelings. She couldn’t explain it fully but felt a strong aversion to getting close to Kenji.
“He’s not a good person. He doesn’t like me and just wants to make my life miserable. Mom, don’t be deceived by his act.”
Alicia responded, “Sweetheart, could there be some misunderstanding? Mr. and Mrs. Reed are wonderful people. Their son can’t be that bad.”
Kenji stayed for dinner, and when it was time for him to leave, Scarlette walked him to the door. Once outside and alone, she confronted him with a stern expression.
“What do you really want?”
Kenji’s answer was straightforward.
“To marry you.”
“Are you completely out of your mind?”
“Perhaps. Marrying you might be akin to embracing madness.”
Scarlette was so infuriated that she punched him. His sturdy physique absorbed the blow. Pain shot through her hand, prompting her to blow on it, feeling aggrieved.