The Resilient Lady Collins

Chapter 45: Garden of drama (4)

"That’s absurd," Beth replied to the accusations of her cheating on Jack. What did this man know about her? Scarlet had found someone to speak what was on her mind but Scarlet would not win. "I would never cheat on Jack. I don’t know who you are so you have no place to speak to me."

"I suppose,’ Ian replied.

Ian would bet one of his good bottles of rum that one of the two before him were going to cheat on the other. He was leaning more toward Jack as it wouldn’t be surprising if he grew tired of Beth.

Ian wouldn’t count Beth out yet as she might leave Jack should another man with more status show her attention.

Jack didn’t like the stranger more now that he was speaking to Beth. He had no place to speak to someone he didn’t know.

Jack went back to looking at Scarlet who was standing behind the man, drinking the juice he thought she wouldn’t enjoy.

"Who are you?" Jack asked the man. He needed a name so he could look into the bastard he was one day going to get rid of.

"That is enough," Scarlet said, bored of the conversation. "Aren’t you done? You are making a fool of yourself,’ she said, looking at Jack.

As a newly engaged man, Jack shouldn’t be so interested in speaking to her or Ian. Jack should be standing elsewhere receiving congratulations for his engagement. Had Jack forgotten that he had a child coming into this world? Why was he so interested in her personal affairs? ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Jack gritted his teeth. Again she wouldn’t pay him much attention. How could she be so over him already? Did their marriage mean nothing to her? He made one mistake but it wasn’t that big of a mistake to treat him like a stranger.

Plenty of men stepped out on their wives and their marriages weren’t over. Jack spotted a few who had their wives on their arms today. Why did he have to pick a woman who was so stubborn? A woman foolish enough to think that it was better to be alone than be with him?

"Fine," Jack said, no longer interested in what Scarlet did. Sooner or later, Scarlet would regret not taking him back when she had the chance. He’ll enjoy making her beg for him.

It annoyed him that as cold as Scarlet was seeing her dressed today made him want her which was why it was killing him to see another man by her side. A bad thought filled his mind as he imagined the man before Scarlet enjoying his way with her.

Jack opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a surprising guest.

"Mr Humphrey, I wasn’t aware that you know my son."

Jack turned to his right to see who had interrupted him and was surprised to see Lord Kingsley and his wife. "Your son?" He replied, slowly turning back to Ian.

Beth’s mouth fell open as she would have never assumed the man with Scarlet was the son of a lord. Now she knew why he looked familiar as he reminded her of the Lord. Beth bit her lip. Why did Scarlet have to find such a man? No, why did this man want Scarlet?

"Ha, I didn’t know you had another son," Jack replied as he had never met Ian. He knew more about Victor who was to be the lord’s heir.

"He’s the oldest one and he lived out of Lockwood for many years. He recently returned,’ Hank Kingsley said, his eyes fixated on Ian and the woman he was with. Ian was proving himself useful by standing here with Scarlet.

There was once a duke in Scarlet’s family and the woman was swimming in wealth. Should Ian take the chance to marry her, he would have no problem being accepted into the Kingsley family again as he would be bringing someone who would benefit the family’s interest.

Hank glanced to his left at Victor who was happy to see Ian. A different reaction to what his wife was feeling.

Layla was filled with rage as Ian shouldn’t be present at this party. First the ball and now this. Who was handling the invitations? It was a mistake for Ian to receive an invitation as his Kingsley last name was worth nothing. free𝑤ebnovel.com

’He should have listened to me when I said to give the boy his mother’s last name,’ Layla thought, placing the blame on Hank. She couldn’t stop her husband then since she had no child so Hank was quick to give Ian his last name.

Layla looked down upon Scarlet for still being around Ian when Scarlet had witnessed Ian trying to kill her at the ball. Scarlet had to be lied to by Ian that he was Hank’s heir. Scarlet needed to be told the truth and Layla would do it today.

Layla looked at her son Victor and was not surprised to see him happy that Ian was back. No matter how many times she spoke to Victor she could never get him to forget about his bastard brother.

"I see. I didn’t know his name to place him as your son. What a surprise," Jack said, smiling as he didn’t want to offend Lord Kingsley. Had Ian introduced himself earlier Jack would have pieced this together.

Jack still did not see Ian as a man fit for Scarlet.

"I would like a moment to speak to my son if you don’t mind," said Hank.

"Of course," Jack replied, taking Beth’s hand to lead her away. Now that he knew who Ian was he needed some time to think.

Scarlet was relieved that Jack was no longer around. She wasn’t paying much attention to the earlier conversation as Ian had taken the lead and she was interested in the juice which had now run out, but hearing Jack’s voice once in a while was upsetting as she had gotten used to not hearing it.

Scarlet looked at the Kingsleys who didn’t miss the chance to dress up as though they were attending a ball. Now that Ian was around, Scarlet noticed how Victor looked more like his mother than his father. No wonder Layla got upset when she saw Ian.

Scarlet hooked her arm with Ian’s so they could stand together. Should she leave Scarlet knew the conversation would not be pretty. She didn’t know what Hank or Victor thought of Ian but she would never leave him near Layla again.

"Scarlet, it’s wonderful to see you again. I haven’t had the opportunity to speak to you since the diamond ball last year. Despite what you are going through now you seem to be faring well. Like Jack, I didn’t know you were close to my son. So close," Hank said, looking at where Scarlet held Ian.

Layla looked up at her husband as she noticed his interest in Ian. She forced a smile to hide her anger. Victor should be the only one that was getting her husband’s attention. Not the son born from a maid.

"I have frequented his place of business so we have been close then," Scarlet replied, keeping it short as she didn’t like Hank’s interest in her relationship.

"I would suggest you become close to someone else," Layla offered advice.

"I shall do as I please. I see that you are doing well. I was thinking about you since the incident at the ball," Scarlet said.

Layla’s forced smile slowly turned to a frown as she hadn’t told Hank about meeting Ian then.