Free Web NovelChapter 57: Simple things (4)
"Why aren’t you eating, Scarlet?"
"I am waiting for you to take a bite first. Just because you cook for yourself doesn’t mean it’s good," Scarlet replied, sitting with her arms folded. "Go on."
"With your honesty, I never have to be concerned about you," Ian replied, picking up the fork to get started.
"Why hold the truth in simple moments like this? I prefer the truth even if it will be brutal. It’s better than having secrets kept. If you smile like that after taking a bite, I can only assume that you are masking that it tastes bad. I will never eat whatever you make if this is terrible," said Scarlet, picking up her fork despite her words.
"Couldn’t you spare my feelings if it were to be bad and eat all of it with a smile?" Ian asked though he knew the answer.
"We are not that close to be upsetting my body with your food. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to hide that I dislike it if I wanted to. It’s good," Scarlet gave an honest answer. "With having to cook for yourself for years, it should be. If it were terrible, I would have scolded you for not improving over time."
"A compliment from the lovely Scarlet Collins. I will treasure it for as long as I live," Ian replied.
"It is not that wonderful. Do you have no plans to go to dinner with your family? Wouldn’t it work in your favour to be near him to get answers? Or do you plan to use your brother? I can’t shake the feeling that he cares for you but he does have a flaw," Scarlet said, thinking of her past interactions with Victor.
"A flaw?"
"That he’s weak when it comes to his mother. I have witnessed it many times. I understand that some parents are hard to put up with, but he is grown now. He shouldn’t be her puppet. I’m sorry," Scarlet apologised for her assumptions. She didn’t know much about Victor’s childhood to know why he was that way.
"Why apologise when it is true? He used to be daring to rebel against our father but not his mother. Something about her scares him but he does love her. He’s of no use to me when he can’t speak up about what he thinks is wrong," Ian answered.
Nowhere in Ian’s plans involved Victor as he knew that his brother would stay silent like he always did. It was why they weren’t as close as Victor wanted to be. That and other reasons. A stranger like Scarlet would always be more useful than Victor.
"There are several other parties that they will attend that you can also attend. Though, as you said, it would be fun to watch your father seek you out. You should tidy this mansion a bit and host a party. Leave them out of the invitations and you’ll get a good reaction," said Scarlet.
Layla might not like Ian but she also didn’t like being left out of social gatherings. Scarlet wouldn’t be surprised if Layla tried to host a party for Victor on the same day.
"Does it please you to see someone begging?" Ian asked as Scarlet seemed like the person to enjoy it.
"No. It is quite annoying because of how regularly begging happens. I hate it so much that I think of cutting out the person’s tongue but then I think of the muffled noise that comes after. I’ve upset myself," Scarlet said, touching her forehead.
Ian chuckled because of the action. "Is there anything you would like me to do for you? That concerns those relatives you spoke of. Peter and his wife."
"Peter?" Scarlet muttered, confused as to what relative he spoke of. "There was no Peter there. Do you mean Preston and his wife Naomi? Must you be so petty? Did they upset you?"
"The wife is a little bit annoying, isn’t she?" Ian asked.
"Again, you didn’t use her name."
"That is how she introduced herself. She’s quite jealous of you. I would keep my eye on that one," Ian advised Scarlet as a woman like Peter’s wife would want to hurt Scarlet.
"I know to keep my eyes on their movement. I am not around those two often unless I attend parties like today or go to family gatherings. I saw you speaking to her so I will apologise for the headache you must have suffered. She’s among the group of people who married into the family that I find to be leeches. Preston deserves her," Scarlet said.
"And what about that old husband of yours? He is obviously still in love with you which is a problem for me. I have a feeling that history will rewrite itself with the cheating," Ian said, patiently awaiting the day.
"I have no interest in being Jack again," Scarlet replied, the very thought making her skin itch. freёweɓnovel.com
"I never had you in mind as the woman he would cheat with. Why would you go back to him when you have me?" Ian asked, stating what he considered to be obvious.
"A man like Jack will never be satisfied. It had nothing to do with you. There’s just always something he will want that the woman he is with can’t give him in his eyes. It’s started."
Jack was already turning his gaze back to Scarlet and with Scarlet not willing to give him attention, Ian believed Jack would go after someone close to acting like Scarlet.
"I don’t care to enjoy her facing his betrayal. He is her problem now. I’m officially a divorced woman. A title the town won’t let me get rid of even after I get married again. If I do," Scarlet added as she wasn’t certain about it right now.
"I never had plans to get married so we’re a good match. We could stay together and when I make you angry, you don’t have to bother yourself with a divorce. Just get up and leave then come back to me when you miss me," Ian suggested. "I can cook for you-"
"I have cooks. Many of them," Scarlet replied, not intrigued by the offer. "Enjoy your three months, Ian. Unfortunately, I will need to speak to my parents about you and they will want to invite you to dinner. I would like it if you say no because you are busy."
"I won’t be busy," Ian replied, missing Scarlet rolling her eyes. "What kind of impression would that leave if I am too busy to meet your parents?
"It doesn’t matter what kind of impression it would leave. I am saving you from having to meet my father and maybe my grandfather if he learns about you in time to visit. The men in my family are lovers of guns and putting someone beneath a flower bed," Scarlet warned.
She sometimes thought it was not a good idea that they had a business making guns.
"Then I will learn how to dodge bullets. It’s been a long time since I sat and ate dinner with someone. Won’t you allow me to enjoy it once more?" Ian asked, feigning his best pitiful look.
"Your sad childhood doesn’t work on me anymore. I’ve run out of pity for you," Scarlet answered.
