Chapter 8
The letters had been a steady source of
encouragement…
Before the memories could fully resurface,
the sound of a violin echoed around me.
The familiar melody wrapped around me like an old, comforting blanket, pulling me back to my university days so long ago.
Back then, on countless evenings of practice, a beautiful violin tune always seemed to accompany my playing, a perfect harmony.
But life had other plans.
I had to drop out of school to care for my mother and eventually met Alexander.
“At the time, something urgent came up at home. I meant to resolve it quickly and come back to you. But when I returned, Alexander was already by your side. You’ve always been one to repay
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Chapter 8
kindness, and I realized then I was too late.”
“You can’t imagine how thrilled I was when Amanda called and asked if I’d
marry you.‘
“I’ve waited all these years for you.”
“So, Scarlett, would you give me a chance?”
My heart pounded in my chest, wild and uncontrolled.
The feeling completely differed from the
hesitation and restraint I had felt in Alexander‘ s presence.
Now, I felt as if I were drowning in the warmth of Tristan’s gaze.
“Tristan…”
My cheeks flamed as he leaned in closer, and I instinctively looked away.
He smiled gently, his hand resting softly on the top of my head.
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“It’s okay, Scarlett. We’ll take things slow.”
Tristan’s kindness and respect made me feel a sense of ease I’d never known with
Alexander.
The Walker Family’s influence rivaled that of the Adams Family.
Tristan had rushed back to me unprepared, but now, he stood by me, protecting me like a shield.
One evening, I even saw Alexander‘ s missing person announcement on the television.
But despite the buzz, he never appeared
before me.
Instead, a flood of unfamiliar calls began pouring in.
It wasn’t hard to guess who they were
from.
In the end, I had no choice but to change my number.
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Tristan shared that he was setting up a new international business chain.
He asked if I would be interested in going abroad with him, and he offered to help me enroll in a university overseas so I could. finally finish the education I had once given up.
Music had always been my first love, but I had abandoned it for my mother’s sake.
His offer tugged at my heart, and without hesitation, I agreed.
Then, Alexander finally found me.
His once robust frame, kept in shape by a disciplined lifestyle, was now a mere shadow of its former self.
The gray trench coat, which had once draped perfectly over his tall, elegant form, now hung off him like a ragged curtain.
On his third day, standing outside my apartment, I couldn’t ignore it any longer.
I went downstairs to meet him, hoping to
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spare the neighbors from the sight.
Tristan had offered to come with me, but I reassured him with a soft pat on his hand.
The Adams Family’s influence was undeniable. Recently, in a desperate
attempt to force Tristan to surrender me, they had gone against the Walker Family at every turn.
Tristan never spoke of it, but I knew how much he had already sacrificed for me. I didn’t want to drag him into any more battles.
When Alexander saw me, he crushed his cigarette underfoot, the smoke curling into
the air.
I couldn’t help but flinch at the sight of the ground scattered with cigarette butts.
In my memories, Alexander had always been a man of remarkable self–discipline.
“Scarlett, you‘ re finally willing to see me,” he said, his voice carrying a weight
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Chapter 8
that I had long grown tired of.
His name alone had too much power and I
didn’t want the attention of cameras
snapping away at us.
So we found a quiet café away from prying.
eyes.
He ordered me an Americano, but I didn’t take a sip.
“Not even a taste? It’s your favorite,” he remarked, his eyes searching mine.
I let out a bitter laugh. The one who loved black Americanos had always been him.
Out of a sense of gratitude, I had once agreed to be with him, molding myself to fit his every need.
I used to prepare a black Americano for him each morning, my love for him wrapped in the ritual of it.
But now, I wasn’t sure if my feelings had ever been loved or if they had simply been a mask for gratitude.
