apter 18 Fire and Ice

bSean /bblinked in surpriseb, /bthen raised his brows and asked, “Why not?”

He’d deliberately chosen to call her “Scully” to set himself apart from the way the Joyner family addressed

her.

Besides, he and Scarlett had just fought on the same side.

iOf /iicourse /iwe’re iin /iithis /iitogether/i.

New name, new dynamic.

Jasper’s voice was t, yet carried a chill that somehow made the air drop several degrees.

“Fine.”

Sean shivered.

“Ahem… I mean, what am I supposed to call her–Grandmaster?”

Jasper: “…Shut up.”

Sean: “Yesb, /bsir!”

With the Lewis family matter settled, Dr. Carrie reminded them, “Your wound’s opened again. I need to reapply the dressinge on.”

Without giving Scarlett a chance to refuse, she dragged her back to the surgical ward.

Sean tried to follow.

Jasper yanked him back. “We’re going back to campus.”

Sean pursed his lips. “I’m just worried Scarlett’s gonna take that three million and decide she doesn’t wanna be yourb rat anymore.”

At that, Jasper paused mid–step.

He wasn’t a man of many words.

His thoughts and perceptions were often a level above most people’s, so unless necessary, he rarely exined himself.

But today was an exception.

“She’s not someone who igoes /iback on her word.”

Sean was left speechless.

He hadn’t even said Scarlett wouldn’t return–he was just talking nonsense like usual.

Why bso /bbserious/b?

For a second there, it felt like he’dmitted some unforgivable crime.

At bthe /bbClubhouse /b

This bwas /bthe most exclusive, high–end spot in Trenwyn. The kind of ce only the rich and powerful frequented.

Connor pushed open the private room door. His buddy Rowan waved him over.

“Finally! The drinks are open–we’ve been waiting on you.”

Noticing Connor still had his coat slung over his arm, Rowan nced behind him with surprise.

“Huh? Scarlett’s not here?”

Usually at gatherings like this, Scarlett would always show up, worried Connor’s drinking might trigger his stomach problems. She’d be by his side, tending to everything.

Right now, she should’ve been the one holding his coat and carrying the expensive liquor–basically, like a personal maid from ancient times.

Even when Connor snapped at her or flirted openly with waitresses in front of her, she never got upset.

Rowan still remembered that time Connor got drunk, mistook Reba for Scarlett, and got into the wrong car–leaving Scarlett behind in the pouring rain.

She couldn’t get a ride. And none of them offered to help, too busyughing.

She ended up walking ten kilometers to the Jude estate, waited until she confirmed Connor was safe and sleeping, and only then walked back to school in the rain.

He had been the one who couldn’t stand it anymore and had his driver take her.

So even when she broke off the engagement at the birthday banquet, everyone figured it was just a tantrum–that she’d be crying and begging for forgiveness within the hour.

“You two haven’t made up yet?”

Rowan looked baffled, then smirked. “Come on, Scarlett probably just went to get something for you, right? You’re trying to mess with us.”

The rest of their crew burst outughing.

Connor’s expression darkened, cold air radiating from his body. He threw his coat onto the couch and sat down heavily.

“Make up? Seriously? She calls off the engagement just like that and expects me toe running back? She should remember her ce.”

bRowan’s /bbeyes /bwidened. “You’ve been with Scarlett for years. You really feel nothing?b” /b

“Maybe she’s actually upset this time. That fire was serious–she got hurt. She’s probably still shaken up.”

Connor frowned. “What fire?”

Rowan, now realizing Scarlett really hadn’t told him, closed the door and leaned against the frame. He pulled up a news article on his phone and tossed it over.

“Her apartment caught fire. News says it was arson. Luckily, firefighters arrived in time. Only a few people were injured.”

“You sure she didn’te crying back because she’s seriously hurt? Maybe she’s just hiding it from you. Maybe this time, you should be the one to apologize.”

So that call during the birthday party… it hadn’t been about fighting with Reba.

She’d really been asking for help.

Connor suddenly felt something in his chest tighten.

His brows knitted together.

His body moved on instinct–he almost stood up to go find her and get the truth.

But then Bodger scoffed.

He’d always looked down on Scarlett’s background, and now he couldn’t even pretend to care about her being hurt.

“It wasn’t a big deal. Fire station’s nearby. They got there fast. She probably just got spooked, that’s all.”

His words snapped Connor out of it.

If she’d really been hurt badly, she would’ve been rushed to the hospital.

All that blood? Probably someone else’s.

And even if she iwas /iinjured, it was probably just a few scrapes and bruises. Nothing a Band–Aid couldn’t fix.

Connor’s eyes glinted with mockery.

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