After Divorce: No Second Chances

Chapter 3.3

Elijah had not wanted to include Scarlett in the celebration, but there was nothing he could do—the chairman had personally requested her presence. Hazel, too, had preferred to leave Scarlett uninvited, yet again, the chairman’s decision overruled all.

Scarlett approached Hazel with a bright, polite smile and offered her cheek for a kiss. Hazel, though reluctant, forced a small smile in return and lightly pressed her lips to Scarlett’s cheek.

“Happy birthday, Mom. I hope you like the gift I got you,” Scarlett said sweetly. Hazel raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“A gift from you—or from my grandson? And where did you even get the money to buy it?” she asked. Scarlett could only respond with a reserved smile. Ever since her parents had passed, the way people around her treated her had changed so drastically. She wondered, bitterly, if it was because she had no status to flaunt, no pride to offer.

When the chairman arrived, Elijah immediately moved to greet him.

“Grandpa,” he said respectfully, bowing slightly. The chairman smiled warmly in return. Elijah’s gaze drifted to the man standing beside the chairman, and he was momentarily stunned.

“Uncle Jared,” Elijah breathed, scarcely believing he was seeing the youngest brother of his father. “It’s good to see you here. The last time we met was back in college. How’s life in Canada?”

“Fine,” Uncle Jared replied smoothly, his eyes narrowing as he added, “I hear you’ve been losing clients gradually. Are you really running the company properly?”

Elijah’s jaw tightened, but he forced a smile to hide the irritation bubbling beneath. After all, there was only a seven-year gap between them.

“I’m doing everything I can to improve the company. Don’t worry—next year, we’ll rise even higher,” he answered, keeping his tone steady while Jared’s expression remained unreadable.

As the chairman and Jared attended to other guests, Elijah ground his teeth in silent fury, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

“Excuse me, sir, someone left this for you,” a waiter said, handing Elijah an envelope. Elijah frowned and tore it open. His hands trembled with rage as he took in the contents. The pictures inside made his blood boil.

He scanned the crowd, searching for Scarlett, and when he saw her laughing with other guests, he stormed over. Without a word, he slapped her sharply across the face. The surrounding guests gasped in shock.

Scarlett instinctively touched her cheek, whispering, “Love…?” She had no idea what she could have done to deserve a public slap. Elijah flung the photos toward her, his eyes blazing.

“What is this? Who’s that with you at the hotel? Are you cheating on me?!” he roared.

Scarlett, terrified, picked up one of the photos. It was her—leaving the hotel—and the rest showed a man whose face was obscured by a cup. Her hands shook with fear. She had hoped to bury the incident from last month, yet now it had exploded in front of everyone.

The whispers started immediately among the guests. Hazel’s eyes blazed with anger as she stared at Scarlett.

“You can’t even help my son, and now you’re flaunting yourself with men?! Do you have no shame?!” she screamed. Scarlett had no words, unable to explain what had truly happened.

“Is that why you skipped Camila’s celebration—because you were meeting some man?” Elijah demanded sharply. Scarlett shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

“Love, I’m not cheating on you,” she began, reaching for his hand, but Elijah stepped back, keeping his distance. “Love, let me explain, please,” she pleaded.

“Wait—aren’t you pregnant? Are you absolutely sure Elijah is the father?” Camila asked sharply. Around them, the guests whispered among themselves, their murmurs carrying a mix of judgment and cruel speculation, and cruel words aimed at Scarlett floated through the air like stinging darts.

“You’re such a flirt!” Hazel screamed, slapping Scarlett again. “Do you plan to pass off your bastard child to my son?!” Scarlett could only look at Elijah, silently hoping he would believe her.

Hearing the commotion, the chairman stepped out into the garden, accompanied by his youngest son, Jared.

“What is happening here?” the Chairman asked. Scarlett bowed. Scarlett's grandfather and the chairman were close to each other, but her grandfather and parents had gone to rest early, forever.

“Scarlett, what happened, dear?” the chairman asked gently.

“She’s the woman you wanted for your grandson? She’s deceiving my son!” Hazel shouted.

“I can’t take responsibility for the child you’re carrying, Scarlett. I have no certainty it’s mine. How dare you put this on me after everything I’ve done for you? I never want to see your face again. Leave my house, take your things, and don’t come back. You will get nothing from me. I want a divorce,” Elijah said, each word cutting with precision.

Scarlett lowered her head, silently weeping, unsure of what face to present to the people surrounding her.

“Love, please, just listen to me,” she begged, stepping toward Elijah.

“There’s nothing left to hear. That evidence is enough. We’re done,” he said coldly. Jared furrowed his brow, recognizing Scarlett, but unable to place where he had seen her before.

Elijah turned away, and Camila followed closely behind him. Overwhelmed by shame, Scarlett left as quickly as she could. Jared picked up one of the scattered photographs and squinted, his eyebrows knitting in surprise. Though her face wasn’t fully visible in the images, he recognized her silhouette.

He searched for her but she had already disappeared into the crowd.

“Could it really have been her… the one I was with at the hotel that night?” Jared muttered to himself, his fingers running over his face in disbelief. The memory crystallized, and suddenly he remembered—Scarlett. Of all the women he could have been with that night, it had to be his nephew’s wife. The realization made his jaw tighten, and a mix of shock and frustration flickered across his expression.