After His Cheating, A Guy Begs to Marry Me

Chapter 2

Eric had not expected Scarlett to suddenly change her attitude like this. His expression froze for a few seconds, then he sighed.

"I don't like jealous women." Then, softening his tone to coax her, he added, "When it comes to outsiders, it's never more than a passing novelty for me."

Scarlett brushed past him coolly and headed for the dining table. "Then you should go out to sea. You'll have fresh catch every single day."

The man was snubbed again but did not take it to heart. He caught up to her and pulled out a dining chair for her. "You're being particularly sharp today—snapping at me twice over that woman. Are you unhappy with the surprise I gave you last night?"

She lifted her eyes to meet his. "Eric, I love you."

At the very least, seven years ago, that love was genuine.

Back then, she had not yet seen Eric's true nature and was completely lost in the overwhelming romance he had showered her with.

Everyone assumed she had schemed her way to the top with masterful tactics, but in truth, it was Eric who had pursued her relentlessly.

He was the most powerful, wealthy man in Havenbrook, yet he pursued her, a naive young girl from a fallen family. He gave her love, money, and status; when he doted on her the most, he even let her handle the group's business matters herself.

She married him when her love for Eric was at its peak.

On their wedding night, Eric was already trending on social media for an a******y scandal.

It felt like a thunderbolt had struck her, her heart cracking open. She was still naive enough to think it was a malicious setup, someone jealous of her happiness.

She waited for Eric all night, and all she got was a check signed with his name.

It suddenly dawned on her—this was the rule of being Mrs. Harris.

Scarlett picked up her cup and took a small sip before looking directly at Eric, who was seated across from her.

The man's expression was calm. "I know."

Just two short words, and she couldn't help the slight furrow of her brow.

Seeing her confusion, Eric smiled and said, "It's only natural that you don't like her. How about I go abroad with you to get away for a while?"

Scarlett let her gaze fall on the red bite mark on his neck. "What do you plan to do about Cassie?"

"Nothing matters more than my wife's mood. She's irrelevant," Eric said with a calm, easy smile, stepping forward to take her hand again. "I love you too."

Scarlett paused mid-movement, and after a long while, she said, "What kind of love? Would you be willing to give up Cassie for me? If you can do that..."

"Yes."

Seeing how casually he agreed, completely unbothered, Scarlett could not help but laugh.

There would just be a bunch of other women. Eric would never settle down.

She slowly pulled her hand out of his hold and stood up to leave.

"Scarlett."

Eric's expression finally cooled, suppressed fury seeping through. "Countless women want your position—they'd behave far more basely and shamelessly than you ever would to get it. Just act properly as my legal wife, and no one will ever unseat you. If you really get lonely, you can go out, meet people, spend my money, as long as you keep to your bottom line. I'll tolerate it."

Scarlett never expected he could say something like this. She burst out laughing, laughed until she was breathless, laughed at herself for believing him, for wasting seven years on such a brutal lesson.

Thinking of the man from last night, Scarlett suddenly asked him, "Are you so sure I'll hold the line?"

Eric answered as a matter of course. "You will. I believe you understand exactly where the line is for the identity of Mrs. Harris."

Just then, the butler came in, glancing cautiously at Scarlett, then spoke to Eric. "Sir, someone is here to see you. It's... Miss Scott."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the click of high heels could be heard drawing nearer.

Cassie looked soft and demure. She threw herself straight into Eric's arms, whimpering, "Eric, you didn't answer my calls."

Eric smiled faintly and curled an arm around her waist. "Slow down. If your wound splits open again, you'll have to have surgery."

Cassie huffed in irritation, as though she had only just spotted Scarlett, and put on a look of slight surprise.

Just then, Eric's phone rang, and he stepped aside to answer it.

Scarlett couldn't tell if leaving the two of them alone like this was just Eric's sick little game, but she made no move to leave. She smiled and said, "Would you care to stay for a meal?"

Cassie was not a professional mistress. She came from an unblemished background and worked in the arts. She carried herself with noble poise and grace around anyone who was not Eric.

She casually set her bag down, her tone laced with veiled barbs. "Scarlett, I underestimated you."

"That makes sense. You're young and inexperienced, with shallow vision, so of course you think you know what's what," Scarlett replied unhurriedly.

Stung by the jab, a streak of cruelty flashed in Cassie's eyes, all her earlier demureness gone. "A woman living in a loveless marriage will only end up loathed by her husband. Why cling on like a dirty rag no one can shake off? If you leave Eric on your own, we can all live in peace. If you refuse..."

She paused, a smug smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, and laid her hand over her abdomen.

"Then you can only wait to be thrown out."

Scarlett smiled, completely unfazed. "Do you really think that if I leave, you will definitely take my place?"

"You!"

Cassie was enraged by Scarlett's completely unyielding, dismissive attitude. She lifted her bag to strike Scarlett, but Scarlett grabbed her wrist first, then swung around and slapped her hard across the face.

Caught completely off guard, Cassie took the full force of the solid slap. Her head snapped to the side, and she stood frozen stiff in shock for a long moment.

Eric, who had just returned, saw the whole scene. Cassie caught sight of her protector and threw herself into his arms, crying.

Seeing the glaring, bright red handprint swollen on her face, Eric's voice rose sharply. "Scarlett! Who gave you the audacity to lay a hand on my woman?"