After His Cheating, A Guy Begs to Marry Me

Chapter 5

Scarlett had long known Eric didn't care for her anymore—his feelings had gone completely cold—but when she heard the words come directly from him, a chill still washed over her entire body. Her mind went completely blank, buzzing loudly in her skull.

She could not bear to listen any longer and left without looking back.

The conversation inside the room continued.

"Eric, are you planning to..."

Amid the dim light, Eric's vision also grew blurry.

Recalling the crying fit Scarlett had given him that morning, a seed had already been planted deep in his heart.

He tilted his head back and said, "Mind your own business."

After Scarlett had calmed her nerves and just found her private booth, she received a message from Mr. Wright.

Mr. Wright: Something came up at the last minute. But the item will meet your expectations.

Even though it was only a verbal promise, her heart felt much more at ease.

When she got home, she calculated the total amount of money Eric had given her over the years, plus her own private savings. Even if Mr. Wright backed out of the deal at the last minute, she would still have enough money to get her mother's belongings back.

After that, she began packing her luggage.

She picked through her things, only to realize she didn't want to bring anything at all.

Every corner of the house was filled with gifts from Eric, all carefully selected by his assistant. Sometimes he didn't even know what he had given her, perfunctory and slapdash, never putting in any real thought.

But Scarlett had once stumbled upon Cassie's social media account and saw that Eric had gifted Cassie many handmade presents he had made himself. They were not only expensive but also full of genuine affection.

Just as she was thinking about this, an unfamiliar number called her—it was Cassie.

"A marriage kept up for appearances, no passion, no children—how pitiful. Do you think I envy you? Envy your lifeless, dead-end marriage? Eric's pity for you... it's all charity from me!"

Scarlett furrowed her brow. "People like you who belong in the mud should stay quietly in the mud."

She hung up right after speaking, unable to understand what had gotten into Cassie that she had to call in the middle of the night just to provoke her.

Late that night, the bedroom door suddenly swung open.

Eric's cheeks were flushed from drinking, reeking of alcohol as he walked to the bed and leaned down. Without a word, he tried to kiss her. Scarlett turned her head sharply, dodging him.

Eric froze for a moment, then chuckled lightly. "Still mad at me?"

Scarlett raised a hand to touch her neck, which tickled from his hot breath. "I'm not feeling well. Not in the mood."

"I never bother asking twice after being rejected." Eric lifted her face, only to catch a flash of disgust in her eyes.

Eric's heart skipped a beat. He hated this feeling. "But what can I say? You're my wife, the one who'll stay by my side for the rest of my life." He lowered his head again to kiss her.

Scarlett pushed him away hard, then rolled over to face away from him.

A long time later, she suddenly felt the mattress dip behind her, and Eric wrapped his arms around her from behind.

His warm body heat seared her back. "Are you staying the night?" Scarlett asked in confusion.

Eric rested his chin on her shoulder. "Is that strange?"

Scarlett said nothing and tried to get up to sleep in the guest room, but he held her tightly, not letting her go.

After a long time, drowsiness washed over her, and her tense body slowly relaxed.

Half-asleep, she felt Eric let go of her, lean back against the headboard, and coax someone gently over the phone. "Alright, alright, I'm coming to you. Don't cry, it breaks my heart to hear you cry like that."

"But if you leave, what about Scarlett? She's finally gotten you to stay with her, and it's already one o'clock in the morning. Did I interrupt... What were you two doing?"

Cassie's voice cracked with sobs at the other end of the line.

"I don't have feelings for her." As he spoke, he got up, got dressed, and walked out.

Scarlett raised a hand to the spot on her neck he had just kissed and scrubbed at it hard.

No wonder Cassie had threatened her.

If she hadn't called to pull him away, this would have been the first time he'd stayed over in their seven years of marriage.

Scarlett calmly wiped the dampness from the corner of her eye, then picked up the vibrating phone on her bedside pillow. She thought it was an explanatory text from Eric, but when she looked at the screen, it was from Arthur.

Arthur: Are you asleep? I miss you so much, I can't fall asleep.

His attached photo showed him wearing a flirty, playful dog-ear filter, with a pitiful little expression that made him look just like an abandoned puppy.

Scarlett thought of what Eric had said that day, and the corner of her mouth lifted into a smile.

He had given her permission. Both of them could seek company—wasn't that clearly a case of each playing their own game?

Well then, she'd be sure to accept this kindness with pleasure.

Scarlett immediately texted Arthur back.

Scarlett: Your owner is waiting for you at home.