Chapter 10

While working on an assignment in the library, Noah noticed a flash of bright red hair in the distance and realized Scarlett had arrived.

He had planned to go find her once the time was right, but she had finished earlier than expected.

Noah quickly packed his books and rushed out.

Up close, Scarlett was radiating coldness. Despite the usual air of disdain she held for him, something else seemed to be bothering her.

Noah cautiously asked,
“Is something wrong?”

“……”

Instead of answering, Scarlett climbed into the carriage. With her lips tightly sealed, she stared intently at Noah, who sat across from her.

She examined him closely—as if searching for a resemblance. Was there any similarity between them? Was Noah Ashford handsome enough to attract women? Did they look like siblings at all?

She couldn’t tell.

Objectively, Noah was exceptionally beautiful, but Scarlett’s eyes were clouded by vengeance.

Feeling awkward under her gaze, Noah scratched his cheek. Scarlett scoffed through her nose.

“You really didn’t inherit a single thing from Father.”

“I hear that a lot.”

“And you don’t resemble me either. I don’t see John, Aaron, Scott, or Andrew in you. I wonder how the Iodes boys see us. As friends? Enemies? Or siblings?”

“……”

This time, it was Noah who fell silent.

“I heard a truly disgusting rumor today. Apparently, I’m some pathetic woman who fell for your tricks and handed over money. How audacious.”

Crossing her arms, Scarlett leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes.

“When we get to town, stop the carriage. I’m eating out tonight.”

While Scarlett rested, Noah observed her closed eyes.

He didn’t feel a sibling bond with her, but he couldn’t completely disregard her either—not when he had received affection from Mr. White.

Most of all, her life had been ruined because of him. He wanted, in some way, to atone for that, to ease the weight of his guilt.

Were they alike? It would be easier to list the ways they were not.

And yet, Noah found himself studying his half-sister.

They both had sharp chins—Scarlett’s more smooth, Noah’s a little more defined.

Scarlett’s frame was slender and delicate, even among women. Noah’s lines were also elegant, almost feminine in their grace.

Their skin was similarly pale. But where Scarlett’s complexion leaned toward a bluish paleness, Noah’s had long been sun-darkened, losing its original pearly tone.

Noah decided to accept it—they did not look alike.

Sigh… Are we really…?

Their sharply defined jaws gave off entirely different impressions, and even their delicate builds were shaped in different directions.

Scarlett looked like she could shatter at any moment, while Noah appeared graceful only because he was worn down from hunger and exhaustion.

…Are we really siblings?

Both Noah’s mother and Scarlett claimed they were siblings. But the lack of resemblance made it hard for him to accept.

If anything, he might resemble Scarlett’s cruel brother, Scott, more than Scarlett herself.

Like the ruthless master of Cravitz, Noah wasn’t exactly gentle either. He glanced down at his hands—hands that hadn’t hesitated to shed blood for survival.

If there was a difference between him and Scarlett, it was whether or not they had blood on their hands.

Scarlett chose the painful path of acceptance over violence. That difference alone made it feel like they weren’t siblings at all.

“Scarlett. We’re here.”

With a weary face, Scarlett opened her eyes and pulled a pocket watch from her coat.

“There’s still about an hour until dinner. Perfect. Let’s make a reservation and get rid of those trashy clothes of yours.”

“I’m fine.”

“Wearing cheap clothes makes people look down on the wearer.”

The remark stung. Noah’s jaw tensed slightly with wounded pride. Scarlett scoffed as she opened the carriage door.

“Don’t forget. I exist to crush you.”

Scarlett dragged Noah to a high-end tailor. There, he was fitted with the finest fabrics he had never seen before in his life.

Getting his shoulders and waist measured, and his arms checked with a measuring tape, was a strange experience.

Then, they headed to an upscale restaurant for dinner.

Noah didn’t recognize anything on the menu. Scarlett, however, ordered smoothly and sipped the milk she had specifically requested.

“I’m still deciding what to do with you.”

“Do whatever you want.”

“So you’re fine with me killing you?”

Noah had no reply. Scarlett gave a dry chuckle at his uncomfortable expression.

“I don’t like you.”

“I know. I understand.”

“Even the way you talk back so politely is annoying.”

“I’m sorry.”

Scarlett paused, reflecting on their current situation, then came up with a fitting lie.

“But you know what? Hearing people badmouth you actually made me angry, even though I hate you. Do you know why?”

“Maybe… because we’re siblings?”

“You don’t feel like a sibling to me. You’re not John, Aaron, Scott, or Andrew. Do you know what a brother meant to me? Someone who gave me piggyback rides when Father couldn’t. Someone who pushed my swing from behind.”

She took a breath and quickly continued.

“I refused the nanny’s help, so my brothers took turns feeding me, tearing off bits of bread when they barely had time. When I cried myself sick asking why I didn’t have a mom or dad, they carried me all night long until I fell asleep. That’s what a brother is to me. Not just a sibling.”

To Scarlett, her brothers were her parents.

Noah knew that Scarlett was seventeen years younger than the eldest, John. Even the youngest of the brothers, Andrew White, was still seven years older than her—it made sense that they’d practically raised her.

Noah thought of Mr. White, who used to carry him on his back.

That hadn’t been meant for him. The childhood he had enjoyed was stolen from Scarlett. The guilt weighed so heavily that he couldn’t lift his head.

What had life been like for Scarlett, growing up without parents? What had she felt? What kind of childhood did she endure? Noah couldn’t even imagine.

“……”

“Yeah. Just don’t say anything. No matter what you say, it’ll disgust me.”

“…He was my father too.”

Noah’s voice was calm as he spoke.

It was a small act of rebellion toward Scarlett, and a desperate attempt to ease his guilt.

Scarlett’s face twisted with fury.

“What did you say?”

“He was my father too. I’m also Mr. White’s son. Even if I’m illegitimate… sure, Wifland never acknowledged me. But that’s a separate matter.”

“…And did that make you happy?”

Knowing I existed… knowing your position… I’ve always lived with guilt.

But Noah didn’t say that. If he did, he knew Scarlett would lose control.

When he fell silent, Scarlett sighed in frustration, then suddenly changed the subject.

“Anyway, we should be arriving soon.”

“What do you mean?”

“The medicine. The one I’m sending to your mother.”

“You… don’t have to do that.”

“Think about why I’m even bothering with your mother.”

“You want me to owe you.”

“Exactly. Even after I die, you’ll always feel indebted. You received undeserved kindness from the man you killed, so until your dying breath, you’ll always feel sorry. You’ll live in hell forever.”

Scarlett laughed bitterly, but it sounded heartbreakingly sad.

She was like a fragile bloom—like a red flower falling whole to the ground before its petals could scatter.

It pained Noah to see her like that, but at the same time, it satisfied him. The more pain she endured, the freer he felt.

So, even if the food Scarlett ordered tasted like gritty sand, Noah decided he’d eat it all.

After the meal, Scarlett couldn’t overcome her fatigue and drifted off.

“…Help me…”

Again.

Every time she fell into a light sleep, Scarlett mumbled in her dreams—usually pleading.

“Please save me.” Or, “Not Isaac…”

Had something terrible happened in her past? If so, that wasn’t Noah’s burden to carry.

He pushed the thought aside and pulled out a book. Taking care of Scarlett left him with barely any time to sleep, let alone study.

Scarlett required constant attention. She had no survival skills. Noah had to manage even the most trivial things.

For instance—

Cough, cough.

Noah immediately pulled out a blanket and covered her. Scarlett’s body cooled easily even in warm weather, so she needed a blanket in the shade.

Her attendant had to carry every kind of medicine, water, maps of nearby hospitals, blankets, fans, even her textbooks—everything had to be ready at all times.

Clatter. Clatter.

The carriage rolled steadily toward the villa.

Reading his book, Noah suddenly noticed the carriage shaking more than usual.

The road outside the window looked unfamiliar. He opened the front window and asked the coachman,

“This isn’t the usual road. What happened?”

“The city started some roadwork and tore up a perfectly fine route.”

“How long will it take?”

“About thirty minutes. Don’t worry and look after the young lady, please.”

The coachman looked visibly anxious about Scarlett’s condition.

Noah reassured him that safety was the priority, even if the route was longer, then closed the window.

Scarlett was asleep, like she had fainted. Cold sweat dotted her face.

“…Please… save me…”

Please save Isaac.

Should I wake her?

She looked deeply distressed. Her face twisted, drenched in sweat, soft groans escaping her lips. But—

Watching you suffer gives me satisfaction.

It was a cowardly and ugly thought, but a small part of him enjoyed seeing her like that.

Regardless of his guilt, her cruel words exhausted him—and he sometimes wished she’d suffer just as much. So he pretended not to notice.

You’ll live in hell forever.

That phrase had struck his heart.

His life was already hell. He denied his own existence and carried endless guilt. No matter how hard he tried, it only dragged him deeper into the mire.

And yet, Noah clung to himself. He nurtured ambition, dreamed of hope.

I can take your insults. But don’t curse me.

Unable to love himself, he at least wanted to cherish his life.

Noah fixed his eyes on the book. Scarlett, moaning and restless, did not wake. And because he wasn’t watching her, he didn’t notice the tear that slid from her sleeping eyes.

The carriage came to a stop. Only then did Noah quietly close his book. He was just about to wake Scarlett when the door suddenly creaked open from outside.

Bright light blinded him. A figure emerged from the shadows, and Noah’s eyes trembled.

The man stroked his thick beard and chuckled.

“It’s been a while, miss.”

“This time, we needed cash fast.”

“So we decided to make use of our long-time customer.”

They were loan sharks. And they were being kidnapped.

Noah gasped.

Just then, a hoarse voice rang out behind him.

“Noah. Grab the medicine.”

Scarlett, her face drenched in cold sweat, rasped the words out. She downed the rest of the water bottle in an effort to snap herself out of the haze.

She repeated again,

“Grab the medicine. Even if we’re taken, we need the medicine.”