Chapter 36
Scarlett was immediately taken to the hospital.
Even though Saint Bernard’s provided her with medicine and a healing mage, it took a long time before she could breathe normally again.
While Scarlett was being treated, Susan, who heard the news late, ran in without even realizing she was still wearing indoor slippers.
“Why are you…”
As she entered the hospital room, Susan spotted Noah standing by the door and didn’t bother to hide her hostility. But seeing Scarlett was more important, so she brushed past Noah and hurried inside.
Susan checked on the lying Scarlett and gently stroked her sister’s face with a pained expression.
“Carly… oh my God…”
“I’m fine. I’m okay now.”
Scarlett weakly replied and intertwined her fingers with Susan’s, as if finding comfort in her presence.
“It’s terrible. It’s just terrible.”
“My God… what on earth happened?”
“It felt like everyone walking through the courtyard was watching me. So many eyes were on me. Then the reporters rushed in. Maybe because I looked easier to approach compared to Aaron or Scott.”
“Which news outlet?”
“Planning to cut off their advertising?”
“I’ll change the president. How dare they mess with the Whites… How dare they, not knowing their place, not fearing the world!”
“They asked me, ‘Are you acknowledging Noah Ashford as your brother by being seen with him? If so, what political stance will the White family take? Do you agree with amending inheritance laws to recognize the rights of illegitimate children?’”
Scarlett swallowed a deep breath before continuing.
“I don’t know why they asked me that. But I think I answered well. I said, ‘Wifland doesn’t recognize illegitimate children, but God loves us all equally, regardless of our birth. My brother, Andrew White, will serve that God as a priest. So stop talking nonsense and get lost.’”
But Scarlett eventually collapsed from breathing difficulty. One reporter had asked, ‘If you accept Noah’s existence, are you forgiving him without any political motive?’
She didn’t know why those words hit her so hard. Was it because it caught her off guard? Or because her weak conscience had been pricked?
Scarlett didn’t mention this. While Susan was trembling with anger, the hospital room door opened and Aaron and Scott rushed in.
“Where’s John? Isn’t John coming?”
“John’s busy, baby girl. And you’re not a child who needs her parents every time something happens.”
Despite his cheerful tone, Aaron’s face was filled with worry. Even though his last meeting with Scott had been awkward, the two brothers had already made up without needing any special words.
“Carly, don’t you see us?”
Scott grumbled, and Scarlett gave a small smile. She spoke in a tired voice.
“Now that I’ve seen your faces, can I sleep?”
“Of course. Get some good rest.”
“By the way, I think I did pretty well on my test today.”
Susan’s eyelids trembled slightly as she kissed Scarlett’s cheek. Then she forced a smile.
“Good job.”
When Scarlett closed her eyes and her brothers stepped out into the hallway, Noah was nowhere to be seen. Scott’s face turned cold. He snapped sharply.
“Have you lost your mind, Susan White?”
“Oh, great Cravitz. You always know everything, like some creepy voyeur.”
“Don’t mock me. Do you even realize what you’ve done? If you’re going crazy, at least do it properly.”
“What’s going on? Can you guys please share whatever it is you know?”
“Susan leaked Theo Grisham’s true identity — that he’s actually Noah Ashford. It was her! She spread the information behind the scenes!”
“Lower your voice. Scarlett might hear.”
“The hospital room’s soundproofed with magic. And Scotty, I did it for Carly’s sake.”
“No, you did it out of your own spite!”
Susan ground her teeth at Scott’s accusation. Though her face stayed mostly calm, her cold, glittering eyes revealed her fury.
“You hated that Noah Ashford could just attend school like nothing was wrong, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. I couldn’t stand that the dirty son of a cheating woman could go to school like everyone else. And you hated it too. So I took care of it for both of us. Besides, Scarlett should be resting at home! Even constant nursing wouldn’t be enough, yet she was studying all night and attending school? How many times has she collapsed already?”
“That’s what she wanted! We can’t just decide her life for her.”
“This is how I protect Scarlett. This is my way. Don’t get in my way.”
“There were other ways. How could you drag Scarlett into this? Were you so blinded by revenge that you couldn’t see anything?”
“I didn’t expect Scarlett to be this shocked. I thought it would just end as a minor rumor. I never imagined those damn reporters would storm into Iodes.”
“So you’re saying it’s not your fault? That you did well?”
As the argument grew louder, Aaron sighed and stepped between them, using his broad shoulders to push them apart.
“What’s the point of blaming? What matters is what we do next.”
“I’m taking Carly home. I can’t watch her suffer alone at the villa.”
“Stop trying to control everything.”
“Hmph. Scott, what can you even do?”
Susan’s voice cut off when she saw a figure appear behind Scott. She pushed Scott aside and glared Noah up and down. Her stare was filled with clear disdain and hatred.
“Following her all the way to the hospital? Either you’re crazy or you’re as shameless as your mother.”
“You. Noah Grisham or whatever. Leave.”
Aaron grabbed Noah’s shoulder and gently pushed him back, shielding him from Susan’s anger. But Susan lunged forward, growling at Noah.
Scott grabbed Susan’s arm to stop her. Even though he was restraining her, he didn’t look friendly toward Noah either.
“Scotty, Susan! Calm down. Today, this boy hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“That creature is the product of sin. How can he be innocent? How can you call the result of sin clean?”
“I didn’t choose to be born this way. I know I can be a painful reminder to some, but my mother’s sins are hers alone. They have nothing to do with me.”
“Hah. Shameless brat! Just because you’re standing next to Scarlett, you think you’re pure and innocent? You’re nothing but filthy blood.”
The White twins were famous for their coldness and fierce temper, but Noah didn’t back down. Instead, he stared at them firmly with burning eyes.
“You. Leave.”
Aaron ordered. Noah answered.
“No.”
“I told you to leave.”
“And I said no. I will leave only after Scarlett is discharged.”
Aaron clenched and unclenched his thick fists. Though he held back, it was clear he was barely restraining himself from throwing Noah out.
At that moment, the hospital door opened.
“I saw how you were treating Noah.”
Scarlett’s low voice broke the tense atmosphere. Her face looked even paler. Susan, startled, hurried to her.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?”
“The door was a bit open. And just like you didn’t intend for this to happen, I didn’t intend to overhear either. Life’s like that, isn’t it? How often do things go the way we want?”
Scarlett sarcastically slammed the door open.
Facing her siblings with hurt, anger, and betrayal, she looked sharper and colder than ever.
Not screaming like usual made her even scarier.
“Everyone, come in. Noah, you too.”
The tension shifted from Noah to Scarlett. She was known to have seizures when overwhelmed, so everyone became anxious.
“I don’t want to get worked up over this. Also, the medicine’s still in my system, so don’t worry about a seizure.”
“Carly. You still look unwell.”
“I’ve always looked unwell. And Susan, you’re the reason I look even worse today! Listen carefully. We’re all victims here. But the one who’s been hurt the most is me. I didn’t have a proper home, nor good health.”
Scott’s knuckles cracked loudly. Aaron clutched his throbbing head, and Susan trembled while glaring at Noah.
“My dying wish is this. I want to forgive Noah, and I’m trying to.”
Of course, that was a lie.
If asked if she hated Noah, Scarlett would say she hated him while also pitying him. But if asked whether she wanted revenge, she would say without hesitation that she must take revenge.
She could only die in peace after completing her revenge — for Isaac’s safety and for her own peace.
That’s why she calmly continued to lie.
“It doesn’t matter whose son Noah is. I want my beloved brothers to—”
“Scarlett White!”
Aaron, who had been silent, shouted. He stormed toward Scarlett, fuming.
“You will not die. Baby girl, you’re not going to die. I won’t let it happen.”
“How can I go against God’s will? On the last day, I’ll remember your love and close my eyes peacefully.”
Scarlett gently stroked Aaron’s hand as a way to calm him down. Looking like a mafia boss, Aaron softened his fierce expression and swallowed his rising anger.
“I don’t want you to live a life trapped in anger over the past after I’m gone. Live your own lives. I’m stepping forward so you can.”
“Oh, Carly. It’s not your fault. Why are you trying to carry this burden?”
“It’s your freedom to hate Noah. But if you pity me, if you love me, respect my wishes. Treat him like a human being. Show him proper manners.”
After all, it would be his last taste of kindness on earth. Sending him to hell would be her job alone.
So don’t sin further. Don’t try to steal the sins that are meant for me.
“If you don’t, I’ll never be at peace, even in death.”
Scarlett knew her brothers were weak when it came to her death. As expected, Scott and Susan reluctantly nodded, their faces looking on the verge of tears.
Susan hugged her tightly, sniffing softly. Scott wiped his eyes, and Aaron pulled out a cigarette case and left the room.
Hugged by her sister, Scarlett locked eyes with Noah over Susan’s shoulder.
I will burn this life down and drag you to hell.
Though she swallowed the thought, the moment she met Noah’s clear, innocent gaze, her heart grew unsettled.
It wasn’t Noah’s eyes that blurred from the turmoil — it was Scarlett’s.
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