Chapter 37
Scarlett was discharged from the hospital that evening and returned to the villa.
“Since Susan and Scotty have handled it, no more reporters will come looking for me. You should know I won’t be leaving Iodes either.”
After saying that, Scarlett closed her door, saying she would rest. Noah fell asleep that night, turning Scarlett’s words over and over in his mind.
He was happy with her decision. Truly, only Scarlett White had given him freedom. And under the name of freedom, he became tied to her. Every time he realized he was bound to her, he had to wrestle with a guilty sense of betrayal.
That’s why Noah decided he would visit his mother early the next morning and demand answers about his birth.
“Miss, the eldest young master has come to visit.”
The guest who knocked early that morning was Scarlett’s oldest brother, John White.
“John? Tell him to come in right away!”
Scarlett dropped the towel she was drying her hair with and rushed downstairs to meet him. Behind her, the maid Marie cried out, “Miss, you shouldn’t run!” but Scarlett didn’t listen.
“John!”
She ran into John’s arms. John chuckled quietly and hugged her back.
“Did you have breakfast?”
“Not yet.”
“Good. Let’s eat together.”
“I have some business. I don’t have enough time for a meal.”
“But you have time to come in and talk, right? Great.”
Scarlett grabbed John’s wrist and pulled him inside. John gently brushed her damp hair back.
“You didn’t dry your hair properly.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. John, why has it been so long? You barely even come home.”
Scarlett pouted, and John gave a faint smile. Scarlett often acted like a child in front of John. After all, they were seventeen years apart.
“Have you been really busy?”
“Yeah, something like that. You look better though.”
“Probably because I don’t have Susan’s nagging or Scott’s lectures anymore.”
“They say raising kids is useless anyway.”
John joked in his soft, steady voice, and Scarlett giggled. Flopping into a chair and swinging her legs, she looked even younger than usual.
“I heard about everything that happened just last night. Are you okay?”
“I’m always fine. Honestly, I wanted to yell at Susan, but I held back. I did well, right?”
“Yeah. You did well. Good girl, Scarlett.”
“Hehe.”
“When did you grow up like this? You used to be just a tiny baby.”
John was a blunt but kind man. His stern and somewhat gloomy face came from having to take responsibility for the family at a young age—or so Scarlett believed. And she knew that the biggest burden he carried was herself.
“I heard from Aaron. You said some very mature things.”
“Really? How are Susan and Scott?”
Scarlett scratched her neck shyly.
“The twins have always been fiery and cold like ice. They’ll burn up and freeze over again and again. Don’t worry about them. But more importantly, Scarlett.”
“Yeah? Tell me.”
“I’m sorry to bring up a heavy topic so early in the morning.”
“It’s okay. Just tell me.”
“Alright. When I heard you decided to forgive Noah and his mother, I thought… Mother and Andrew, up in heaven, would be proud of you. I fully support your decision.”
“Thank you.”
Scarlett’s face twisted in a strange way. A mix of pain, joy, and discomfort showed, but she hid it all behind a smile. She wanted John to only see the good side of her.
“I know it must have been a hard decision.”
“……”
Scarlett couldn’t tell John that his pride in her was based on a lie. So she stayed silent.
“It was a noble choice. It will mean something great.”
“Even if I die… John, will you not blame Noah?”
Scarlett secretly wished John would blame Noah. Even if the other siblings forgave him, she wanted John to be furious and hate him for her death.
John wasn’t just another brother. He was special. To Scarlett, John was like a parent. When she was little, she even wanted to call him ‘Dad’ and imagined he was her real father.
“If you want me to, then I’ll find the courage to do so.”
“Ah…”
Scarlett swallowed a sigh of disappointment. She looked down at her hands hidden under the table, picking at her nails.
‘Would it have been the same if it were Abigail instead of me?’
“I… to be honest, I blame our parents. That’s right, Scarlett. I blame Mother and Father, not Noah or Julia Ashford. It was their mistake from the beginning.”
“Yeah…”
John, not noticing Scarlett’s gloomy mood, continued.
“How is life at Iodes?”
“It’s fun. I think Isaac won’t be embarrassed even if he goes to school now. I went to an even higher-level school, after all.”
“Good. If you’re satisfied, that’s all that matters. By the way, Noah Ashford is staying here, right? Can I see him for a moment?”
“Oh, okay. Wait here.”
Scarlett left to get Noah herself. Left alone in the sitting room, John quietly finished his tea. He looked as calm as someone who had never once gotten angry in his life.
After a while, Noah appeared.
“I have something to say to Noah alone. Could you give us a moment? Don’t worry, I won’t say anything harsh.”
“Okay.”
Scarlett, suddenly meek in front of John unlike with her other siblings, quickly left the sitting room. After she disappeared down the hall, John and Noah finally spoke.
“You came all this way to see me… I don’t know how much you know or what you think.”
“That’s not important.”
John pulled something from his coat and handed it to Noah. It was a new ID. Not Noah Ashford, not Theo Grisham, but a completely new identity.
“Leave Wifland.”
“I’m Scarlett’s brother too. If you’re trying to forcefully separate me—”
Noah raised his voice, but John stayed calm.
“I’m trying to protect you. From my siblings. And from those who are targeting you.”
“Tell me the truth, Mr. White. Who is targeting me?”
“If your mother didn’t tell you, then I can’t either.”
“I’m an adult!”
“An adult who knows nothing… absolutely nothing.”
“Mr. White!”
“I’m just carrying out my mother’s last wish. How I feel about you doesn’t matter. What you know doesn’t matter. My only task is to finish this wretched promise. I’ve done my part. Now, it’s up to you.”
After saying that, John walked past Noah and left the room. He said goodbye to Scarlett, declined her invitation to stay longer, and went off to work.
Not long after John left, Noah came out too.
“I have something to do, so I’m heading out first. If you’re not feeling well, you don’t have to come to Iodes today.”
After a quick goodbye, Noah left. In the empty sitting room, only the cold tea and Scarlett’s sad gaze remained.
Scarlett finished getting ready and went to Iodes alone. The carriage, usually shared with Noah, felt unfamiliar. The seat across from her, where Noah used to sit, was empty, and she felt a deep sense of loneliness. His presence had become so natural to her.
“What is this…”
Going to Iodes alone felt like going there for the first time all over again. She wasn’t confident she could face all the stares alone.
Fear rose up inside her. The rumors had spread wide by now. Everyone would be whispering and staring.
“She’s hanging out with a dirty bastard born out of wedlock.”
Attending school with an illegitimate child, protecting and caring for him—it fit perfectly with the crazy rumors about Scarlett White.
This season, Scarlett White’s scandal would be the biggest topic in society. Some might even whisper she was trying to leave her fortune to Noah.
“Damn it.”
A soft curse slipped from her mouth. She was frustrated, not just with Noah who left her alone today, but also with herself for feeling so empty because of it.
“It’s okay. You’re Scarlett White.”
When the carriage stopped, she mumbled to herself as she opened the door. Holding her books tightly to her chest, she straightened her back and walked into the schoolyard.
All eyes followed her flaming red hair. Scarlett decided to believe it was because of her expensive dress. But the spell broke at the classroom door.
“I heard she’s been sick since she was little. Now she’s lost her mind. She must know her family’s a mess because of that bastard.”
Scarlett’s hand tightened on the doorknob. The shame and humiliation of everyone knowing her family’s private matters crushed her.
“They don’t know anything…”
She wanted to run in and shout at them. She wanted to return the shame they made her feel.
But her biggest weakness had been exposed, and now she could barely even show her face.
She couldn’t breathe. Anxiety gnawed at her chest. Her hand trembled, then lost strength.
“Go back.”
She truly didn’t have the courage to face them alone. She couldn’t pretend everything was fine under so many staring eyes. She let go of the doorknob. Her arm dropped. She bit her lip hard.
She hated the idea of turning and running. It was so miserable.
“Scarlett.”
Just then, someone tapped her shoulder. She jumped and turned to see Wilhelm looking down at her.
“What are you doing? You need to go in.”
He patted her shoulder encouragingly. He probably hadn’t heard what was said inside, but somehow, he understood her fear.
“You’re Scarlett White, right?”
“Yeah. I’m Scarlett White.”
“Good. Being scared doesn’t suit you. That’s not your role.”
Scarlett stared at Wilhelm like a beast mesmerized by the moonlight.
“……”
“So just smash through like you always do.”
At Wilhelm’s joke, Scarlett finally relaxed a little and smiled faintly.
“Yeah. Let’s smash through.”
Scarlett opened the door.
She was Scarlett White.
What did she have to fear?
