Chapter 9
The next day, Scarlett left the White residence and headed straight to Iodes. As she walked, she repeated the words she had gone over all night in her head.
“Sorry about yesterday.”
A short apology, but it meant a lot to her.
However, the moment she saw Noah entering the lecture hall, all her intentions of apologizing dried up, and she had to suppress the urge to act pettily.
Dozens of eyes flicked back and forth between Scarlett and Noah. Pretending nothing had happened, Noah casually sat near her and opened his book.
Seeing him so unbothered made Scarlett’s lips twitch. Just then, another female student from the economics department approached her.
“Ahem. Hey.”
Scarlett responded in a relaxed but not overly friendly tone.
“Hi. What’s up?”
“Um, I’m Jane Poldy.”
“I’m Scarlett White.”
“There’s a girls’ gathering today. I thought I’d ask if you wanted to join.”
“A girls’ gathering?”
As Scarlett showed interest, Jane’s cheeks flushed as she explained.
“There aren’t that many girls in Iodes. So a few years ago, a girls’ club was formed. Of course, it’s not just for members. Any female student at Iodes can join the regular meetings.”
“What time is it?”
“Four o’clock. In Building A-26.”
“I’ll come if I’m feeling okay.”
“Great! Then see you this afternoon!”
Jane returned to her seat with a bright smile, and Scarlett leaned her chin in her hand and doodled on the corner of her book.
Scarlett didn’t feel particularly attached to Iodes, so things like girls’ clubs didn’t really interest her. Still, she couldn’t help but envy the normal activities her peers enjoyed.
Noah Ashford went about his school life unfazed by all the attention. So why shouldn’t she be able to do the same?
Still, class was a different story.
Scarlett had zero interest in graphs, supply and demand, or any of it. That was more Aaron or Susan’s thing.
What Scarlett loved was the changing seasons, family dinners, and playing cards with Isaac.
As she sat dazed, Professor Diego kept shooting disapproving glances her way.
But weighing her status as Aaron’s sister against his role as a professor, he always sided with Aaron in the end.
Thanks to that, Scarlett could spend the whole lecture spacing out or dozing off.
“There will be a pop quiz next time, so I suggest you all review thoroughly,” Professor Diego said, his face flushed with frustration as he left the lecture hall.
Only then did Scarlett rise from her seat. She called out to Noah, who was just packing up.
“Theo.”
Her tone lacked the usual hostility. It had taken considerable effort for her to speak that way.
Scarlett thought of Isaac—his warmth, his playful voice, his fragile shoulders. The memory calmed her.
Whenever she reminded herself of the precious person she had to protect, there was nothing she couldn’t endure.
“Let’s sit together from now on.”
“Not feeling well?”
“That’s part of it. But… I just don’t want to sit alone anymore. …I promise. I’m not trying to mess with you.”
Noah didn’t look suspicious, but the uncertainty he felt toward Scarlett was evident in his long stare.
Scarlett gave him a faint, crooked smile. Noah, watching her, only found her more puzzling.
Wilhelm had apologized on Scarlett’s behalf for the spilled milk yesterday. He had blamed himself for provoking her, saying she must have taken it out on Noah instead.
But Scarlett’s anger wasn’t because of Wilhelm. It was because of Noah Ashford’s very existence. So she didn’t think Wilhelm had done anything wrong.
And though Noah understood her anger, her erratic behavior still confused him.
He wasn’t sure if Scarlett just wanted to lash out at him—or if there was something else behind it.
Regardless, she was still his half-sister. Someone whose life had been upended because of him.
“Don’t worry about what happened yesterday,” he said.
What kind of world did she see through those gray eyes?
The world reflected in Noah’s blue eyes was, quite literally, blue. Like a clear sky filled with a melancholic haze, but sometimes pierced by rays of sunlight and a sliver of hope.
Someday, he would escape the slums. Someday, he would reclaim his true identity.
If he gained wealth and status, no one would dare scorn him or his mother again.
Someday, Scarlett would forgive him—and he could finally shed this guilt.
“…Sorry,” Scarlett said again, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. You know how hysterical I can be.”
“…It’s okay. But are you alright? I was worried after you stormed off.”
“I went to see Susan. I missed Isaac.”
Who’s Isaac? Noah wondered.
Still, he decided to play along with Scarlett’s act. The heat behind her gray eyes looked dangerously unstable.
It reminded him of the fire that had once devoured a slum building. When the flames died out, all that remained was a skeletal frame that eventually collapsed on a rainy day.
“Let’s go. Hand me your books—I’ll carry them.”
Scarlett handed them over without hesitation. Their fingers brushed ever so slightly.
Scarlett flinched and scowled, while Noah noticed her hands were colder than he expected.
“Are you cold?”
“No. Just sleepy.”
“Then sleep in class.”
“You never say ‘skip class.’ You’re so diligent.”
Her tone was her usual sharp sarcasm, but Noah didn’t seem to mind.
“Why do you even like studying?” she asked.
“I…”
To Noah, Iodes was the last stronghold that could change his fate. He desperately wanted to escape the slums.
And not just that—he wanted to become someone with wealth and honor.
Just past nineteen, standing at the border of boyhood and manhood, he was full of ambition. It was a different side of him—unlike the passive, defeated one he showed Scarlett.
Noah’s ambition was fierce and relentless—much like the way Scarlett treated him.
That ambition was fueled by his shame of being illegitimate, by the guilt of nearly ruining someone’s life just by existing, and by the complex love-hate relationship he had with himself and his mother.
It burned quietly but deeply, like a fire in the depths of darkness.
That’s why, for his own sake, Noah wanted to play the role of the submissive one to Scarlett. Her rage was like an aria that soothed the scars of his shame.
“…Because it’s fun.”
Noah smiled. Honestly, he was grateful for Scarlett’s presence.
“I’m going to the girls’ gathering at four. You can’t come, so just wait for me.”
“Okay. I’ll be in the library.”
Scarlett gave a vague response and headed to the designated location. Building A-26 had a cafeteria attached. Only then did Scarlett realize it was a sort of student lounge.
“White! Over here!”
Jane came out to greet her. Scarlett tried to relax so her nerves wouldn’t show.
She entered like the seat had been reserved just for her and picked a sunny spot.
Students trickled in one by one, and about thirty people eventually gathered. Scarlett stiffly remarked to Jane,
“I didn’t know there were these many girls.”
“The economics department is male-dominated. But in sociology or humanities, there are more girls.”
“Poldy, how did you find out about this meeting?”
“There was a notice on the board recently. You probably missed it. Oh, and just call me Jane.”
Scarlett ignored the invitation to use her first name and responded how she pleased.
“I don’t really check the boards.”
“Today’s just for freshmen. We were so disappointed when you didn’t show up last time.”
“Me?”
“Every girl counts. Scarlett. So…”
Scarlett cut Jane off, annoyed that her name was used without permission.
“Can you pass me the milk? Please, Poldy.”
By using Jane’s last name, she drew a clear line.
Scarlett often showed guardedness toward those aware of her identity, and a strange brashness toward those who weren’t.
It stemmed from watching her older siblings suffer under the weight of the “White” name growing up.
After exchanging names with a few nearby students, Scarlett observed how the gathering worked. It was casual—students chatted over refreshments, moving around as they pleased.
Scarlett talked with Jane and her close friends.
“Professor Manson gives way too much homework. Since he collects it every class, that’s twice a week!”
“White, I heard your brother studied economics here too. Got any good tips? Manson’s making me want to drop out.”
“No idea. Aaron’s too busy to show his face much.”
“Oh… well, I guess that makes sense.”
“…Can I ask you something, though?”
“What is it?”
A girl—Scarlett thought her name might be Alice or Amy—looked at her with bright curiosity.
“What’s your relationship with Theo Grisham? I saw you pour milk on him yesterday.”
Scarlett brushed it off.
“We’re in a milk-pouring kind of relationship.”
“Oh come on. I heard you two have been close since childhood. What’s the truth?”
“That’s none of your business. I’m leaving. See you tomorrow, Poldy.”
The atmosphere had been fine, but now her mind turned cold.
“I’ll walk you to the entrance.”
“No need. I’m not so helpless that I don’t know the way out.”
Scarlett walked past the girl who’d asked the question.
The girl pursed her lips and shifted her eyes. She seemed to think Scarlett had just insulted her. Scarlett snorted. She wasn’t the type to care what others thought.
As she stepped away from the table, the girl spoke up again.
“White must be head over heels for some debt-ridden guy. Figures—she’s got nothing else going for her, so she’s using her looks to get by. Maybe she was groomed for it. I mean, she came here just to date, right? Using her illness and a donor admission as an excuse.”
She was repeating the gossip that circulated around campus.
That Theo Grisham had lured Scarlett in with his looks from a young age, then distanced himself to make her desperate, prompting the milk incident.
Also, rumors claimed Scarlett paid off Theo’s debts, making her his foolish sugar mama. Ironically, the ones who started these rumors were male economics students who actually knew Theo best.
“What did you say?”
Scarlett marched back to the girl. The girl flinched but straightened her back.
“I’m obsessed with Grisham? Came here to date?”
“You’re the one who just zones out in class all the time. Everyone knows.”
“Then what, are you here to become some brilliant scholar? With that brain full of rumors, I doubt you’ll even graduate.”
“E-excuse me?!”
“I’m not done. If you say one more word like that about me and Theo Grisham, I won’t let it slide.”
“I only said what’s true!”
“You want the truth? Grisham doesn’t use his face to play Casanova, and I’m not some naive girl who falls for a pretty face. Get it straight.”
Scarlett grabbed the milk on the table and poured it over the girl’s head.
“KYAAAA!”
As the girl screamed, Scarlett said firmly:
“I’m the only one who gets to insult him. Pouring milk on him is our business. Not yours. So stay out of it!”
