Jude couldn't stop himself from hugging the headstone tightly and shouting in his hoarse voice, "Scarlett, I regret everything!"He was wrong, so very wrong! He didn't realize that he had fallen in love with her a long time ago. What had he been doing all these years?!There were so many opportunities for him to change his mind over the years, but what had he done with them? What had he done?!It wasn't until she had died that he was willing to face the fact that he had fallen for her a long time ago.It took much contemplation and reminiscing for him to realize just how great she had been and how nice it felt to have her around. Everything about her had long become a part of his life.He had called her repulsive and his nemesis, but had he really hated her, he would have cut her off after Lucy's recovery... When was he ever that patient? When was he ever willing to endure the humiliation of being a "good guy" who wouldn't do anything?It would have been all too easy for him to e
The next day.Eric received Jude's call. "I want to take Scarlett on a trip. We... never did go on a honeymoon. I'll leave the company to you."He was speechless.What could he say?His best friend had gone insane.Suddenly, he felt that the high and mighty Jude Simmons was actually a pitiful creature.Jude didn't understand his feelings when his beloved was alive and kept hurting her.He was only able to face his true heart after her death.Jude's trip lasted for nearly half a year. Many famous scenic spots in the world were visited by a handsome man wearing a black backpack.Paris, New York, Manhattan, Sydney...Sometimes, one could see a man standing on the corner of a street and telling the box in his hand stories about the place. He spoke so gently that it felt as if he was talking to his lover.Inside his private plane, Jude patted the box in his arms. "We're going home today. Don't worry. Our house is clean. The housekeeper from my family home cleaned it herself. I ev
Eric wasn't the only one who knew that Jude was coming home today. When Jude entered the Serene Residence that had already been tidied by his housekeeper he saw people who shouldn't be there."Why are you here?" he asked, the frown on his face indicating his irritation."Jude..." Audrey happily ran over to him and tried to grab his arm, only to have him avoid her outreached hand. The bright smile on her pretty face immediately became stiff.An annoyed Spencer stepped between them. "Jude, Audrey is a girl. Give her some face."Gale kept quiet, but the contempt in his eyes was clear. Spencer was the one who told Audrey about Jude's return today. Was he an idiot? Couldn't he see the obvious disgust that Jude felt for Audrey?Jude ignored Spencer's provocation and turned around to address Eric. "I'm going upstairs. Scarlett must be exhausted from the long flight."Everyone else widened their eyes in shock.Scarlett's death was no longer news in Pearl City.So, what the hell did he
"Does it make sense for a girl to run to a man's bedroom and accidentally break a perfectly fine urn?" Gale sneered.Spencer's eyes looked positively venomous as he snapped, "So what? Even if Audrey broke that shabby urn, so what?""She's dead and it's just an urn! I'll compensate for it, all right?""Lunatic!""Jude, she's dead. Why weren't you this kind to her when she was alive? What's the point of being emotional now that she's dead? Serves you right! You reaped what you sowed! You did this to yourself!""Shut up! Shut your freaking mouth!" Eric's expression changed drastically. "Fuck! Do you have a screw loose in your head or something? If you love Audrey so much, stop shoving her to Jude. If you're a real man, win her heart! Don't let her come here and act up!""Ha! Am I wrong? Did I say anything wrong? Are you telling me that Jude doesn't deserve it?"We saw how much Scarlett loved him! But how did he see and treat her? We saw that too!"Serves him right, doesn't it? He
Two years later.In the blistering hot weather, a black Bentley sought refuge under a tree.In the backseat of the car that had caught the attention of numerous pedestrians was a grave-looking man.He was neither smiling nor scowling. His face was apathetic, taciturn, and devoid of expression,"Sir, are we going back to the Serene Residence?"The chauffeur asked."Yeah," the man in the backseat replied.The chauffeur started the engine and drove away.Jude closed his eyes and dozed off.A cold expression appeared on his chiseled face."The Serene Residence... is too quiet." Every day, he would wake up in that cold and deserted place. Every night, he would fall asleep in the same coldness.Still, the Serene Residence was the only place where he could peacefully fall asleep. No other place on earth could give him what little warmth that place offered.Even if that place was terrifyingly cold, it was still where he had once experienced the warmest times of his life.Creak.
Scarlett's mind was a mess.She never expected this melodramatic turn of events. She had been living in another city all this while, and this was her first day back in Pearl City to celebrate Olivia's birthday.How did she end up running into Jude?"Eat."She looked doubtfully at the decent-looking dish of rice, meat, and vegetables, and then at Jude. When did he learn to cook?Still, it had nothing to do with her.As old memories resurfaced on her mind, she straightened her back and looked at him without touching the food."It took death for me to learn to let go. Jude, as I've told you, you're free now.""Screw that godforsaken freedom! Who told her that I want to be free?!"Jude's eyes were filled with anger.Scarlett secretly clenched her hands into fists. "No, I can't let myself get hurt again." "Dying once is experience enough." "Jude, even if I've made a mistake, I've already repaid you with my life two years ago," she said slowly. Under her serene appearance was a
When Scarlett heard that Jude had torn up their divorce papers, her first thought was that he was lying.He had been so eager to get a divorce and regain his freedom, so why would he tear up those hard-won papers?She refused to believe it.He faked a smile. "I don't know about the past or future, but right now? I'm doing you!"This woman's eagerness to escape him gave him inexplicable anger. "Scarlett Thomas, you've avoided me for almost three years!"His eyes were bloodshot.He was once again sure that this woman underneath him truly wanted to escape him!Riiiiiip!Her buttons popped off as he tore open her clothes.A jolt went through her body.Her pale face turned even whiter."You're right! You're absolutely right! I've avoided you for almost three years! You got that right! Have you ever considered why I avoided you for that long?"Did you know that the first thing I heard after narrowly escaping death and struggling to live was news of you personally ruining my life'
"I heard that she's back," Eric said."Yeah.""Congrats."Jude laughed in self-mockery. "Congrats? She said to treat the past like smoke and let it fade away.""No way she told you that... That's Scarlett, and you're Jude. I can't believe that she'd just let you go.""What do I matter when she would even throw away her life and company? What is so priceless about me that she can't give me up?""Why is she... Are you going to just give up?" Eric didn't believe that Jude would let go of the person that he wanted.Then, he saw his best friend looking discouraged for once. "She told me that loving me is her sin," Jude said. He could even taste the bitterness in his words. "If loving me is her sin, how can I force her to make the same mistake again?""Why would she say that? I can't believe she'd say something like that.""If loving me is a sin, what right do I have to demand anything from her?""No, this is all wrong, Jude.""When I saw her this time, she resisted me a lot.""N