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
"If you're just here to trick me, you can stop it. I'm not the same Scarlett that you knew anymore." Scarlett was getting angry, too. It took her so much to end their relationship and decide to let herself off for once and for all. Yet, this man had come to her saying that he loved her and wanted to start over."No, I can't let myself get hurt again."Besides, Jude has someone he loves!"The thought of Jude's beloved made Scarlett's entire body tremble. Not only was she angry at herself for breaking them up, but she was also upset at Jude for telling her such a bold lie when that woman existed."I'm no longer the same person I've been, and I don't trust even a single word that you've said!"Although angry, she had no right to be. These two emotions made her feel so conflicted that her heart hurt.Jude's black pupils turned darker. Suddenly, he grabbed her chin and kissed her hard in public. After their kiss, he raised his head and looked at her face. His voice was low as he asked
"It's all in the past? Is that purely your opinion?" He was raging at how desperately Scarlett wanted to leave him. She would even cast away her company, life, and even her remaining three million dollars... Did she hate him that much?!"President Simmons! I'm really tired of talking to you. Just pretend that I didn't say anything. I'm really, really tired," Scarlet said, finally telling the truth. She couldn't afford to play this game of love.This instantly reminded Jude of Eric's words: "I would've done the same thing if I were Scarlett. Having been hurt by love, it makes every sense to run away and hide in fear."She has merely become timid in front of love."He lowered his head and saw that she was trembling. Even though she was trying her best to stay calm, her shaking body had betrayed her panic. His heart turned soft, as did his gaze. He reached out to her, but she tried to avoid his hand instead.Still, he managed to cover her forehead with his large hand and caress her r