Chapter 4

Could Scarlet even cook without me?

The comments appeared just then.

"Are my eyes deceiving me? Why do I feel as though Violet's changed as a person?"

"Good job, Violet! That's how you cure someone with a savior complex like your sister!"

An hour later, Scarlet emerged from the kitchen with the charred remains of what should have been dinner, just as I had expected.

Betty held her breath and took a small bite of the food. Then, she immediately spat it out and demanded that Scarlet order DoorDash for her instead.

After taking care of Betty's dinner, Scarlet then told me to give up my room for her.

Betty was a very dirty and filthy person. I didn't know how long she'd gone without showering. Anyone could smell her from a mile away. There was no way I would ever let her sleep in my bed!

"I sleepwalk at night. What if I end up accidentally kicking Mrs. Thompson in my sleep? She might die when she falls off the bed," I said with a look of feigned worry on my face.

Hearing that, Betty's expression immediately changed. She turned and looped her arm around Scarlet's instead, saying, "I want to sleep with you tonight, Lettie."

I was sure that Scarlet could also smell the stench coming from Betty, but since she was a saint, she couldn't possibly reject her now, could she? Ultimately, Scarlet just nodded, holding her breath as she gritted through her teeth, "Okay."

The comments appeared once again.

"See that? Even the female lead's face turned green when the old lady said that! Hahaha!"

"She brought this on herself. She deserved it."

"Good job, Violet!"

"I love Violet. I swear that I'm rooting for her now onward!"

The next morning, Scarlet looked completely green in the face, and the dark circles under her eyes were so bad that I thought she looked more like a panda instead.

Scarlet quickly ushered Betty out of the house, not even offering her breakfast.

When she returned, she quickly ran into her bedroom, tore off the bedsheets, and threw them all into the trash. Then, she rushed into the shower and scrubbed herself from head to toe until her skin went bright red from being rubbed raw.

I chuckled to myself.

So, even saints like Scarlet weren't immune to Betty's horrible scent attack!

…

After breakfast, I walked out of the house, planning to check out the nearby supermarkets first. But the moment I stepped outside, a warm blast of dry air hit me. The scorching heat intensified by the second, making the entire city feel like one enormous sauna.

Yesterday's heat was nothing compared to that day's.

I turned on my phone and saw that the heatwave was even trending on social media, with popular searches like "extreme high heat" making it to the top.

Many middle and high schools had already closed due to the extreme weather, and some outdoor workers had also stopped working in the sun.

The comments popped up once again.

"Why is the extreme heatwave happening so quickly?"

"I think the plot changed. Did the director film a sequel?"

I felt my heart sink into my stomach as I read the comments flashing across the screen.

"At this rate, I bet that the temperature is going to reach levels of hell within a week."

"That's what you call 'Hell on Earth'!"

"I kind of want to throw an egg on the ground to see if it'll cook immediately."

The comments erupted with jokes and banter, but I couldn't laugh with them. I frowned in frustration and repeatedly tapped the banking app on my phone.

I only had a few thousand dollars to my name. These were all my savings from the few part-time and odd jobs I had taken up over the years.

The five million dollars I had demanded from Uncle Adrian hadn't arrived yet either.

After staying just under a minute in a place without air-conditioning like this, I was already drenched in sweat. The hot weather was also making my temper flare.

The streets were deserted, with only the roar of overworked air-conditioning units breaking the silence.

Judging from that sound, I guessed that every single household in the city had turned on its air-conditioning at home.

There wasn't even the slightest breeze, and the air couldn't circulate, so it kept accumulating and feeding the fire of scorching, sweltering heat.

Things were getting critical now. The heatwave had struck too quickly, and I couldn't afford to waste another second anymore.

Yet, I didn't have enough money in my bank account!

I inhaled deeply and turned around to go back home.

I had to think of another way, and fast. I couldn't afford to put all my eggs in one basket and wait for Uncle Adrian anymore.

…

I got home and heard Scarlet's boyfriend, Marcus Crosby, talking to her on the phone.

"Lettie, my mom injured her leg, and I can't leave work at this moment. Could you please help me check on her?"