LOGINScarlett’s POV
I was already getting fed up. Sweat beaded at my temples, the sun blazing mercilessly over my head. I pulled out my phone, ready to call Davis and throw a fit, when the hum of a luxury engine drew my attention. A sleek Bentley Mulsanne cruised to a stop in front of me.
I paused, squinting at the car.
A Bentley Mulsanne. Rare. Discontinued. Half a million, easy. Only a handful existed in the city.
Could it…?
Sure enough, the back door opened.
Everett stepped out like a scene from a movie—tall, composed, a trace of cool air trailing behind him. His tailored suit clung to his frame with obscene perfection, the faint scent of expensive cologne wafting in the breeze.
He looked like a man untouched by the heat, the dust, or this world.
My eyes locked onto his. His expression—calm, detached—never changed. Those deep-set eyes skimmed over me like I was nothing more than part of the scenery.
I scoffed. “Tch.” Disgust rose in my throat like bile. I turned sharply and stormed toward the civil affairs building, heels clicking like gunshots on the pavement.
My cheeks, already flushed from sunburn, were now burning with rage.
To be honest, I had seen that damn Bentley earlier, but I hadn’t imagined Everett would just be lounging inside. Not even once did he think to call me. I’d been baking in the sun like an idiot for nearly an hour and a half, while he sipped chilled water in luxury.
Jerk.
If this marriage didn’t end here, I swear—not even in the afterlife would I find peace.
Everett’s POV
Inside, Scarlett didn’t hesitate for even a second.
With elegant precision, she signed her name in graceful strokes—strokes that once charmed me, now infuriated me.
“I’m done. Your turn.”
Her tone was flat, dismissive. She slid the papers toward me without a glance.
I stared at her long and hard. She refused to meet my gaze, but her silence screamed louder than any fight.
“Scarlett Taylor,” I growled, “your little push-pull act doesn’t work on me anymore, so cut the crap.”
She turned slightly, glancing at the couple waiting in line behind us, then back at me with a smile so cold it could’ve frozen hell.
“Mr. Robinson, don’t tell me you’re actually having second thoughts?” Her voice was like crushed velvet—smooth, but slicing straight through.
That casual arch of her brow… the glint in her eye...
God, it hit harder than a slap.
My jaw clenched. “Scarlett, this is your last chance—”
“No need,” she cut in sharply, raising one perfectly manicured finger behind her. “Hurry up and sign. People are waiting.”
“Are you done or not?” the woman behind us snapped. “Some of us actually have jobs to get back to!”
“You heard her,” Scarlett said smoothly, “Let’s not waste everyone’s style, Mr. Robinson.”
My teeth ground so hard I thought they’d shatter.
“You’ll regret this,” I seethed. “I’ll be there the day you come crawling back.”
She gave a short, humorless laugh. “Then you better find a comfortable chair. It’ll be a long wait.”
Scarlett’s POV
Hearing his threats only made me colder. I laughed—dry and cutting.
“I won’t look back. Not in this life. Not in the next.”
“You’ve got guts, Scarlett,” Everett snarled, snatching the pen and scribbling his name with a sharp, furious motion.
I stared at the two names side by side.
His.
Mine.
Once united. Now… just ink.
A flicker of emotion crossed my heart.
But just a flicker. And then it was gone.
Letting go—it wasn’t that hard, after all.
A marriage certificate turned into a divorce slip.
From this moment on, he goes his way. I go mine.
Everett’s POV
We stepped outside. Scarlett walked ahead without so much as a glance back.
I followed slowly, my fingers tightening around the divorce certificate.
She stopped.
Seeing this, I scoffed. I know she would stop.
I was just thinking if she asked me to be back, maybe, maybe it will considered it.
But then—she walked over to the trash can, tore the certificate clean in half, and dropped it inside like garbage. Turned to me with a smirk.
“Well then, Mr. Robinson. Guess this is goodbye.”
My chest tightened.
I stared, frozen, disbelief churning like a storm inside me.
She… she really did it.
With a flare of fury, I hurled my copy of the certificate into the trash.
“Scarlett Taylor!” I roared, my voice shaking with rage. “Let’s see how long you can play it tough. You will regret this. I swear it.”
Without even turning her head, she replied: “The only thing I regret in my life… was marrying you.”
She flagged down a cab, got in, and disappeared without a single glance back.
Cold. Sharp. Final.
Davis’s POV
Late at night, I knocked on the frosted glass door of the CEO’s office.
“Mr. Robinson, Miss Martin is here.”
Everett didn’t even lift his head. He was buried in documents, spinning a sleek pen between his fingers.
“Not seeing anyone.”
“But sir… she says it’s about New York.”
That got his attention. He looked up, removed his glasses, and rubbed his temple slowly.
“Let her in.”
A few minutes later, I ushered Amelia Martin in. “This way, Miss Martin.”
She nodded politely, “Thanks.”
I glanced at the time—11 PM.
Business? At this hour?
Please. This was just another excuse. I thought.
Everett’s POV
Inside, Amelia stood across from me.
“Everett, Aunt Maria called me earlier. She… she suspects something.”
I froze mid-signature. My pen hovered. My stare fixed on her.
“And what did you say?”
“I told her exactly what you told me. She didn’t say much, but… I could hear it in her voice. She’s not okay. And her surgery next week—the doctor said she needs to stay calm.”
“I’ll handle it.” I tossed the pen aside. “Pack your things. We’re flying to New York tonight.”
Amelia nodded. “Okay. I’ll meet you at the airport.”
****
The Next Day
The photo hit the internet like a spark in gasoline—me and Amelia at the airport in the middle of the night.
The headlines ran wild: CEO’s Secret Getaway With Mysterious Beauty.
Wedding Bells Next?
Gossip fiends had a field day.
I ignored it all.
But then—my phone rang. Unknown number. I almost didn’t answer.
“Hello?”
“Is this Mr. Robinson? Scarlett Taylor’s husband?”
I frowned. My pulse skipped. “Who is this?”
“This is City Hospital. Your wife… she missed her medication pickup two days ago. Her condition is critical. If she doesn’t get treatment soon…”
My breath stopped cold.
“…What condition?” I asked, voice breaking ever so slightly. “Say it clearly.”
“She’s in the final stage of her illness. If immediate treatment isn’t administered… she won’t make it.”
Scarlett’s POV:I hadn’t expected Everett to agree so readily.“Don’t you have anything to say?”“I respect any decision you make,” he said, looking at me with an earnest expression. “Not just resigning… whatever path you choose in the future, I will support you unconditionally.”“Really?” I stared at him for a moment before raising an eyebrow, my tone laced with disbelief. “You’ll support me no matter what I do?”“Yes.”“Very well. Remember what you said.”I turned and walked out.Everett grabbed his suit and followed me.Outside, I noticed Davis standing near the villa’s main gate, directing the workers.I approached him.Spotting me, he immediately bowed. “Madam.”“What are you doing?”“Sir instructed us to replace this plaque,” he explained, then added cautiously, “Sir feels the name ‘Green Lake’ doesn’t sound quite right.”Hearing that, I was a little surprised.We had lived in this house for three years—why did he only now find the name unpleasant?I had always thought he liked
Scarlett’s POV:I hadn’t expected Everett to agree so readily.“Don’t you have anything to say?”“I respect any decision you make,” he said, looking at me with an earnest expression. “Not just resigning… whatever path you choose in the future, I will support you unconditionally.”“Really?” I stared at him for a moment before raising an eyebrow, my tone laced with disbelief. “You’ll support me no matter what I do?”“Yes.”“Very well. Remember what you said.”I turned and walked out.Everett grabbed his suit and followed me.Outside, I noticed Davis standing near the villa’s main gate, directing the workers.I approached him.Spotting me, he immediately bowed. “Madam.”“What are you doing?”“Sir instructed us to replace this plaque,” he explained, then added cautiously, “Sir feels the name ‘Green Lake’ doesn’t sound quite right.”Hearing that, I was a little surprised.We had lived in this house for three years—why did he only now find the name unpleasant?I had always thought he liked
Scarlett’s POV:My biological clock was set in stone—I woke up at seven o’clock sharp every morning.My mind was still foggy as I lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling for a moment.Five minutes later, I stretched lazily, rubbed my eyes, and sat up.I had slept reasonably well that night… strictly speaking, it was the best sleep I’d had in over two months.Pulling back the covers, I stepped out of bed and walked into the bathroom.After washing up, I applied skincare products and put on simple, light makeup. Just as I picked up the comb, something suddenly occurred to me, and I set it back down.In the past, I had always followed Everett’s instructions—wearing only a uniform to work, my hair tied in a ponytail, black-rimmed glasses… stiff and uninspired.I had finally come to terms with it.No matter how much I loved Everett, I couldn’t lose myself for love.From today onward, I would gradually reclaim myself… the confident, capable woman I once was.As for Everett, I would let t
Scarlett’s POV:I had been furious, but let’s be real… when a girl hears the man she likes compliment her looks, there’s no way she can stay upset!Still, I kept my expression icy. “If you like me, then why did you want to keep our marriage secret?”“The secret marriage was initially for your protection,” he explained earnestly. “You know my family’s situation. My car accident was an intentional assassination attempt orchestrated by internal family infighting. Before I could confirm who was behind it and gain complete control over the family, how could I dare let them know you were my wife?”I frowned thoughtfully, conceding the logic.Grandfather had even sent Everett’s mother to New York to hide after she was nearly blown up. For safety’s sake, a secret marriage did make sense.That must be why Grandfather never pushed us to have children or hold a wedding ceremony these past three years… everything was tied to the family feud.“So have you resolved it now?”He nodded. “It’s settled
Scarlett’s POV:I had been furious a moment ago, but Everett’s sudden, desperate plea left me stunned.I couldn’t shake the feeling that today’s Everett was different from the man I knew.I furrowed my brows, studying him carefully.Could a single dream really change him this much?“What do you mean by your dream where I left?”“It was a dream where you were disappointed in me… and rejected me.” His hand trembled slightly as he held mine. “Scarlett, I was too slow to realize things before. I didn’t know how to express myself, but that dream made me see my own heart clearly. I love you. I truly love you.”“…”This was a side of Everett I had never seen before.A single dream brought about such a profound change?Looking at the man kneeling before me, I couldn’t help but feel he wasn’t being entirely truthful.From the very beginning, this love had been entirely one-sided.Throughout all three years of our secret marriage, every step closer between us had been initiated by me.To say I
Scarlett’s POV:Caught off guard by the direct question, Everett seemed momentarily stunned—almost flattered.After a moment of silence, he abruptly stood up. “Wait here for me!”I frowned as I watched him walk into the kitchen.Before long, he returned… holding two packets of instant noodles.I blinked, utterly baffled.He approached me, bent down, and placed the instant noodles on the floor. Then, under my bewildered gaze, he positioned his knees over the packets, bent down, and knelt on top of them.“…”The noodles crackled under the weight they were never meant to bear.I was dumbfounded.Had the world turned into a fantasy?The man who was always proud and aloof… actually knelt?Snapping out of my shock, I finally found my voice. “Everett, what are you—”“Scarlett, I’m sorry.” His dark eyes locked onto mine as his deep voice carried solemn sincerity. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have taken your casual remarks so seriously. And I shouldn’t have let those rumors spread just out of spi







