Chapter 3
Not long after, my squad’s private communicator buzzed and a familiar voice came through. “Crimson Hawk, are you really coming back?”
It was Silver Wolf, one of my old comrades.
“You were always the most talented among us. Quitting back then just to get married was such a waste. When the commander saw your return request, he actually jumped out of his chair. Everyone’s thrilled you’re coming back.”
Hearing that, a faint warmth stirred inside me. “Yes, but when you come pick me up in a few days, I’ll need a small favor.”
Silver Wolf sounded confused but agreed right away. “What about your husband and kid?”
I smiled slightly as I answered, “I’m leaving them, of course.”
Right at that moment, my husband and son had just walked to the doorway and heard every word.
My son hesitated, asking, “Daddy… will Mommy really leave us?” Jason sneered. “She’s just bluffing. She wouldn’t have the heart.” Realizing them standing behind me, I quickly hung up the phone.
“Scarlet Blaine, if you kneel and beg for forgiveness now, I might be generous enough to let you stay in the storage room.”
I didn’t even look at him. I just grabbed my suitcase and walked out and the front door slammed shut behind me with a sharp clang.
No sooner had I stepped outside than a black Rolls-Royce pulled up quietly beside me. The window rolled down, revealing Gideon’s worried face.
“Scarlet, dear, get in. I’ll drive you home.”
I shook my head politely. “I’ll be leaving soon anyway, Father. I don’t want to trouble you.”
He hurried out of the car and blocked my path, his tone soft and pleading. “For the sake of this old man’s face… can you give my son one more chance?”
I looked past him. Seven years of disappointment had already drained everything from my heart. When I didn’t answer, tears filled his eyes.
“My seventieth birthday is in three days. Please, stay and celebrate with me one last time.”
He had always treated me like his own daughter and stood up for me many times. Thinking of this, my resolve gradually faltered. In the end, I quietly nodded.
The night of the banquet, the hotel ballroom sparkled with lights and high society faces. Jason Gardner stood among the guests, Yuna by his side, their arms linked, with Timothy holding her
hand
“Oh, Mr. Gardner Mrs Gardner looks stunning tonight. And your son-he’s such a bright boy What a perfect family”
Jason stiffened. That was the seventy-eighth person to mistake their relationship today. When he glanced toward me, sitting alone in the corner, a rare flicker of guilt crossed his face.
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He quickly corrected them. “Yuna is just my… sister. My wife is over there.”
The guest was immediately flustered and he hurried to apologize to me. I waved it off casually as if it didn’t matter.
They weren’t really wrong anyway. Soon enough, Yuna would be the wife of Jason Gardner.
Soon after the guests drifted away, Jason walked over to me. “I’ve already shown you enough respect tonight. I won’t mention what happened before, so don’t embarrass yourself. Get off that high horse.”
His tone dripped with arrogance, as if I should be grateful for his so-called generosity.
As soon as he finished speaking, the birthday gifts began to be presented.
Ignoring him, I stepped toward the center of the ballroom, keeping a deliberate distance between us. Jason’s face darkened for a second, but he quickly covered it.
When it was Yuna’s turn, she offered an elegant sandalwood bracelet that must have cost a fortune. Gideon simply gave her a faint nod, nothing like the warm reaction she had clearly hoped for. Her smile faltered and she stomped away in frustration.
Then, every gaze in the room shifted toward me. I picked up a simple bowl of clear broth with plain noodles and carried it to the head table.
“Father, I made this myself. May it bring you warmth and long life.”
The bowl looked humble, with only one poached egg floating on top.
Yuna let out a mocking laugh. “Scarlet, my dear sister-in-law, what a cheap gift.”
Jason’s expression instantly soured, his voice turning sharp. “Take that away. You’re embarrassing the entire Gardner Family.”
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd, low and mocking.
Chapter 2
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