Chapter 1

"Babe, is your husband back in the country?"

Scarlet Benson had just finished a retinal reattachment surgery. After scrubbing out and emerging from the operating room, she unlocked her phone, only to see a call from her best friend, Lucy Rosen.

"I invited you out for dinner today, and you ignored me. Why didn't you tell me your husband's back?"

Scarlet shut her locker and headed out. "I just got off the table. I didn't know he was coming back today."

"What?" Lucy blurted out. "That guy didn't tell you he was back?"

"He never does," Scarlet responded.

They had been married for barely half a year when William Cooper left for Nevaia without ever talking it through with her. He came back once or twice a year at most, and every time, she only found out after he had already landed.

William was undeniably brilliant. In just a few years, Bova Capital, the firm he founded, had become a legend on Wellton Street and a success story everyone talked about.

At 27, he was named one of the 50 most influential figures in global finance and appeared on the cover of The Banker magazine. Scarlet learned all of this the same way everyone else did—through financial news.

"I'm… speechless. Your husband's return is all over the news. The ladies at my office have been gossiping about it all morning. Meanwhile, you're completely in the dark." Lucy sent her a screenshot of a headline and added, "Look at him. Personality aside, your husband is one hell of a looker!"

The Cooper family, one of Lebavia's most affluent families, had always been a favorite subject in the local financial media. People had been following William's movements obsessively in recent years. The press seemed to know more about his schedule than Scarlet did as his wife.

The photo had been taken at the airport. A Gulfstream G650 was parked at a private terminal, and a tall man was walking down the stairs.

No words could fully express how handsome William was. His features were sharp and well-defined. His brow, eyes, and nose were beautifully sculpted. Under the bright afternoon sun, his presence was impossible to ignore. His bespoke suit accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs, and he carried himself with great poise.

His assistant, Chris Hemworth, walked behind him, leaning in to report something. His secretary, Helen Knight, followed them with his luggage and a solemn expression.

Meanwhile, William looked relaxed, almost languid, probably worn down by the long flight. His profile carried a faint trace of boredom.

Scarlet stared at the photo. William was back, and she found out even later than Lucy.

"I suppose you're definitely not joining me for a meal tonight, huh?" Lucy grumbled. "I just got my bonus and wanted to treat you."

"Don't worry," Scarlet reassured her. "You'll get your turn. Let's go out another day."

After ending the call, Scarlet realized it was already dark outside. She had been on her feet all day and hadn't had a proper meal. Starving, she hurriedly hailed a cab home to the villa they shared at Wolke Bay.

Doctor's hours were unforgiving. Scarlet usually got off work late, and with a housekeeper at home, she rarely cooked. Plus, she was genuinely bad at it.

William's timing couldn't have been worse. Scarlet had recently let go of the housekeeper. It would be disastrous if he returned home to no dinner at all.

Scarlet turned on the stove, followed online recipes, and made a few dishes. It took her nearly two hours. When the food was finally on the table, she checked the time. William still wasn't home.

Scarlet sat at the dining table and waited for almost another hour before calling William. The call didn't go through, and the message she sent via WhatsApp went unanswered.

Scarlet had waited so long that her hunger subsided. By 10:00 pm, William still hadn't returned.

Scarlet hesitated over whether to put away the now cold food. While scrolling through her feed, she came across a post Shaun Thompson had just shared. The caption contained only two words. "Welcome back."

Scarlet tapped on the photo. The background resembled a private club, decadent and brightly lit. William's circle of friends was there.

William was also in the picture. He had taken off his suit jacket, and two of the buttons on his fine dress shirt had been undone. His collar hung slightly open, and he looked relaxed.

The photo was taken from the side. His long legs were crossed, his hand resting on the armrest. He held a cigarette loosely between his slender fingers.

A woman in a tight short skirt sat close beside him, gazing at him with unmistakable interest. William looked at ease, a faint smile playing at his lips.

Scarlet closed the app, picked up her cutlery, and ate the food that had already gone cold. After she finished eating, she cleaned the kitchen and went back to her room to shower and rest.

…

Everyone was in high spirits inside the private club's lounge as they welcomed William back. Shaun personally poured him a drink and raised his glass. "Here's to your return, William!"

It was a bottle of Hennessy Paradis, a premium cognac and a century-limited edition that never hit the market. Shaun's grandfather, John Thompson, had hoarded it for years and never brought himself to open it. So, his beloved grandson snuck it out to celebrate his best friend's return.

"Are you leaving again this time?"

William lounged against the couch. "Do you want me to leave?"

"Of course not! I've been waiting for you to come back every day."

One of the guys beside them laughed and teased him. "Don't you know how devoted Shaun is to you? He misses you more than your wife does!"

Shaun kicked him. "Shut the hell up!"

William lifted his ornate glass and smacked Shaun lightly on the back of the head. "Why do you miss me? Does your ass itch or what?"

"Hell no. My grandpa's on my case every day," Shaun grumbled. "It's boring as hell without you around."

"By the way, where's Scarlet? Is she not coming tonight?" someone asked.

Shaun shrugged. "Why would you invite her when we're out drinking? She'd only ruin the mood."

It was no secret that William had no feelings for Scarlet. The marriage existed in name only. None of them had ever truly regarded her as the lady of the Cooper family.

The woman beside William caught on and inquired, "Mr. Cooper, you're married?"

William cocked his brow before lifting his cigarette and taking a drag. Then, he smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Is my wedding ring not shiny enough?"

The woman only noticed the ring on his ring finger.

As he raised his hand, his collar fell open just a touch. Light crept in, catching one sharp line of his collarbone while the rest remained hidden in shadow. He looked lazy, yet effortlessly charming.

Her cheeks warmed as she looked at him, and curiosity stirred. What kind of woman was lucky enough to become his wife?

"What's your wife like?" she asked.

William casually leaned back. "My wife?"

There was a glint in his eyes that could easily be mistaken for tenderness. "She's not as pretty as you."

No woman could remain unmoved while being looked at like that and called beautiful. Her heart began to race, hammering against her ribs.

"Oh, please. Don't fall for his lies. You won't find a woman prettier than his wife anywhere in Lebavia."

The pink bubble burst. The woman looked at William, who bit lazily on his cigarette. A relaxed smile crept onto his face as he didn't deny it.

Her heart sank. So, he had just been teasing her.

William was probably tired. He looked drained, and he wasn't even in the mood to smoke. So, he stubbed his cigarette out in his glass, grabbed his jacket, and rose from his seat.

Shaun, who was pouring him another drink, froze. "Are you leaving already?"

William looked bored out of his mind. "I'm tired. Have fun without me."

…

Scarlet had a habit of sleeping with a light on. She was stirred awake by the sound of the door opening.

Under the dim glow of the bedroom floor lamp, a tall man stood with his back to her, facing the mirror in the walk-in closet. A faint smell of alcohol hung in the air.

Scarlet sat up groggily before coming to her senses. It had been more than half a year since she last saw him. Even his back felt unfamiliar.

"Why didn't you tell me you'd be back?" she asked.

William turned around to look at her.

She sat on the bed, still half asleep. Her nightgown hung loosely, the thin straps nearly slipping off her shoulders.

Her skin was naturally fair. Back in school, even after a week of military training under the blazing sun, she would only turn slightly red and recover in a matter of days.

The soft lavender nightgown made her look like fragile porcelain. Her collarbones were delicate, and a luminous emerald pendant rested against her pale neck.

William unbuttoned his shirt with one hand. "What, are you hiding someone at home?"

Scarlet was about to ask the reason he hadn't told her, yet she was rendered speechless. Her sleep-fogged mind couldn't keep up.

He didn't seem to care about her answer. He grabbed his pajamas and went into the bathroom to take a shower. Scarlet sat on the bed for a while, listening to the sound of running water as she gradually became wide awake.

Chapter 2

Before long, William emerged from the bathroom and walked to the other side of the bed. The mattress dipped slightly, and a corner of the blanket was lifted.

Scarlet caught a faint, cool scent. It was clean, sharp, faintly woody, and edged with tobacco. It was unmistakably William's scent.

The faint light from the floor lamp didn't reach the bed. The night was so quiet she could hear their steady breathing. The couple lay on opposite sides of the large bed, separated by a cold, invisible barrier.

After a while, she looked at him. Perhaps due to the darkness, his features seemed deep and distant. "Have you fallen asleep?"

Silence followed. William's voice was low and tired, tinged with annoyance. "Be quiet."

Scarlet touched the lucky charm around her neck and turned away.

…

When Scarlet woke up in the morning, the space beside her was already empty.

She got out of bed and freshened up. When she walked into the living room, she found William already dressed, sitting at the dining table and scrolling through real-time stock prices on his iPad.

He looked up when he heard footsteps. "Where's Ruth?"

Scarlet opened the refrigerator. "I dismissed her."

William's brows drew together, but he didn't say another word.

Scarlet hastily fried two eggs. After a moment's thought, she added ham, lettuce, and cheese and made two sandwiches. Then, she carried them to the dining area.

William glanced at them. "Is this what you usually eat?"

What was wrong with it? It was already much better than her usual breakfast. Scarlet was always pressed for time in the morning and usually made do with two slices of toast for breakfast on workdays.

"Eat it or leave it," she brooded.

Just then, a cat's meow sounded from behind the couch. Scarlet turned around and noticed a calico female cat cautiously poking her small head out.

Not long ago, after days of heavy rain, she had found a litter of newborn strays at the hospital. The kittens were soaked and shivering, while the mother cat was skin and bones.

Scarlet couldn't bring herself to leave them, so she took them home, planning to keep them until they were a month old and then find someone to adopt them. She hadn't expected William to return to the country all of a sudden.

William didn't allow Scarlet to keep cats. When he had gone to Amriva for a year, she had once rescued a stray and wanted to take it home. She called to ask his opinion, and he rejected her.

Scarlet had clearly shut the cat in an empty room. She hadn't expected it to be smart enough to open the door and sneak out.

Sure enough, he frowned. "Where did this stray come from?"

The disgust in his tone made her uncomfortable. Scarlet walked over, picked the cat up, and muttered, "I gave birth to it."

William scoffed. "In that case, you should apply for a prize."

Scarlet put the cat back in the room. When she returned, he already had his coat on. The sandwiches she made were still on the table, untouched.

William adjusted his tie in front of the mirror and, without looking back, pronounced the cat's sentence. "Get rid of it before I come back."

Scarlet ignored him. The villa was huge. It wasn't as if there wasn't room for a few kittens.

Why did he have to be so merciless to animals that were only trying to stay alive? He had more money than he could spend, yet so little mercy.

William caught the look on her face in the mirror. "What are you bad-mouthing me in your head this time?"

Scarlet was stumped.

"Who would dare badmouth you? I'll keep them locked up. They won't run out again. I'll also disinfect the house every day and send them away once I find someone to adopt them." Scarlet was in a hurry to get to work, so she wrapped the sandwiches to take with her.

"If it bothers you that much, go stay somewhere else. You have a home everywhere anyway," she added.

William sneered, "Your temper sure has grown. We haven't seen each other in half a year, and the first thing you do when I get back is try to kick me out."

Ignoring him, she lowered her head to change her shoes.

Scarlet dressed for comfort at work. Under a loose sweater, her skinny jeans hugged her long, well-shaped legs. When she bent over to put on her shoes, the curve from her waist to her hips was impossible to miss.

William fastened the buttons on his suit and lifted his gaze, letting it drift lazily over her. "What did you want to say last night?"

This time, she didn't have the time to talk. "I'm late for work. Let's talk when I get back."

…

After finishing her rounds, she spent the entire morning in the ophthalmology clinic. It was a busy day, and she didn't finish until 2:00 pm. By then, there was barely anything left in the cafeteria, so she simply grabbed a bite to eat.

While she was having lunch, she received a call from William's mother, Justine Lawson, asking her to return to the Cooper residence that day. Scarlet agreed and ended the call. Then, she poked at the pasta in front of her and suddenly lost her appetite.

After work, the Coopers' personal driver, Lester Gray, came to pick her up, and Scarlet got into the car.

The courtyard was nearly 100 years old. Scarlet was familiar with the place because she'd grown up here.

After her parents were killed, she spent years in foster care before being taken in by the Cooper family. It was called adoption, but in reality, it was just a sponsorship.

If the city's social hierarchy were a pyramid, the Coopers would sit at the very top, a level most people could never reach.

Scarlet was just an orphan. She was incredibly lucky to be taken in by the Cooper family. There was no way she would be officially added to their family tree.

No one expected her luck to strike twice. Later, she married the heir of the Cooper family. In the end, her name was officially added to their family.

Scarlet waited in the living room for a while. Justine descended the stairs in an elegant dress. "I heard you dismissed Ruth."

Scarlet wasn't surprised in the least. "Did she come crying to you?"

After she married William, the Coopers sent them a housekeeper. Ruth Mills was efficient and meticulous in her work.

William was rarely home, so it was usually just Scarlet and Ruth. Scarlet treated her well, allowing her to take home leftover premium ingredients and supplements and presenting her with gifts during the holidays.

Ruth's job was actually quite easy. Scarlet was busy and rarely home, so she tended to let small things slide.

There was one time when the hospital needed some paperwork, and Scarlet couldn't find one of her certificates anywhere. Scarlet needed it urgently, yet Ruth wasn't home, and her phone couldn't be reached. In the end, she found her at a poker table.

One of her friends said, "Look at the time. Aren't you heading back? Aren't you afraid your lady of the house will chew you out?"

Ruth had lost quite a bit and was fully absorbed. There was no way she was getting up from the table. "She's busy at work. She won't be back at this hour. Besides, my paycheck comes from the Cooper family, not from her. Even if she finds out, what can she really do to me?"

"But she's still the lady of the Cooper family. All it takes is a word in her husband's ear, and you'd be fired."

"Give me a break," Ruth scoffed. "Mr. Cooper is only home about once a year. Who exactly is she supposed to tell, the air?"

Middle-aged women thrived on gossip. "Oh? Do they not get along?"

"Isn't that obvious? Mr. Cooper ran off to Amriva shortly after the wedding. I heard he went to pursue his childhood sweetheart.

"This wife was forced on him by his family. He can't even stand the sight of her."

People instinctively treated others according to their status. Scarlet, however, hadn't expected to hear such cutting words from the very housekeeper she had always treated kindly.

Ruth was enjoying herself a little too much. When she turned around and saw Scarlet standing right behind her, she nearly dropped her cards. Then, she panicked and apologized profusely.

Scarlet didn't utter a word at the time. She had only told Ruth to go home and find the certificate she had misplaced. That same night, she dismissed Ruth.

Justine sat down. "Ruth was just talking behind your back. It's tasteless, sure, but hardly a real offense. You're William's wife, the second lady of this household. If you can't even keep a housekeeper in line, people are bound to look down on you."

Scarlet tugged at the corner of her lips. She had no idea what Ruth had told Justine, but it didn't matter. No matter what happened, whether it was her fault or not, Justine was always dissatisfied with her. It had been that way since she was a child.

Scarlet had long gotten used to not explaining herself. Even if she did, Justine would never take her side. She'd simply humiliate herself.

"I could turn a blind eye if it were just you. But now, William is back. You can't cook or clean. Are you planning to sit around and wait for him to come home and serve you?"

"It's not like he's never served me before," Scarlet thought to herself. However, she didn't dare say that out loud in front of Justine.

Chapter 3

The housekeeper brewed coffee. Justine had a taste for Blue Mountain coffee. Its smooth, delicate aroma lingered in the room.

After taking a sip, she asked, "Did you talk to William about what I told you last time?"

Scarlet stiffened for a split second. "Not yet."

She had tried to contact William, who was still at Grandfall then. She told him over the phone that she wanted to talk, but he was busy and had little to no patience. He responded curtly, "Whatever it is, wait until I'm back."

Scarlet called a few more times after that, but he never answered. In the end, she stopped trying.

"You didn't take a word I said seriously, did you?" Justine's forehead creased. "I told you to talk to him. It's been ages. I don't even know what you've been doing all this time.

"Now that he's back, the two of you should make time and finalize the divorce. Get it over with as soon as possible.

"The way you're living now is just inviting people to laugh at you. Even if you're not embarrassed, I am!"

Over the years, nothing had given Justine more headaches than William and Scarlet's marriage. Had she known things would turn out like this, she would never have agreed to it in the first place.

"Divorce is the best outcome for both of you. I'm acting in your best interests."

The coffee mug was a little too hot. Scarlet curled her fingers slightly and dropped her gaze to the coffee, following the wisps of smoke rising and fading on the surface.

It would be the best outcome if she didn't love William.

"I'll talk to him," Scarlet said.

Just then, the housekeeper announced, "Mr. Arthur and Mr. William are back."

Scarlet turned around.

William had returned with his father, Arthur Cooper. He was usually relaxed in private. His suit jacket was draped over his arm as he walked in mid-conversation with Arthur, a lazy smile on his lips. However, the smile faded when he noticed her.

Justine hadn't seen her son in a long time. She rose from her seat with a bright smile and walked up to him. "Why did you decide to come back all of a sudden? You didn't even tell me."

William responded, "I wanted to surprise you. Do you not like it?"

"I don't need surprises. I'd be glad if you didn't drive me to an early grave. You leave and come back whenever you want," she grumbled, though she was clearly delighted to see him. "You've lost weight again. Have you been skipping meals?"

William stood there lazily, letting her look him over. "You say that every time. Why don't you just plant me in the backyard?" he grinned.

Justine slapped his arm. "Honestly, you and that mouth of yours."

William had always had a sharp tongue. He could talk his way into anyone's good graces, and he was just as articulate and persuasive in an argument.

He matured with age, but he was still the same at heart. Scarlet had never once won an argument with him.

…

During dinner, Scarlet sat next to William.

Arthur had been in a position of power for many years and carried a natural air of authority. Scarlet had been afraid of him since she was a child.

He asked about her, as was customary at the dinner table. Scarlet answered each question stiffly, as if she were a student getting questioned by the dean. When he shifted his attention to William, she let out a quiet breath of relief.

The father and son talked about work for most of the meal. William's achievements on Wellton Street in the last few years were plain to see. Arthur nodded from time to time, his tone full of pride for his son.

Scarlet had a lot on her mind and didn't have much of an appetite. However, she was afraid that if she set her cutlery down, Arthur would start questioning her again. As such, she pretended to eat, slowly counting the pieces of penne.

Perhaps she had been counting too carefully, and Arthur noticed. "Is the food not to your liking?" he asked.

Scarlet was about to respond when William shot her a look. "She needs to eat cat food."

Arthur was dumbfounded.

Scarlet was about to explain, but William seemed unsatisfied with his parents' reactions. Leaning back in his chair, he lazily added, "I have no idea what she's been eating lately, but she can give birth to cats now."

Scarlet was rendered speechless. She wished she could dig a hole through the earth and disappear.

Justine shot daggers at him. "All you do is spout nonsense, you little rascal."

Arthur fell silent with a solemn expression. At his age, he didn't quite understand youngsters' jokes. He tried to make sense of it and concluded that Scarlet must have either a gynecological issue or a psychological one. In any case, as her elder, he couldn't ask her about it directly.

"Scarlet… are you feeling unwell?"

Scarlet's face flushed crimson, and she hurriedly explained, "No, I'm fine. He's just messing around."

After dinner, Arthur and William went into the study. Justine brought them some soup and didn't return for quite some time.

Scarlet waited in the living room. She hadn't slept well the night before and had worked all day. Before she knew it, she dozed off on the couch.

Ellen Paige, one of the housekeepers, came over and gently woke her up. "Scarlet."

Scarlet rubbed her eyes. "Are we leaving?"

"Mr. William and Mr. Arthur are still discussing something in the study. They probably won't be done anytime soon." Ellen had looked after Scarlet since she was a child and treated her like her own daughter. "I've cleaned up your old room. Why don't you go upstairs and get some rest?"

Scarlet rarely came here unless it was a holiday or she was summoned. There were still a few of her belongings upstairs, mostly childhood items. There wasn't much that truly belonged to her.

Scarlet asked Ellen for a cardboard box. After packing everything up, she came downstairs with the box in her arms.

William happened to step out of the study at the same time. He glanced at the box she was carrying and inquired, "What's that?"

"Things from when I was little. I forgot to take them with me."

He tugged at the corner of his lips. His expression was unreadable, but it definitely wasn't a smile.

While walking downstairs, she said, "Next time, don't spout nonsense in front of your parents."

"Nonsense?" William stopped in his tracks. He raised his hand to loosen his tie before looking over his shoulder at her. "Didn't you say that yourself?"

Scarlet replied, "I was joking. Yet, you took it straight to your parents. It was very awkward for me."

William slipped his hands into the pockets of his suit pants and looked at her with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He acted as if he would go along with anything. "Fine. From now on, I'll document everything you say.

"Then, you can label what I'm allowed to tell people and what I'm not. I'll follow it to a letter, so I don't accidentally leak one of your little secrets and end up as your punching bag."

Scarlet caught on this time. He was being sarcastic.

"I'm not using you as my punching bag," she explained.

William didn't care about her explanation. He spun on his heel and headed downstairs.

Scarlet followed behind him. He was tall, his silhouette drawn lean and upright by the muted light of the stairwell. His pace seemed slow, yet she couldn't quite keep up. Before long, she was left behind.

As soon as she walked out of the courtyard, a black Bentley was already waiting at the entrance. William stood by the car, lighting a cigarette. The ember glowed and dimmed between his fingers and made him look roguish.

When he saw her, he stubbed it out. "Are those long legs of yours just for show? You're so slow."

Scarlet wanted to tell him that she was carrying a box. She also wanted to ask if he was blind, but she couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. For some reason, the two of them had lost the desire to communicate with each other at some point.

The thought of just letting things slide surfaced in her mind time and time again, swallowing everything she wanted to say.

William opened the car door and tossed his jacket inside. His long fingers rested on the edge of the door as he said coldly, "Is that everything? You might as well take everything with you today."

"This is everything." Scarlet's temper flared. "What's left belongs to your family. You can keep it!"

Then, she bent down and got into the car. William scoffed behind her before closing the door and getting in from the other side.

His manners were ingrained in him. Yet, his sharp tongue and indifference were innate.

Scarlet used to think he was merely a charming philanderer. She only realized how cold and heartless he could be after they got married.

Chapter 4

After getting into the car, William leaned back in the black leather seat and crossed his legs. The extended cabin was spacious, leaving plenty of room between them.

The silence was heavy. Scarlet wasn't sure if they had talked about their divorce in the study, so she sat quietly for a while before turning to ask him, "Did your mother say anything to you?"

William glanced at her apathetically. "What was she supposed to say?"

So Justine hadn't brought it up. Scarlet laced her fingers and hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "There's only one month left before—"

Before she could finish, his phone rang. He shifted his gaze away from her and answered the call.

Scarlet had no idea who it was. His responses were brief. His gaze shifted to the window, his profile cold and distant.

After ending the call, he told the driver to pull over. As soon as the car rolled to a stop, he said flatly, "Get out. I have something to take care of. Someone will come pick you up later."

Instinctively, she asked, "Where are you going at this hour?"

William lifted his gaze when he heard that. His unreadable gaze swept across her face, and the corner of his lips curled slightly. "That's none of your business, Mrs. Cooper."

His words were like a bucket of icy water emptied all over her, chilling her to the bone. Her fingers curled slightly. Without another word, she opened the car door and got out.

The luxury car sped away before her eyes. The empty road was soon swallowed by darkness, broken only by distant streetlights casting a dull yellow glow.

Scarlet was still far from the city, in the middle of nowhere. The wind picked up, rustling through the trees.

She had forgotten her scarf. The cold wind slipped into her collar, through the gaps in her sweater, and into her bones. In the end, she called for a ride and went home.

When she arrived home, Ruth was already back. She hurried over with slippers, peering over Scarlet's shoulder. "Did Mr. Cooper not come back with you, Mrs. Cooper?"

"Yeah." Scarlet changed her shoes and was about to go upstairs when something occurred to her. She led Ruth to the room where the cats were kept and explained how to take care of them.

The room was full of cat supplies—automatic feeders, litter boxes, and a tall cat tree. Ruth looked around in awe. "Does Mr. Cooper know you're keeping this many cats? Won't he be upset?"

"Make sure you close the door and don't let the cats run out," Scarlet reminded. "I don't care if he's upset. No one gets to be happy all the time in the adult world."

Scarlet used to be easygoing. Wondering if she was still holding a grudge over what happened last time, Ruth fell silent.

William didn't come home that night. He didn't come home in the days that followed either. If Scarlet hadn't seen him in the news every day, she might have wondered if he'd accidentally died somewhere.

William had only been back in the country for a few days when he caused a stir in the financial world. Everyone was speculating about the reason behind the Wellton Street rising star's return.

"Bova Capital's Return Redefines the Local Investment Banking Game".

"Arthur Cooper Is Set to Step Down as CEO of Heritage Bank. William Cooper's Return Sparks Succession Questions".

Even the younger staff in Scarlet's department gossiped about it at lunchtime.

"So this is Mr. William. He's both handsome and successful. God, I'm in love!"

Clementine Simpson chimed in, "You're too late. He's been married for ages."

"Seriously? He got married that young?"

"Of course I'm serious. I've seen him in person. He looks way better in real life.

"His wedding was grand. How do you not know this?" Clementine spoke as if she knew William well.

Scarlet looked up at her. Both of them had joined the same hospital and department in the same year, yet Clementine had never liked her.

Scarlet had still been in graduate school when she married William. She had no family on her side, and the only person there for her was Lucy.

"I bet you've never seen that iconic photo, have you?" Clementine continued. "I'm talking about the photo from the wedding, when they were exchanging rings. The bride was behind this misty veil. Their side profile and the atmosphere were just perfect. Here, let me find it for you!"

Clementine dug the photo out from an old news article. The group chatted nonstop.

"I can't really see her face, but judging from the bone structure, I can tell she's a total beauty!"

"I really want to know who she is."

"Doesn't this side profile kind of look like you, Dr. Benson?"

Scarlet replied with a poker face, "You must be seeing things."

"Yeah, right." Clementine rolled her eyes. "As if she's that lucky. Marrying into wealth? In her dreams!"

Scarlet's expression remained stoic. "How do you know I'm not that lucky?"

Clementine was about to argue when a nurse slapped her thigh. "Dr. Benson would have no problems marrying into wealth with her looks and skills!"

Clementine scoffed. "It's been two years. Have you ever seen her husband? If she really married into money, wouldn't she show him off?"

"That's true. When are you bringing your husband around for us to meet, Dr. Benson?"

Scarlet set her cutlery down and wiped her mouth. "I married a ghost. I'm afraid he'll scare you if I bring him here." Right after saying that, she picked up her tray and walked away, leaving a row of stunned faces.

…

That evening, when Scarlet returned home from work, Ruth had prepared an elaborate feast. The table was full of dishes, though many of them were things Scarlet didn't like.

Scarlet asked her to cook less next time. Yet, she argued, "Even if you don't eat it, Mr. Cooper will."

"He can't finish 12 dishes by himself."

Scarlet was gentle by nature. If someone showed her even a little kindness, she would return it tenfold.

She disliked conflict. As long as they didn't cross the line, she rarely made things difficult for anyone. However, once she shut someone out, it was almost impossible to let them back in.

"I don't need you to pinch pennies, but I don't want you to be wasteful either."

Ruth muttered under her breath, "I'm spending Mr. Cooper's money, and I'm cooking for him. How is that a waste?"

Scarlet ate leisurely. "My ears are fine. If you want to complain, do it farther away."

Ruth fell silent.

William still wasn't home when Scarlet finished dinner. Ruth glanced at the door several times before asking, "Aren't you going to call Mr. Cooper? It's been days. Is he not coming home tonight either?"

Scarlet rebutted, "If you miss him that much, why don't you call him yourself?"

Ruth appeared awkward. "That's not what I meant…"

Just then, a car pulled into the yard.

Ruth lit up. "It's probably Mr. Cooper!" Then, she hurriedly opened the door.

Scarlet looked over.

Ruth opened the door and found Lester standing outside with a cardboard box in his arms. From a distance, he said to Scarlet, "These are the things you left in the car the other day, Mrs. Cooper. Mr. Cooper asked me to bring it back."

"Leave them there."

Then, Lester set the box down and turned to leave.

"Where has he been staying these past few days?" Scarlet asked.

Chapter 5

Lester hesitated and didn't dare to answer Scarlet.

William and Scarlet were on bad terms, and people working under them had it the hardest. He wasn't sure if he should tell her William's whereabouts.

William wasn't someone he could cross, but the lady of the Cooper family was also someone he couldn't offend. The couple was in an argument now, but who knew when they would make up? When that happened, he would be the one to pay the price.

After much deliberation, he chose the safest answer possible. "Mr. Cooper has been busy with work these past few days."

He sure was good at skirting the issue. Scarlet saw through Lester. "So… he's been staying at the company?"

"Uh… N-No." Lester nearly broke out in a cold sweat.

"I'll stop putting you on the spot." Scarlet lowered her head and continued sipping her soup. "You may go now."

Lester didn't waste a second and left.

…

Scarlet called William again around noon. Chris answered, as usual. "Mrs. Cooper, are you looking for Mr. Cooper?"

"Can you put William on the line?" she asked.

"Mr. Cooper is busy right now," Chris responded politely. "I'm sure you know he just returned to the country. There are a lot of matters at Bova Capital that need his attention, so he's been extremely busy lately. If it's something urgent, I can pass the message for you."

Divorce wasn't a topic that could be passed along by an assistant.

Scarlet's patience was wearing thin. "In that case, help me tell him if he keeps working himself to death like this, he's going to drop dead one day."

Chris was stumped.

"Before that happens, tell him to return my call," she added.

Chris was at a loss for words.

After the call ended, he looked at the man behind the desk, who was signing his name at the bottom of a document. He wasn't sure if he should repeat her words verbatim.

William had been busy the last few days. He was shifting Bova Capital's focus back home. The headquarters relocated from Wellton Street to Lebavia. Completing paperwork and procedures alone took days.

After finishing a tall stack of documents, William capped his pen, leaned back in his chair, and took a sip of coffee before asking, "What did she say?"

Chris polished Scarlet's message a little. "Mrs. Cooper told me to remind you to take care of your health and not overwork yourself."

William cocked his brow before looking out the window. Bova Capital's new office stood right next to Cooper Group headquarters. Rows of silver-gray skyscrapers stood side by side, forming a vast, modern central business district. Sunlight reflected sharply off the glass facades at noon.

William let out a low chuckle. He turned his chair 90 degrees to face the floor-to-ceiling window and took another slow sip of coffee. "That's new. The sun must have risen from the west today."

…

Scarlet had no idea whether Chris had actually passed her message along. Either way, nothing changed. William was still as good as dead to her. He didn't return her calls, and he didn't come home.

While he refused to show up, Justine called to push for progress. "How did your talk with William go?"

Scarlet still had patients scheduled for follow-up in the afternoon, and she didn't even have time for lunch. So, she grabbed some bread to tide herself over. "He's been busy lately. We haven't discussed it yet."

Scarlet could almost picture Justine's brows knitting together. "Are you deliberately dragging this out, Scarlet?"

"I'm not," Scarlet responded.

Justine snapped, "You're only hurting each other by dragging this out. You're hurting both William and us! Do you hate us that much?"

"I don't." Scarlet sounded drained.

"Have we ever mistreated you? You practically grew up in front of me. Don't force me to become the villain in the end. You're the one who will look bad when that happens!

"William has already suffered for three years because of you. Do you have any idea what it's like for me, as his mother, to watch him stay in Amriva year after year and never return home because of you?" Justine questioned.

Scarlet had never known the reason William had suddenly decided to go to Amriva.

They claimed that he pursued Nicole Jameson and blamed Scarlet for failing to keep her husband's heart.

They claimed he didn't want to see her and blamed her for being unbearable. In any case, it was all her fault.

All of the resentment Justine had bottled up over the years spilled out at that moment. "If his grandmother hadn't forced him to marry you, I would never have agreed to this marriage. William deserves a better wife!"

Scarlet felt as though her heart was being carved open over and over. She could no longer feel the pain, only a raw, bloody emptiness.

Clenching her fists, she said, "I haven't married into your family out of my own will either. Don't forget that you were the ones who needed something from me."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Justine's tone softened when she spoke up again, though it was still condescending. "I know that you did help us back then, and you'll be compensated accordingly. Once you and William divorce, this matter will be settled. You and our family will be quits."

So much for being quits. After ending the call, Scarlet slumped back into her chair.

It was late fall. The leaves in the dawn redwood grove had almost all fallen, leaving only a few withered ones on the bare branches.

Just then, a new resident knocked on the door. "It's almost 1:00 pm, Dr. Benson. Are you ready?"

Scarlet took a deep breath and straightened up. "Yes, I'm ready."

…

Before getting off work, Scarlet received a call from Lucy. Lucy could tell something was off and kept pushing until Scarlet told her about the call at noon. Then, she almost exploded.

"That old witch actually said that? Quits, my ass! The Coopers owe you a hell of a lot, okay?

"What does William even have to complain about? If he's that miserable, he shouldn't have touched you in the first place!

"Damn it. Tell him to ask his dick if it feels miserable!"

Scarlet almost spat out her water. She hurriedly looked around. Fortunately, no one else was in the pantry.

She filled her up and walked back to her office. "Watch your language, Ms. Rosen. I'm in a hospital."

"So what if you're in a hospital? We're all humans. It's in our DNA!" Lucy wasn't done just yet. "You didn't even complain, yet he had the audacity to feel aggrieved?

"Didn't he still do whatever the hell he wanted after you were married? He pursued Nicole until the whole world knew and turned you into a laughingstock!

"Even a housekeeper dared to walk all over you and humiliate you. You wasted three good years of your life on him, and what did you get? Everyone's mockery and a relationship where you're being treated like a fool!"

Because Lucy was her best friend, she knew exactly where it hurt. "You wouldn't mind if I stopped talking to you for, say, 500 years, right?"

"No, don't!" Realizing she'd gotten carried away, Lucy hastily backtracked. "I'm off work now. Hang on, I'll pick you up and treat you to a feast!"

"Your feast usually comes in liquid form," Scarlet quipped.

Lucy grinned. "You know me."

Lucy couldn't really hold her liquor, but she loved having a drink or two whenever she could. She always called it stress relief. Every time she said she was taking Scarlet to a feast, they ended up at a bar.

Scarlet had just gotten out of the hospital when the cab Lucy ordered pulled up to the curb. Lucy leaned out of the window and waved at her.

Scarlet hopped in and pulled out her hand sanitizer out of habit. Lucy immediately held out both grubby hands.

"The new bar that just opened is running a promo today. Couples get 50% off!"

The word "discount" was Lucy's fatal weakness. A 50% discount was basically a knockout punch. Once she saw it, she couldn't take her eyes off it.

"But we're not a couple," Scarlet said.

"You're way too honest for your own good." Lucy wrapped her arms around Scarlet. "No one will question it if we say we're a couple. Everyone's so open-minded these days. Worst case scenario, we kiss!"

Scarlet responded flatly, "I'll pass."

"Objection overruled. You're married, but I'm a pure, innocent pringle. If anything, I'm the one getting the short end of the stick."

It was much easier to get into the bar than Scarlet expected. Lucy, on the other hand, lacked a few screws. She wrapped her arm around Scarlet's waist and lifted her chin at the bouncer. "Can't you tell? I'm the top!"

Scarlet was at a loss for words.

Lucy wanted to cheer her up. So, she ordered a ton of food and even splurged on the expensive drinks she normally wouldn't touch.

The bar was upscale, the atmosphere was pleasant, and the snacks were surprisingly good. The only downside was the crowd. The music was deafening, loud, and restless.

Lucy, who was chronically online, was always ahead of everyone when it came to gossip. "Did your husband really come back to fight over the inheritance?"