“Scarlett, of course.”
As soon as Jackson uttered these words, the assistant slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the
pavement.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Blackwell!” The assistant hurriedly apologized, cold sweat breaking out on his back.
But unexpectedly, Jackson didn’t get angry.
He merely raised his eyes coldly, looking at the assistant through the rearview mirror. “Does that answer shock you
so much?”
The assistant’s hands trembled slightly on the steering wheel. Shock was an understatement–it was mind–blowing!
But he didn’t dare say so directly, only responding diplomatically: “But… I’ve seen how good you are to Miss
Bennett, even better than to Miss Devereaux…”
Jackson pressed his fingertips against his brow, leaning back into the leather seat. “That’s because she saved my life.”
Blights flashed past his sharply defined profile, and those usually calm, composed eyes revealed a rare hint
stion.
He closed his eyes as memories flooded back-
In high school, he was known as the untouchable ice prince. His locker overflowed with love letters daily, and girls constantly “accidentally” bumped into him in the hallways.
The most outrageous incident was when a girl laid out roses in the shape of a heart beneath the academic building
to declare her love.
“Mr. Blackwell, why not pretend to be close to one girl?” The student council president suggested. “That way, the others will back off.”
He thought it was a decent idea.
But who to choose?
His gaze swept across the courtyard and landed on Lily Bennett, who was feeding stray cats.
The sunlight was perfect that day. Dressed in her white school uniform, crouching beneath a tree, she did have a certain pure, untainted quality about her.
She would do.
Chapter 12
From that point on, he deliberately treated Lily differently–only accepting water from her, only looking in her direction during speeches, even tacitly approving of the rumors about them circulating around campus.
The effect was immediate; the love letters decreased dramatically.
On graduation day, Lily invited him to a café.
While crossing the street, an out–of–control car sped toward them.
In that critical moment, Lily pushed him out of the way.
CRASH-
Amid the horrifying screech of brakes, he watched Lily get thrown like a rag doll.
From her hospital bed, the pale–faced girl weakly said: “Jackson… I don’t regret it…”
Doctors later diagnosed Lily with internal injuries requiring long–term treatment abroad.
Out of guilt, he fulfilled almost every request she made over the years.
only thing he felt grateful for was that, because of one casual comment from Lily, he had volunteered to ipline” Scarlett.
At this thought, Jackson’s lips curved involuntarily into a slight smile.
His first meeting with Scarlett remained vivid in his memory.
That day at Blackwell Industries‘ top floor, he was reviewing documents when the door suddenly burst open.
A flash of red entered his vision.
Scarlett leaned against the doorframe, her red lips curved upward: “Mr. Blackwell, quite the ego you have, making ne wait half an hour.”
Sunlight streamed through the floor–to–ceiling windows, bathing her in a golden glow. She blazed like fire, inexpectedly burning into his black–and–white world.
in that moment, while his exterior remained impassive, his heart skipped a beat.
Afterward, she created trouble in every way imaginable–adding salt to his coffee, folding important documents nto paper airplanes, even parading around in provocative sleepwear during his meetings…
He countered each move, strategically advancing.
The most memorable incident was the drugged coffee,
He had detected the anomaly early on but deliberately drank it anyway.
20:57
Chapter 12
When the drug took effect, he fulfilled his desire by pinning that feisty wildcat against his desk.
“Jackson Blackwell!” She glared at him, her eyes red with anger. “You bastard!”
“Mm–hmm.” He bit her earlobe. “Didn’t the princess want to play? I’m accommodating you.”
Later, he took her repeatedly, yet never spoke of love.
Only because he knew her love for him was nowhere near as deep as what he had buried in his heart.
If he confessed, the wild kitten might become too complacent. Worse, if she grew bored, she might leave.
Mr. Blackwell, we’ve arrived.”
assistant’s voice pulled him back to reality. Jackson realized they had reached the private jet tarmac.
.
Aboard the plane, he unusually didn’t review any documents, instead continuing to reminisce about his moments
with Scarlett-
The warmth of her tears soaking his neck when he carried her home; how she would stubbornly leave a glass of warm water by his bedside when he had stomach pains, despite being angry with him; the way she would rush into
his arms wearing a red dress whenever he returned from business trips…
At these thoughts, his Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily as Jackson experienced, for the first time, what it truly
meant to be “desperate to return home.”
The following evening, the plane landed.
Jackson descended the stairs, his gaze instinctively searching for that familiar figure.
In the past, Scarlett would always wear a red dress, waving to him from a distance before rushing into his arms like
an excited bird.
Jackson! I missed you!” she would exclaim.
On those occasions, his eyes would darken, and he couldn’t wait to get home–he’d carry her straight to the car and ake her until she begged for mercy.
‘Jackson!”
While he was lost in thought, a familiar voice called out.
Jackson reflexively smiled, but as he turned, he froze.
20:57
