Chapter 88 Probing


    Scarlett''s POV:


    When I woke up, Charles was already gone, but he made breakfast for me and left it on the table.


    He seemed to be distracted by somethingst night, which worried me a little. Before I could get


    sucked into the Charles rabbit hole again, I knocked myself over the head. I had more important


    things to think about than him.


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    Los Angeles was always buzzing with life, especially in the mornings. Traffic was extra terrible


    today, and it actually took half an hour longer for me to reach the office.


    "Scarlett, sweetie, how are you? Are you feeling better?" As soon as I entered the office, Nina


    walked over and gave me a big hug. She was wearing a red business suit today, and her hair was


    neatly rolled up behind her head. She looked bright and stunning.


    "Yes, thank you. I just needed a ton of sleep," I replied and put down my bag in the lounge. I went to


    get myself a cup of coffee. Nina followed suit.


    "My dad''s home by the way. Would you like to have dinner this weekend at my house? We can talk


    about your divorce ns," Nina cut to the chase.


    Her father was a famouswyer in Los Angeles. Last time, I asked her to ask her father to help me


    sue for divorce. I did not expect that things would go so fast.


    But I supposed I was thankful for the timing. Charles intended to keep me hanging, and I certainly


    did not want to still be married to him when Rita''s baby was born. So I epted Nina''s invitation


    readily. Charles did not want to go about things the peaceful way. He left me no choice.


    "Wow. That was quick." Nina was a little surprised.


    "It''s already long overdue. I want it to be over before I leave Los Angeles."


    "Leave Los Angeles? Scarlett, are you sure you don''t want to stay? I mean, you have a stable job


    here now, and things are going great for you," Nina asked.


    I shook my head and handed her the cup of coffee I made for her. "I have too many bad memories


    here. I don''t think I can start over here. I need a change of scenery and soon."


    Hearing my response, Nina did not say anything more. We shook on our dinner date this weekend


    and then went our separate ways to work.


    At noon, I went out to meet William for lunch. I was a little startled when I saw him. He looked a little


    haggard. It seemed that he was not used to living in Los Angeles.


    "Are you all right, William? You look exhausted," I asked. After all, he was my friend, and I was


    worried about him.


    "I''m fine. I''ve just been having a little difficulty sleeping, that''s all." He looked distressed. His hair


    was a bit disheveled, and the dark circles under his eyes could almost pass for bruises.


    "When I can''t sleep, I drink a special kind of tea.


    It''s very effective. I can send you some if you want," I said with concern.


    "I''d love that. I hope it helps me sleep, too. Thank you so much, Scarlett. You''re an angel." And just


    like that, the gloom on his face was chased away.


    "You''re wee," I smiled and refocused on my food.


    "Didn''t you study in France before? Why did you return to Los Angeles?" William asked.


    "Why do you ask?" I was confused by the abruptness of his question.


    "I''m just curious why you didn''t stay abroad. I mean, you''re pretty excellent at what you do, and if


    you had stayed in France, you would''ve found better career prospects," William replied and set


    down his fork.


    "I suppose I just have different ambitions." I did not want to tell him that I came home because my


    husband asked for a divorce.


    "What do you think of Rita and Charles?" William suddenly changed the subject.


    "I''m not that familiar with Rita, so I can''t make an evaluation of her. As for Charles..." I paused and


    took a breath, "He''s a good man."


    William raised his eyebrows and said, "But Rita told me once that you were her good friend. In fact,


    she mentions you a lot to me."


    I almost dropped my cutlery on my te. Since when was I her good friend? Every time our paths


    crossed, she always looked like she wanted to choke the life out of me.


    "Well, was she telling the truth?" Since I did not say anything for a long time, William asked again.


    I had no choice but to respond, "I suppose she''s a good person as well. As someone who has been


    suffering from cancer for so many years, she''s quite the fighter. I actually admire her more than I


    feel sorry for her."


    William was shocked to hear what I just said. "Yes, Rita had cancer, but she''s been in full remission


    for some time now. She does have some kind of heart disease, though, but it''s not severe enough


    to interfere with her daily life."


    I could not believe what I just heard. Everyone knew that Rita had cancer, and she had the medical


    records to prove that it was not in remission.


    "No, Rita still has cancer," I protested.


    "How is that possible?" William was stunned. He wiped his face and said, "You know what, forget it.


    I''ll get back to you after I figure it out."


    "You must have made a mistake, William." I smiled and dismissed the conversation about whatever


    was ailing Rita. Whether she had cancer or heart disease, she was still pregnant with Charles''s


    child, and that was a fact.


    "Let''s talk about something else. I''ve been in Los Angeles for a couple of days, but I haven''t gotten


    the chance to visit some tourist spots. Do you have time to wander around with me this afternoon?"


    William asked.


    "Okay. I happen to have no work this afternoon." "Do I need to pay a guide''s fee or something? I


    don''t want to cheap out on you, Miss Riley," he teased with a smile.


    I could not help feeling amused. For the first time,


    I found that William had a humorous side.


    "No need for fees. It''ll be my honor to be your guide."


    "You really look amazing when you smile, Scarlett. You should smile often." William suddenly looked


    at me seriously, "When you smile, you remind me of one of my dearest friends."


    Feeling a little embarrassed under his probing gaze, I cleared my throat and said, "Really? And who


    might that be?"


    "I''ll tell you some other time," William beamed.


    I could not help rolling my eyes. It wasughably typical of William to withhold such a trivial piece of


    information so that he could look mysterious.


    After lunch, I took William sightseeing around Los Angeles. William was a perfect gentleman and an


    outstanding conversationalist. No matter what turn our talks took, he always steered them into


    something informative and interesting. He was a great friend to have, but we could not be close.


    When we ran out of things to talk about, he brought up Rita and Charles once again. I sensed that


    he wanted to know something, but I could not figure out what. I had always felt that William and Rita


    had a somewhat close rtionship. When I broached the subject, William digressed and started a


    whole new conversation.


    At nightfall, I apanied William back to his hotel.


    "Thank you so much for a wonderful day, Scarlett. I had a lot of fun. Let''s have dinner next time,


    okay?"


    The lines that made him look weary were now gone, but I still could not decide whether or not it was


    just because of the absence of natural light.


    "You''re wee," I said casually, not acknowledging his dinner invitation. Reason told me to keep


    my distance from him. More drama was thest thing I wanted.


    When I was about to leave, I saw Charles walk into the hotel lobby. Behind him were several men in


    suits. It seemed that they had just finished a meeting. It suddenly urred to me that this five-star


    hotel that William was staying in was also owned by Charles.


    "Scarlett!" Charles shouted after me with an unhappy look on his face. He obviously was not thrilled


    to see me and William in the same room.


    I ignored him and headed for the exit without looking back. Once again, he was in a bad mood, and


    I did not want to stick around so that he could take out his frustrations on me.


    Before I could make it out, his hand was already around my wrist.


    I curled my lips and said, "Let go of me, Charles.


    I want to go home."


    "Let me drive you home." Ignoring my struggle, Charles towed me toward William who just watched


    as we approached him. "Are you interested in my wife?" Charles asked directly.


    William looked at him with wide eyes. "Scarlett''s your wife?"


    "Yes, so stay away from her," Charles snapped, red at William, and then dragged me away.


    Before William could react, Charles already put me in his car.