Chapter 4

My steps faltered, but I spun around and walked away without hesitation.

Scarlett seemed a little flustered. She quickly pushed through the crowd and hurried after me. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but her face was pale.

"Alex, did you... see everything? Listen to me, Liam's tolerance for alcohol is really low, that's why I wouldn't let him drink. It's not what you think..."

She gripped my wrist tightly, explaining anxiously.

Soon, Liam also caught up, grabbing my other hand with a whimper. "Alex, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for not drinking that glass, which made you and Scarlett argue. Please don't be angry, I'll go drink it now..."

Scarlett immediately shot him a fierce glare. "Why did you follow us? Go back, aren't you making enough of a scene already?!"

"You don't need to explain anything to me." A wave of irritation washed over me, and I forcefully pushed them both away.

Liam, however, suddenly slipped, crashing straight into the corner of a table. Blood gushed from his forehead, and he continued to apologize. "Scarlett, I'm sorry, it's all my fault... am I going to be disfigured?"

Seeing him injured, Scarlett instantly panicked. She turned and roared at me, "Alex, if you're sick, go get help! What kind of tantrum is this? If anything happens to Liam, I swear I won't let you get away with it!"

At that moment, Scarlett's face was terrifyingly dark.

I stood there, stunned, looking at Scarlett, who was solely focused on protecting Liam. Suddenly, I remembered. Nine years ago, she protected me just like that.

I was still in college then, and I ran into trouble on my way back to campus. She was the one who helped me out.

That was the first time I met Scarlett. Later, she was the one who took my hand first.

She was the one who stood up for me when I was wronged, the one who took me to the hospital when I was sick. Under a sky full of fireworks, she was the one who proposed to me. "Alex, marry me. We'll be the happiest couple in the world."

Faintly, Liam's whimpering voice reached my ears. Then, a sharp slap landed with a crack, sending me tumbling to the ground.

I looked up to see Scarlett's eyes, icy and bone-chilling, frighteningly unfamiliar. "Alex, you disgust me. That slap is your lesson. Don't think that just because I'm good to you, you can run wild."

With that, she didn't give me a chance to explain, helped Liam up, and left without looking back.

This winter seemed unusually cold. After an unknown amount of time, I shakily got up, wrapped my coat tighter, and slowly walked back.

Back home, I silently finished packing, placing the signed divorce papers in the most conspicuous spot.

The next afternoon, Scarlett's call came again. At this moment, I was already at the airport with my suitcase.

"Alex, if you don't want to get divorced, get your ass over here and apologize to Liam right now, and this whole thing will be over—"

"No need," I interrupted her. "I've already prepared the divorce agreement. You just need to sign it."

With that, I hung up, blocked her on all platforms, and boarded the plane home.