Chapter 4

Before the girl left, she clung to Scarlett, saying, "I'll always support you two! You absolutely have to get married!"

Scarlett watched them go, then turned to me and put an ice cream scoop on my plate.

"Honey, don't mind it. Jax's 'domineering female CEO falls for me' video series on Ins is super popular right now. It's great PR for the company. You wouldn't believe how thrilled he is. If I contradicted him in private, he'd be crushed."

Her explanation? I couldn't care less.

"I don't mind. You don't need to explain."

By now, the sharp pain in my stomach was getting worse. I clutched my abdomen, my face turning deathly pale.

On the way home, Scarlett got another call from Jax.

"Ms. Sterling, can you pick me up from the swimming pool? I forgot my change of clothes and can't easily get a cab. Please, please, please!"

Unable to resist Jax's pleading, Scarlett smiled, her voice softening.

"Okay, okay, I'll be right there."

Scarlett hung up, then took my hand and kissed it.

"Honey, we'll pick Jax up together. That way, you won't overthink things."

"Scarlett, you can't go. My stomach hurts so bad! You need to take me to the hospital, now! Hurry!"

Her face darkened immediately when she heard me.

"Leo, can you stop being so dramatic? I wanted to take you along precisely so you *wouldn't* overthink things, and now you're trying to fake an injury for sympathy?"

"I'm not playing games! Take me to the hospital, quickly! I'm not kidding, I'm really in pain!"

"Stop faking it. You're not even convincing."

I was swaying, my vision tunneling black.

"I have stomach cancer, and my stomach hurts like hell right now, so we *have* to go to the hospital!"

Scarlett didn't believe a word. She glared at me, furious.

"You playing games with me is one thing, but now you're faking stomach cancer? We've been married for four years; you've been perfectly fine! How could you suddenly get cancer? Oh, and now that I'm going to pick up Jax, you're suddenly in pain?" Her anger escalated. She slammed on the brakes. "Get out! Just get out! You're so desperate for the hospital? Then go! Stop wasting my time, I need to pick up Jax!"

"Fine, I'll get out."

I was about to open the door, but she grabbed my arm.

"I really can't be too nice to you, you've become so disobedient!"

"Let's get a divorce, Scarlett."

My words seemed to stun her.

"Divorce?"

I nodded.

"Ryan has already prepared the divorce papers for me."

She let go of me, looking utterly shocked.

"Leo, are you serious about divorcing me? You'd better think this through. Besides me, no one else would want a petty, small-minded man like you!"

"I've thought it through. Goodbye."

With that, I tried to get out of the car. Seeing me about to leave, she floored the accelerator.

The sudden lurch of the car threw me out.

Amidst the screams of passersby, I lay in a pool of blood. Scarlett drove off without a single glance back.

Blood steadily bloomed beneath me, a terrifying, beautiful crimson, spreading like dark, ominous flowers on a path to oblivion, surrounding me, petal by agonizing petal.

When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed.

Ryan and Scarlett's parents were there, but Scarlett herself was nowhere to be seen.

Mr. Sterling was trembling with rage.