Chapter 41: You Look Beautiful Tonight
Eve seemed to think of something and stared at Scarlett, “Hey, you haven’t told me your name!”
“Scarlett, Scarlett Morris.” Scarlett stubbed out her cigarette.
“You can’t be related to Claire Morris… Wait, are you?”
“You know her?” Looking at Eve, Scarlett was astonished by all these coincidences.
“Yep. I know her.”
Scarlett leaned against the wall and said, “She’s my step-sister. Are you guys friends?”
Eve raised her eyebrows with disdain, “Nope. I’ve got no interest in that kind of girl. It’s just that I often see her at Francis’s house. She’s here today. Didn’t you see her?”
“Nope.”
“She has a crush on Francis. How could she let go of this great opportunity to make her move?” She flicked the ash and said.
“Francis Sandler?” Now, Scarlett was curious.
“You know, it’s better not to touch a man like him. Francis just likes to play with women– he treats them like toys.”
Scarlett was lost in thought. She didn’t expect Claire Morris would know Francis– let alone have a crush on him.
“Are you going back in?” Eve threw the cigarette stub away and took out a box of Altoids.
“You go first. Leave me a cigarette, please, I have no interest in socializing with these people.”
With a reluctant look on her face, Eve handed a cigarette along with a lighter to Scarlett. Before leaving the washroom, she took out a napkin and wrote her phone number on it. She then kissed the paper and left a lip print on it.
“I’m happy we met today. Feel free to call me!”
Scarlett took the napkin and said, “Me too. See you around.”
Lighting another cigarette, Scarlett stood in front of the washroom mirror, wondering whether she should just leave already since there was nothing fun to do. People coming in and out of the washroom cast a strange glance at her. She was sick of those eyes, so she left the washroom and walked aimlessly until she reached a balcony. She leaned her head back against the railing, and her pretty face loomed in the smoke of the cigarette.
“What are you doing here?” A familiar, deep voice reached her. Scarlett was a bit frightened by the voice, and she immediately stubbed out the cigarette. As soon as she turned around, she saw Francis standing right on her back.
“Uncle Francis, you scared me!” Scarlett patted her chest and took a deep breath.
Francis looked at her clothes and felt pleased. Although he was in a good mood, he would not reveal his delight.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
Scarlett smirked. “Thanks! It’s because of you: you’re the one who bought me this dress. You have good taste, I guess.”
Francis was amused by her words, “Mhm, sure.”
Scarlett was wearing high heels but she was still a lot shorter than Francis. She stepped forward to take Francis’s arm and said with a mischievous smile, “My partner just left me ruthlessly, Uncle Francis. Can I borrow you for a while?”
Francis didn’t say a word. Scarlett just took his silence as assent and grabbed his arm. Francis suddenly took the initiative to hold her hands tight and took her to the center of the dance floor. The music gradually grew slower, and the lights dimmed.
Everything was just so right and so beautiful. Scarlett simply lowered her head and leaned on Francis’s shoulder. When she felt so cozy that she almost fell asleep, Francis said in his low voice, “You didn’t forget that you did something against my request, huh?”
Scarlett staggered. She looked up and giggled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about…”
“Do you think acting the fool still works?” Francis said with a light smile.
After all, Francis was her mentor and had been a good friend to Scarlett as well. She immediately restrained her smile and bowed down. She tried to admit her mistake sincerely, “Uncle Francis, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have messed the whole thing up…” Francis kept silent to let her continue her confession.
“I was wrong because I was too impulsive at that time to think about the consequences. I should have listened to you, and I shouldn’t ever interrupt and ruin your plan…It’s just…”
Scarlett knew that if it weren’t for Francis’s power, things would have gone quite differently with Skyler and his evil captors. She was really grateful, but she just didn’t know how to express it.
“You always do whatever you want, don’t you? You’re just driven by your own impulses. Your desires and furies rule you! You were fortunate to escape this time, but what about the next time? Is it because you don’t trust me, or do you simply enjoy taking on everything all alone? If you don’t believe me, then please prove to me that you can get things done perfectly!” Although Francis’s tone was light, his voice was solemn. Scarlett was taken aback by what he said. “I didn’t think that much at the time…”
“It’s a life at stake, and you say you didn’t think it through? Do you think you have superpowers, or do you often put the safety of Skyler above your own? Scarlett, have you ever thought about what your brother would do if you had an accident and only he survived? What will he do with his life?”
Though Francis’s voice sounded cold and extremely serious, he was still gripping her waist tightly. Even though the setting was romantic, Francis was able to act as if he were holding a meeting and scolding an irresponsible and impulsive employee for messing up some important project.
Scarlett looked up at him with her eyes glittering. “You are right; you’re right about everything! But what else could I have done at the time? I just don’t want my brother to suffer!”
“Trust me.” Francis wiped away the tears on her face and said, “What you can do is trust me. Because I won’t let any of you suffer any pain.”
He was so firm and resolute. The gates shielding Scarlett’s heart opened, and Francis’s words rushed into her heart like a warm current.
“Uncle Francis, forgive my thoughtlessness. I believe in you. I have always trusted you. But I was just trying to get my brother and me some justice.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.