Brianna tapped on his chest and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
“You do look like the girl, Coraline. Actually, you, Sol, and Coraline all look very similar but your eyes. Perhaps Chris Butler will fall in love with you because you look like her. If he wants to have you, what will you do?” Scott asked, looking at Brianna.
“Impossible. Just because I look like someone that he loves?!”
“What if?”
“Scott, I’m your wife.”
“What if we separate one day?”
“Then I don’t know.”
Scott looked upset and serious. He grabbed Brianna’s chin and said, “Brianna, you’d better behave yourself. If I find out that something is going on between you and him, you will be in trouble.”
Brianna was as frightened as upset. She had learned how cruelly Chris Butler would treat the fairy-like girl with the floral head wreath, and now she was again reminded how cruel and dominating Scott could be.
Why are they given the power to decide on others’ life? Is it just because they are billionaires?
She couldn’t help worrying about her own life. These men I’ve got involved with are dangerous.
“Why do you look scared? Are you guilty of something?” Scott put his arm around Brianna’s shoulder and asked with an unkind smile.
“Of course not.” Brianna denied it instantly while thinking if she should feel guilty for not telling Scott that Chris had found Sol. She knew that he had been longing for her return, yet she didn’t want to tell him yet. They will be able to spend the rest of their life together, but I can only be with him temporarily. I only want it to last a bit longer. Am I being greedy? Am I being selfish? She thought to herself.
Scott watched her closely. He pinched her pointed nose gently and said half-jokingly, “You’d better be telling the truth.”
“You know I don’t lie to you.” Brianna hugged him and buried her head in his arms, avoiding his gaze. “I will always be loyal to you as long as I’m with you. Even though you never tell me how you feel about me, it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
“You want me to say that I love you? Ha, perhaps in your dreams. However, I’ve told you that you have permission to love me and me only,” He said matter-of-factly. “Forever.” He added.
“Scott, don’t you think you are being too harsh to me? You can’t expect me to love someone who has no feelings for me forever. Scott, when she comes back, you have to let me go and leave me be.”
“I won’t. And what can you do about it?”
Brianna heaved a sigh and said nothing. She was speechless. There’s no point in arguing with him at all.
The following days were spent quietly and sweetly.
Brianna and Scott were back to their old routine, going to work together, coming home together, each busy with their own work now and then before bed, and going to dreams together.
Scott was as cold and distant as usual, very economical with words, but he seemed to be much more tolerant with Brianna and even considerate sometimes.
Chris still messaged Brianna occasionally, and she would reply briefly just to be polite. They never got into any deep conversations. At first, Brianna was worried that Chris would mention Sol again, but he never did, and gradually, Brianna stopped worrying. Perhaps he hasn’t found her. He was probably just testing me. Scott has been looking for her for so many years. It’s unlikely that Chris could have found her in such a short time.
Recalling how intimate she had been with Scott lately, she blushed bashfully with a smile. Though he had asked her to say that she loved him every day and he had not once responded to her, when she went to sleep in his arms every night, she felt content.
When she felt a bit tired while working in the day, she would go to him for a hug, and he allowed her. Sometimes, she felt it surreal to feel so sweet and content, being with the man she’d fallen in love with.
There was a grand charity auction on Friday night. After work, Scott had the driver take Brianna to The Look, the best hairdressers in town, to get her hair done. He had bought her an evening dress designed and tailored by a top Italian designer.
It was the first time Brianna had ever been to an event so big, and she couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.
The event was held at The Anderson Hotel. The car pulled over outside the gate. The driver opened the door for Scott first, then for Brianna. To Brianna’s surprise, Scott waited for her patiently, and they walked into the hotel arm in arm.
Most people had arrived when they got there. As soon they had spotted Scott arriving, everyone came to greet him courteously. Scott replied merely with a polite nod. He didn’t shake their hands or even utter a word.
After they were ushered to the front seats saved for VIP guests, people slowly quieted down, but before long, there came another commotion from the gate.
What is it about? Someone as important as Scott has arrived? Brianna thought and turned around to see Chris coming in. He was dressed in white, walking in with charm and confidence. Six bodyguards followed behind him, and accompanying him was a slender girl. The girl was wearing a mask that hid her face and was dressed comparatively casual.
Though Brianna couldn’t see her face, judging by her mannerism and figure, she thought she was a beauty.
The guests tonight were all successful and wealthy people, but Scott and Chris were the only two that stood out. Unlike Scott, Chris responded to the crowd’s greetings rather politely and warmly. His companion was following suit.
When the girl glanced at Scott, Scott happened to look in her direction. He felt as if she was someone familiar, but he couldn’t see her face and looked away coldly.
Chris seemed to have noticed and smiled a very subtle smile, which alerted Brianna. She looked at the girl again and felt a sense of uneasiness.
As the girl walked closer towards her, the uneasy feeling increased.