He seemed to suddenly sober up, and gently he released Sol from his embrace and said softly, “You must be tired from the auction.”
Sol was disappointed, but she did not show her feelings. With a smile, she nodded, “A little bit. It felt so long, the auction.”
Scott picked her up, carried her in his arms, and went to the car. He could see Brianna in the distance, running away. Before he got into the car, Scott said to Jeff, “Follow her.”
Jeff was rather confused as everyone could tell that the girl in Scott’s arms was the one that he truly cared about, not the one he married. Jeff wasn’t sure what he should do. Though he was hired as Brianna’s bodyguard, he worked for Scott after all.
Now that his boss had made it clear, Jeff answered, “Yes, Mr. Anderson.”
Sophia Moore was totally ignored and forgotten. She stood there and watched quietly. She hated Brianna as she thought she could have been with Scott if it wasn’t for her, but now that Sol had returned, she felt utterly hopeless.
In the car, Sol sat quietly in Scott’s arms and looked at him affectionately and sadly. Scott felt hurt seeing her sad eyes. He stroked her face gently and asked, “What is it? You look upset.”
Sol heaved a sigh. “I shouldn’t have come back, should I?”
Scott knitted his brows and hugged her tighter. “Don’t be silly. You can’t leave me again. No one can get in our way anymore, I promise you.”
“But, but, you are married.” Sol muttered, “I’m too late.”
“Sol, I’m always yours. You are not late, never late. I’m just happy that you’ve finally come back.” He looked at her closer and went on, “You look pale. It must have been hard for you these years.”
“It wasn’t too bad. I’ve grown. You know, I can live on my own. I can be independent now.”
On hearing so, Scott felt even guiltier. He took her hands and noticed that they had grown rougher. He wondered what she had been through in the past years. He was teary. “Sol, you can’t leave me again. You hear me?”
“I never wanted to...Scott.” Sol rested her head on his chest. “But I would hate to see you argue with your grandpa because of me. Every time I thought about how he treated you, how hard it was for you and those sleepless nights you have been through...I, I can’t bear it.”
“It will not repeat. He can’t control me anymore.”
“What if he still dislikes me?”
“Then I will not see them.”
“But...” she looked at him with teary eyes.
“You are the most important to me, Sol. Don’t, please, don’t ever leave me again.” Scott pleaded.
Sol nodded and smiled. She felt reassured that she was still the one to him, just like three years ago, despite the fact that he had married Brianna and spent a few months with her. I’m still the most important one. I will win his heart back and everything else.
“Scott,” After a while, Sol spoke uncertainty.
“Yes?”
“I still feel that I shouldn’t have come back. You are married. I don’t want to make it difficult for you.”
“I married her only because she looks like you. She is just a replacement.”
“Do you love her?”
Scott shook his head.
Sol was very pleased, but she asked pitifully, “Will you divorce her and marry me now that I’m back?”
Scott went quiet.
He didn’t think he had to think about it at all. He knew from the very beginning that Brianna was just a possession to him, and as soon as Sol returned, he would kick her out. However, now that Sol was back, he didn’t know anymore. The scene of Brianna running away came to his mind.
Should I? Can I? He asked himself. Can I ask her to leave? To his own surprise, he recalled the night when Brianna risked her life to save him at Turn On Bar.
He didn’t have an answer to Sol’s question, and the feeling of uncertainty bothered him. He gestured for the driver to give Jeff a call to find out what Brianna was up to.
“She’s drinking a lot at a bar,” Jeff answered. Scott felt more irritated.
Sol sensed that Scott wasn’t in a good mood. She said tentatively, “Scott, perhaps, I should leave...”
“No! Sol, please don’t talk about leaving anymore.”
“Ok. I won’t.”
When they almost arrived at Home for Sol, Scott suddenly said to the driver, “Go to The Place.”
Sol’s heart sank, but calmly she asked, “Scott, why don’t we go back to Home for Sol? Didn’t you say that’s the place for you and me?”
Scott couldn’t look her into her eyes. “She’s lived there before. It’s not just for you and me now, but Sol, I will make The Place even better than Home for Sol, and it will be the place for us.”
“Ok.” Sol nodded.
The Place was a villa with a beautiful garden. It was more spacious and beautifully designed than Home for Sol, but it had hardly been inhabited, so it felt less homely.
Scott gave Alex a call and asked him to start refurbishing The Place tomorrow and make it the best villa in town. Then he arranged a few maids, chefs, and bodyguards to serve Sol.
After a shower, Sol sat on the bed with a book, trying to read while waiting anxiously. A few minutes later, Scott came in. “It’s late. You must be tired now. Have a good rest.” He stood by the door and said gently.
Sol nodded, then asked, “Scott, are you sleeping next door?”
“I... I will go back to Home for Sol.” He didn’t want to upset her, but he couldn’t lie to her either.
“Are you going back to her?” Sol asked anxiously.
“No. I just need to sort out everything with her, then I will come and live with you. Whenever you miss me, you can come to the company.”
There were tears in Sol’s eyes. “Scott...you are the only one...you know what my foster parents and siblings are like, how they treat me...I only have you...”