CHAPTER 22

Chapter 22

“You look stunning. You can wear this in the bedroom from now on.” Clayton handed Isabella a bag with a smile. “But remember, you can only wear this in the room. Time to slip into something else before we head downstairs for dinner.”

Isabella felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her and thought, ‘Damn, Clayton, you did this on purpose.

“Shall I give you privacy to change, or would you like to do it yourself?” Clayton noticed Isabella’s flushed cheeks, feeling a sense of accomplishment at her reaction. Seeing her hesitance, he gently approached her.

Clutching the bag tightly, Isabella dodged Clayton’s hand, her blush deepening. “I’ll manage on my own, thank you. You should go out.”

“Let’s head downstairs for dinner once you’ve changed,” Clayton chuckled.

“I’m not hungry!” Isabella protested, but her stomach betrayed her with a loud grumble before she could finish her sentence. Isabella blushed, feeling utterly embarrassed.

Clayton couldn’t contain his laughter. With a warm smile, he reached out, pulling her closer and planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You’ve got five minutes. I’ll come in five minutes later.” Then, he turned around and went out.

Isabella hastily emptied the contents of the bag and slipped the underwear on without thinking, surprised by how well it fit. The outfit Clayton had selected for her was a modest, light blue dress that didn’t reveal much. Once she was dressed, the door swung open.

Clayton was pleased as he sized her up, satisfied with the clothes he chose. Approaching her, he took her hand. “Let’s go eat.”

Noticing Isabella standing barefoot on the floor, Clayton frowned, scooping her up into his arms.

“Hey, put me down! I can walk,” Isabella protested.

Clayton pressed a kiss to Isabella’s cheek. “Be good. It’s chilly on the floor. Let me carry you.”

“Isabella dared not struggle, fearing she might fall. As Clayton descended the stairs, he called out, ““Zaylee, fetch a pair of slippers.”

Meanwhile, Lorelai, instructed the maid, Mina, to place a pair of slippers beside the bed and assisted Scarlett in getting out of bed.

Scarlett cast a timid glance at Lorelai. “Thank

k you, Mrs. V

Winslow.”

Lorelai’s expression remained impassive as Mina helped Scarlett to the restroom..

Megan smirked, observing Scarlett with disdain, “Who does she think she is? How dare she try to seduce Zach? She’s hardly fit to be a part of the Winslow family!”

Lorelai made no effort to stop Megan’s outburst, silently acknowledging that she shared similar sentiments.

As if on cue, Zachary entered the room, holding a fruit basket.

“Mom, where’s Scarlett?” he asked, looking at the empty bed.

Meanwhile, Scarlett stood at the restroom door, holding Mina’s hand. She called out softly, “Zachary,”

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Zachary turned, looking at Scarlett’s pale complexion with concern. Setting the fruit basket aside, he approached her. “Scarlett, are you feeling any better?” Seeing Scarlett nod weakly, Zachary helped her back to bed.

Megan sneered. “Hmph! Pretentious bitch.”

Zachary shot her a sharp glare. “Megan, mind your words.”

Megan rose from her chair. “Why should I mind my words? What happened between you two? Mom, are you really considering letting someone with such a questionable background join our family? She’s even worse than Isabella.”

She didn’t bother choosing her words.

Zachary’s frustration simmered. “Megan, what exactly is it that you want? You’ve harbored disdain for Isabella since childhood, and now

you’re unsatisfied with Scarlett!”

Megan’s retort was swift and cutting. “What do I want? Perhaps you should ask yourself that question! Let me make things clear to you. This woman is from Nusridge. She has no wealth or lineage to speak of. Her mother scrapes by on a meager allowance, and her brother is a deadbeat. Are you seriously considering marrying someone like her when you have Isabella, the heir to Sorenson Multimedia?”

Observing the dispute between Zachary and Megan, Lorelai remained silent.

“Zachary,” Scarlett’s voice trembled as she buried her face in the bed, weeping. “Please, stop arguing. Once I’m feeling better, I’ll leave and never return. You won’t have to worry about me or my child disrupting your life anymore.”

Scarlett’s sobbing struck a chord in Zachary’s heart, leaving him feeling utterly devastated.

Isabella and Scarlett had once been inseparable friends.

Isabella possessed a strong sense of independence, never relying on Zachary for assistance or causing him any trouble, defying the typical image of a pampered daughter from an affluent family.

In contrast, Scarlett often sought Zachary’s help for minor tasks. Whenever she gazed at him with admiration, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of fulfillment. Unlike Isabella, Scarlett seemed to embody the delicate demeanor of a young lady in need of careful nurturing. As time passed, Zachary found himself gradually drawn to Scarlett.

While his love for Isabella may have been ingrained since childhood, the certainty of her presence in his life perhaps lessened his desire for her. Yet, there was an undeniable, instinctive pull toward Scarlett that he couldn’t ignore.

“Scarlett, please don’t say that. The child is mine, and I will take full responsibility for both of you.” Gently, he reached out to wipe away

Scarlett’s tears with a tissue.

The mention of that overwhelmed Zachary with guilt. Seeing Scarlett in such pain stirred within him a profound sense of protectiveness. He

couldn’t help but feel responsible for her current state.

Lorelai’s expression softened as she thought, ‘The child is our top priority. He or she is the Winslow family’s offspring. No matter the circumstances, we must have her bring the child into the world.”

“All right, stop crying. Zachary, have you finished your work at the company? Don’t tell me you sneaked out. Your father wouldn’t be pleased if he found out. Leave Scarlett to me, Megan, and the maid. We’ll handle it, so you go about your business,” Lorelai addressed Zachary with a tone of seriousness.

“Understood, Mom,” Zachary replied without turning back.

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Megan scoffed. “You’ve got quite the talent for deception. No wonder Isabella was fooled by you.”

“Shut your mouth, Megani That’s enough” Zachary snapped, glaring at her.

Megan pursed her lips. “Enough? You’re the one who’s blind, Zach. Isabella doesn’t stand a chance against her when it comes to pretending”

Scarlett said through sobs, “Megan, Isabella and I are best friends. It’s my fault. I’ve let her down. Once I’m better, I’ll apologize to her and ask for forgivenes. I… I never intended to compete with her, I love Zachary sincerely, but I didn’t mean for things to end up this way.” Scarlett wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her sobs echoing in the room.

Lorelai couldn’t stand watching this any longer. “That’s enough, both of you. Megan, stop talking. And you, stop crying. Being so emotional isn’t good for the baby,” she ordered.

Scarlett looked at Lorelai with to

eyes. Suddenly, she lifted the quilt, stepped onto the floor barefoot, and knelt before Lorelai.

“Mrs. Winslow, please, I beg you to sign the papers and allow me to have an abortion. My mother isn’t here, and I’m too ashamed to tell her. Please, do me this favor and let me terminate this pregnancy. This child shouldn’t exist. I don’t want him to face humiliation and disdain. Let me take responsibility for this mistake,” Scarlett pleaded, her voice choked with emotion as tears streamed down her face. She collapsed weakly on the ground.

Zachary, stunned, quickly pulled her up. “Scarlett, what are you doing? Get up!”

Lorelai was similarly taken aback by Scarlett’s actions, quickly helping Zachary support her. “What are you doing? It’s freezing on the ground.

You could hurt the baby!”

Scarlett struggled, refusing to rise, sobbing profusely. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I know I don’t have a family background like Isabella. I’m not worthy of marrying Zachary. It’s my fault. I couldn’t control my emotions. I shouldn’t have fallen in love with Zachary. This child is unwanted. He shouldn’t have come into this world.”

She cried so hard that her body went limp in his arms. Zachary’s heart ached at the sight of her distress. Without a word, Zachary lifted Scarlett from the ground and placed her back onto the bed.

Scarlett gazed at Zachary with tear–filled eyes. “Zachary, I’m sorry. Just go, please. We’re not meant to be. I don’t want this child anymore. He’ll only bring you trouble. It’s all my fault.”

Zachary enveloped Scarlett in a tight embrace. “Scarlett, please, stop crying. None of this is your fault. I love you, too. I promise to marry you and take responsibility for both of you. Trust me.”

Watching Zachary succumb to Scarlett’s tears, Lorelai couldn’t help but feel irritated. However, she couldn’t ignore the fact that Scarlett was carrying the child of the Winslow family; she couldn’t allow her to undergo an abortion. Glaring at Megan, Lorelai silently warned her to keep

her mouth shut.

Then she pulled Zachary away from Scarlett. “All right, Zachary, let her go for now. Let’s discuss this calmly. And you,” she addressed Scarlett firmly, “stop crying”

Zachary released Scarlett and made up his mind. “Mom, I have to marry Scarlett. Please, agree to it for the sake of our child.”

Lorelai’s anger flared, and she pinched Zachary’s arm. “What nonsense are you talking about? What about Isabella? If you refuse to marry her, your father will be furious.”

Zachary winced at the pain and muttered sheepishly, “But isn’t isabella also planning to call off the engagement?”

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Lorelai gritted her teeth in frustration. “You messed up big time. Of course, Isabella will want to end the engagement! But she doesn’t have a say in that. Nathan has agreed to let the two of you get married as soon as possible.”

“What about Scarlett, then?” Zachary’s voice lowered.

Scarlett wept silently, “Zachary, please listen to Mrs. Winslow. You’re the heir of the Winslow family and you have obligations. You must marry Isabella. As for me and the child, you don’t have to think of us. We’re already in the wrong, and we must put a stop to this. I won’t allow our mistakes to affect the next generation.”

Scarlett placed her hand on her flat belly. “It seems we’re not destined to be with this child, Zachary. Don’t worry, Neither the child nor I will stand in the way of your future.” Tears streamed down Scarlett’s cheeks, leaving damp marks on the quilt beneath her.

Watching Scarlett struggle to contain her emotions, Zachary felt a pang of distress. He alone knew that Scarlett had never asked for anything material from him. She wasn’t a gold digger like what Lorelai and Megan assumed she was.

“Don’t say such things. This is our child, Scarlett. For now, just focus on you and the child’s well–being. Trust me. I’ll ensure your happiness,” Zachary declared earnestly, holding Scarlett’s cold hand tightly.

Scarlett gazed at Zachary with affection, her lips trembling as she choked out, “Zachary, you don’t have to be so kind to your kindness.”

However, Scarlett’s words only fueled Zachary’s determination.

o me. I–I don’t deserve

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