Chapter 4

"Miss Henson, you're going too far!"

Scott stepped forward with a show of anger, scolding in his words while his face stayed perfectly smooth.

"This is my family business. You don't need to concern yourself with it. Otherwise, I'd sooner walk away from my investment in Henson Industries."

"Are you sure about that?"

Samantha arched an eyebrow.

"My family isn't short on investment. What we're short on is a partner who'll stand with us through thick and thin."

"And you should understand, there's a whole line of people out there waiting to invest. We don't need you specifically."

Scott shook his head firmly. The words were for Samantha, but his eyes were fixed on me, full of tenderness.

"Kay and I have been through ten years together, side by side. Nothing external can tear that apart."

"I hope Miss Henson will give my terms some more thought. We'll be taking our leave."

With that, he reached out his hand to me, and out of habit I slipped mine into it.

Scott led me toward the door while Myra stood there with her mouth hanging open.

"I'm not dreaming, am I?"

I felt like I was dreaming too.

Could it be that what I'd seen on that secret account, and what I'd just heard him say out loud, were nothing but a mirage, a fantasy?

"Scott, I'm giving you three days."

"Miss Finch, if you truly care about Mr. Gilbert, you shouldn't let yourself become a burden to him."

Samantha's haughty voice echoed in my ears.

Standing in front of Scott's black car, though, I hesitated.

"You don't doubt me, do you?"

Scott smiled and pulled me into his arms.

"When I bid on that Sky-Blue Heart, I really did believe it was the only one of its kind in the world."

"Don't you want to see for yourself where it is?"

As if some spell had come over me, I nodded, and Myra, who had followed us out, grew frantic.

"Kay Finch, you can't be this foolish, can you?"

"Ten years. In all that time have you never learned to see through his sweet talk?"

Scott drew a deep breath, turned to Myra, and spoke with a grave expression.

"Myra, I honestly can't figure out where I ever wronged you."

"Ten years ago, when Kay and I got married, everyone approved. You were the only one against it."

"I hope you can recognize your place. You're Kay's friend, but don't go making decisions for her."

Scott finished, opened the rear door, and waited beside it.

I shot Myra a look and got into the car.

On the way home, Scott drove and kept up a conversation with me.

"I know Myra's a good friend of yours. What I said back there might have been a little harsh, but she really did cross a line."

"Look at all those big shots out there. Which one of them isn't juggling women on both sides?"

"But ask yourself honestly, all these years, have I ever gone after another woman?"

In the rearview mirror I watched the faint smile tug at the corner of his mouth, and my heart only turned colder.

I'd seen those things with my own eyes, and he could still talk as if nothing had happened.

Scott wasn't the man he used to be.

Back home, he had me sit and wait in the living room.

"Give me a minute. I've got a surprise for you."

I took out my phone. Myra had sent me a message a few minutes earlier.

【Kay, whatever you do, don't believe him.】

【I just asked a friend. He and Samantha have declared it in public more than once……】

A video was attached below. Before I could open it, Scott came out of the bedroom.

He was holding an exquisite brocade box in both hands, and he knelt on one knee in front of me.

"The Sky-Blue Heart. I wanted to save it for our tenth wedding anniversary."

I took the box and opened it. The crystal-clear necklace lay quietly inside.

"Scott, if you want a divorce, I can agree to it."

He was stunned in an instant.

"Kay, what are you saying?!"