Chapter 124: Independent (4)
Scarlet wasn’t surprised by Beth’s outburst like Alana and the people around who were eavesdropping. This was the Beth that she always saw. Not the one some people liked to place as innocent in this messy situation.
Scarlet could see now how Beth was able to get Jack. It must be tiring having to be the opposite of someone else. She wondered if Beth panicked whenever they did something similar.
It was funny to hear Beth say that she was not copying her but from the time Scarlet first saw Beth and now, Beth’s style had drastically changed. While Scarlet brought trendy clothes, she didn’t wear them like everyone else. It couldn’t be a coincidence that Beth had the same style.
Was it truly that Jack wanted a woman who was opposite Scarlet or did he want a woman with her look, but would follow his every word?
"I will not do this with you right now. I get nothing out of arguing with a pregnant woman," Scarlet said, ending the conversation here.
"Oh, please. I know that you seek to upset me now that I am pregnant. You would love for me to lose the child. You were married for how long and failed to have a child? You cannot go on thinking that I-"
"I do not think of you," Scarlet corrected Beth’s wrong assumption.
The only reason Beth might come to her mind was because of some kind of gossip that she couldn’t get away from. Scarlet thought that she made clear from the beginning that she didn’t care about what Beth did or said.
Beth could have Jack. She had him now so why was Scarlet being bothered?
Beth thought it was impossible. Jack was getting remarried and was starting a family. Of course, Scarlet would think of him and Beth. For how much longer would Scarlet put on this act of being unbothered?
It had to be eating Scarlet up inside. It was why Scarlet was in such a rush the day Beth had made her pregnancy known.
"No one believes you when you say things like that. I know that you hate me for taking your husband. You fail to see how your actions caused your marriage to end. All he wanted was a child and you failed to give him that. You didn’t want to give him that,’ Beth said.
Beth couldn’t believe that Scarlet wouldn’t make an effort to keep a man like Jack around. When he cared for you, he spoiled and protected you. Jack wouldn’t have cheated if Scarlet had appreciated what was before her and been a better wife. Beth was not going to give Jack any reason to cheat.
"Does he love you or the fact that you will make him a father?" Scarlet asked.
While Scarlet wasn’t fond of Beth, she was offering Beth the opportunity to wake up. Scarlet was able to easily walk away from Jack when it was evident that he didn’t love her anymore. It would be harder for Beth if it ever came to that point since there would be a child involved.
Beth seemed to be missing a lot from the story of Scarlet’s messy divorce with Jack. Scarlet and Jack did argue during that time but it was mostly because of Jack wanting her to take him back. If Scarlet was a fool to say yes then what would have come of Beth and her child?
In all of this, Scarlet only felt sorry for the child. Beth loved Jack’s status and Jack loved the chance to be a father.
’I could be wrong,’ Scarlet acknowledged. The pair could be in love. Jack and Beth could have been suited for each other.
"What is the difference?" Beth questioned, finding Scarlet to be a fool. Of course, Jack loved her and then he would love to become a father.
"Nothing. I would like to get back to a quiet day of shopping. You were the one to disturb me. Not the other way around. You should go before you further embarrass yourself," Scarlet advised Beth.
"Embarrass-" Beth stopped, only now realising how much attention they had.
More women were present than she could remember and many of them were either whispering or laughing as they looked her way. Not at Scarlet. They were looking directly at her.
Beth knew they were all misunderstanding because Scarlet continued to pretend to be unbothered when that was not the case.
Since when were the tides changing for others to make sport of her and not Scarlet? Scarlet was to be having fingers pointed at her. Why wasn’t the town continuing to do it?
"I am feeling embarrassed on your behalf and I do not like it,’ said Alana.
Beth spoke so confidently as she said stupid things. For how much longer did Beth think people wouldn’t get tired of her antics or laugh at her? Alana would bet that most of the people warming up to Beth were those who failed to get close to Scarlet so they kept Beth around thinking they could upset Scarlet.
Beth bit her lip as she knew it would be foolish to argue with the princess. When she visited the palace, she would have a better talk with the princess or better yet, the king to get him to see that she was a more suited friend for the princess than Scarlet.
Beth had more she wanted to say but she had already done too much by approaching Scarlet. Jack had told her not to go to Scarlet anymore but she couldn’t help it. Why should Scarlet get to show off that she could afford everything?
"Gather my things," Beth told the workers. It pained her to walk away but she had to. She could only hope that what happened today wouldn’t reach Jack’s ears. This was not the woman she portrayed herself to be to Jack.
Alana shook her head, knowing Beth was going to be more trouble in the future. "I still think that she has some sort of feelings for you. Why else must she come around you when there is no reason for you two to speak?"
"Please don’t start with that. One annoying person with feelings for me is enough. Go ahead and pick out the dresses you like before someone else takes a liking to them," Scarlet said, shooing Alana away.
"She cannot compete with Ian," said Alana.
"And stop rooting for him," Scarlet replied. Why was everyone quickly becoming fans of Ian? Was it because it was only her to put up with his annoying touchy side?
Before Alana stood up, she whispered, "Are you thinking of him now? You should go see him. I do not mind returning home alone. I have much to study."
"Dawson, get the princess to stop talking," Scarlet said jokingly.
Alana panicked as Dawson neared her. Would he carry out the order toward a royal? "I am silent now," she said before he could touch her.
"You just spoke," Dawson said, willing to wait for when she spoke again to silence her.
Alana folded her lips to avoid making the mistake of speaking again.
Away from the trio, Beth still looked their way. She didn’t enjoy how happy Scarlet looked and it all had to do with Ian. When was her friend going to approach him to steal Scarlet’s happiness?
