Chapter 4

Scarlett POV

The next day, Mrs. Sterling sent someone to the house with the divorce papers.

I carefully read through all the clauses, found nothing unfavorable to me, and signed my name without hesitation.

"Then I won't disturb your rest."

The butler took the agreement, placed it in a file folder, and turned to leave the mansion.

He had just reached the door when he met Julian, who was driving back.

Whenever someone from the family came over, it was rarely for a good reason.

Julian saw the butler, and his face immediately darkened.

"Is my mother bothering Scarlett again?" His tone was clearly displeased. "Go back and tell her that as long as I'm here, anyone who dares to secretly cause trouble for Scarlett is going against me."

In the past, every time I was targeted or bullied, he would stand in front of me like that.

And back then, I truly loved him, couldn't bear to leave.

So no matter what cold treatment or injustice I received, I chose to endure it.

But this time, it was different.

The butler stood there, looking somewhat awkward.

I calmly intervened for him. "No one's bothering me. He just came to drop something off."

Julian frowned, looking at me. "Drop something off?"

I nodded, gesturing to the butler. "You can go back."

"Alright."

After the butler's car left, Julian looked back at me, still with a hint of suspicion. "What did he give you?"

I managed a slight smile. "Nothing important."

If he had returned five minutes earlier, he would have known what that "something" was.

Unfortunately, he came back too late.

I didn't want him to press further, so I changed the subject. "Didn't you go out to relax with Briar? When did you get back?"

His attention was indeed diverted.

He looked at me, testing the waters. "Still angry?"

I didn't answer.

His tone softened. "These past few days, you've been alone at the hospital taking care of your mother. It must have been hard. I apologize, okay?"

Apologize?

He suddenly took my hand. "I heard a new restaurant opened. I've already made reservations. Let's go grab something to eat."

Without waiting for my response, he pulled me out the door.

Only when the car stopped did I realize that Briar was already waiting in the restaurant.

She sat at the table, saw us, and smiled, raising her hand to wave. "Mr. Sterling, Ms. Scarlett, over here."

My steps faltered, and I instinctively looked at the man beside me.

Julian then explained. "This restaurant's food is supposedly good for post-operative recovery, so I brought Briar to try it out first. If it's suitable, after her donation, we can arrange meals here for her and your mother."

After the surgery.

How ironic.

But my mother had already been cremated and buried.

And he, to this day, was completely oblivious, still bringing Briar here to sample so-called "nourishing meals."

I only felt a bitter irony.

But I said nothing, letting him lead me to the table.

He ordered a whole spread of dishes.

He picked up a piece of pan-fried fish and placed it in her bowl. "I checked; this fish is high in protein and low in fat, easy on the body. Eat more."

Briar's face flushed slightly, and she obediently replied, "Okay."

Julian smiled, then served a bowl of soup and pushed it in front of her. "This soup is good for recovery. Try it and see how it tastes."

She took a sip, her eyes lighting up. "It's really delicious."

"You're too thin. Eat more."

A smile on his lips, he kept serving her food.

Almost every dish on the table was for body recovery.

I sat there quietly, watching the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at Briar.

That kind of gaze once belonged only to me.

Including his current focus, patience, and thoughtfulness-they were once exclusively mine.

But now, he gave all of it to another woman.

Briar seemed afraid I would misunderstand, and explained softly, "Ms. Scarlett, please don't overthink it. Mr. Sterling is only being kind to me to ensure I'm in the best possible condition to donate my kidney to your mother."

I lowered my gaze, a cold, indifferent curve on my lips.