Chapter 20
The moment Harrison woke up, he was relleved because Scarlett was still alive in this world. She hadn’t been stabbed to death because of him.
But a second later, reality crashed down on him. Scarlett was alive, yes, but she had gone somewhere he could never find her. The pain in his chest was suffocating.
In the dream, at least the version of him there had truly had Scarlett for over 20 years. But in this reality, he had lost her completely.
The thought was unbearable. He clutched his head, struggling for air.
Seeing him like this, Ella panicked. She grabbed his arm. “What’s wrong, Harry? Are you
feeling sick? Do you need me to call the doctor?”
Harrison finally looked up at her with bloodshot eyes. He forced out a hoarse whisper from his throat, “Mom… I think… I really love Scarlett.”
The moment he said it, it felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest.
He finally admitted it. He finally faced his feelings for Scarlett.
Ella froze for a second at his words, then burst into tears. “I know. I’ve always known. A mother knows her child best. I could see that you always had a place for Scarlett in your heart since you were little.
“I just never understood why you wouldn’t admit it. But I knew you loved her. That’s why I kept pushing for this marriage. Do you really think I’d force my son to marry a woman he didn’t love just because of an old promise to a friend?
“But you’re such a fool. If you love her, why didn’t you admit it sooner? Why didn’t you treat her better? Why did you have to hurt her so badly, push her away until she gave up on you completely? Why did you only realize your feelings for her now?”
Harrison sat there, stunned.
Yeah. Why?
He had always prided himself on being sharp, always seeing through his business rivals‘ tricks. But when it came to his own feelings, he had been blind.
Maybe it was just stubbornness.
He had known Scarlett since they were kids. They practically grew up together.
Back then, he had treated her well. If boys bullied her, he would stand in front of her. If she wanted a certain candy, he’d run across several blocks just to buy it for her.
So, when did things change?
2/3
Oh, right. It was the year he started high school the year Livia died.
Ella, who had been close friends with Livia, suddenly announced that she wanted to arrange a marriage between their families. She wanted Scarlett to be her future daughter–in–law.
And back then, Harrison had been locked in a brutal argument with his parents over his college choice. They wanted him to study finance and take over the family business, but his real dream was sports.
In the end, he caved. He chose a major he didn’t care about. But that tiny spark of rebellion never went away. And when his parents forced a fancée on him, that rebellion exploded.
Why? Why did his parents have the right to interfere not only with his college major but also with whom he would marry?
Driven by rebellion, he treated Scarlett worse and worse, as if hurting her was his way of fighting back against them.
Then, in his last year of college, he met Hazel. She was the complete opposite of Scarlett. Scarlett was smart, while Hazel was naive. Scarlett was confident and graceful, while Hazel was timid and meek. Scarlett was a high–society heiress, while Hazel had nothing.
It was this stark contrast that made Harrison care about Hazel even more.
The better he treated Hazel, the more it felt like proof that Scarlett wasn’t his type–that his marriage to her had been nothing but his parents will, forced upon him.
He never realized he was trapping himself in a twisted mindset, making the worst choice of his life.
Only now did he see Hazel for who she really was. She was never the innocent young lady he thought she was.
But even if she had been, he still hadn’t truly loved her. His feelings for Hazel had been three parts pity, seven parts rebellion. Scarlett was the one he had always loved.
After all, he had already taken over most of the family business by now. He was already the one in charge. If he had truly never wanted to marry Scarlett, he could have just ignored his parents‘ demands.
But he had clung to the marriage, pretending it was out of obligation when, deep down, he had always wanted her as his wife.
Now that he had finally figured it all out, it was already too late.
Beside him, Ella wiped her tears and said through sobs, “It’s too late, Harry. Scarlett’s project will keep her away for ten, maybe even 20 years. You two were never meant to be.
“What’s done is done. Everyone gets their heart broken at some point. Just move on and find
Chapter 20
someone you truly love.”
Harrison’s entire body tensed. His head snapped up. “No! I’m not moving on!”
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