Chapter 7: An Imposed Apology to Celeste
1463 Words
A slight twitch tugged at the corners of Scarlett’s mouth. "Dad...it's me," she faintly murmured.
Upon Scarlett's voice reaching his ears, anger sprang into Ronald's eyes. "You ungrateful child! Can you fathom the absurdity of your antics at today's wedding? You've made not only your sister a laughable figure but have also brought disgrace upon the Harrison family. Now the Harrisons are seething, demanding an explanation from us, the Mitchells. You triggered this imbroglio; hence, it's you who ought to clean up the mess with the Harrisons. Your mother and I absolutely refuse to mediate in this matter!"
A soft furrow appeared in Scarlett's brows, “Dad, it’s wrong for Celeste to step into my shoes and marry Maximus, why aren’t you chastising her?”
Ronald fired back, “Celeste has already clarified the issue to me. It’s a misunderstanding on Maximus's part, it has nothing to do with her. Also, if you’d been forthright with us stating Maximus is the father of your unborn child, wouldn’t we have avoided such a mess?
In a nutshell, the issue lies with you. Hence, it’s incumbent upon you to resolve. Subsequently, you must offer a sincere apology to your sister. She’s endowed with a kind soul and will surely absolve you.”
Scarlett idled, tongue-tied. Was she expected to apologise to Celeste?Preposterous!She'd much rather throttle her!Nevertheless, her parents had been thoroughly indoctrinated by Celeste, and unmasking Celeste’s true colours could not be an overnight venture.
She caressed her belly gently, "Dad, I assure you a flawless resolution."It was a revelation that Maximus was the father of her child when she was on her deathbed in her previous life, hence explaining it to her father presently was out of bounds.But she vowed, when the time comes, she’d leave no stone unturned to shatter Celeste's deceitful facade!
Thinking his words had found their mark, Ronald Mitchell softened his tone. "Today is the dawn of your marriage, and I'm not looking for an argument.
From hereon, live harmoniously with Maximus. Put away your ways of impulsivity. Refrain from the casual acquaintances and remember, you now bear the mantle of a wife. Do we understand each other?"His words tugged her emotions, and Scarlett fought the wetness in her eyes. "Dad, I understand."Ronald Mitchell: "Good. I'll hang up now."As the line went dead, Scarlett took a melancholic breath, the sharp sting in her eyes stubbornly lingering.
Though Patricia had become cold towards her after Celeste brainwashed her, Scarlett could discern the veiled worry her father still harboured.When her parents, in her past life, plunged to their demise, all their legacy fell into her lap, with Celeste receiving nothing more than an empty shell of a company.
Could it have been their latent cognizance of Celeste's dangerous ambitions? Or perhaps, their leap wasn't quite as straightforward as it seemed...Scarlett's eyes dimmed, an icy determination flickering within them.
A surge of vengeance pulsed through her. Regardless of how, she had changed her path from her past life, and she would do everything to keep her parents safe from past mistakes.…………
Upon his return to the time-tested Harrison Mansion, Maximus was immediately ushered into the study by a stern Moira."What an upheaval you've created - how could you just carelessly wed such a woman of suspicious character?" Embellished in the same blue cheongsam she was sporting at the wedding, fifty-year-old Moira belied her age.
Her slender silhouette and immaculate alabaster complexion stood a match to even doe-eyed damsels half her age.At present, she was brandishing a freshly-acquired dossier, which she thrust towards Maximus in a fit of wrath.Picking up the report, Maximus swiftly skimmed through—the contents were a chain of unsavory scandals linked to his new bride. Illiteracy, brawling, mingling with societal menaces, and frequenting the city's raucous nightlife.
Having browsed through, Maximus lightly tossed the file back onto the table, responding coolly, "Mother, these allegations are unsubstantiated, bearing no concrete proof. They very well might be a fabrication.""Tsk! There's no smoke without fire! We need to ascertain what she might be capable of. Let me be clear, the child she carries demands a paternity test.
Dare she hoodwink our family, I'll see her subjected to retribution!"His mother's stern command knitted Maximus' brows. Responding in a grave tone, he acquiesced, "Understood, I'll attend to this matter."
Moira contemplated for a moment, before adding, "Moreover, given this woman's cache of skeletons in her closet, the child in her womb, although a Harrison, won't absolve us of her. Once the child is born, seize an opportunity to annul the marriage. As a consolation, offer her a generous severance for the childbirth."Maximus wordlessly turned on his heel and left.Unruffled, Moira called out, "Hold it, young man! Did you hear what your mother advised?!"
“My lad?!”“My lad?!!”But Maximus' retreating silhouette had already dissolved into the frames of the study door.Moira sputtered, "The audacious child!"………
Elsewhere,Awakened from slumber, Scarlett was greeted by tiny rumbles from her belly.A warm, tender smile danced at the corner of her eyes. She could sense her little bean was hungry, craving nourishment from its mother.Crossroads of her tormented past life haunted her, where she was starved and trapped in a dingy basement by Celeste.
To satiate the gnawing hunger and save her unborn, festering rodent carcasses didn't escape her desperate clutches, quenching her thirst with water from the gutter.Fuelled by a ferocious will to survive, she gave birth to her little one, only for it to be snatched away by the fiendish Celeste immediately...A wrenching twinge clenched at Scarlett tugged at her heart strings, she balled her fists, burying the raw wounds from the past with gritted teeth.
In this lifetime, she held a solemn vow to herself - to provide tender love and care for her unborn, to nurture this treasured life until it grew into healthy vitality, and to bring it safely into this swirling world.
She turned to Maisie and Poppy, "Is our meal prepared?"The corners of Poppy's lips curled into a warm smile, "Yes, madam, your dinner is being taken cared of by our kitchen staff."With a approving nod, Scarlett slipped her feet from the warm nest of blankets onto the plush carpet.
Gently poised at her bedside were a pair of cotton slippers, dyed in a heartening shade of roseate.Adorned with an adoring bunny facade, complete with comically large floppy ears and a tufted tail, they exuded irresistible charm, precisely the kind which would send shivers of delight down the spine of innocent adolescence.
Floodgates of a hidden girlish whimsy, long subdued, burst forth in a rampant gush.Her captivating shimmering eyes sparkled with renewed vivacity.Recognizing the marked delight in Scarlett's demeanor, Maisie promptly chimed, "These were tailored for you, courtesy of the young master. This includes your dining, living conditions and an vast assortment of prenatal nourishment - a meticulously curated list that was handed to the butler for procurement."
"Oh."Scarlett sounded in nonchalant acquiescence, comfortably sliding her milky foot into the depths of the plush slipper.
A sigh of satisfaction escaped her, the snug fit offered a delightful sense of comfort.
A sense of satisfaction washed over her as the resentment towards Maximus dimmed, if only slightly.Shortly after, escorted by Maisie and Poppy, Scarlett progressed majestically into the grandiose setting of the first floor dining hall.
As her purposeful strides echoed throughout the opulent space, she was met with a flurry of hushed whispers and a barrage of curious gazes fastening onto her poised figure.
In the awakening hours from her tranquil slumber, the maiden’s complexion radiated with a lustrous glow, mirroring the smooth translucence of pristine jade, blush notes of peach adding a healthy flush. It appeared as though ripe peach blossoms were burgeoning upon her visage, lending her an aura redolent with a sweet, fragrant charm.The young lady's beauty was indeed a spectacle to behold - highly commendable.
An undeniable number of staff were invariably drawn to steal covetous glances her way, a silent confessional resonating in their hearts.However enchanting her allure, it proved paradoxical to the scandalous reality of her lascivious nights, placing the unjust infidelity upon the young master's head.
Such was the pitiful plight of the unsuspecting young master - a man of unrivaled power and nobility, reduced to enduring the ignominy for the child his wife carried in her womb.
Despite the glaring jade hue that now crowned his reputation, he found himself with no other choice but to persist, while indulging this irresistible enchantress.If the young master doesn't command sympathy, who else could?Poppy’s voice sliced through the silent monologue, "Enough with the gawking, get the mistress' meal served immediately!"A retort, peppery with resentment, muscled through the orderly routine like an uninvited guest, “But is she even worthy of being our mistress?"
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