Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 156: This is for the best

The bar was dimly lit and cozy, with Scarlett and Jessica tucked away in a corner on a plush sofa.

In front of them were two cocktails, enticing in color.

“Scarlett, I’m ready for you to punch me,” Jessica said with a playful grin. “I admit, it was my idea to send my sister to your date spot.”

Scarlett didn’t respond, just gently swirled her cocktail, the ice clinking against the glass as if she was lost in some pleasant memory.

“Hey, you not talking is kind of freaking me out,” Jessica leaned in closer, trying to prompt a reaction. “Like, you could ask me why I did it.”

Scarlett looked up, her expression casual. “Because your sister likes him.”

“Huh?” Jessica leaned back, surprised. “Was it that obvious?”

“She’s definitely never been in love,” Scarlett rolled her eyes, then downed half her cocktail in one go, looking at the glass with a resigned yet subtly happy expression. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Jessica noticed something off in her words and frowned. “You’re planning to break up with him.”

“Yeah.” Scarlett lifted her glass, the enticing liquid nearing her lips.

As she swallowed, the sharp initial bite followed by the sweet aftertaste mingled in her mouth.

After finishing her drink, a slight flush colored her cheeks.

Her eyes were hazy, fixed on the glass but seemingly looking at something far beyond reach.

“I agreed to date him because it was his last wish. Now he’s healthier than before and there are other girls who like him.”

“That’s a lie,” Jessica interrupted ruthlessly. “You clearly like him. Even though I’m on my sister’s side, this feels like a hollow victory.”

“It’s precisely because I like him,” Scarlett’s eyes held an indescribable loneliness.

“But I know that if I let this feeling take over, it’ll lead down a path with no return.”

“If it were just about us being together, I’d elope or do anything… but,”

Scarlett’s lips curled into a bitter smile, her voice tinged with helplessness. “Over this time, I’ve realized something. He’s exceptional, even more than I imagined.”

“He has a future, dreams… I can’t let my feelings block those.”

“Seeing him healthy, making money, I’m happier than anyone else. I want to run to him, hold him close.”

“But we’re 12 years apart. The more I love him, the more I realize, being with me would just hold him back.”

Scarlett’s demeanor showed a mix of resignation and determination. “I want to be the mature adult this time.”

Jessica watched her friend, ultimately saying nothing.

“Let’s go.” Scarlett stood up and said goodbye.

Jessica watched her leave, surrounded by the bustling crowd and lively music, feeling like she was in another world.

The night deepened.

The city’s night sky was like a thick black velvet cloth, sparsely dotted with stars, serene and profound.

Back home, Scarlett opened her prepared suitcase, organizing everything methodically.

While checking her belongings, her fingers gently touched a group photo from their school days.

In the photo, she stood behind Blair and Ethan with a gentle smile.

Blair looked cool, and Ethan seemed to be glancing at her.

“Hmm,” Scarlett smiled, her fingers tenderly tracing over the picture.

Time had unknowingly passed by so much.

Scarlett wasn’t worried about them,from what she’d observed of Ethan these past days, even without her, the kids would be just fine.

She pulled out a letter she had prepared.

Scarlett had applied to transfer to a remote school for three years, believing that three years would be enough for Ethan to gradually forget his feelings for her.

When she returned, she planned to live with them as an elder.

Scarlett was just looking around the room when suddenly, the sound of the door opening startled her.

“Huh?” Scarlett was taken aback,Blair was supposed to be at the hospital with Ethan.

As the door burst open, a cold wind mixed with the darkness of the night swept into the room.

Scarlett turned in shock to see Ethan standing at the doorway, his face dark and his gaze icy.

Before Scarlett could react, Ethan had quickly stepped forward and pinned her down on the bed.

“Ethan, what are you doing?!” Blair was truly panicked, this turn of events was completely unexpected, and her body instinctively stiffened before she tried to struggle.

But Ethan’s strength was surprisingly overpowering.

She couldn’t move.

Scarlett could only lie on the bed, subdued by Ethan.

Her eyes widened, flickering with panic and tension.

Like a child caught misbehaving by a parent.

The next second, she felt her clothes being tugged at.

“Wait… wait!” Scarlett looked at her nephew, “Don’t, not yet.”

The next second, her mouth was covered by Ethan’s.

Ethan held his aunt, and in that moment, he suddenly realized how petite she was in his memories, how easily he could embrace her.

In no time at all, their bodies were pressed together.

“…” Scarlett’s face turned red, and after struggling, she gradually gave up resisting.

She turned her head away, unable to meet Ethan’s eyes.

“Aunt, I’m here.” Ethan was a bit angry,if it weren’t for Jessica’s message, he couldn’t imagine what might have happened.

Scarlett closed her eyes, her wrist covering them.

The room was filled only with heavy breathing.

Ethan felt the difference in his enhanced body, allowing him to vent everything.

That night was utterly wild.

The next day dawned.

Morning sunlight streamed through the window.

“Stop… stop.” Scarlett felt exhausted with every movement: “Ethan… stop for a bit, I’m so tired.”

“No!” Ethan clenched his teeth, “We need to have a child!”

He had decided, since Scarlett wanted to run away.

He would make it so she couldn’t.

“You…” Scarlett clenched her teeth, her fists tightened then released, and then her body relaxed.

She just lay there on the bed, defeated.

Scarlett also knew, telling her best friend before she left, perhaps deep down, she had this thought too.

Outside the room.

Blair stood at the doorway, hands in her pockets, looking up at the sky.

She knew what Ethan and her mom were doing in the room.

“This is for the best.”

Blair just stood there quietly, letting the wind gently brush through her hair.

She couldn’t understand her feelings right now.

But that wasn’t so important at the moment.

She just wanted to be with her mom and Ethan forever, and eventually, she would find the answers.