Chapter 3
By the time Scarlett got home, the sky had already turned dark.
Scarlett had been dozing off, but as soon as the car stopped and she checked her watch, she snapped awake.
She was supposed to meet Patty Lewis at six, and now she was an hour late!
Scarlett hurriedly said goodbye to the driver, lifted her dress, and ran into the elevator.
When she got home, it was Tracy Brown who opened the door.
Tracy was only three years old, but she pretended to be an adult, pointing to her smartwatch and mimicking her mom's tone.
"What time do you call this? You have no sense of time at all."
Scarlett couldn't help but laugh.
She put down her bag and picked Tracy up, carrying her inside.
Seeing her return, Patty greeted her, "Ms. Collins, if there's nothing else, I'll head out now."
"Thanks, Patty, for taking care of Tracy," Scarlett said sincerely. "Today was a bit crazy. I'll make sure to pay you double at the end of the month."
Patty wanted to decline, but Scarlett insisted.
After Patty left, Scarlett collapsed on the couch. Tracy climbed out of her lap and brought her a glass of water. "Here, have some water."
Scarlett was deeply touched and pulled Tracy close, pressing their foreheads together. "Tracy, why don't you be my daughter? Let's forget about your mom."
Tracy tried to escape but couldn't break free.
Despite her young age, Tracy sensed that Scarlett wasn't in a good mood.
So she played along, "Alright then."
Just then, Moira's video call came through.
Moira Brown had recently gone through a breakup and decided to leave the Phoenix City to clear her mind. She left Tracy behind and went to Solstice.
Scarlett answered the call. It was still daylight where Moira was, and she stood in front of the Sphinx, posing dramatically with oversized sunglasses. "Hey gorgeous, miss me?"
Scarlett replied, "You're really gross, almost as bad as those greasy guys trending on social media lately."
Moira immediately retorted, "If they looked like me, they wouldn't be getting criticized!"
Tracy chimed in sweetly, looking at her mom with disdain, "Scarlett has abandoned you. Don't come back. I'll call her mommy."
Scarlett was amused. "Alright then, you can call me mommy from now on."
Tracy cheered, "Yay, I have two mommys now!"
Moira took off her sunglasses and asked seriously, "What's wrong? You don't seem okay."
Scarlett snorted, "I'm exhausted."
She didn't plan to talk about Alexander. Despite knowing Moira for years, she had never mentioned Alexander.
Her relationship with Alexander was like a scar she didn't want to touch. After they broke up, she never told anyone.
After finishing the call with Moira, Tracy had fallen asleep on her shoulder.
Scarlett carried Tracy to bed and tucked her in.
A thunderstorm rumbled outside, signaling rain. Scarlett quickly closed the windows, drew the curtains, and lay down next to Tracy.
In the middle of the night, Scarlett woke up abruptly.
Tracy was restless in her arms, her face flushed.
Scarlett touched her forehead and was shocked by the feverish heat.
Tracy had a fever.
A child's weak body needed immediate medical attention.
It was 2 AM, and a storm raged outside.
The ride-sharing app showed few available cars, and no one accepted her request despite her frantic price increases.
She called several pediatricians she knew, but none answered.
Scarlett was desperate. She found a raincoat to wrap Tracy in and ran downstairs.
Their home wasn't in a remote area; maybe a passing car would help.
It was better than waiting upstairs.
Tracy was uncomfortable in her arms, occasionally making small sounds.
But the street was empty, and Scarlett couldn't run to the hospital with Tracy in her arms.
She wandered helplessly, like a lost soul, on the verge of tears.
Suddenly, a black Maybach stopped in front of her, and the window rolled down to reveal Alexander's cold, refined face.
His playful gaze shifted quickly when he saw the child in her arms. He looked ahead, seemingly making a difficult decision, and spoke softly, "Get in."
At that moment, Scarlett couldn't afford to stick to her principles.
She got in the car with Tracy, trying to control her emotions. "To the hospital."
Alexander didn't respond, just pulled up the navigation and started the car.
He couldn't help but glance at Scarlett through the rearview mirror.
She was wearing a nightgown and slippers, clearly in a rush, without time to change.
She was gently removing the raincoat from the child in her arms, then holding her and patting her back.
Scarlett looked up, and their eyes met in the mirror. Alexander instinctively looked away but saw her red eyes.
Alexander felt pathetic.
Three years abroad, he couldn't forget Scarlett. He returned, hoping to talk, only to find her engaged to his relative during the day and with a child at night.
Three years apart, and her child was almost three?
What did their time together mean?
'Scarlett, you're ruthless!'
Alexander's emotions were stuck in his chest, unable to release, feeling foolish for following her home and waiting outside like an idiot.
And now, the cause of his frustration was in his car, tearfully worried about a child.
He was irritated, especially seeing Scarlett's anxious eyes.
He wanted to grab her and make her see only him, asking, "Do you even have a heart? How could you have a child with someone else in just three years?"
Alexander could have walked away.
But he couldn't.
Tracy whimpered from the fever, and Scarlett soothed her, "Don't cry, Tracy. I'm taking you to the hospital."
Tracy's voice was weak, "Mommy..."
Alexander's last hope shattered.
He cursed himself silently and pressed the gas pedal.
The car stopped at the hospital entrance.
Scarlett was about to open the door when Alexander handed her something.
He avoided Tracy and placed it on Scarlett's lap. "Wear this."
It was his suit jacket.
Scarlett realized her nightgown was indeed thin. She didn't refuse Alexander's kindness and whispered, "Thank you."
Alexander exhaled lightly, hesitated, then got out of the car and took the child from Scarlett's arms. "I'll go with you."