Chapter 8

"What are you saying?" Cedric explained in a provocative tone, "Think about it. You've already provided him with a hefty amount of compensation. If you give him a villa, some might think he's after your money. "Besides, he's a medical expert, the top of the top at his hospital. He doesn't lack money. We shouldn't bend over backward for someone who doesn't appreciate it, Lettie." Scarlett frowned. "No, I did it out of—" However, Leroy spoke up timely, cutting her off. "I don't need it. You should keep it for yourself. Goodbye." Then, he turned on his heels and prepared to leave without second thoughts, almost as if nothing was holding him back anymore. Her heart sank deeper and deeper, and her emotions were more complicated than ever. Cedric, on the other hand, stared greedily at the property deed in her hand. "Lettie, since he refused your offer, why don't you give it to me? I happen to need a place to stay, anyway." He pulled her hand, continuing, "I know you love me the best. Don't worry. I'll compensate you twice as much in the future." By then, he had already stuffed the property deed in his arms. A faint smile appeared on Scarlett's face, yet her affection for him had greatly decreased… At home, Leroy stared at the divorce certificate, memories from the past flooding his mind. A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he couldn't help but wonder, "Is this really what I get after seven years of unwavering care and love?" It seemed that all those years faded into insignificance when compared to a few words from her special someone. The next few days, he remained engulfed in sadness, unable to shake off the lingering shadows of his divorce. Instead, he transformed into a workaholic. He shut everyone out as soon as he returned home by locking himself in his room, and his parents began to worry. One afternoon, Olivia prepared a feast consisting of all his favorite dishes. She repeatedly refilled his plate whenever he was distracted. "Have more, Roy. Look how much you've slimmed down lately. There are things we can't change in life, and you mustn't make it hard on yourself." She was evidently helpless. Leroy smiled wryly. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me." However, not even he believed that. His father, Stephan Olson, sighed, equally helpless as his wife. After the meal, Leroy returned to his room soullessly. "Hey, Steve. We gotta do something about this," said Olivia. The next morning, she halted Leroy before he set out for work. "Why don't you take a break from work today?" "What's happening, Mom?" He frowned. Olivia smiled cheerfully. "Something great! Last night, I reached out to Yvonne on your behalf. She happens to be free today. Why don't you two hang out and get to know each other more?" Leroy naturally knew what his mom intended. He smiled wryly, stating, "Mom, I don't want to go on a date now. I just don't feel like it." Of course, his objection was futile. Olivia had stuffed a new set of casual clothes into his hands. "Don't see it as a date then. Instead, see it as a friendly hangout between two childhood friends. What's so difficult about that? "Also, Yvonne seems like a nice girl. She immediately agreed to hang with you as soon as I called. Anyway, how will I face her in the future if you stand her up?" Ultimately, under his mother's strong insistence, Leroy reluctantly agreed to keep the appointment. After all, Yvonne left a decent impression from their previous meeting, and he didn't want to embarrass her. This time, they didn't choose to meet at a quiet cafe. Rather, they went to an arcade. Yvonne smiled, her beauty radiant like a blooming flower. "I chose this place to help you unwind since you seem stressed lately. Are you okay with that, Leroy?" He squeezed a smile, looking undeniably distracted. "Of course. Let's go." Throughout the entire process, it was mostly Yvonne having fun while Leroy stood like a robot, barely moving. Later, the two went for a walk, chatting casually and sharing about themselves, yet neither mentioned the topic of their blind date. The sky grew dark, and Yvonne bade him farewell with a smile. "I'll get going, Leroy. You should get home, too. Don't let Mrs. Olson worry about you." He nodded and prepared to leave. Suddenly, he saw someone from the corner of his eye and quickly shuffled back. "The, uh… Why don't I send you home?" He had accidentally glimpsed a familiar figure nearby—Cedric. At that moment, he was browsing a high-end store, swiping his black card. Leroy recognized the card—it was one of the supplementary cards under Scarlett's name. Cedric had even hired two bodyguards to follow him and help carry his purchases, which included a variety of high-end brands, clothing, and luxury items. A self-deprecating smile graced Leroy's face. "Looks like they're a family now." Yvonne gazed empathetically at him. "Thanks, Leroy, but I can get home alone just fine. Go ahead and rest for the night. When you wake up, it's going to be a new day." Looking at her thoughtful expression, Leroy couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort. What was he doing now? Acting like a scumbag? Deep down, he knew he just wasn't in the mood to pursue anything serious now. Meanwhile, Scarlett was overwhelmed with various collaborations since her company had gone public. She was constantly running from one task to another, barely finding time to eat or sleep. By the time work had finally wrapped up today, she looked up at the window, only to realize it was already past midnight. Her stomach growled as a sign of protest, prompting her to look to her side. Normally, a thermos container filled with fresh, warm food would sit there, awaiting her. But now, forget about a carefully prepared meal—there wasn't even a small snack in sight. Right then, Grace entered her office with a cup of coffee. As her secretary and best friend, she would accompany Scarlett and clock out at the same time as her. "Have some. It'll warm up your stomach." "Thanks." Scarlett retrieved the coffee but couldn't bring herself to drink it. Grace raised her brows slightly. "Where's Cedric? Isn't he going to pick you up? It's late." Scarlett shook her head in response. "He hasn't been feeling well lately and has been resting at home. I'll get home by myself just fine." A displeased Grace remarked, "Feeling unwell? I don't think so. If he is, why has he been shopping all day and buying so much stuff?" "What do you mean?" Scarlett frowned. Grace handed over the transaction details for Scarlett's supplementary card. "Take a look for yourself. This is his transaction history in just one day. I don't even know what he's buying these stuff for. "Buying clothes is one thing, but what's with all this jewelry? It's all men's jewelry, by the way." Staring at the transaction history, which amounted to over a million dollars, Scarlett fell silent for a moment. She had indeed given him a supplementary card and told him he could use it freely if needed. But spending over a million dollars in a day was… definitely an overspend. Grace said, "I need you to hear this from me, Lettie. Sometimes, you need to see the truth as it is. Otherwise—" "Enough!" Scarlett decisively cut her off. "He went on a shopping spree. What's the big deal? Besides, his career hasn't taken off yet, and it's not wrong for me to support him." Grace wasn't giving up just yet. "But…"