Chapter 4

"Uncle Harry..." Hazel's eyes brimmed with tears as she threw herself into Harrison's arms. At the doorway, Scarlett stood frozen, her face drained of color. She remembered that in her past life, Harrison had given her a special brand of vitamins, claiming they were tailored just for her. She had been so touched by his thoughtfulness that she took them religiously, day after day, without a second thought. Years passed, yet she never conceived. When they finally sought medical advice, the tests showed that Scarlett had hormonal issues. Desperate for a child, she endured round after round of ovulation shots. Her stomach became a battlefield of bruises, and her body swelled from the hormone injections. But no matter what she did, she never got pregnant. Her doctor had questioned whether something in her diet or supplements was interfering with the treatment, but Scarlett never suspected the so-called vitamins Harrison had given her. Now, the truth slammed into her like a freight train. Her knees buckled slightly, and she staggered back a step. How could Harrison be so cruel? Just then, Harrison's bodyguard happened to walk over and was startled to see her standing at the door. "Ms. Yeager?" Scarlett shoved the emerald pendant into his hands. "Give this to Harrison." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away. … It was Scarlett's birthday. Since she was leaving soon, she made a rare exception and hosted a grand birthday party, inviting all her friends, despite never being one for lively gatherings. She just hadn't expected Harrison to show up with Hazel in tow. "Your present." Harrison's voice was cool as he tossed a small box her way. Scarlett glanced down. It was a diamond ring. Just like in her past life. How ridiculous! Harrison treated a ring others used for proposals as a birthday gift. It was as if to remind her that this marriage was nothing but an act of charity. It was laughable how, in her past life, Scarlett had been completely oblivious. She was even moved to tears by this ring. This time, she handed it back without hesitation. "Didn't you get what I had your bodyguard deliver to you last time?" If he had seen the heirloom emerald pendant she had returned, he should have understood that she had no intention of marrying him. Harrison frowned. "I didn't open it. I already told you. I don't need gifts. You don't have to give me anything." Scarlett blinked before realization set in. He must have assumed the bag was just another one of her gifts and hadn't even bothered to look inside. Scarlett remembered that in her past life, while sorting through Harrison's belongings, she had found a storage room in the basement filled with dust-covered boxes. They were all the gifts she had given him. There was the necklace she had hand-carved for his 25th birthday after a week of painstaking effort, the blessed charm she had prayed for three days to obtain when he fell seriously ill at 33 years old, and the custom-made incense she made herself when he started suffering from migraines at 40 years old. All those gifts she had painstakingly prepared had been carelessly tossed into the storage room, never even opened. And yet, Hazel's paper stars, her cheap neckties, and even her little notes had all been carefully stored away in his safe. Scarlett's lips curled in a mocking smile, but she didn't bother explaining. Instead, she turned to greet her guests. Halfway through the party, Hazel suddenly collapsed against Harrison. "Uncle Harry, my head feels so dizzy." Harrison's expression darkened instantly. "Did you eat something bad? Are you sick? I'll take you to the hospital." Without hesitation, he swept Hazel up in his arms and strode toward the exit. Scarlett frowned. As the host of the party, she couldn't ignore the situation. If something happened to Hazel, the responsibility would fall on her. She didn't want any unnecessary trouble before leaving, so she followed them out. But as she approached Harrison's sleek black Bentley, Hazel's soft moan reached her ears. "Uncle Harry… I feel so hot… Something feels off down there…"