Chapter 2 His Revulsion for Her

After an abrupt silence, Jude headed upstairs. He suddenly heard Scarlett's voice from behind. "Have you ever loved me? Even if just a little?" Her words betrayed a tiny, pathetic shred of hope. Under the light, her body was shaking... "Jude, have you ever loved me?" She stared at the man's lanky figure with nervousness, hope, and unease... Emotions of every kind intertwined and formed a chaotic jumble. She was desperate to hear his answer. That answer was... "Don't you know the answer, Mrs. Simmons? The only thing that exists between us is a contract. Love? You must be kidding me." Jude's chuckle reached her ears. She raised her hands and pressed them hard against her heart. Her face was a frightening shade of white... Hadn't she known his answer long ago? Still, she couldn't help but hope... "Moron! Scarlett, you're a moron!" "Jude Simmons, is it our contract? Is that why you're willing to compromise, stay with me, and come home every night for the past seven years?" Jude turned around and raised an eyebrow, looking at her like a joke. "Why else? What did you think it was, Mrs. Simmons? Love? Ha!" His laughter was filled with sarcasm. "Mrs. Simmons, I asked you to donate your bone marrow to Lucy seven years ago, but you threatened me. You demanded that I sign that contract and marry you in exchange for my only sister's life. You should have known then all I will ever feel for you is revulsion." Scarlett felt like she had been plunged into iced water and her face was devoid of any color. She could clearly see the revulsion in Jude's eyes, and that was something that she could never endure. Her heart twinged—Jude loathed her! She would rather that he hated her. "Heh... So it's all because of our contract..." She chuckled and closed her eyes. When she abruptly reopened them, her pale face had taken on an unnatural redness. Her eyes—often dyed with faint sorrow and hope—were strikingly bright at that moment. Jude was taken aback. Her eyes, bright and brilliant with unreadable emotions, were so enchanting that he couldn't look away. In his eyes, Scarlett's face had become vivid with life. A seductive smile slowly appeared on her face... This was so unlike her, yet this woman was unmistakably her. He had never seen this side of her in the past seven years—so lively and carefree. The despicable, disgusting, hateful Scarlett all these years... had become so enthralling at that moment. He was spellbound and before he knew it, his heart was pounding. Yet, he was still Jude Simmons. He regained his composure in seconds and looked away from her face indifferently. Little did he know that Scarlett's gaze then would appear in his dreams in countless nights to come and ingrain itself deeply in his soul, yet he would never be able to see it again... He would come to regret not looking at her more at that moment. Scarlett's smile widened as she said softly, "Since you're doing it for the contract..." Her smile became even more seductive. She raised her chin haughtily and commanded him for the first time in seven years, "Hug me, Jude." Jude's dark pupils shrank. "What did you say?" He narrowed his eyes and gave her a sidelong glance. His voice was soft. She walked up to him until they were face-to-face. She tiptoed and slowly raised her hand to hug his neck. "I said, take me." Jude's gaze turned sharp. He gradually hugged her waist and sneered with blatant derision. Scarlett stopped breathing for a second as pain flickered in her eyes. She clenched her fists and forced herself to forget her pain. She continued to fake a tough act in front of him. Her smile became sunnier as she said, "Don't forget the contract... You must fulfill my every request." She stared at him without blinking, doing her best to put on a splendid smile. The light in her eyes had become even brighter. "Jude, I want you to hug me!" She felt the man tightening his hold around her waist. Before she could yelp, the world around her began to spin as he threw her on his shoulder and carried her to their bedroom upstairs.