To the Man Destined to Kill Me - Chapter 104

Scarlett felt her lips stiffen, turning into stone. Just like when they freeze from the cold, her lips and tongue were numb, and she couldn’t say anything.

Why is he asking that? What kind of answer is he expecting? What value could he find in my reply? Is he asking if I missed him?

“You…”

Did she miss Noah during all that time?

Knowing her own heart, Scarlett hid her trembling hand under the table. Her fingertips tingled. Her shoulders ached. A strange mix of tension and discomfort flowed through her veins.

Their relationship was already over. She didn’t want to stir up noise for nothing. Besides, she had Wilhelm now.

“I didn’t miss you.”

It was the most natural lie Scarlett had told all day.

A huge ripple formed in Noah’s eyes. It was anger, sadness, betrayal, and sorrow all at once.

The veins on the hand holding Noah’s fork and knife stood out. Meanwhile, Scarlett calmed her shaking hand and began eating with her fork as if nothing had happened.

Noah silently watched her. Watched her stab the meat with her fork, put it in her mouth, chew, and swallow.

Even under his sharp gaze, she remained calm. Noah clenched his teeth, tried to calm his rough breathing, and then let out a small, dry laugh like her answer meant nothing. It was a very relaxed smile.

“I see. That can happen.”

Yes, it can happen. If it’s you.

Noah let out a sigh of defeat. Like a traveler who had journeyed far to find an oasis only to realize it was a mirage, he looked exhausted and hollow.

As the silence stretched, Wilhelm returned. The sweat on his face showed how quickly he had come back.

“You didn’t need to rush.”

Scarlett showed a hint of apology. That look made Noah quietly angry.

Scarlett rarely felt sorry or thankful toward him.

She used to think about how to hurt him. What they had wasn’t love—it was a mix of love and hate. But with Wilhelm, it was different.

The Scarlett in front of him was growing affection like an ordinary woman. That made Noah so furious, he felt like his head might catch fire.

It was as if she was proving she didn’t belong by his side. As if she was never meant to be his. Noah felt like he had fallen again into the deep mud of Wifland, where he had left her long ago.

Look at me.

Her eyes should have been on him. Her gaze, full of love, should have been only for him. So why was Scarlett looking at Wilhelm like that?

He couldn’t understand. He couldn’t accept it. It was something he could never allow.

He had lived in the nightmare called Scarlett White for six years, yet after giving him that nightmare, she flew away and started a new dream.

How, how could she do that?

He loved Scarlett so much, but she abandoned him. He was left in the past, and she jumped into the future.

Yes, he had been abandoned. That was the truth.

You’re still selfish.

She really was White through and through. A typical, stubborn, self-centered White.

Today, he just wanted to see if she had even the tiniest bit of regret for him.

With even a speck of that regret, he might have forgiven her cruelty and found the strength to wish her happiness. That’s how much Noah loved Scarlett.

But seeing her so deeply into Wilhelm, he no longer wanted to understand. There was no need to try.

You only thought of yourself.

Noah clenched his teeth. His chest felt like it would explode. The boiling anger swallowed his heart and spread through his veins to his fingertips and toes.

“Scarlett.”

Noah spoke her name. At his voice, her eyes met his burning violet ones.

“You look happy.”

“…Thank you.”

Scarlett forced a smile. Noah’s eyes twitched slightly.

Not thank you. You should’ve said you’re sorry.

“As I get older…”

Noah gently cut his meat. He didn’t scrape his plate like before.

“You remind me more and more of your brothers.”

“What… do you mean?”

“It’s just like I said. No matter who looks at you, you’re a White.”

The cruel and merciless White. The one who chose nightmares over love and finally completed her revenge. Now everything was clear.

“Scarlett. Listen carefully.”

“What…?”

“I’m going to destroy White. That’s why I came back to Wifland.”

“…What?”

“Noah.”

Wilhelm called him with a warning tone. But Noah kept chewing his meat, ignoring him.

“And you’re one of those Whites too.”

At that moment, pain spread across Scarlett’s face. Her heart acted up because she couldn’t handle the tension.

Just like Noah had done in the past, Wilhelm now skillfully took out some medicine and gave it to Scarlett.

Noah’s brows furrowed. His cheek twitched.

Seeing her needing medicine again made his heart drop instinctively. It would be a lie to say he didn’t feel pity seeing her so weak, as if she could collapse any second.

He worried about her. And within that worry, he felt complicated affection. He was disgusted with himself for feeling that way.

Even with things turning out like this, his heart still pounded because of her… He cursed himself for being such a fool.

“So this is why you invited me. No reason to stay any longer. We’ll be going now.”

Wilhelm didn’t give Noah a chance to speak. After giving Scarlett the medicine, he carried her on his back and left the restaurant without even saying goodbye.

Noah stared at the two as they moved away — no, at Scarlett as she disappeared from his sight. The moment she grew smaller and finally vanished behind the door felt far too short.

It was disappointing not to see her anymore. He felt like there was a hole in his chest. In the end, what remained for him was the longing to be with Scarlett and a bitter jealousy. And…

“Damn it.”

He put his hand on his left chest. He couldn’t bear the boiling emotions. Would it help to calm down if he screamed and ran through the freezing streets of winter? This burning hatred was the shadow of love he didn’t even fully understand.

He hated her as much as he loved her. Hated her, and that led to anger. Anger led to sorrow. The difference in their feelings was that while Scarlett simply left, Noah was born to eat away at her life — something he couldn’t help.

Noah returned to his room from the restaurant and roughly unbuttoned his shirt. His breath grew heavier, and the image of Scarlett’s back didn’t fade from his eyes.

He was happy she was alive, but at the same time, he was burning with the thought that she should’ve died. In the end, Noah collapsed on the floor and wiped his face with dry hands. A deep sigh escaped.

“This is the fate we were meant to have.”

It was something he said to himself. He had shared vengeance with the White family like a passing exchange. The fact that Scarlett was alive could dry up his revenge like a drought.

But Scarlett had abandoned him. He couldn’t hold on to her anymore. So now, he could carry out his revenge without hesitation. Yes, that was the conclusion.

“I’ll destroy you.”

Noah took a deep breath, then stood up and went to Peter’s room next door.

Gaining the favor of kids like Isaac wasn’t difficult for him.

Noah planned to bring down Susan White through Isaac. And if Susan White fell, Scarlett would surely suffer too.

He calmed his raging emotions with a deep breath. Then he knocked on the door, and a voice in the middle of puberty answered from inside.

“Mr. Peter?”

The face that appeared when the door opened was Isaac. His face resembled Scarlett so much that Noah had to hold back a sigh. He wore the mask of a kind adult to hide his hostility.

“Oh. You’re… Please come in, Mr. Grisham.”

Isaac stepped aside at the door to let him in. Noah entered and looked around the room as he asked,

“Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“No. Thanks to you.”

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t checked on you at all. Even though you’re my guest.”

“It’s okay.”

“What do you usually do? It must be boring staying here alone.”

“I just read books and play chess.”

“Peter’s treating you well, right?”

“Yes. He’s a good person. Mr. Peter.”

“Yes, he’s a good guy.”

Noah openly stared at Isaac, pausing for a moment. Isaac rubbed his chin shyly and asked,

“Is there something on my face?”

“No. It’s just surprising every time I see you. You really do look just like your aunt.”

Isaac’s eyes widened.

“You know my aunt?”

“Of course. How could I not know Scarlett? We went to Iodes together.”

“Oh.”

“You look more like your aunt than your mother.”

“Yes. Everyone says that. Um… If you know my aunt… does she know I’m here?”

Noah shook his head. The White family was currently stressed out over Isaac running away.

Though Isaac often sneaked out or ran away, so they weren’t frantically searching like it was a kidnapping, they weren’t ignoring it either.

“I haven’t had the chance to talk to Scarlett about little things like this. Don’t worry, I won’t tell her.”

“Thank you.”

“But… you don’t remember me?”

Noah narrowed his eyes and studied Isaac.

Six years ago, Noah had broken into the White mansion, injured his two uncles, and strangled Susan right in front of him, but Isaac didn’t seem to recognize him at all.

“Oh, we’ve met before, then. I had a traumatic experience when a burglar broke into our house as a child. So I don’t remember much from those years.”

“I see. A burglar, huh? That’s a shame.”

Noah instinctively realized that “burglar” was referring to himself. He put on a friendly smile and gently suggested to Isaac:

“I’m planning to go for some fresh air near the capital tomorrow. Want to come? Staying inside all the time must be stifling.”

“Near the capital?”

“Yes, just nearby.”

“Um…”

He worried that someone his mother sent might find him if he went outside, but he also really wanted to get some fresh air.

‘If it’s just nearby, maybe I won’t get caught.’

Not knowing Noah’s true thoughts, Isaac nodded.

“Okay.”

“Good. Then I’ll see you in the morning. Get some rest.”

Noah opened the door to return to his room, but Isaac called him back.

“By the way, Mr. Grisham.”

“Yes?”

“That day, when you saved me…”

“If it’s thanks you want to say, it’s fine.”

“No, no. I want to ask… why did you save me?”

Noah was silent for a moment. Isaac thought Noah’s eyes looked quite gloomy. Noah took a deep breath and answered with a sigh.

“It’s simple. Because you’re Scarlett’s nephew.”

I promised Scarlett I would protect you.

Hiding his true feelings, Noah left only that half-truth behind and walked out of the room.

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