To the Man Destined to Kill Me - Chapter 121

Scarlett stared blankly at the space Noah had just left.

When he disappeared, the light that had filled the room vanished too, and darkness crept in. Only then did she realize she was crying.

She wiped away the silent tears, feeling unfamiliar with them, and buried her face in the bed. She was afraid her sudden sobs might be heard outside.

She couldn’t bear the emptiness left by Noah. Even if she hated and resented him, it had been better when he was within sight. That made her happier.

But they had always run along perfectly parallel lines—once in their hearts, now in their situations.

Meanwhile, Noah had arrived at the hotel and was glaring at Peter because of an unexpected guest.

Peter raised his hands as if to say he had no choice.

“I came because I was worried. You weren’t coming no matter how long I waited, so I thought something might’ve happened.”

The woman brushed back her shiny blonde hair and spoke rather arrogantly. She sat on the sofa as if she belonged there.

“Even so, visiting uninvited and without even knowing the person’s face—I think that’s quite rude.”

Victor had made this appointment on his own. Noah had clearly said he wouldn’t attend, and anything after that was Victor’s responsibility.

Victor wanted Isabella Norton, a Wifland-born noblewoman of Natalia descent, because her family line was one of the rarest and oldest

noble bloodlines in Natalia.

He had hoped she would compensate for the flaw in Noah’s lineage, caused by the disgrace on his mother’s side.

But Noah had no intention of marrying someone he didn’t love for political reasons.

To him, Scarlett was everything, and even just thinking about the situation with Teddy was already overwhelming.

If he was to be an emperor with problems, so be it—but at least he’d be a good one.

He never even thought of his mother’s low birth as something to hide. He found her actions horrible, yes, but not her background.

“Oh my. But not showing up without notice is also very rude, isn’t it?”

“So, Miss Norton, do you think your actions are justified?”

Noah snapped coldly. One of Isabella Norton’s eyebrows rose at his sharp tone.

“I don’t believe showing up late at night like this is the right thing to do. Peter, see her out. And from now on, don’t let just anyone in as a guest.”

Noah brushed past Isabella and went into his room.

Isabella didn’t look the least bit embarrassed. Instead, she seemed intrigued as she stared at the closed door before following Peter out of

the hotel.

Time flew, and the day of the engagement ceremony arrived. Scarlett hadn’t called it off.

The feelings she still held for her old love were a secret she had to hide from Wilhelm, and they were emotions she couldn’t allow anyway.

More important than her feelings was Teddy’s future. What mattered most was separating Teddy completely from Noah, so he wouldn’t get dragged into Natalia’s political chaos.

Scarlett brushed her curly red hair aside and checked on Teddy through the mirror.

Teddy was on her bed, messing up his neat hair and clothes while playing.

“Teddy, come here. Let me fix your hair.”

“No. I hate brushing my hair.”

“Teddy White.”

At his mother’s firm tone, Teddy pouted and came toward Scarlett. Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Marie stepped in.

“Miss, a gift has arrived for your engagement.”

“From whom?”

“Well…”

Marie’s eyes glanced at Teddy and then looked away. She leaned in and whispered to Scarlett.

“It’s from Theo Grisham.”

The brush dropped from Scarlett’s hand. Her face instantly turned pale.

Marie looked at her with concern. Teddy, unaware of anything, picked up the brush from the floor and placed it in her hand.

“Mom?”

“Oh, right. The gift… Just put it in the storage room for now. It’s not important. Yeah… It’s not important…”

Scarlett absentmindedly brushed Teddy’s hair. Her hand trembled, making it hard to do it properly.

“Mom, seriously, what’s wrong?”

“…Marie, please take care of Teddy. I… I need…”

“Miss, please rest. I’ll take care of Master Teddy.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Marie picked Teddy up and carried him to the next room. Soon, she heard Isaac playing with Teddy in the hallway.

Scarlett took a sedative for the first time in a while.

Her engagement to Wilhelm had been planned even before he left for Hiberk, but she felt guilty—maybe because of Noah.

It felt like she was doing something terribly wrong, something against the world. Her chest ached, and her limbs were sore.

‘It’s okay. My connection with Noah ended long ago.’

Her feelings and memories of him belonged in the past. Whispering this to herself, Scarlett found herself gently brushing her lower lip with her finger.

A knock broke her thoughts.

“Come in.”

It was Andrew, dressed neatly in a suit, his slicked-back hair making him look like a proper gentleman.

“Scarlett, it’s time.”

“Already? Let’s go.”

“You don’t look well.”

“I’m just nervous.”

“Congratulations on your engagement. I think the happiest one is Teddy, who believes he’s getting a dad.”

Andrew remembered how excited Teddy had been, thinking a wedding meant he’d finally get a father.

A faint smile appeared on Andrew’s lips. He opened his mouth, hesitating to ask something.

‘Have you really decided to let go of Noah Ashford?’

Not long ago, Scott had called Andrew to the detention center.

Even refusing a lawyer visit, Scott had told him everything about Noah and Scarlett.

Andrew already had a vague idea from what Scarlett had said, but hearing it from Scott was different.

“Someone might see my arrest as an opportunity. I might not make it out of here.”

Scott, always the rational businessman, continued,

“If I die, Cravitz will be yours. Do whatever you want with it. But there’s one thing you must do. Protect Scarlett and Teddy. We can’t let that bastard’s child get them.”

Looking into his brother’s cold gray eyes, Andrew wondered what was at the end of such endless hatred.

Reading Andrew’s thoughts, Scott added,

“Don’t look at me like that. That guy definitely pretended to love Scarlett just to get revenge on us.”

Fake love.

But Andrew didn’t believe Noah’s love was fake.

From what he had seen, even though Noah was twisted and broken, their love had been real—pure, even.

And the proof was clear: Scarlett didn’t look the least bit happy, even on her engagement day.

Before opening the decorated hall doors for the ceremony, Andrew asked her,

“Are you happy?”

Scarlett responded with a smile instead of an answer.

To Andrew, that smile looked painfully cold.

The engagement ceremony was small but beautiful.

Susan clapped like a child when Scarlett and Wilhelm exchanged rings. Aaron, out of place, kept wiping tears and sipping alcohol nonstop.

The one most thrilled by the engagement was Teddy.

He kept jumping around, clinging to Wilhelm’s sleeve.

“Mom, can I open the presents now?”

Teddy was dying to unwrap the gifts his aunts and uncles had given Scarlett.

He had already opened all the gifts Wilhelm had brought from Hiberk for the ceremony.

Teddy wore a shawl with traditional Hiberk patterns like a cape, twisting his body as he clung to his mom.

“Mommm.”

“Okay, but don’t lose or break anything.”

“Okay!”

With permission, Teddy ran inside happily.

Wilhelm, watching him with a chuckle, turned to Scarlett.

“Scarlett, are you really okay not having a separate party?”

Scarlett fixed Wilhelm’s slightly crooked tie and replied,

“Given the circumstances, this is enough. What about you?”

Because the engagement was moved up, Wilhelm’s family couldn’t attend.

Only the White siblings were invited, which felt embarrassingly small for a Hiberk high noble.

“I don’t like big crowds anyway. I prefer it quiet like this.”

“Thanks for saying that.”

“I promised to play cards with Andrew. Want to join?”

“No, I’ll go rest. I’m a little tired.”

“Alright then.”

Wilhelm gently removed a strand of hair from her cheek and smiled before leaving.

Alone now, Scarlett touched the cheek where his fingers had brushed and looked like she might cry.

Wilhelm was a good man—and yes, she loved him.

But if love had shades, hers for Wilhelm came from admiration, closer to possessiveness.

He was a man completely different from her.

Her feelings for Wilhelm Hoffman were like lukewarm water—warm, but never boiling.

That warmth was enough for her.

Too much heat had already worn her out.

‘Just hold on a little longer. Until Noah returns to Natalia.’

It wasn’t that far off. More than fifty of the hundred days had passed. She just needed to endure a bit more.

Scarlett sighed and went to find Teddy.

He was calm for a boy, but still a child—if she took her eyes off him for a moment, he got into trouble.

Like the time he almost drowned in the pond or cried after climbing a tree.

She walked down the hall looking for him and noticed the storage room door at the end was open.

‘Strange.’

It should’ve been closed. Maybe Marie hadn’t locked it properly after storing Noah’s gift earlier.

Scarlett was about to lock it but opened it instead when she heard movement inside.

What she saw inside was completely unexpected.

“Te…ddy…”

Teddy was lighting up the dark room with a glowing orb.

He was staring intently at something, and torn wrapping paper was scattered around his feet.

“What are you looking at…?”

Scarlett followed his gaze—and her heart sank.

Teddy was looking at a portrait of Noah.

It was the one she had given Noah six years ago before he left for Natalia.

Covering her mouth in shock, she couldn’t say a word. Teddy asked,

“Mom, why is that picture of the man in our house? Is it because he saved me at the pond last time?”

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