To the Man Destined to Kill Me - Chapter 33

Love?

Noah had never even thought about love before, and hearing such a question from none other than Scarlett made him feel miserable.

“No. Not really.”

“Really? But you’re handsome, so you could date anyone you want if you tried.”

‘The one I want is you.’

Noah swallowed the words he couldn’t bring himself to say. Feeling stung by her indifference, he asked back.

“What about you?”

“Me?”

Scarlett’s eyes crinkled gently. Her gaze brushed subtly toward Wilhelm. But Wilhelm didn’t notice, busy checking the time.

Instead of answering Noah, she gave her attention to Wilhelm.

“Do you have to go?”

“I still have about ten minutes.”

“Then teach me this.”

“Trying to get a scholarship or something? You’re studying really hard.”

“What would I do with a little bit of scholarship money? I made a bet with my family. If I get good grades, I can stay at Iodes, but if I do badly, I have to quit right away.”

“Why did you make that bet?”

“Because they’re against me attending Iodes. Why else?”

“No, I mean you. I didn’t know you cared so much about Iodes.”

The low question echoed deeply. Scarlett stared blankly at Wilhelm, as if she had been struck on the head. Her pupils trembled.

Growing up like a flower in a greenhouse under the shadow of her outstanding brothers, being asked about her own will was a shocking experience.

Scarlett’s face flushed slightly. Noah’s eyelids twitched. His gaze was intense, as if dissecting her every detail.

“Maybe because I enjoy arguing with you.”

“Oh…”

Wilhelm raised his eyebrows, his face lighting up mischievously.

“Yeah. I find arguing with you pretty fun too.”

He ruffled Scarlett’s hair. Scarlett shouted angrily.

“My hair’s a mess now!”

“Consider it a duel challenge. Anyway, I have to go. Class is about to start.”

Wilhelm chuckled and hurried off. Scarlett grumbled, fixing her hair as she watched him leave. But a small smile lingered at the corners of her lips.

Watching her, Noah’s face stiffened.

‘Look at me.’

Look at me, Scarlett.
See me with your eyes.

Noah hid his feelings—sadness mixed with jealousy—beneath his lowered lashes.

“Let’s study.”

As soon as Scarlett looked at the economics book filled with graphs, her head began to ache, and she flipped through the pages with a groan. Noah pretended to read while stealing glances at her struggling to study.

“Scarlett. Why do you want to stay at Iodes?”

At Noah’s question, Scarlett eventually gave up on reading. It didn’t seem like the right time for studying anyway. The words didn’t register, and her mind was restless.

“What do you think?”

“You want to be independent from your brothers?”

“No. I don’t mind growing up like a flower in a greenhouse. I’m naturally lazy, so I’m fine living off my inheritance. And I don’t really believe I can ever be independent from my brothers who are like parents to me.”

“Then why?”

“What else?”

She answered sharply.

“Because of you.”

Noah’s heart dropped with a thud. Scarlett continued bluntly.

“I’m doing this so I can attend Iodes with you. You’re not planning to quit school, and I have time to spare. I want to get closer to you.”

“Why me…?”

“Because you’re Father’s son.”

Even though it was just a lip-service lie, she still said it. Scarlett closed her book sharply and almost threw it at him.

“Besides all that, it’s fun being at Iodes with you. So I want to stay as long as my health allows.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“And I want to know you.”

It was the only truth hidden among her many lies. She was genuinely curious about Noah Ashford.

“I don’t know what kind of person you are. Even before getting to know you, judgment clouded my view. I’m still confused. I don’t know if you deserve to be hated, and the anger inside me won’t go away, so I don’t know what I really feel toward you.”

“I understand.”

“But I do know this much. Up close, you seem like the kindest person I’ve ever met—well, second to Andrew. Andrew is the kindest, but you’re right after him.”

The Noah she originally knew deserved death. But the Noah she saw now was so gentle. The gap between the two images made her dizzy.

What kind of person was the real Noah Ashford? Should she trust only what she saw with her own eyes?

“I hate that you’re kind. If you were evil, it would be easy to hate you. Then I could destroy you without hesitation.”

“Do you hate me?”

“I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

Confusion spread across Scarlett’s face. She couldn’t sort out her emotions or her logic.

But that was enough.

Noah felt joy at her confusion and her conflicting feelings. The fact that she honestly showed her turmoil was progress.

A deep affection for her bloomed in his heart, spreading to his fingertips and toes. At the same time, guilt crushed him heavily.

‘I shouldn’t feel this way about Scarlett.’

Self-reproach and guilt raised their heads.

But Noah trampled over all those feelings when he saw Scarlett’s relaxed expression and gaze directed at him.

What use was morality in front of her?

“Class is over. Let’s go home.”

“Tired?”

“A little.”

“Let’s get up.”

Noah even carried Scarlett’s things for her as they left. Walking through the campus of Iodes with her made him breathless with happiness. No matter how many times it happened, he could never get used to the excitement.

“Thank you for saying you wanted to stay at school with me.”

“That was something to thank me for?”

“Very much. I’m really grateful.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Why?”

“Just… why don’t you ever claim your right as Father’s son?”

“How could I?”

“You could sue for the White family inheritance. Even if they don’t acknowledge you, you could still get something out of it. Are you afraid of my brothers?”

“The only one I fear is you, Scarlett. I’m only afraid of you.”

“Because of me?”

“And… because I love you.”

It was a calm confession. Scarlett stopped walking. She looked up at Noah. Before she could say anything, Noah spoke.

“The moment you gave me freedom, you became the most precious person in my life.”

“You sure have a way of making simple words sound dramatic.”

Scarlett answered sharply, trying to hide her emotions, while Noah barely kept himself from making a pained face. A small flicker of pain crossed his face.

Though he hid it well, Scarlett saw it. But she didn’t stop. She carried on playfully, pretending not to notice.

“You should save those words for a girl you like. Saying someone is precious sounds weird between family.”

“…I guess I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had siblings.”

“Then you can learn now. And Noah.”

“Yeah?”

Scarlett hesitated before carefully watching his reaction. She thought now was the right time to bring up Isaac.

“Isaac is my nephew. Which means… he’s your nephew too.”

“I’ve never even seen him.”

“He looks a lot like me. Sometimes I feel like he’s my twin. We’re that alike.”

“You must love him very much.”

“If only one of us could survive, I would gladly die for Isaac.”

“I want you to live instead.”

“…”

‘Care for Isaac like you care for me. Please… don’t hurt him.’

As Scarlett searched for the right words, raindrops began to fall. She looked up.

“…I don’t have an umbrella.”

“We can’t get wet. Let’s run to the carriage.”

Noah quickly took off his jacket and placed it over Scarlett’s head. She was someone who had to be careful even with a breeze; getting caught in the rain could be dangerous.

Scarlett blinked, confused by his sudden action.

“What are you doing? Don’t just stand there.”

Noah grabbed her wrist and pulled her along. Before they even reached the carriage, the rain poured harder.

Swoosh.

Rain fell so heavily it blurred their vision. Noah tried his best to shield Scarlett, but it wasn’t enough. There was nowhere nearby to take shelter.

Feeling the heavy rain beating down, they sprinted toward the carriage. Scarlett’s red hair, peeking out from under his jacket, got soaked.

As soon as Noah opened the carriage door, he pushed Scarlett inside first. Inside, she was already quite wet.

“Are you okay? Here, take this.”

He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her. Seeing her lips turn pale, Noah’s mind went blank.

“Are you cold?”

“Yeah. You?”

“I’m fine. Scarlett, we need to dry you off first. A towel…”

Finding a towel, Noah moved to sit next to her. He squeezed the water from her silky hair and dried the back of her neck. Her white skin looked even paler against her red hair.

His fingers brushed her neck, making her shiver slightly. But Noah didn’t notice. He also didn’t see her cheeks turning pink.

“You didn’t get too wet.”

“I should have brought an umbrella… I’ll make sure to carry one from now on.”

“I’m not that weak.”

“Yes, you are. Scarlett, you’re fragile. So fragile it’s heartbreaking.”

Scarlett turned her head and glared at him. Anyone else might have been intimidated, but Noah simply checked to make sure her lips hadn’t gotten any paler.

From her angle, she could see Noah’s drenched bangs. He looked like a soaked little mouse.

Scarlett hesitated for a moment. But seeing his jacket lying soaked on the floor helped her decide. She snatched the towel from Noah and placed it on his head.

“Lower your head.”

“What, what?”

“Lower your head. I’ll dry you.”

It wasn’t to take advantage of his feelings. She just wanted to return the kindness.

Without waiting for Noah to move, she began vigorously rubbing his hair with the towel—

Completely missing the fact that his ears had turned bright red from embarrassment.

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