To the Man Destined to Kill Me - Chapter 99

Their lips touched.

Scarlet’s soft lips, now flushed a rosy color, were captured by him. At first, the kiss was gentle, but it soon deepened.

Noah took Scarlet’s lower lip between his own, and his tongue invaded her mouth. His tongue brushed over her teeth and grazed the roof of her mouth.

“Mmm.”

He swallowed her moan along with her saliva. Scarlet, standing on tiptoe and clinging to his neck, started to pant softly.

Noah chuckled low and continued kissing her.

“Noah.”

Scarlet pulled her lips away and called his name.

Noah.

Her lips wrapped around his name.

A rush of joy—or maybe it was emotion—pierced through him from his stomach to the top of his head.

“I love you.”

He wasn’t sure if it was she or he who confessed.

But it didn’t matter. What mattered was that Scarlet was right in front of him.

“I missed you.”

At his confession, Scarlet answered the same way.

“I missed you too.”

A gentle smile bloomed on her face, and her voice was soft, like the nights long ago when they spent time together as if playing with fire.

And in her ash-gray eyes, countless fireflies danced. Her eyes, once as cold as burnt ashes, now sparkled like a romantic night sky.

Just meeting her gaze filled his chest. He felt like he had gained the whole world, like a satisfied old man who had lived a full life and was ready for death.

But Scarlet’s gaze wasn’t directed at him. It was looking past him. Noah, feeling a sudden unease, turned his head.

Behind him, Wilhelm stood with open arms, waiting for Scarlet.

Scarlet broke away from Noah’s arms and ran toward Wilhelm.

‘No!’

He reached out to her, but he couldn’t catch her. No voice came out.

He felt like he was suffocating to death. His whole body felt like it was being torn apart into rags.

In the middle of that horrible scream, Noah woke up.

“Huff, huff, huff.”

Noah cried out, not realizing at first that it had been a dream. His secretary, Peter, burst into the room.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

“Damn it! That bastard!”

“Your Majesty! Please come to your senses!”

Peter shook his shoulders, and slowly, the blank look in Noah’s eyes regained focus.

Noah panted heavily, his body trembling. He wiped his sweaty face and struggled to catch his breath.

After a while, he managed to calm his heart and mind.

“What time is it?”

“6:40, sir.”

As the sweat cooled, he felt a chill. It was summer, yet he was cold… Realizing again how broken he was, Noah jumped up from the bed.

Through the loose neckline of his pajamas, his firm muscles showed. Throwing off his pajamas, he headed straight to the bathroom, washed, and got ready.

His day started with coffee and a newspaper.

“Today’s the day.”

“Yes, it is.”

His eyes skimmed the newspaper quickly, but nothing stayed in his mind.

Today, he would enter the White Mansion.

When he had disguised himself as a fabric merchant and snuck in before, he had promised Scarlet to deliver some special fabrics.

Noah buried his face in his hands.

When he closed his eyes, he saw Scarlet’s smile. Then the image of her running past him into Wilhelm’s arms appeared.

He rubbed his eyes hard with his fingertips. It was just a dream. But it was also reality.

Scarlet had abandoned him. Or maybe not—after all, she had met Wilhelm after their breakup.

But still, she had lied that she was dead. If that wasn’t abandonment, what was it?

‘Do you know how I lived because of you…?’

Memories of countless sleepless nights and pain flashed before him.

All that remained in his heart was the lump of love.

Of course, Noah was happy Scarlet was alive. Happy enough to dance in joy or to pray in thanks to God.

But she had played with his sincere feelings. All gratitude turned into curses, and joy turned into pain, dragging him into a living hell.

“I should go early.”

“It’s only 8:30.”

“If I leave now, I’ll arrive around nine. Nine is a good time to start work, right?”

Noah cast a transformation spell over his face, grabbed the goods for sale, and got on a carriage.

The closer he got to the White Mansion, the more nervous he became. His heart raced and his breath tightened. His mouth was dry. His head felt like it would explode.

Normally, he prided himself on being rational, but when it came to Scarlet, he became different.

He became a complete fool, ready to do the stupidest things.

‘I don’t even know anymore.’

Scarlet, what am I supposed to do with you?

He wanted to look at her—and destroy her family at the same time. Thinking that made a wave of sadness hit him.

They had always walked along parallel lines.

Whenever their feelings seemed to meet at a crossing point, they ended up missing each other and growing even farther apart than before.

‘Is this our fate?’

Noah pressed his eyes with both hands, swallowing his sorrow.

Just then, the carriage stopped. They had arrived at the White Mansion.

He grabbed the goods he had prepared and was about to knock on the door when it opened from inside. Scott White appeared.

“What is this?”

Noah’s breath stopped. His fists clenched tight. Seeing that smug face made a surge of killing intent rise inside him.

His mother had died miserably and gone to God, but this man was living his life as if nothing had happened.

He wanted to tear his throat out with magic and make him die screaming.

“I asked, what is it? Are you deaf?”

Scott White sneered coldly.

“He’s my guest.”

The voice he had longed to hear, imagined countless times, and even heard in his dream today—Scarlet’s voice—reached him.

His heart thumped uncontrollably. Her scent filled the air, making him gasp.

Though it was summer, Scarlet wore a shawl, looking tired as it was early morning.

That sight pained him. He tried to reject his feelings but failed. Like a dog wagging its tail at its master, he couldn’t help it.

“Mr. Finn, thank you for coming so early. Please come inside.”

“Buying more fabric again? You’re going to end up owning all the fabric in the world.”

“Better than buying alcohol.”

“That’s true. Have fun. I’m leaving.”

“Take care, Mr. Finn. Let’s go upstairs.”

Scarlet led the way to the same workshop as before. She had a servant prepare tea while she showed him the fabric she had ordered.

She almost clapped her hands with joy when she saw the goods he brought.

“Oh my, Mr. Finn! You’re amazing! You have no idea how long I’ve been looking for this!”

Noah found this open, cheerful Scarlet unfamiliar.

The Scarlet he knew was stubborn, cranky, and sensitive. But the woman in front of him was soft and lovely.

What had happened over the past six years?

Had Noah Ashford’s disappearance from her life caused this change?

If so, was he nothing more than a thorn stuck in her heart?

Guilt, so familiar now, filled him. A sadness with no end overwhelmed him.

“Mr. Carter?”

“Ah, sorry.”

“It’s okay. You must be tired coming here so early.”

Scarlet, sipping her tea, seemed like a different person. Not just her beauty—her whole impression and atmosphere had changed.

The old Scarlet had seemed like she would crumble at a touch.

She had been ready to bite anyone at any moment.

Her sensitivity, stretched to its limit, would explode with the slightest mistake, hurting those around her.

But now, Scarlet was…

“If you’re curious about anything, feel free to ask.”

Scarlet said casually.

“Just promise to keep our conversation secret.”

The large check Scarlet had given him last time was payment for his silence. Because of that, he had to sign a non-disclosure agreement before leaving the mansion.

“Ah…”

After hesitating a moment, he asked a small question.

“I’m curious why Miss White started making clothes.”

It was a small thing, but it had always been a puzzle.

Scarlet had been talented in painting and loved looking at flowers. But making clothes? It seemed random.

The White family could buy all the clothes they wanted. Why bother making them?

“Hmm.”

Scarlet took her time thinking.

“If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to.”

She smiled awkwardly and answered.

“No, it’s just… no real reason. I just wanted to make something for my family. Something made with love, something that would prove I was alive.”

Noah guessed that her health was still not good. His jaw tightened.

Meanwhile, Scarlet also wondered why she was saying such things to a merchant she had only met twice. But she quickly decided it was just because Noah had visited Wifland.

Wanting to change the subject, Scarlet spoke.

“More importantly, I want to buy some fabric to decorate the tables for my engagement party.”

Noah’s eyes flashed for a moment. But Scarlet didn’t notice, busy sipping her tea.

His heart dropped heavily. The excitement he had felt from seeing her shattered.

He gritted his teeth and asked,

“An engagement party?”

“Yes. It’s a small family gathering, so I want to put more thought into every detail. I want fabric with a little stiffness to give a pastoral feeling.”

“…Next time I come, I’ll bring some good samples.”

“Yes, please.”

“It’ll be a perfect engagement party. It has to be.”

Scarlet kept emphasizing “perfect,” showing just how happy she was. Her brightly smiling lips stirred up his jealousy.

That smile should have been mine. That thought made anger rise in him.

It hurt that her happiness wasn’t because of him.

Worse, while he was still running along a parallel line, she seemed to be sharing real feelings with Wilhelm.

It wasn’t just anger he felt.

Jealousy, irritation, emptiness, disappointment, sadness, despair… All those emotions swirled together inside Noah.

“Young Lady, Miss Susan is urgently calling for you.”

Just when he couldn’t hide his crumpled expression, Marie appeared and called Scarlet.

“Susan? Please wait just a moment.”

Scarlet apologized and left the room.

Left alone, Noah dropped his head and buried his face in his hands.

The unbearable sorrow ached in his chest.

Just not having you makes me this miserable… How can you be so happy?

He didn’t even have the strength to scream. A deep depression wrapped around him, making him want to just lie down.

It was then the door opened again.

Noah quickly looked up, thinking Scarlet had returned.

But it wasn’t her.

“You are…”

A small child with reddish-blond hair was staring at him. The boy’s gray eyes were not cold and sharp like Scott’s, but soft and bright like Scarlet’s.

This must be Scott White’s son, Teddy. His face, full of curiosity, showed he was a loved child.

Holding onto the door handle and twisting his body shyly, Teddy asked,

“Mister, you’re a wizard, right?”

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