Scarlet quietly followed the men to the car, on a journey to an unknown destination. All she knew was that she was going to the man's place.
Settled beside the young man, Scarlet felt a deep exhaustion. Her wet clothing was nearly dry against her skin. She leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and drifted into sleep within a minute.
The young man watched her, struck by her innocent, tired look.
What desperation could lead someone so young to ask a stranger she met by accident to marry her? Was she a calculated trap? Or did the incident happen by chance, truly an accident? Marcus wondered, his gaze lingering on the woman sleeping peacefully in his car.
The vehicle came to a stop before a sprawling villa. Scarlet remained asleep, letting out soft moans.
Marcus leaned toward her to wake her, gently tapping her exposed arm.
"Wake up," he called. Scarlet only moaned again, eyes closed, appearing unwell.
Marcus frowned as understanding dawned. He touched her forehead and felt the heat radiating off her.
Her temperature is spiking. The rain must have brought on a fever, he realized. He got out, walked quickly to the passenger side, and opened the door. The driver, who had been watching his boss in confusion, was shocked when Marcus lifted Scarlet into his arms. He hurried over.
"Boss, let me carry her inside," the driver offered, but Marcus waved him off. He carried Scarlet into the house and immediately called for one of his maids, ordering a bowl of water and a cloth to be brought to the guest room.
He took Scarlet to the guest room and gently placed her on the bed. She was now shivering and groaning.
When the maid arrived with the water and napkin, Marcus turned to her.
"She has a fever. Wipe her down and administer the fever medication. I am leaving her in your care," he instructed coldly before leaving the room and retreating to his own.
He couldn't quite believe his own actions, caring for a complete stranger but she had helped him earlier. Bringing anyone, let alone a stranger, into his mansion was unprecedented.
He mulled over the events. He needed to find out who this woman was, because her sudden appearance could not simply be a coincidence. Could it?
The next day….
The following day, Scarlet woke up feeling much better. She surveyed the large, minimally decorated, yet comfortable room. As she sat up, the door opened softly, and Marcus walked in.
"How are you feeling, stranger?" Marcus asked with a slight chuckle.
"I prefer you call me Scarlet," she replied softly.
Marcus nodded. "Very well, Scarlet. How about we discuss things over breakfast? You can clean up and join me when you're ready." He turned and left the room.
Scarlet sighed. Spotting what she guessed was the bathroom door, she walked over, opened it, and stepped inside to wash up.
————
In the expansive dining room, a maid led Scarlet to the table, and she sat down directly across from Marcus.
"So, I assume your fever has broken?" Marcus cleared his throat and asked.
"Yes, thank you," Scarlet said awkwardly, unsure whether she should begin eating. Noticing her hesitation, Marcus spoke.
"Please eat while we talk," he directed, continuing, "I'm not sure where to start, but let's begin with you walking alone in the rain. What were you thinking that you almost got hit by my car? Where were you headed, and where were you coming from?" Marcus barraged her with questions.
Scarlet looked up from her plate to meet his gaze. She sighed, a subtle frown pulling at her lips.
"I have nowhere to go," she admitted. "All I know is my husband divorced me, my father disowned me, and I was thrown out of my house." She fought back tears, looking back down at her plate.
Marcus was stunned. "You're married?" he asked, needing confirmation of her story.
Scarlet sniffed and nodded.
"You don't look like a married woman. Why did your husband divorce you, and why did your family disown and kick you out?" Marcus pressed. Scarlet began to explain what had occurred and how she ended up walking in the cold, rainy night.
"Yes, I was married. I was forced to marry him for some foolish reason my father had for marrying me off to Jackson's family. Since the wedding, he has never liked me and treated me like a stranger. I lived like that for a year as Jackson's wife until two days ago, when he came home acting kind to me. I was shocked but hopeful that he was finally going to treat me like his wife."
"He told me he was attending a gala and wanted me to accompany him as his wife. So, I dressed up and we left. At the party, he excused himself to take a call, and a member of the staff handed me a glass of wine. I sipped it until it was empty. I knew a single glass of wine wouldn't make everything spin and blur they must have spiked my drink and drugged me." Scarlet paused, sniffling, then continued.
"I don't recall what happened that night, only that as I felt myself being drugged, someone I couldn't see clearly led me out of the party. The next day, I woke up in one of the building's suites. I took a taxi home, only to get a call from my enraged father. Jackson, his family, my stepmom, and my sister were all waiting for me."
"I was framed. My husband tricked me into going to the party, just to set me up. I thought he'd finally decided to treat me like a wife, but he tricked me into falling for his scheme," she concluded, tears welling in her eyes.
Marcus listened intently to her tale.
"Who is your father? And your husband?" Marcus asked, making Scarlet look up at him.
"Don't worry, I'm just asking," Marcus reassured her softly.
"My dad is Mr. Benson Jones," Scarlet whispered.
"And your husband, what is his family's name?" Marcus asked again.
"Jackson Thomas," Scarlet replied shortly.
"How old are you?" Marcus asked.
"I'm 23," Scarlet said, looking down at her plate.
"So you were just 20 or 21 years old when you married that scum? Do you work, or does your father support you?" Marcus asked.
"I don't work. I studied medicine and surgery at university. I was preparing for my MD degree when Dad insisted I marry Jackson so that I couldn't fulfill my wish. I wouldn't say no to him. He divorced my mom when I was six, and she took me to the countryside, but then left me with my grandma. I grew up there. My grandma was a healer who knew a lot about herbs and medicine. She owned a hospital in the community. As I grew up and attended school there, I became interested in everything she did and dreamed of becoming a doctor. I finished high school with good grades at 15, but life was cruel. Grandma passed away on my 16th birthday just as I was planning to enter university, leaving me alone. That's when my father took me in. He sent me to university a year later. I finished medical school when I was 21 and married the same year I graduated." Scarlet narrated her life story to an attentive Marcus.
"Your father is despicable. He should have let you finish your degrees instead of marrying you off so soon," Marcus stated, then made a suggestion that shocked Scarlet.
"Hmm, how about you choose to go back to school and finish all your degrees? That sounds like a much better path than marrying again after your first marriage failed with a scumbag your father forced you into," Marcus said with seriousness, causing Scarlet's eyes to widen.
"Let's just say I'm repaying you for your help that way. And even if I were looking for a wife, I want someone truly worthy of me and you don't come close to that yet," Marcus added, causing Scarlet to shift uncomfortably and look down in embarrassment.
"What do you say, Ms. Scarlet?" Marcus asked, raising his brows.