Wilted Petals of Love

Even after all that, I couldn't resist the greed of wanting to see Scout one last time, even though I knew the person marrying him would never be me.

I wanted to put an end to the eight years of feelings and the intimacy we shared that night.

The next day, Maya suddenly came to see me. She said that Scout was hosting a banquet.

"Nora, I know you have a lot of misunderstandings about me, but it's alright. Soon, I'll officially be Scouttie's wife. I'll take care of you together with him from now on.

"Wear this dress and head to the front hall. Don't make Scouttie angry," she said.

I glanced at the dress—it wasn't anything special, just an ordinary evening gown.

It was nothing like the meticulous outfits Scout used to personally prepare for me for every important event. This dress fell far short of those.

But at this point, I knew better than to expect too much. Not wanting to be late and risk upsetting Scout, I hurried to the front hall. I arrived just as the guests began to fill the room.

In the past, Scout and I were always the only ones wearing matching colors at such events. Now, there was Maya. After hearing others chatting, I finally realized this banquet was their engagement party.

In that instant, an overwhelming sense of awkwardness washed over me. I was the extra person here.

Before I could process the inquisitive stares from the guests, Scout approached me before saying in a cold and sharp voice, "Maya personally invited you to today's engagement banquet. What's with this outfit of yours?"

I tried to explain. "No, Ms. Walker said…"

But before I could finish, Maya stepped forward with a gentle smile, feigning generosity. "Scout, Nora is still young. It's alright."

As soon as she said this, the guests erupted in criticism.

"So this is that shameless little tramp! Ms. Walker is too kind. If it were me, I'd have broken her legs and thrown her out!"

"When you keep strays around for too long they really start to think they're the host of the place!"

The same people who used to flatter me for Scout's favor now hurled cruel words with twice the intensity.

I looked at Maya in humiliation, only to find her smiling triumphantly. I wanted to leave quickly, but instead, I stumbled and fell heavily in front of Maya.

Drowning in ridicule and accusations, I tried to get up multiple times, only to fail miserably. Just when I had given up resisting in despair, Scout walked toward me.

I thought, for a fleeting moment, that he might pick me up like he had years ago. Or that he might comfort me with the words, "It's alright, I'll take you back to your room."

But instead, he simply looked down at me. I was sprawled pathetically on the floor. "Change your clothes and get back to your room immediately."

I tried to stand again, but the pain in my stomach was unbearable, and I couldn't manage it.

"Nora, don't make me force you," he said coldly.

To my surprise, it was Maya who helped me up in the end. With an air of magnanimity, she even allowed me to return the dress later.

I looked at Scout's indifferent expression and his utter lack of compassion. In the end, I couldn't bring myself to explain anything.

Lying on the battered bed in my room, I could hear the sound of the piano drifting in from the front hall. The same piano Scout had learned to play for me was now being used to entertain Maya.

Amid the music, I could faintly hear the voices of the guests showering them with praise.

"What a perfect match indeed. One's talented and one's beautiful. They're truly made for each other."

As I listened to Scout play the piano, I didn't feel the heartbreak I usually did. Instead, I felt a sense of relief.

Hearing it one last time was enough, even if it wasn't played for me. Now, neither the music nor the person playing it could stir my heart anymore.

When the guests finally left, my stomach started hurting again. Even so, I still went to return the dress.

While I was waiting, I overheard a few maids speaking cautiously.

"Mr. Scout just carried Ms. Walker into the room. I guess they're about to…"

Their conversation was followed by a burst of suggestive laughter. At that moment, I understood exactly what they meant. It made me think of that wild night we shared.

I dropped the dress onto the floor and stumbled back to my small room, feeling utterly defeated.

Once there, the pain in my stomach grew worse. It seemed the baby sensed it too. I had Hank take me to the hospital that same night.

The doctor examined me and checked my pulse. His expression turned grave as he said, "The fetus is not in good condition. You might need to be hospitalized to protect it."

I paused briefly before responding calmly, "That won't be necessary. Just prescribe me some medication. I'm not keeping the baby."

This baby couldn't have come at the worst time. Since I had decided to cut ties with Scout, there was no reason to keep anything connected to him.

The affection I felt for him over eight years had now turned into nothing but gratitude. I owed him nothing anymore.

When I returned to the Saccone family mansion, I didn't disturb Scout or Maya. But in the middle of the night, a sharp pain twisted through my stomach, and I could feel the child slipping away from me.

The nursing pad beneath me was soaked red. It was like my lifeless heart that was drained of all warmth.

Knowing I was unwelcome and fearing gossip, I stayed quietly in the storage room, weak from the miscarriage. Even when the maids brought me cold, unappetizing food, I swallowed it without flinching.

On the day Scout and Maya got married, Hare City was bustling with celebration from dawn until nightfall. Even when he was caught up in endless formalities, Scout still remembered to instruct the family butler, Segun Green, to lock the storage room.

"Mr. Scout said it's for your own good. This is the only way Ms. Walker can tolerate you."

In the entire Saccone family, only the hunting dogs and I were excluded from the wedding.

The storage room lapsed into silence again, but they didn't know I had long hidden a spare key. I wasn't going to wait any longer.

Still, I managed to sneak a final glance at Scout before leaving. Dressed in white formalwear, he looked even more handsome and refined. But he wasn't the man I had once imagined him to be.

I whispered from a distance, "Scout, I wish you and Maya a lifetime of happiness."

I then left without looking back with the help of Aunt Cindy's people, who had come to fetch me. I felt completely untethered.