Chapter 486 Maggie Meet Scarlett
"Zara, I want you to stay here in this house. You don't have to go back to your apartment..." Scarlett paused, smiling as she observed Zara's shocked reaction.
"Why do you react like that?" Scarlett continued. "You didn't want to? Fine, if you don't want—"
"No... I mean, I want to..." Zara quickly responded. " Scarlett, even though this is your house, are you sure your mother-in-law agrees?" She asked worriedly
"Gosh, sister... You worry too much. Actually, this is her idea. She asked for permission if Xander and I would allow you to stay here." Scarlett explained.
Suddenly, Zara's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing Scarlett's words. She never imagined Martha would ask Scarlett like that because she thought she didn't really like her.
"Please, Scarlett, don't make fun of me for something like that..." Zara shook her head, unable to believe it.
"Why should I make fun of you? I'm telling the truth, alright!" Scarlett said, but later, she felt something was not right. Why did Zara think Martha would never do that?
"Zara, how could I lie to you? Aunt Martha was the first one to ask me that. If you don't believe me, you can ask Logan. He was with me when Aunty Martha asked me about that. And Logan is responsible for ensuring your room is ready..."
"Wait, Wait—" Zara frowned. This time, she started to believe Scarlett, but something was still bothering her mind. "Why did she do that?" she asked.
"What do you mean, 'Why did she do that?'" Scarlett repeated her question.
"Ugh, well... I mean... she literally didn't like me, Scarlett." There was a sadness that could be heard in Zara's tone.
"What? Why did you say that?" Scarlett was speechless. Every day since Aunt Martha found out about Zara, she had always talked about Zara and praised her. But now Zara said Aunt didn't like her. She felt puzzled.
"At the hospital, she rarely talked to me, and the way she spoke to you seemed different than when she talked with me. That's why I assumed she didn't like me..." Zara said while taking a deep breath. But later, she cried out when Scarlett's finger flicked her forehead.
"Ough!!"? Zara glared at her, feeling confused. Just before she wanted to scold her, she stopped when she saw Scarlett speak.
Scarlett starts to share what she heard from Aunt Martha. She tells her everything, including how Aunt Martha always refers to Zara as her daughter-in-law.
"...So, my dear sister Zara, if Aunty Martha rarely speaks to you, it's not because she doesn't like you. Maybe it's just because you both have just met," Scarlett said.
"But—"
"And please, Sister Zara... don't compare me with you. I'm her real daughter-in-law, while you? You're still the future one." Scarlett grins, trying to tease her. "Well, I guess Aunty Martha... she's just trying to hold back, afraid you'll run away from Carter if you didn't like his mother, right?" She casually says, attempting to convince her stubborn sister.
Zara smiled softly. She no longer doubted Scarlett's words. She believes her. With trembling hands, she holds Scarlett's hand.
"Scarlett, I want to stay here... I want to stay by his side!" She says with her beaming eyes.
"Yaay! Now, I feel happy because I have you here. We will do so many things together, Zara..." Scarlett said, her eyes sparked with happiness.
Scarlett and Zara talk a bit longer before joining the rest inside.
****
A few days later.
While Scarlett was relaxing in the back garden with Xander, the butler suddenly appeared to inform them that Theodor Parker was waiting for them in the living room.
"Huh!? Isn't Theo traveling to Asia? Why has he already come back?" Scarlett asked Xander, but he only shook his head to answer her. He would not tell her that he was the one who asked Theodor's parents to call him home.
"Let's meet him," Xander held her hand, and they entered the house.
When they entered the living room, Scarlett was taken aback to find Theodor and Maggie in the room. Instantly, her grip on Xander's hand tightened.
"Why did she come? Is it to apologize or to mock my mother again?" Scarlett thought, her annoyance flashing through her eyes. She wanted to leave the room, but Xander gently squeezed her hand, attempting to reassure her.
Scarlett glanced at him and returned his smile as if conveying that she was okay. She was making an effort to be okay.
"Sister-in-law, Xander..." Theodor, who had spotted them, stood from his seat, unable to hide his happiness, finally meeting them again. nOVe/lB-In
"Hi, Theo," Scarlett smiled, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Maggie, who appeared awkward in her seat.
"Theodor, what brings you to our house!?" Xander asked while giving him a light punch on the shoulder before inviting him to sit again.
"I must apologize to both of you for coming without notice..." Theodor grinned as he sat.
"Oh, please, brother Theo..." Scarlett shook her head slowly, letting out a light laugh. "Haven't you done that too many times? You come and go as you please. Xander and I thought you'd settled here," she said.
Theodor chuckled.
"Okay, tell me, brother, why did you come?" Scarlett paused and glanced at Maggie. "And why did this Miss Gilwynn come?"
"Scarlett, I need to talk to you," Maggie finally dared to speak after feeling nervous since entering the house.
Initially, she hadn't wanted to come this early to meet Scarlett, but Theodor had urged her to come here and assured her that Scarlett would forgive her. That's why she had come, even though she doubted Theodor's words. Now, she just prayed that Scarlett would accept her apology.
Scarlett's forehead furrowed slightly at Maggie's words.
'Why does she want to talk to me? Shouldn't she be talking to her father?' she wondered.
"Miss Gilwynn, I'm sorry... but you're mistaken if you wish to speak with me. It would be best if you talked to your father. Well, I mean, our father..." Scarlett said, an awkward smile crossing her face.
