Chapter 7

The sound of a slap rang loudly. Scarlett was too stunned to speak. Driven mad, Eloise turned around to retrieve the watch, but Scarlett grabbed her. As they fought each other, Eloise accidentally clawed Scarlett in the face. Scarlett was about to retaliate when Jeremy kicked the door open. Looking glum, he shoved Eloise aside. The back of her head slammed hard against the metal locker, and a loud bang echoed in the air. Wyatt, who followed behind Jeremy, hurried over to Eloise without thinking. "Mr. Gibson, when I found a watch in my pocket, Ms. Loughlin started attacking me without any explanation. That's why I accidentally dropped it. "I didn't do it on purpose. Please believe me." Scarlett cried her heart out. Jeremy pulled her into a hug and comforted her. He was about to berate Eloise when Wyatt exclaimed, "Eloise, you're bleeding from your forehead!" Dizzy from the collision, Eloise stared at the ground as she attempted to regain her focus. Frowning worriedly, Jeremy stood up to check on Eloise, but Scarlett immediately hugged him. "Mr. Gibson, I should have known my place. I shouldn't have fallen in love with you." Scarlett's eyes, reddened from crying, made her appear pitiful. "I won't come between you and Ms. Loughlin. I'm planning to quit my job and leave. I—" Jeremy cut off her rambling by grabbing the back of her neck and planting a forceful kiss on her lips. While kissing her, he said, "I won't let you leave!" Scarlett's cheeks were still wet from tears, and she quickly responded to his kiss. The embarrassing sounds from their French kiss echoed in the space. Wyatt looked away, mumbling, "Jeremy is down bad for Scarlett." Eloise watched the scene unfold with bitterness, even though she was already numb and hurt from it all. She scrambled up from the ground and hurried off to retrieve her watch. The cracks on the face of the watch resembled the shape of fireworks. Even drawing breaths felt painful. She refused to stay any longer. Turning around, she wanted to retrieve her stuff, only to see Wyatt beating her to it. He looked abashed. "Eloise, Jeremy is staring at Scarlett like she's prey. You should stay away from her." Eloise took her stuff from Wyatt with a flat expression. She knew that Wyatt had toned down Jeremy's original message. She wanted to leave, but they forced her to stay. Not long after, Scarlett emerged arm-in-arm with Jeremy. A bright smile blossomed on her lips. Since Scarlett did not know how to ski, Jeremy patiently taught her. Their carefree laughter reached Eloise's ears. When they took a break, Jeremy and Wyatt went to smoke in the smoking area. Eloise walked away to refill her water. Suddenly, she heard someone mention her name. Walking in the direction of the voice, she arrived at the door of the smoking area. "Jeremy, you knew very well that Eloise has loved you for years. How could you flirt with another woman in her face? Isn't that cruel? "You went to Eloise for help in the first place. Now that the crisis is over, why don't you divorce her since you have no feelings for her? Don't string her along." Eloise peered through the cracks of the door and saw Jeremy exhaling a cloud of smoke. Holding a cigarette in one hand, he rapped the other hand on his thigh. "I don't love Eloise, but I am used to having her take care of me." His heartless remarks made her chest tighten. The pain was too much to bear. "You guys don't get it. Eloise can't live without me. I can offer her the title of Mrs. Gibson and the right to stay by my side. But that's all I can give, and she shouldn't ask for more." Eloise was absolutely disappointed. Tears streamed down her expressionless face. It turned out that Jeremy had always been aware of her one-sided love for him. Unfortunately, he took her for a fool, watching as she revolved around him. Another person spoke up. "But Jeremy, did you not feel anything for Eloise after all these years? After all, she's very different from those women you dated." Jeremy snickered. "Yeah, she is different, which was why I chose to marry her over anyone else. But now, I realize that a man should marry the woman he loves. Eloise Loughlin is not for me." Suddenly, her fists relaxed. The last drop of tear rolled down her cheek. She thought to herself, "Jeremy, no one dies from a heartbreak, including me." With that, she walked away with resolve.