The Ice-Cold General Learned Regret in the Language of Roses Novel

Everyone stared at her in stunned silence . " You - you ungrateful girl ! " Her stepmother snapped out of it first and rushed over to smooth things over . " Scarlett , if you have something to say , say it calmly . Don't make your father angry ... " " You don't get to talk here . " Scarlett's voice cracked like a whip . " A homewrecker who clawed her way up from being a third - rate actress doesn't get to lecture me about anything . " Her stepmother's face went from pale to flushed and back again , and she turned toward Richard with tears trembling in her eyes .

Richard was seething , but seeing his daughter in full scorched - earth mode , he swallowed waved for his wife to take the frightened kids upstairs . " What the hell are you throwing a tantrum about now ? " ger and Scarlett met his eyes and forced out each word . " Was it you who used that miracle drug to force Ethan to marry me ? " Richard's gaze flickered . " What nonse Auto - added to the Library " You know perfectly well whether it's nonsense. Scarlett Steppem closer , pressing him . " Richard Jones , answer me . Was it , or wasn't it ?

" Looking at his daughter on the edge of a breakdown , Richard knew he couldn't hide it any longer and finally snapped , " So what if it was me ? I did it for your own good . Ethan's talented , with a future most families would kill for in a son - in - law . I landed you a catch like that - how exactly am I wrong here ? " " You're my daughter . You think I'd hurt you ? Only a man like Ethan can handle you . You're only going to be happy with someone like him . " " Happy ? " Scarlett let out a broken laugh . " You're really going to call a marriage built on lies and a business deal happiness ?

Let me tell you something , Richard Jones - I've got more men chasing me than I know what to do with . I don't need disgusting tricks like this to chain one down . " She drew a long breath and ripped the mask off him . " And stop pretending this is all for me . You just wanted to get rid of the daughter who's been fighting you over my mother all these years . You know my standards are high and I won't look twice at most men , so you picked Ethan , made sure I'd fall for him , marry him , and give him a kid .

Once I had a family of my own , you figured he'd talk me into dropping any claim to your money so you could leave every last dollar to the woman you love and her illegitimate kids , isn't that right ? " Chapter 3 10.00 % Richard's face went through several shades at once , but he still clung to his flimsy defense . " You - you're making things up ! " " I'm making things up ? " Scarlett laughed until tears slipped free , hanging on to the last of her pride . " Fine . Whether that was your plan or not , I'm officially telling you this : I don't want a single cent of this inheritance .

" Richard froze , and a flicker of barely concealed delight flashed through his eyes . Scarlett caught every trace of it , and her heart sank straight to the bottom , going completely numb . " But I have two conditions , " she said , enunciating each word . " First , you hand over the drug to Ethan . Second , you use every connection you've got to push our divorce through as fast as possible . " Richard had still been furious , but the moment she clearly gave up the inheritance , his he even tried to salvage his dignity with a fake sigh . " Fine . You can't force love .

If you Your father just wants you to be happy . " " But the drug , " he added , changing tack , " I can't give you that yet . " fon eased , and then get out . He had one of the staff bring him a pad and pen , scribbled out an agreement right there , and slid it across the table to her . " Once the court signs off on your divorce , you go back overseas , stay there quietly , and stop causing trouble here . You'll state in black and white that you're giving up any claim to the Jones estate . Then I'll make sure Ethan gets the medication .

" Scarlett stared at the cold sheet of paper , feeling like her chest was being sliced open . So this was her father - no trace of genuine love for his daughter , just layer after layer of schemes for himself and his shiny new family . She picked up the pen , her hand trembling , and still forced herself to press down hard and sign her name , stroke by stroke . " Push the divorce through as quickly as you can , " she said , setting the pen down and fixing her father with a frozen stare . " And if I find out you never gave Ethan that drug ...

" She paused , her tone turning ruthless , ready to burn everything down with herself . " I'm not as by - the - book as Ethan . I'll just blow this place sky - high . You , that woman , and every one of those kids will go down with it . " With that , she didn't spare another glance at Richard's stunned , furious face , just turned on her heel and walked out of the house that made her sick . She didn't go back to Ethan's place either but headed straight for the downtown club she used to haunt .

For three straight days , she lived at that club - drinking , dancing , trying to drown herself in alcohol and noise , but only ending up feeling more hollow and cold inside . Chapter 3 10.00 % A few of her closest friends , having heard how she'd been spending her nights there , finally couldn't take it anymore and grabbed her when her eyes were already going glassy with booze . " Scarlett , what on earth is going on with you ? " Scarlett squinted at them through a drunk haze and managed a smile that looked worse than crying . " What could possibly be wrong ?

Same as always - drinking , having fun ... " " You haven't gone this hard since you got married , " one of them said worriedly . " Isn't General Foster always all over you in bed ... ? " " All over me ? " Scarlett's voice cracked . " Do you have any idea why he keeps dragging me into bed ? " Her chest hurt so badly she thought it might split open ; she tossed back the rest of her drink in one shot , the burn scorching her throat and her heart . She couldn't hold it in any longer and spilled everything .

Her friends were furious when she finished , cursing Ethan for being blind and calling her father shameless . Scarlett only laughed , the sound full of exhaustion and self - mockery . " Look at me . I can have any man I want . I'm not going to beg for one whose heart already belongs to someone else . " " Exactly . You've got the looks and the family name , " one friend huffed . " Guys who want to marry you could line up from Southport all the way to Paris , and Ethan doesn't even appreciate it . " " Yeah . With your personality , there's no way you'd ever look back .

Even if he ended up on his knees begging you , it wouldn't make a difference , " another chimed in . Scarlett smiled , but her eyes were full of bitter irony . Beg her ? He'd never beg her . Once she left the country and made sure Nora got the drug , clearing the way for the two of them , he'd probably be too busy celebrating to even think of asking her to stay . Her chest clenched again and again , and she excused herself to the restroom , needing a few minutes alone . But as soon as she stepped out , a man reeking of alcohol blocked her path and slid a hand toward her waist .

" All by yourself , sweetheart ? " he drawled . " You're gorgeous . How about a dance with me ? " Scarlett had already been in a foul mood , and her gaze went ice - cold as she drew breath to go off on him . A sickening crack cut through the music , followed by a scream like a stuck pig . " Aaagh ! " 10.00 % Scarlett looked up and found herself staring into a face that was always sharply handsome and now carved over with ice . It was Ethan . 10.00 % admin