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

When Scarlett stayed silent for a long time , Ethan changed the subject . He reached into the briefcase he always carried , pulled out a small , elegant mahogany jewelry box , and flipped it open . Inside lay a full set of shimmering jade jewelry - necklace , earrings , bracelet - the pieces cut from top - grade stone , a rich green that almost seemed to glow . " I remember you telling me you've been trying to find the pieces of your mother's jewelry your stepmother sold off , " Ethan said , setting the box in front of her .

His tone was as cool as ever , but there was a hint of effort beneath it . " I had people asking around . It took almost a year , but we finally tracked them down at an auction overseas and put the whole set back together for you . " Scarlett's gaze finally shifted , landing on that familiar shade of green her mother had o Her heart clenched , as if an invisible hand had given it a small , painful squeeze . o fiercely . She drew in a long breath , swallowed down the tightness in her throat , and reached out to take the box , her fingertips cold . " I'll take it , " she said .

" But I'm not saying thank you . " " Because soon , I'm going to give you one hell of a gift too . " Ethan's brows pulled together , and he was just opening his mouth to ask what she meant when his aide knocked , stepped in , and bent close to murmur a few words in his ear . His expression hardened . He rose to his feet . " Scarlett , there's an urgent matter I have to handle on base . I have a nurse's aide assigned to you . Get some rest . " Scarlett watched his hurried retreating back , her mind crystal clear .

It sounded like urgent business , sure , but it was really just him running to the room next door to fuss over his fragile , helpless sweetheart . In the days that followed , Scarlett focused on healing . Nurses wheeled her off for test after test , and every time she passed Nora's room with the door left slightly ajar , she caught sight of Ethan inside , taking care of her himself . He brought her water , peeled apples , and leaned in to murmur to her , patient and gentle , like a completely different man .

Every time , Scarlett only spared them a cool glance before looking away without a word . He wouldn't be her husband much longer . Whoever he chose to dote on after that had nothing to do with her. One day , after another round of tests , she came back to her room to find the place a wreck - drawers yanked open , cabinets rummaged through , everything a mess . Chapter 6 MY WE ARE 20.00 % Her heart lurched . She rushed to the nightstand , yanked open the drawer - and the mahogany jewelry box was gone . Scarlett grabbed the first nurse who passed by . " Who's been in my room ?

Where are my things ? " The nurse jumped at her tone . " I - Ms . West stopped by . She said you two were friends and she was just helping you grab a few things ... " Nora . Scarlett's eyes went instantly cold . She let go of the nurse and strode straight toward Nora's room . Nora was propped against her pillows , a book in hand . When she saw Scarlett storm in surprised at all . " Give me back my things , " Scarlett said , stopping at the foot of the bed , her voice like ice . didn't look Nora closed her book with deliberate care . " Relax . I'm not interested in your jade .

I just wanted an excuse to see you again . " " Scarlett , " she went on , " everyone says you're the golden girl of Southport - the wildest rich girl in town , living however you want , with a line of guys chasing you that could stretch from here all the way to Paris . You could have anyone . Why do you have to fight me for Ethan? " Her tone was thick with hurt and bewilderment . " I told you the truth last time . You know he doesn't love you . He only married you for your blood , for the medication . So why did you have to drag him into a place like that club and seduce him ?

Was it just to rub your charm in my face ? To prove to me that the famously self - disciplined Ethan can lose control for you , go crazy for you ? " Watching Nora unravel like that , Scarlett felt her chest seize up , a brutal , crushing pain stealing her breath . What a joke . What an absolute joke . Ethan had lost control for one reason only - to get Nora her medicine as fast as possible . And somehow she'd twisted all of that into Scarlett's fault . Scarlett couldn't even be bothered to argue with logic that twisted everything that badly . " Give it back .

" Nora stared at her for a long moment , then said softly , " It's in the morgue . " " After all , a dead woman's jewelry belongs on a dead body , doesn't it ? " " You- " Fury surged up so hard Scarlett almost lunged for her , ready to tear that pretty , lying face apart . But she swallowed it down , spun on her heel , and headed for the morgue instead . Getting her mother's heirloom back came first . 20.00 % The hospital's morgue was in the basement - cold , dim , the air heavy with formaldehyde and the sour reek of death .

Scarlett had been afraid of the dark , of places like this , ever since she was a child . Right now , the dread crawling over her skin was almost unbearable . Even so , she gritted her teeth and started pulling open the cold metal drawers one by one until , in a unit tucked away in a corner , she finally saw the familiar mahogany box . She let out a shaky breath , grabbed the box , and held it tight against her chest , as if she could draw some of her mother's strength from it .

But as she turned to leave , a deafening clang rang out behind her - the heavy metal door been slammed shut and locked from the outside . " Nora ! Open the door ! " Scarlett threw herself at it , pounding with both fists , her voice raw . morgue had From the other side came Nora's voice , laced with a smile . " Miss Jones , why don't you stay in there and keep your friends company for a while ... " Footsteps faded away down the hall . "Let me out ! Open the door !

" Scarlett hurled herself against it again and again , shouting until her throat burned , but the only answer was the dead silence of the morgue and the kind of cold that cut straight to the bone . Her body was already weak , and the fear and the chill drained her strength fast . In the end she slid down the icy metal , crumpling to the floor as her vision went dark and she passed out completely . She had no idea how much time had gone by when she slowly surfaced again , just enough to hear muffled voices somewhere outside the door . 20.00 % admin