Farewell To My Endless Love novel Chapter 223

Charles' POV:

"Charles, you've accompanied me for a long time. You really don't have to do this." Scarlett frowned at me, looking hesitant. Her discomfort was obvious. "Besides, I can get out of bed and walk unaided. I don't need too much care anymore."

Despite her words, I pressed her down to the bed and tucked her in patiently.

Scarlett replied to my gesture with a blank look.

I studied her gaze affectionately, and gave her a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Scarlett, I don't want to be separated from you anymore."

Scarlett opened her lips to reply, but in the end, she didn't make a sound. Then, she flashed me a sweet smile that melted my heart.

"You sleep for a while, alright? I'm going for a smoke."

As soon as I exited the ward, Janet approached me quickly and said in a low voice, "Rita's here, but Richard stopped her. He didn't allow her to get close to the ward."

She pointed to the elevator right after.

My eyes turned to the direction she pointed at. What I saw next startled me.

Before, Rita often dressed herself in the image of a pure and virginal girl, innocent and untainted.

Today, however, her face was caked with heavy makeup, and she wore skin-tight clothes that left little to the imagination, giving me the impression of a cheap call girl.

"Charles!" Rita waved coyly at me, sending me a flattering smile. "I'm not here to bother you, really! Linda was the one who asked me to see you on her behalf."

Richard was standing in front of Rita, a wary look on his face. I glanced at him, to which he immediately nodded and made way for me.

Without sparing a glance at Rita, I spun on my heel and made way to the French window at the end of the corridor. I refused to let Scarlett to be affected by Rita, not even the slightest.

With a flick of the switch, the lighter in my hands lit up the cigarette clamped between my lips.

"So... How's Scarlett?" Rita's voice came from behind me.

I took a brief drag, and then blew out the smoke. Only then did I reply icily, "That has nothing to do with you."

"Look, Linda's innocent. She was dragged down by her stupid niece. But I know you'll never be soft on them, just like how you treated me." Rita's voice grew louder as she inched closer to me. Her tone became soft and coquettish, repulsively so. "Actually... I just came up with an excuse to see you today. Haven't you ever missed me these days, Charles?"

I stood and watched quietly as Rita stretched out her hands towards me, about to wrap them around my waist. Just as she almost touched me, I flicked the cigarette butt. Instantly, the ash and sparks fell on her arm and burned her skin slightly.

Rita hissed from the pain. Alarmed, she staggered back immediately.

"Stay away from me." I shot her an icy glare that could freeze hell over. I could no longer restrain the disgust growing inside me. Seeing her face alone made me close to retching violently. "The Lively Group is over. Keep making trouble, Rita, and no one will be able to protect you."

Rita covered her scalded arm, trembling, her eyes filled with fear and horror. She was so frightened, she couldn't say anything.

"Tell Linda to behave herself if she wants to stay in this city." I was no longer in the mood to smoke, so I stubbed out the cigarette on the trash can and then dumped it inside. "You'd better stop making trouble in the future. If there's something wrong with your heart, you'll really end up dead."

"Charles, I..." My warnings weren't enough, as it seemed, for Rita still refused to give up.

Impatient, I shot her another glare. "Leave now, or I'll have the bodyguards throw you out of the hospital."

With that, Rita stopped abruptly and left in a hurry, fleeing like a frightened rat.

I was standing in a draught, and let the wind blow off the smell of smoke on my body before returning to Scarlett's ward.

Scarlett lay on the bed, her eyes were closed, her curly hair falling loose on the pillow. Her face was so fair and beautiful, it mesmerized me. But it was obvious that she wasn't asleep, and that her eyeballs were still rolling around under her eyelids.

I couldn't help but smile. Amused, I bent over to kiss her. I asked her vaguely, "Are you Sleeping Beauty?"

Sleeping Beauty snapped her eyes open, startled, and quickly pushed me away. "You're the one who told me to get some sleep. Why are you bothering me again?"

"Sorry, I can't help it."

"Charles!"

But Scarlett's angry outburst faded away when someone knocked on the door.

Janet entered, with a large bouquet of bright roses in her arms. She handed the bouquet to Scarlett. "Scarlett, someone sent you the flowers."

"Who is it?" Scarlett looked at me, puzzled.

"I don't know." Janet shook her head, before exiting, leaving Scarlett and I alone in the ward.

I pulled a long face and asked Scarlett seriously, "You really don't know which admirer of yours sent you these flowers?"

Scarlett flashed me an innocent, clueless look. She took out a folded card from the bouquet and handed it to me. "I really don't. Help me check it."

I said nothing, and stared at her for a long time.