Chapter 5 A proposal In Need..

scarlette's~~~~

He yelled it straight into my face, each word hitting like a slap, sharp and deliberate. I could feel my ears ringing from how loud it was.

My breath hitched.

Slowly, I pulled my hands back from his grasp, even though they throbbed with pain. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, brushing the tears away.

But the crack inside me had already split wide open.

And at that moment, something inside me broke. Not the kind that leaves you shattered-but the kind that hardens you forever.

I laughed bitterly, pain mixing with rage. "You're insane, Ethan. After all these years, after everything I gave you, everything I sacrificed-you're throwing me away like trash? How do you expect anyone to even look at me again? To want me?"

He smirked.

"I don't give a damn. You're already worthless. Used up. Don't even dream of remarriage. No one wants leftovers."

But then, a voice cut through the air like thunder.

"I'll marry her, brother."

We all froze.

I turned, my heart skipping.

Liam.

What the hell are you saying?" Mother barked, storming toward him.

"Have you lost your mind? Marry her? A woman your brother is rejecting and divorcing?"

Liam stepped past her like she was air, stopping in front of me. His eyes were calm, unreadable, but focused on me-not the mess around us.

"Scarlette," he said softly, "sign the divorce papers. And marry me instead."

My brain scrambled. My heart raced.

Was this a game? A twisted joke?

Divorcing Ethan and agreeing to marry his younger brother... wasn't something I ever imagined-not in a million lifetimes.

But remaining in this house... in this family... and destroying every single person who looked down on me? That... that was a temptation I could taste.

"Liam... what are you doing?" My voice came out low, shaky. I took a small step back, but he didn't move. His eyes were steady-too steady. "Do you even understand what you just said?" I asked, trying to breathe.

He just looked at me.

"The society... your family... Ethan-" I swallowed hard, my throat burning. "I won't just be your brother's ex-wife. I'm older than you, Liam. People will talk. They'll shame you."

My eyes started to sting again, threatening more tears. I hated that I still cared what anyone thought, but I did. I always had.

He took a step closer. His voice came out soft, but firm. "Who cares, Scarlette?"

I blinked.

"You've been good to everyone here. Too good," he said, his jaw clenching. "No one deserves you. Not Ethan. Not this family. If they don't want you..." He moved even closer, his face inches from mine, eyes burning with something I couldn't name.

"I want you. As my wife."

I couldn't speak.

My heart pounded so loud it filled the silence between us.

He wasn't joking. He meant every damn word.

And for the first time in years, I didn't know whether to cry... or run.

I stared at him-this boy, this man, standing in front of me with a promise I never thought I'd hear again.

They don't know.

No one really knows what I gave up.

I didn't marry Ethan because he was rich. I married him because I thought he saw me. Because for once, someone chose me..not for what I could give, but for who I was.

I gave him my everything. My time, my youth... my body, even when it ached with hope that never came. When the doctors said the problem was mine, I bore the shame in silence. I swallowed every bitter look from his mother, every hushed conversation about my womb being too tired..or too empty.

I smiled through all of it. For love.

And Emelia... my own sister. I took her in when she had no one. Paid for her school. Got her a job. I stood by her when our parents called her a disgrace. I made Ethan give her a chance in the company. I trusted her.

How stupid of me.

Now here I was, standing in the same house that watched me burn while her perfume still lingered on Ethan's clothes. And yet this boy... no, this man, Liam... was saying the very thing I thought I'd die never hearing again.

"I want you. As my wife."

"Liam, what the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Ethan yelled, rage rising.

Liam didn't blink. His eyes never left mine.

"Scarlette. What are you waiting for?" he asked again, calm, but firm.

I reached into my bag And Pulled out a pen.

Signed the divorce papers with steady hands.

Then turned to Liam.

"Let's get married," I said, grabbing his hand.

A slow fire lit inside me.

I will stay in this mansion as the ex-wife of the first Newton son... and the new wife of the second.

Just when I was about to walk away, his hand grabbed my arm tight, rough, like he had any right left.

"You've gone insane! This.... this is wrong! All of it is damn wrong!" Ethan barked behind me, his voice shaking with something between anger and disbelief. Frustration creased his forehead, his chest rising and falling like he'd just been hit.

I turned slowly, just halfway up the stairs. I didn't flinch. I didn't lower my eyes like I used to.

"Oh?" I asked, arching my brow. "Now it's wrong?"

He looked at me like I'd betrayed him. Him. The audacity.

"Why?" I asked with a cruel little smirk playing on my lips. "You can bring in another woman. Call her your wife. Divorce me like I'm trash. But I can't do the same? I can't marry your brother?"

His jaw clenched. Silence.

"You know what's really insane, Ethan?" I tilted my head. "That you still think you have a say in my life after what you did. That you think I should crawl away quietly and just take the hit. Like I don't bleed."

He stepped forward, his eyes dark, fists clenched. "This family will never accept you again. Not after this. You've ruined yourself."

I laughed-short, bitter.

"No, you ruined me."

His eyes darted away for a second. Guilt? Maybe. But not enough to matter now.

I took a deep breath and stood tall, my voice calm, sharp as a knife.

"It's settled, Ethan. I signed your damn divorce. And now I'm marrying Liam. So whatever you think, whatever you feel-keep it. I'm done listening."

And with that, I turned and climbed the stairs, each step louder than his silence.

Behind me, I heard Emelia calling his name. Heard his footsteps freeze.

Let them stay down there in their perfect mess.

Because henceforth?

I wasn't the discarded wife anymore.