Scarlett was about to dodge-
When suddenly-
A hand caught her wrist.
Before she could react, an arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her hard against someone's chest.
Her forehead hit something solid.
Warm.
Firm.
A man.
Her eyes darkened instantly.
She moved to break free-
But the arm around her tightened, pulling her even closer.
Her expression turned cold.
Was this guy seriously trying something?
Her hand slid to her waist, fingers closing around the hilt of a hidden blade-
But before she could strike-
He let go.
Scarlett stepped back immediately, every nerve on alert as she looked up-
And froze.
For a split second, her pupils shrank.
The man standing in front of her was striking.
Sharp features, as if carved from stone. Strong brows, a straight, defined nose, and thin lips that naturally carried a hint of severity.
There was an effortless elegance about him-
The kind that couldn't be faked. The kind that came from power, from upbringing, from standing at the very top.
But what caught her off guard the most-
Was how much he resembled the boy.
Father and son?
While Scarlett studied him-
He studied her.
Carefully.
Silently.
Behind his back, his fingers brushed lightly together-the same hand that had just been around her waist.
His dark eyes stayed fixed on her.
Unblinking.
Then-
The boy ran over on unsteady legs and threw his arms around Scarlett's leg, clinging to her like he never planned to let go.
"Mommy! Mommy! I finally found you!" he cried, tears streaming down his face.
Mommy?
Theron's expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
His gaze flicked between Scarlett and the boy.
Looking closer-
There really was a resemblance.
Could it be...
That night, five years ago-
Was it her?
His eyes sharpened slightly as his gaze moved to the corner of her eye.
Nothing.
No mark.
That night, his mind had been clouded, his memory incomplete-but one detail had stayed clear.
The woman had a small red mark near her eye.
Scarlett didn't.
Her skin there was flawless.
And besides-
He had found the child abandoned in a trash bin.
What kind of mother would do that?
Someone capable of that kind of cruelty...
Couldn't be the same woman who had just risked everything to protect a child.
No.
It wasn't her.
Scarlett looked down at the boy, his face streaked with tears. She frowned slightly and wiped them away.
"Hey. Easy," she said, her voice gentler now. "You don't have to cry like that. If you're hurt, deal with it-but don't fall apart over it."
"O-Okay..." the boy sniffed, trying hard to hold it together. "Theo will be good... I'll listen to Mommy..."
His eyes were still glassy, trembling with tears he refused to let fall.
He was scared-
That if he cried, she wouldn't like him anymore.
Scarlett paused.
"You said your name is Theo?"
The boy nodded quickly.
"Yeah! Theo is my nickname. My full name is Theodore Cross!"
He looked up at her, hopeful. Expectant.
Still calling her Mommy.
Strangely-
Scarlett didn't mind it.
Every time he said it, something in her chest softened.
It felt... natural.
Familiar.
Almost like-
He really belonged to her.
"Listen," she said, her tone gentler now. "I'm not your mom. If you don't believe me... ask your dad."
As she spoke-
Theron had already walked over.
Scarlett straightened and faced him. "He's probably just shaken up and confused me with someone else."
"He doesn't have a mother," Theron said calmly, his gaze steady.
Scarlett raised a brow.
And why was he telling her that?
Before she could ask-
His voice lowered slightly, smooth and controlled.
"You saved my son."
A brief pause.
"I owe you. Name your price-whatever you want."
"I don't need anything," Scarlett replied without hesitation. "I helped him because I wanted to."
Theron studied her for a moment.
That confirmed it.
A woman like her-
Calm. Decisive. Protective-
There was no way she was the one who had abandoned this child.
"Saving him makes you someone I owe," he said. "I'll repay you. No matter what it takes."
Scarlett frowned, a flicker of impatience crossing her face.
"I said-I don't want money."
Theron went quiet for a few seconds.
Then slowly-
A faint smile touched his lips.
His gaze locked onto hers.
"What about me?"
"...What?" Scarlett blinked, caught off guard.
She stared into his eyes-
Dark. Focused. Entirely on her.
Like nothing else existed.
Before she could respond-
He added, just as calmly,
"If you don't want money... then I'll repay you with myself."
Scarlett stared at him, momentarily speechless.
So that's what he meant.
Even Howard looked stunned. He'd been with Scarlett for years-this was the first time he'd ever seen someone come at her like this.
But the happiest one-
Was Theo.
He grabbed Scarlett's hand with one hand, Theron's with the other, his face lighting up.
"This is perfect! I have a mommy now! I have a real family!"
Scarlett looked at his bright, hopeful smile-
And for once...
She couldn't bring herself to break it.
But then-
Theo's eyes suddenly rolled back.
His body went limp.
"Theo!"
Scarlett reacted instantly, catching him before he hit the ground. His face was flushed. She pressed a hand to his forehead-
Burning.
"He's got a fever," she said sharply, looking up at Theron.
Theron took the boy from her arms.
After a couple of steps, he stopped-and turned back.
"You're not coming with us?"
Scarlett's gaze lingered on Theo for a moment before she looked away.
"Like I said, I helped because I wanted to. I don't need repayment-especially not... that."
Theron's brows drew together slightly.
When he spoke, his voice was calm-but absolute.
"I don't go back on my word."
A beat.
"I said I'd repay you with myself. I meant it."
His eyes held hers.
"Wait for me. I'll come find you."
And just like that-
He turned and walked away, long strides carrying him to the car, Theo still in his arms.
The car pulled off.
Scarlett stood there, watching the taillights disappear into the distance.
"...Whether you keep your promise or not-what does that have to do with me?" she muttered under her breath.
Then she turned and got back into her own car.
