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.
Inside the other car-
Theron watched Scarlett’s vehicle disappear in the rearview mirror, then looked away.
“Find out who she is,” he said. “I want a full profile.”
Rhys nodded from the driver’s seat. “I’ll take care of it.”
Still, the request didn’t sit right.
Theron had never shown interest in women. Not once.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.